Grade 2

Nicola Marshall

Nicci joined JBS in September 2011 after completing the Graduate Training Programme for Primary Teachers (with Qualified Teacher Status) in the UK at Forest Independent Collegiate School, and having then taught as a Primary class teacher in London with Hazlewood Schools, for whom she was responsible for Physical Education. She is a graduate of Rhodes University in South Africa, where she studied for her honours degree in Psychology, and she also holds an Associate Acting Diploma from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

Fran Shorthouse

Fran joined JBS in 2011 as a Grade 2 class teacher and our Primary Numeracy coordinator from Dubai British School where she worked as a primary teacher and where she developed the DBS primary numeracy programme. Prior to her service with DBS she worked in Liverpool, where she also took a first in her BA from John Moores University, specialising in Education and Mathematics. She is a keen runner, and regularly competes in long distance races, including the Dubai 10k run and the RAK half marathon.

Grade 3

Brian Nolan

Brian graduated from University College of Dublin, Ireland in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature and Geography. He then completed a PGCE in primary school education at the University of Wales in Bangor, followed by teaching in South Dublin and two further years in Northampton between 2009 and 2011. Brian's main educational areas of interest are literacy, Science, Music and Physical Education. He coaches several sports.

Jennifer Smith

Jenny graduated from Victoria University in her home town of Wellington, New Zealand in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature and Latin. Her postgraduate study in Primary Education was completed at Auckland University and she then taught for three years in South Auckland in Grades 2 to 5 before moving to the UAE to teach Grade 1 at the Sharjah American International School. She joined JBS in September 2010.

Grade 4

Clare Taylor (Phase 2 Leader and Literacy Co-ordinator)

Clare has experience across a range of grades in domestic and international schools. She graduated from Wolverhampton University with a Visual Communication Degree, before taking a Primary Post Graduate Certificate of Education. After teaching at a busy London school for six years, where she ran the nursery and taught Grades 1 and 2, Clare took a position at the OFS in Singapore, where she taught for six years, in Grades 1, 3 and 4 as Grade leader. Since relocating to Dubai she has worked at Emirates International School, where she taught Grades 2 and 5 and held the position of English Coordinator, joining JBS as the Phase 2 leader in September 2010.

Laura Marino

Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Laura is a true polyglot having spoken both Italian and English at home and French in her native city. Laura graduated from Kingston University in London with a BA Honours Degree in Primary Teaching with Art and Drama as specialisations. Prior to her arrival in Dubai in 2011 to teach Grade 4 at JBS, she taught Grades 1 and 2 at the Brussels English Primary School. Laura brings with her the experience of teaching the IPC curriculum and has regularly participated in Anglophone musical and theatre groups.

Grade 5

Beryl Nicholson

Beryl qualified as a teacher in 1983 from Exeter University, U.K, with a B.Ed. in Primary Education. She has been teaching internationally since 1984 and has enjoyed a very interesting and varied career in The Middle East and Europe. Having taught in nine international schools in countries such as Oman, Jordan and Yemen she joined JBS from the Inter-Community School in Zurich, where she taught for four years. Beryl is a trained Council of International School visitor, and was part of the accreditation team visiting Dubai British School in 2009. Outside of school, Beryl enjoys working with horses.