Apple International SchoolPrincipal & Leadership Team

Apple International School is operated by LEAMS Education, part of Gamma Holdings Ltd, a group with over 40 years in the education sector. Governance sits with a structured board that includes community governors with defined portfolios: Ms. Anuska Nyla Layne-Djemali (Governor of Teaching & Learning), Ms. Deepa Balasubramanian (Governor of People & Culture), and Ms. Shiny Davison (Governor of National Agenda). The KHDA rated governance Good in the 2023–2024 inspection — functional and compliant, though not yet at the highest tier.

Leadership at AIS has seen recent change at the top. Dr. Jinto Sebastian holds the role of Principal, appointed to the post in August 2024, having first joined the school in April 2012 as Academic Head of Secondary — giving him over a decade of institutional knowledge before stepping into the principal's chair. He is supported by Mr. Tyler John Rumball, Vice Principal of the Secondary Campus, and Ms. Ann Morris, Vice Principal of the Primary Campus. The KHDA inspection conducted in January 2024 recorded the principal at that time as Faheem Mohammed; Dr. Sebastian's appointment post-dates the inspection, meaning the current leadership team has not yet been formally evaluated by KHDA. Parents should note this transition when weighing inspection findings against current school direction.

The school's 338 teachers serve a roll of 4,990 students, producing a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:15 — slightly above the Dubai private school average of 1:13.6 across 204 schools with available data. Among British curriculum schools in Dubai, this places AIS at the larger end of the class-size spectrum, a relevant consideration for parents of students who benefit from more individualised attention. An additional 67 teaching assistants and 4 guidance counsellors supplement the teaching workforce, providing meaningful pastoral and learning support infrastructure for a school of this scale. [MISSING: staff qualification percentages — no data on Masters-level or above qualifications provided in available sources.]

The KHDA rated teaching for effective learning as Very Good in Foundation Stage and Good across Primary, Secondary, and Post-16. Inspectors noted that teachers consistently apply their knowledge of how students learn, create engaging environments, and maintain very positive interactions. Assessment was rated Very Good across all phases — a notable strength, with data carefully analysed and used to inform planning. However, inspectors flagged that the quality of teaching is not yet consistent across the school, and that challenge for higher-ability students remains insufficiently differentiated — both areas cited as key recommendations for improvement.

On community and culture, the KHDA rated parents and the community Very Good — one of the school's stronger scores. The wellbeing sub-committee formally includes parents and students, and a restructured student council feeds directly into school improvement planning. Wellbeing provision overall was rated Very Good, with inspectors noting that students have a deep sense of belonging and feel genuinely valued. Personal development in Secondary and Post-16 earned an Outstanding rating — the school's highest individual score — reflecting a strong culture of social responsibility, community engagement, and student leadership that is a genuine differentiator for AIS within the British curriculum sector in Dubai.