Abena Appiah

Head of Secondary English

Abena Appiah is Head of English and Literacy Lead at an international British-curriculum school in Dubai. She works across the secondary phases, supporting curriculum design, assessment, reading and examination readiness within GCSE and A Level contexts. She holds a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from the University of Oxford, where her research focused on assessment, reading and classroom practice, and she is a UK-accredited Lead Practitioner. She also works as a GCSE examiner and literacy consultant, supporting teachers and middle leaders to translate assessment frameworks and educational research into sustainable, high-impact classroom practice. Her work centres on improving student outcomes without narrowing the curriculum, strengthening teaching clarity and confidence, and helping schools balance accountability with professional trust, particularly in international and examination-driven contexts.