GESS talks

Wellbeing

Wellbeing in Education: Creating Confident, Resilient Minds

02 February 2026

Wellbeing in education is not a luxury - it is a necessity. For students, teachers, and educational professionals alike, the ability to feel…

Learning Environment Wellbeing

Inclusion Isn’t a Program, It’s a Climate

02 February 2026

A student hesitates before joining a group. The activity has started, roles are being assigned, and no one has quite noticed they’re still standing…

Future Learning & Trends

NWEA MAP Assessments in the UAE: Are They Really Informative?

02 February 2026

I once sat in a leadership meeting where a beautifully colour-coded MAP report was projected onto the screen with great reverence. Percentiles. Norms.…

Wellbeing

Belonging First: Lessons From a Lifetime of Education

02 February 2026

From an early age, growing up, I started to realise almost unconsciously that your environment plays a pivotal role in success. As a youngster, I…

Early Years Education

Building Learning in the Early Years: How Conversations Can Change

02 February 2026

The early years of a child’s life are a period of extraordinary growth. During this time, children develop the foundations for thinking,…

Early Years Education

Effective Professional Development in EYFS: Empowering Educators for

20 January 2026

Professional development (PD) is essential in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where educators play a critical role in shaping children’s…

Special Educational Needs Wellbeing

The Hidden Cost of Outsourced Inclusion

20 January 2026

What Schools Risk When SEN Is Not Owned Internally

Edtech Sustainability Wellbeing

We are Teaching the Tools, Not the Wisdom

20 January 2026

What are we really educating children for? Education has never had more solutions. New platforms. New frameworks. New technologies. New…

Learning Environment Wellbeing

The Quiet Crisis in Inclusion - Who Is Supporting the Adults?

20 January 2026

 Inclusive education has progressed significantly in recent years. Classrooms are more diverse, conversations are more open, and the language of…

Inclusion in Action: Shaping the Future of SEN Education

09 January 2026

Taking place on Wednesday 28th January 2026 at 12:00 UK / 16:00 UAE.  As we step into 2026, the landscape of special educational needs (SEN)…

Leadership Strategy and Skills Wellbeing

What About The Teachers?

05 January 2026

Inclusion will not survive unless we start designing education around the people who deliver it We talk a great deal about SEN/Inclusion. We talk…

Learning Environment Wellbeing

The Power of Relationships

05 January 2026

‘They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’ Carl W. Buechner.   The Research Behind…

Early Years Education Wellbeing

From Support to Belonging: Inclusion That Works in Nurseries and Early

05 January 2026

In early years, inclusion is not a separate “strand” that sits next to teaching and care. It is the daily design of nursery life so every child…

Early Years Education

Personalised Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage

05 January 2026

Personalised learning is at the heart of high-quality practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It recognises that every child is a unique…

Special Educational Needs Wellbeing

“One Size Does Not Fit All” Inclusion Begins with Mindset

05 January 2026

“One size does not fit all.” Six simple words, yet they carry a depth that can change a mindset and, more importantly, change a student’s life.…

Fariza Ellahi: Empowering Learners, Driving Global Change

16 December 2025

Dubai stands at an exciting forefront in education, reimagining what learning can look like. Living here has shown me that education is not only about…

STEM

Building Brighter Minds — Creative Strategies for Teaching STEM in Global

16 December 2025

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — together, they shape how students understand and influence the modern world. For non-U.S. teachers…

Early Years Education

The Growth Mindset in Early Years: How Effort Can Outshine Natural Ability

16 December 2025

Walk into any EYFS classroom, and you’ll find magic in the smallest moments. You might see a child carefully threading beads and celebrating when one…

Learning Environment

Building the Dubai Child

02 December 2025

Dubai is at an exciting crossroads in education. With its rapidly growing population, rich diversity, and a vision to nurture children who are both…

Early Years Education

The Playful Brain: Turning Leading Theories into 7 Everyday Practices for

02 December 2025

Have you ever watched a young child completely immersed in the art of making a Mess?  Happy, playful, focused. That moment is not only adorable.…

Future Learning & Trends Learning Environment

Three Tools Needed to support the rise of Self Directed Education

02 December 2025

After reading Dr. Peter Gray’s article on comparing self-directed education and progressive education, I found myself reflecting on where I stand.…

Neuroplasticity and Its Implications for 21st-Century Education

02 December 2025

Introduction Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change, reorganize, and form new neural connections, has revolutionized the way we think about…

Edtech VR, AI and AR

When AI Makes Thinking Visible: How Schools Must Respond

02 December 2025

Artificial intelligence is now a familiar presence in classrooms. Students use it to explore ideas, test arguments, and express their understanding.…

STEM

From Silos to Synergy: Cross-Curricular Projects That Bring Math to Life

20 November 2025

In many classrooms, mathematics is often viewed as a subject of numbers and formulas—taught in isolation from the world students live in. Yet, when…

Early Years Education

Using Storytelling to Build Language, Imagination, and Social Skills in the

20 November 2025

Storytelling has always been one of the most natural ways for humans to share experiences, knowledge, and values. In early childhood education,…

GESS Talks Interview with Discovery Education

Millie chats with Jake Jones, LIV Golf's Senior Vice President of Impact and Sustainability. Find out more here:…

Q&A with Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar - CEO, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation

18 November 2025

Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar – CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation   Can you share an overview of Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation’s mission and key…

Higher Education

Empowering Students and Parents in the Competitive University Application

06 November 2025

In today’s higher education landscape, applying to elite institutions, whether the Ivy League, Oxbridge, or other world-leading universities, has…

Edtech VR, AI and AR

Exploring Digital Learning & Innovation at GESS Dubai

06 November 2025

This year will mark my 13th appearance at GESS and it’s a genuinely fascinating time to be working at the intersection of education and technology.…

Wellbeing

GESS Dubai session: Why Safeguarding Has to Come First in Schools

06 November 2025

Mr. Darren Goodall (MBA) joined the Maarif Education Head Office team in August 2023 as the Director of Child Protection and Safeguarding, providing…

Leadership Strategy and Skills

Digital Strategy for a Growing School Group

06 November 2025

Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS) was founded in 2007 with the support and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al…

Higher Education

Bridging the Gap: Preparing High Schoolers for Higher Education at Al Hekma

06 November 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving world, higher education no longer begins at university gates, it begins in high school. The transition from school to…