Robert Gauntlett

My name is Rob Gauntlett and, as well as being Vice Principal, I am a passionate and energetic English teacher. I have been teaching English for 28 years, having worked in a variety of schools in Turkey, the UK and Bahrain before moving to Dubai in 2018. Prior to becoming Head of Secondary and then Vice Principal at GEMS Winchester Dubai, I have been, in previous schools, a Secondary Vice-Principal, an Assistant Head-teacher, a Head of English and a Director of English and Performing Arts.

Teachers are often asked why they become teachers. More often than not it is because they have a passion for their subject and they want to share that passion or enthusiasm with others; anyone who has ever been taught poetry by me knows every poem is a favourite of mine! Passion for your subject is the heart of education! As teachers, it is our mission to convey that enthusiasm and energy to our students, challenging them to see why we love our subjects as much as we do and inspiring them to have that same passion. The role of a teacher is to stimulate our students, empowering them, enthusing them to delve into their learning and find that excitement and energy that inspired us to go to university and study our specialisms for four years. I believe that schools must challenge their students to inquire If their English teachers are really passionate about that Kipling poem; to establish whether their Geography teachers really do find the subject of glaciers moving; to investigate, with their music teachers, who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp. More than being able to pass exams, our task is to challenge our students to be confident, passionate, enthusiastic inquirers and life-long learners.