Andrew Gibbs - Headteacher

Since 2003, I have been Assistant Headteacher at Wilmslow High School (a school that currently has 2,000 students on roll).  It is one of the UK’s largest and most successful state schools.  Initially I led and managed a Sixth Form that grew from 230 to 500 students in the space of five years.  I am particularly proud of the fact that such rapid expansion did not coincide with a drop in standards or outcomes.  Indeed, as the person responsible for co-ordinating the university applications process, I could see year on year, increasing numbers of our students gaining places at the best U.K. universities, on the most high-demand courses.  Our Oxbridge success rate has regularly outstripped those of neighbouring independent schools.  The British Government’s inspection mechanism, Ofsted, provided affirmation of the high quality education our Sixth Form received by deeming it to be “Outstanding in every category” in December 2007.

In January 2008 I began a new leadership role as Director of Student Services for the entire 11 – 18 cohort.  This post has incorporated a focus on the pastoral provision and the monitoring and evaluation of learning outcomes – in essence, coordinating the business of removing barriers to success for students and striving to ensure they all reach their full academic and personal potential.  I am also responsible for many of the operational aspects of daily school life.

Garry Russell - Deputy Head

Garry has worked in the Middle East for eight years. After graduating from Staffordshire University with an Honours degree in Geography, he completed his PGCE at Keele University. Garry then spent nine years working in Essex, firstly as a Head of Year and then as a Head of Geography. After deciding to work overseas, Garry was fortunate enough to secure a position at St Christopher’s School in Bahrain where he spent four years as a Head of Year. Having been a regular visitor to Dubai, the opportunity to work here and help establish DESC was too great to resist. Initially employed as Head of Geography,

Andrew Tkaczuk - Acting Deputy Head

Andrew qualified at Leeds University with a 2:1 BA Joint Hons in History and Geography. This was followed by successfully completing a PGCE at Leeds. His first teaching job was at Shebbear College in Devon where he was a History Teacher and an Assistant Housemaster. After 4 years Andrew was promoted to become a Senior Housemaster running a Boarding House of 55 students. It was a very enjoyable time and he learnt a lot of his present values about education during these nine years.

Since leaving the UK, Andrew has lived and taught in Dubai, working in three different schools. In each of these schools he was responsible for setting up a new key area of the School Development Plan. Andrew began as a Head of History where he set up the new GCSEs and GCEs. He later moved schools and became Head of the Humanities Faculty where, amongst other things, he initiated the setting up of ‘distance learning’ A levels. This was the first time that a school outside of the UK was to do this. When DESC started in 2005, he joined the College and considers himself very lucky to be one of the original members of staff who helped to establish such a great school. Originally Head of History and Geography, from 2009 he has been an Assistant Head. One of his major roles has been to set up the 6th Form - "this is an incredibly challenging and yet rewarding job".

Christopher Bromham - Assistant Headteacher

Chris holds a BSc (Honours) Degree in Mathematics and Sports Science from the University of Birmingham and a PGCE in Teaching Mathematics from Brunel University, London. He is currently two thirds of the way through a Masters in Education from The Open University. This is Chris's third school, following three years in Isleworth and Syon School, West London and four years at St. Christopher’s School, Bahrain. He joined the Senior Management team in September, on a two term secondment and has now been promoted to the role permanently.

Matthew Cotgrove - Assistant Headteacher

Matthew graduated with a first class degree in Applied Biology, from the University of Hertfordshire. After a brief spell at the prestigious Rayne Institute at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, he undertook a variety of roles before starting his teaching career. He successfully completed his PGCE at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham and started his teaching career at St Thomas More High School in a leafy suburb in Essex. There he worked his way through the ranks to become Head of Science, and was responsible for overseeing the introduction of the new science GCSE. After a short time, he was appointed onto SMT as a senior leader of the school with responsibility for pupil progress and the school’s maths and computing specialism. As part of a successful SMT, he successfully guided the school to redesignation in the specialism, and had an active role in improving the school’s exam results over a number of years. After fourteen years serving the local community, he accepted the position of Assistant Headteacher at DESC.