Miss Emma Hurst

Mrs. Emma Hurst (BA, MSc) has been the Deputy Principal at GEMS Jumeirah Primary School since 2013, working as part of the Senior Leadership Team to consistently maintain outstanding outcomes for the children of JPS. With a Master’s in Psychology and a Level 2 qualification in Mental Health First Aid, Mrs. Hurst is passionate about using evidence informed approaches and international best practice to ensure the psychological safety and wellbeing of children and staff. Her main areas of responsibility currently include Child Protection and Safeguarding, National Agenda Parameters, Teaching and Learning, Health and Safety and the recruitment of our teachers, among many other aspects of school leadership. Prior to this, Mrs. Hurst led on Curriculum and Assessment, instigating change and line managing subject leaders and heads of department through core curriculum and assessment reforms following changes to the UK curriculum. In addition to her role at JPS, Mrs Hurst is an active member of the Local Advisory Board at GEMS Jumeirah College. 

Before joining Jumeirah Primary School, Mrs Hurst was an outstanding Key Stage Two classroom teacher and core curriculum leader for five years in the North East and then the North West of England. She progressed in 2007 to Deputy Head and later Head of School in a large, inclusive primary school in South Yorkshire, UK. As Deputy Head, she worked closely with the Head Teacher to move the school from satisfactory, at the time she joined, to outstanding within a short period. She also led the school through a successful amalgamation with its feeder infant school in January 2012. As a result of her leadership and her belief that all children deserve the highest quality education and learning experiences, Mrs. Hurst was appointed as a Specialist Leader of Education for the National College for School Leadership, supporting school improvement, leadership development and capacity building across multiple schools in the borough. 

Outside of school, Mrs. Hurst is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys strength training, cycling and hiking. She also keeps her mind active by listening to podcasts, reading fiction and, most recently, studying for her National Professional Qualification for Headship.