Sophie Gathercole

I joined GEMS Wellington International School in August 2019 as Head of Year 12 after seven years in GEMS, as Senior Teacher at Jumeirah College. I have a keen interest in pastoral care and value how supporting student well-being helps students to aspire and thrive academically and holistically. I am currently Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form whereby I get to unite these two fundamental strands as we create platforms which enable students to reach their full and aspirational potential in a happy and supportive environment.

My teaching career began in Cambridge in 2009. The year before, I had graduated from the University of Leicester with a BA History Honours degree. I fell into a graduate scheme with a publishing company, based in the heart of Cambridge, and whilst working in the city and shopping on my lunch break was great for a month, I knew that my passion was in a classroom. Over the following year, I condensed my forty hour working week into four days so that I could teach on a voluntary basis at a local school. It was the best decision I have ever made and one that earned me a place, with my local MPs recommendation, on the prestigious Cambridge Graduate Teacher Programme where I was able to learn my craft.

As a member of the WIS community, I hope to inspire children to reach for their dreams and support them as they work hard to make them a reality. I hope the students who I have the pleasure of working with, develop a love of learning - one that reaches far beyond their school years and one that will stretch them for a lifetime.