Eye on Education

How can you express yourself though creativity?  Gareth Pyper, Head of Arts, Repton Dubai tells us why he encourages his students to pursue creative activities. His student Maria Ava Cavalli is one of the artists exhibiting their work at Repton's annual event at Al Serkal Avenue.  And how do educators help students with the stresses of school life? Nick Hart, Principal at Horizon English School Town Square, shares some advice.  Plus: Is your child losing confidence once they step in to university? Claire Roberts, Head of Global Pathways Centre at De Montfort University, says it's a common concern, and her team can help address it.  And finally, does your child want to pursue an unconventional career? Hear the story of Mohammed Saif, known as Shaheen in the ring, an  Emirati international pro wrestler who started the wrestling scene in the UAE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Emirates Lit Fest kicks off for 2026, our experts explain how the habits and confidence we build now can turn our kids into lifelong readers. Plus we meet the teen skier headed from Ski Dubai to the Winter Olympics, and talk childhood anxiety with the author aiming to tackle it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our kids are about to spend more time out of school on Fridays – so how do we encourage them off their screens and into their imaginations? Helen asks Leanne Galloway, Head of Early Years, Repton Dubai, and Amy Hughes, Assistant Principal, RPS. Plus, with some parents across the UAE discovering their child may be eligible to start school earlier than OT Adam Griffin and educational designer Hollie Mayes talk school readiness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAE’s schools have been marking National Day this week, ahead of the national holiday. But what does it mean for kids here to grow up with a sense of identity, regardless of nationality? Helen is joined by Maddison Lewis from Horizon English School and Haniya Mirza, a sixth form student at Repton Al Barsha. Meanwhile, this winter sees a longer school holiday coming after a packed – and for many people, stressful – term of tests, exams and sports. So, how can you use the next four weeks to help your child, tween or teen decompress and relax? Psychologist Maha Cooper has all the advice you need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world driven by screens and structure, the art room is often the one place children can truly experiment, make mistakes and push their imagination. So how do schools nurture that freedom to build real-world skills? Helen asks two Dubai-based specialists.Plus, children now spend nearly five hours a day on screens outside school, yet almost half of teens say their parents don’t understand their online world. So what would they tell you if they didn’t fear the consequences? Helen speaks to cyberpsychology expert Catherine Knibbs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.