GEMS Education has appointed Amanda Spielman, the former Chief Inspector of Ofsted, as Chair of its newly formed Academic Council. In this role, Spielman will oversee the standards that GEMS schools apply across curriculum, assessment, technology, inclusion and student welfare — marking a significant addition to one of the largest private education networks in the UAE.
Amanda Spielman Brings Ofsted Expertise to GEMS Education
Spielman served as Ofsted's Chief Inspector from 2017 to 2023, making her the longest-serving occupant of that role. Before Ofsted, she chaired Ofqual, the qualifications regulator, where she led reforms to GCSEs and A Levels. Her track record in educational accountability made her a compelling choice for GEMS Education's new governance body.
She said she was looking forward to working with GEMS, which is expanding in a country experiencing rapid growth and has a highly developed private education system. She stressed that GEMS has "evidenced high sensitivity to educational outcomes and has been serving as a model of educational improvements," adding that this made joining the Academic Council "quite an easy" decision.
GEMS Education Founder and Global Group Chairman Sunny Varkey welcomed the appointment, citing Spielman's "unparalleled experience, expertise, and leadership in education."
COVID Learning Backlog and Rising Student Pressures
Spielman also identified several challenges that GEMS schools — and the broader education sector — must address. Chief among them is the COVID-19 learning backlog that has affected schools globally. She noted that many students missed critical classroom time and social development during the pandemic, a deficit that institutions are still working to close.
Beyond the pandemic's legacy, she pointed to the pressures of social media and globalisation as factors that have increased stress levels among both students and parents, requiring schools to be more responsive to student wellbeing than ever before.
Technology Cannot Replace Human Connection in Schools
While acknowledging the productive role technology can play in education, Spielman held a firm position on its limits. She emphasised that technology can never fully replace the natural human interaction that is fundamental to learning. "There is something deep and powerful if the young can have interactions to help them grow," she said, stressing the irreplaceable value of physical contact between students, teachers and families within school communities.
Vision for GEMS Schools in the UAE
As Chair of the Academic Council, Spielman's goal is to help GEMS schools build positive educational environments. She highlighted that education is a lifelong process requiring "commitment, vision, and adaptability" — qualities that become ever more critical as student needs grow and future challenges evolve. The Academic Council will play a central role in monitoring and reviewing the impact of educational policies across the wider GEMS network.
