Our Team

Ben Rothwell has been part of the Victory Heights story since the original school opened in 2013 and has played a central role in shaping its growth and reputation. He previously served as Headteacher at Victory Heights Sports City before becoming Founding Principal of the City of Arabia campus. Ben’s vision is clear: to create a small, relatable, British-style private school where every child is known and high expectations are non-negotiable. He believes that excellence is built on strong foundations — handwriting that is precise, phonics that is secure, and oracy that gives children confidence to think and speak clearly. Under Ben’s leadership, the school combines warmth with ambition. Relationships matter. Standards matter. Culture matters. His approach is simple but uncompromising: nurture children deeply, challenge them thoughtfully, and create a school where families genuinely feel they belong.

Sasha Crabb is the Founding Principal of Victory Heights Primary School – Sports City, where she has led the school for over thirteen years — making her one of the longest-serving Principals in Dubai. From the earliest architectural plans to the curriculum framework, uniform design and school ethos, Sasha personally shaped every aspect of the original Victory Heights campus. Her leadership established a school recognised not only for academic excellence, but for its warmth, clarity of purpose and strong sense of community. Her work has been recognised nationally, including being named Best Principal in the Emirates at the SchoolsCompared.com Top School Awards and receiving Principal of the Year honours in 2017–18 and 2019. Today, Sasha oversees academic standards across both the Sports City and City of Arabia campuses, ensuring that the values, quality and ambition that defined the founding school continue to shine across the Victory Heights family.

Rob joined Victory Heights in 2019 and brings a Master of Education (Distinction) from Middlesex University Dubai, alongside a deep commitment to developing great teachers. As Deputy Head, Rob leads on teaching and learning with clarity and purpose. He believes that exceptional schools are built through exceptional classrooms — and that happens when teachers are supported, challenged and inspired to refine their craft. Rob works closely with staff to strengthen pedagogy, embed research-informed practice and ensure that every lesson is purposeful, ambitious and responsive to children’s needs. His nurturing yet high-expectation approach ensures that teaching across the school is consistently child-centred, academically strong and rooted in care. Under Rob’s leadership, professional development is not a one-off event — it is a culture.

Michelle has led and grown an Outstanding Inclusion provision for over eleven years, building a culture where every child is known, understood and supported to thrive. As a qualified Occupational Therapist and Director of Inclusion, Michelle brings both clinical expertise and deep educational insight to our school. Her leadership is rooted in early identification, personalised pathways and a belief that inclusion is not an add-on — it is at the heart of everything we do. Michelle works closely with families, teachers and external specialists to ensure provision is proactive rather than reactive. Her approach ensures that children with additional needs are not only supported, but empowered — with meaningful adaptations, measurable progress and a genuine sense of belonging.

Natalie brings over fifteen years of experience to her role as Head of Foundation Stage, including leading Early Years provision at two KHDA-rated ‘Outstanding’ schools. She believes that the earliest years set the tone for everything that follows. Under her leadership, Foundation Stage balances purposeful play with strong early foundations in communication, literacy and independence. Her approach ensures that children are not only happy — they are progressing with confidence. Natalie is a champion of child-led learning, carefully designing environments where curiosity is nurtured and individual strengths are recognised. She works closely with families to build trust from the very first day of school, creating a Foundation Stage where children feel safe, known and inspired to explore.

Since joining Victory Heights, Charlotte has played a pivotal role in strengthening the mathematics curriculum, driving clarity, consistency and ambition across year groups. Recently completing the NPQSL, Charlotte brings a strong understanding of leadership, school improvement and instructional development to her role. At City of Arabia, she leads Teaching and Learning, working closely with staff to refine pedagogy, embed effective practice and ensure high expectations are evident in every classroom. Charlotte is particularly committed to mentoring colleagues, believing that when teachers grow in confidence and expertise, pupils flourish. Her work combines subject rigour with practical support — ensuring that standards are not only set, but sustained.

Danielle brings over thirteen years of teaching experience to her role as Assistant Head, including significant leadership experience since relocating to Dubai in 2017. She has played a key role in multiple DSIB and BSO inspection cycles, developing a sharp understanding of school improvement, accountability and the systems that sustain high standards. Danielle works closely with staff to ensure assessment, curriculum design and classroom practice are aligned, rigorous and consistently strong. Alongside her strategic focus, Danielle is passionate about curriculum enrichment. She believes that powerful texts, purposeful hooks and carefully crafted learning experiences can transform engagement and deepen understanding — ensuring that academic excellence is delivered with imagination and intent.