Gemma Thornley shares her journey, values, and why sustainability is at the heart of The Arbor School
“Great schools aren’t built on compliance and box-ticking, but on clarity of purpose and leadership with heart,” says Principal Gemma Thornley, reflecting the ethos of The Arbor School—a British curriculum all-through school in Al Furjan, Dubai.
With six climate-controlled biodomes, including tropical ecosystems and immersive living classrooms, Arbor places sustainability and eco-literacy at the core of its educational vision.
Yalla spoke with Gemma to hear more about her journey from the drama classroom to school leadership, the values that guide her, and how Arbor’s approach aims to inspire compassionate, future-ready changemakers.
What’s your educational background?
I trained as a secondary English and Drama teacher in the UK and spent time teaching across both state and independent schools in the UK and the UAE before stepping into leadership.
Drama taught me a great deal about empathy, voice, and perspective —skills I still draw on daily as a school leader.
I’m currently completing my doctorate in education, exploring how the social positioning of teachers impacts school effectiveness —a topic deeply relevant to international education today.
Did you love school or loathe it?
I loved learning, but I wouldn’t say school always loved me back! I was a curious and creative student and probably more outspoken than my teachers appreciated.
However, I had a few brilliant educators who really saw me and encouraged me to question things and explore different perspectives.
That gave me the confidence to become the kind of teacher (and now school leader) I am today.
Who or what influenced you most growing up?
My maternal grandmother was a huge influence. She was incredibly strong, fiercely principled, and had an unshakeable sense of justice.
She taught me to voice my opinions, even when they weren’t popular, and to always stay true to my beliefs.
Those values, integrity, compassion, and courage continue to shape how I lead and how I want our students at Arbor to navigate the world.
Was there a pivotal moment in your career?
It was the decision to leave a secure and comfortable role in the UK and take a leap into the unknown in the UAE.
I took what many would consider a step backwards, accepting a more junior position at a great school in Dubai. It was a risk, but one that fundamentally reshaped my understanding of what success means.
It challenged me to rethink how we measure what truly matters in education.
That experience cemented my belief that great schools aren’t built on compliance and box-ticking, but on clarity of purpose and leadership with heart.
What’s your educational philosophy?
Education should empower young people to make sense of the world and change it for the better.
A great education nurtures curiosity, compassion, and a strong moral compass. It’s about knowledge, yes, but also the wisdom to use it responsibly.
We need to raise thinkers, doers, and dreamers. Education must prepare students for uncertainty but also help them imagine and create a better future.
You might like: The Yalla 100 StandOut UAE Schools Guide
What makes a great school environment?
Trust, relationships, and purpose.
When staff and students feel safe and valued, incredible things happen.
A great school isn’t just a place; it’s a community. It’s where people feel they belong, are challenged to grow, and are supported every step of the way. And critically, it’s a place where children’s voices matter.
How do you ensure sustainability is lived, not just taught, at school?
At Arbor, sustainability is in our DNA. It’s not a ‘subject’, it’s a way of thinking, acting, and being.
From our biodomes and eco-literacy curriculum to our daily practices, including the way we communicate, eat, travel, and consume resources, we strive to align our values with our actions. This includes everything from uniform reform to waste management and partnerships with change-makers.
Our students hold us to account, and rightly so. The wider school community (parents, staff, and external partners) all play a role in modelling and supporting sustainable habits.
The world is facing urgent environmental challenges. What gives you hope when working with young people?
Their authenticity, their urgency, and their refusal to accept the status quo.
Young people today are informed, empathetic, and globally connected in ways previous generations weren’t. They don’t just want to be heard; they expect to be part of the solution.
That gives me hope.
At Arbor, we channel that energy into meaningful action and deep understanding, rather than surface-level activism.
What drew you to The Arbor School, and what makes it stand out in the UAE education landscape?
I was drawn to Arbor because it was brave enough to do things differently.
It doesn’t just talk about sustainability or innovation it builds systems, spaces, and curricula that embody those ideas. It’s a school that genuinely walks the talk.
The integrated curriculum here (blending the National Curriculum for England with eco-literacy and a strong sustainability ethos) isn’t just unique; it’s essential in preparing young people for the world they’re inheriting.
What skills do you think students need most in a world we can’t yet predict?
Adaptability, critical thinking, empathy, and agency.
The ability to ask the right questions, work with diverse people, and keep learning throughout life.
Our students need to be values-driven problem solvers who can deal with complexity and uncertainty.
At Arbor, we focus not only on academic excellence but also on developing those inner capacities – what we call head, heart, hands, and spirit – that enable students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
QUICK-FIRE ROUND
Let’s get to know Gemma a little better…
Favourite food?
I love Italian food!
Your happy place in nature?
Walking along Dunstable Downs or Ivinghoe Beacon in the summer when I’m back in my hometown.
A book you can’t put down?
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Every parent and educator should read it.
If you weren’t a headteacher, you’d be…?
An actor! It is what I always thought I would do growing up, and I trained to do it.
Your dream musical theatre role?
Eliza Schuyler Hamilton from Hamilton or Miss Honey from Matilda.
The best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Own your mistakes—and learn from them.
For further information visit The Arbor School Dubai
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