Principal of DBSJP

Rebecca Coulter

Rebecca is a University of Cambridge Graduate with a UK teaching qualification and an Honours degree in Music which reflects her lifelong passion for The Expressive Arts.

She began her teaching career in the United Kingdom as Head of Music at schools in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells in the south of England. Following a relocation to Norfolk with her family, Rebecca took up the post of Assistant Principal: Director of Sixth Form with the Inspiration Trust. Under her leadership, Sixth Form provision improved rapidly and significantly, gaining recognition as one of the top-performing Sixth Forms for progress in the UK.

As Vice Principal in an Academy Trust she was responsible for securing ‘outstanding’ academic standards, overseeing pastoral care, including child safeguarding, and ensuring high quality teaching and learning in the whole-school context. 

Prior to joining Jumeirah College in Dubai, Rebecca was Assistant Principal in the Kings’ School Group. Here she led the pastoral system, held responsibility for the whole school improvement agenda and the quality assurance of student attainment. Rebecca also led the curriculum design and implementation of the group’s inaugural Sixth Form, drawing on her leadership expertise in developing highly successful post-16 education and delivering ambitious destination outcomes for senior school students.

As Vice Principal of GEMS flagship British Curriculum School, Rebecca led Jumeirah College through two ‘outstanding’ KHDA Inspections. During this time, student attainment and progress at The College rose to be in the top 2% of UK school examination results in the world.
Responsible for school improvement and leading & managing change, Rebecca has genuine expertise in safeguarding, student personal & social development, leading staff and teacher development, specifically evidence-informed learning, innovation in education pedagogy and whole campus Health & Safety.

She holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship and is a certified trainer with Infinite Learning for middle and senior leadership development.

Rebecca’s interests beyond the classroom, other than maintaining her talents as a violinist, include long-distance running, musical theatre and enjoying the outdoor life of Dubai with her family. 

Best Moment in Teaching

I have been teaching since 1999, so I have many amazing memories of the wonderful students I have worked with. For me, the stand out moments are those where the students experience a sense of accomplishment from overcoming barriers, working hard or taking a risk.

I have seen students bravely handle nerves as they step on stage to perform, having put in hours of rehearsal beforehand; students open their GCSE and A level results with huge smiles on their faces as they realise they have achieved everything they worked for; sixth form students gain places at world-class universities on highly competitive courses and supported students as they participated in events that truly tested their abilities to work successfully together as a team. Education is so much more than what happens in the classroom.

It’s the experiences we provide which enable the students to develop their character, intellect, personality and ultimately, their ability to succeed in whatever pathway they choose. I could not think of a greater privilege.