Nicola Badby

Nicola Badby

Nicola Badby

I have a degree in fashion and textile design which I used in my early career as a costume designer and maker; This job enabled me to travel the world on different jobs and was really fun. 

I love painting, especially portraits and I particularly love working with acrylic paint.  I also enjoy sewing; I have been known to make wedding dresses, cushions, bags, puppets, and who knows what else. 

About Me

I am a mother to a one-year-old little girl called Ethar and a wife to my husband Ismail. I feel like a real ‘jack of all trades’ as over the years I have turned my hand to many things whether that was youth work, playing musical instruments, learning new sports or any kind of making. 

When I am not creative, I enjoy participating in dragon boat racing or running. 

I like to read and have quite an eclectic taste in books and I also love films. My favorite films are often about war, sci-fi and fantasy. Oh, and I love listening to records, especially ones that remind me of the music my parents played when I was growing up (The Who, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac). 

I cannot get through the day without coffee and my favorite food is crunchy peanut butter on toast. 

My Experience

I started my career in the north of England teaching for 6 years at St Thomas More School in Newcastle. At that school I taught food technology and textiles all the way up to A-level. I also taught Health and Social Care following both the BTec level 2 and 3 and GCSE and A-level programs of study. It was at this school that I was also a form tutor for the first time, which I grew to love. 

In 2014 I moved to Dubai and taught at Safa Community school as one of the founding teachers. This meant that to begin with I taught Art, DT, Food technology, Science and Drama! Eventually as the school grew, I was able to focus on Art and Food Technology and had successful results when the students did their GCSEs. Throughout my time at this school, I lead many international school trips and was also a form tutor. In 2018 I moved into being head of year 7. 

In 2019 I relocated to the Netherlands and joined Amity Amsterdam where I taught MYP for the first time as the Visual Arts teacher for the middle years diploma program. I was also the lead teacher for safeguarding for the Secondary school. 

I moved back to Dubai in January 2022 as the primary art teacher for Safa British school and have absolutely loved working here. The staff and students have made me feel so welcome and I cannot wait to join the Secondary team in September as one of the art teachers and head of year 9.