Kathryn King

Vice Principal - GEMS Metropole School Motor City

Kathryn King is originally from the north-west of England. She began her teaching career in Devon before moving to the UAE in 2013 to broaden her experience and pursue new opportunities.

At the heart of her teaching philosophy is a commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and empower children to become independent, lifelong learners. She believes that success stems from a supportive, respectful environment built on a foundation of encouragement, high expectations, and a culture where every child feels valued. Kathryn is passionate about fostering resilience in learners, encouraging them to take risks, embrace challenges, and see mistakes as opportunities for growth.

Throughout her career, she has held a range of leadership roles, including Assistant Headteacher, Senior Assistant Principal and Vice Principal. In these positions, she has been privileged to lead school improvement across many areas, including wellbeing, assessment, data, innovation, and vocational education. Kathryn holds a National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and is a Senior Mental Health Lead for International Schools. Wellbeing is at the core of her leadership philosophy, and she is committed to ensuring that it remains a priority in educational settings. She has a proven track record of improving wellbeing for both students and staff, driving measurable impact on engagement, morale, and whole-school culture. Kathryn won the GESS AWARD – Best Wellbeing Initiative for Students or Staff in 2024.

Speaker Sessions

Leaders in Education 1637

Nov 11 2025 | 3:55pm - 5pm

Panel Session: Leading Wellbeing and Belonging in Schools (in association with BSME)

Session Summary:

As a preview to, and to help inform, the BSME Wellbeing and Belonging Conference on 18 April 2026, Matthew Savage - international educational consultant and Director of The Mona Lisa Effect® - will chair a panel of wellbeing senior leads from across the BSME network, to explore how best we can weave webs, and evolve ecosystems, of wellbeing and belonging in our schools.