GESS Education to Run Webinar on Fitness and Wellbeing for Educators & Students on 7 July 2020
We are delighted to announce the third edition of our #GESSTALKS series of webinars which will take place on the 7th of July 2020 at 12:00 BST (UK), 15:00 GST (Dubai). The webinar "Staying Fit in Challenging Times - Keeping You and Your Student's Mind And Body Active" will be chaired and moderated by Niall Statham, Head of PE at Hartland International School Dubai and will feature Sam Strickland, Principal at The Duston School UK, Apollo Perelini, High Performance Director at UAE Rugby Federation and Naomi Keighley, Head of Ballet & Events at The Ballet Centre in Dubai.
Staying active and healthy has become ever more important in the current climate, as routines have broken down sports and fitness has played a role to help to promote self-discipline. What lessons have you learned? what positive steps have you taken when working out at home? How do you think lockdown has altered people’s perceptions of mental and physical wellbeing? What will your approach be going forward in schools – what’s your responsibility to staff and students to support their wellbeing? Our expert panel will discuss and share their personal experiences and tips to help and also look at what strategies you could put in place if a similar situation presented itself again.
The webinar format will be a panel session and you will have the opportunity to ask questions to our experienced panel of educators and fitness experts. Click here to sign up for the webinar
Niall Statham is a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Hartland International School Dubai and Head of Whole School PE. A former UAE Rugby 7s and 15s captain, he now spends his days ushering in the next generation of athletes. His key area of interest within health and wellbeing is driving participation within youth sport and exercises, helping people build a lifelong positive association with sport. Niall has also served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Dubai Affiliated School Sports Association and has been a serving committee member for over 5 years.
Apollo Perelini, High Performance Director, UAE Rugby Federation
Apollo Perelini is a former Samoan dual code international and professional rugby player. Apollo’s rugby career has seen him play for championship-winning St Helens Rugby League and Sale Sharks Rugby Union in the United Kingdom, Auckland and North Harbour Rugby in New Zealand, and internationally for the Manu Samoa Rugby Union and Samoa Rugby League teams, playing in World Cups for both codes. Arrived in Dubai in 2009 to take up a role of Director of Sports for Repton School. He then took over as High Performance Director for UAE Rugby Federation and also is the owner of ‘Apollo Sporting Academy LLC’.
Naomi Keighley, Head of Ballet & Events, The Ballet Centre Dubai
Naomi is a certified Ballet Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance from the UK. Prior to turning her love of dance into teaching she had a professional career in ballet and contemporary dance; performing with numerous companies in the UK. She completed a BA Honours Degree at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, London and received her early training with The Royal Ballet School associates. Naomi relocated to Dubai to teach ballet full time in August 2016 and was promoted to Head of Ballet and Events at The Ballet Centre in July 2018. Naomi is passionate and dedicated to inspiring children into the beautiful world of dance and music. Her students learn and develop important skills both physically and mentally that will help them to succeed throughout their lives in whatever path they choose to take.
Sam Strickland, Principal, The Duston School, UK
Sam is the Principal of a large all-through school and has helped to guide its GCSE results from the bottom 20% nationally to the top 20% and A Level outcomes to the top 5% nationally. His school is in the top 30 most improved schools in the country and has received three commendations from the SSAT. Sam began his teaching career as a history teacher in Bedfordshire having completed his PGCE in secondary history at the University of Cambridge under Christine Counsell. His career quickly accelerated and he became Head of history and classics. He then moved on to become a Lead Professional and worked for a SCITT Consortium .During his time as an Assistant Head, he had responsibility for the Sixth Form and led a Post 16 consortium arrangement. In 2015 Sam served as an Associate Principal, with GCSE and A Level results under his tenure receiving commendation from the DFE, Nick Gibb and the SSAT. Sam also served as a Vice Principal, where he directly oversaw student care, the Sixth Form, the curriculum and served as the safeguarding lead for an entire trust. The organiser of ResearchED Northampton, he is a leading voice in the current conversation in education. He has had educational resources and research published, most notably his new book Education Exposed, and he has also delivered courses nationally and served as a lead facilitator for NPQSL.
Sam takes fitness very seriously and is a third degree black belt in Kung Fu and Kickboxing.
