Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
Leonard is an accomplished Whole School Principal, School Improvement Specialist and Chief Academic Officer with vast experience in the education industry. His experience includes more than 15 years of international exposure with expertise in providing strategic educational leadership to raise standards in private and public schools in the Middle East. His track record shows that he can inspire and motivate staff and students to achieve optimally in academic and co-curricular areas. His competencies include: Evidenced track record of raising standards in private and public schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Comprehensive experience in working with the School Inspection Frameworks of Dubai (DSIB-KHDA) and Abu Dhabi (Irtiqa’a – ADEK) and the latest new UAE School Inspection Framework As Cluster Leader for Nord Anglia Education Ltd played a pivotal role in working with the ground-breaking and innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in Abu Dhabi, gaining unique opportunity to work with global experts in their respective educational fields and coaching and mentoring Emirati Principals and staff with a team of subject advisers. As Chief Academic Officer of a group of education institutions in Al-Ain including nurseries, schools and a Special Needs Centre, initiated and successfully established an Educational Leadership and Teacher Training Consultancy offering internationally accredited educational leadership and teacher training. Successfully guided and facilitated the application process and eventual establishment of a new EYFS Nursery. As Executive Principal, successfully led British and Indian curriculum schools, functioning on one campus with more than 3000 students, to the “Band A” judgment in the Irtiqa’a School Inspection Framework of ADEC As Secondary School Principal, successfully led an IB curriculum school A2 - “Very Good” rating in the DSIB school inspections and leading the same school to become a whole continuum IB Curriculum school. Completed PENTA Level 2 School Inspector training. Trained, mentored and coached Principals, middle leaders and teachers in Tamkeen Professional Development project while working for GEMS Education Solutions Extensive experience in leading and managing schools offering: British National Curriculum (FS-13) – Foundation Stage to IGCSE (CAIE and EDEXEL) and A-levels (CAIE and EDEXEL), International Baccalaureate (IBDP, MYP), CBSE (Indian Curriculum), New Abu Dhabi School Model, Emirates school curriculum. Governor of the North American International School running the Carolina Common Core Curriculum
• When the CEO of the AJ Group of schools heard that I finished my tenure at Arab Unity School, he called me to support the schools in the group with very targeted support regarding immediate preparation for the Al Ain Juniors School (Indian Curriculum) to obtain ADEK approval to shift the students to a new building in Al Ain. • The project includes developing a school-group wide CPD program to be implemented from September 2023. • As part of the role, I must work in close collaboration with the CEO and principals of the schools to decide on a functional Learning Management System that can be implemented from the new academic year. • Bespoke support is provided to the Head of the new Excel International (British Curriculum) School on a variety of aspects.
• Under my leadership the previous below world average performance of the school’s IGCSE, AS, AL and A2 results have since been improved to outstanding and very good attainment – including achieving the Top in the World and Top in the UAE students in the June 2022 IGCSE/AS results. • Strategic and innovative leadership dramatically raised the reputation and number of students since the COVID pandemic of this British Curriculum school. • Careful strengthening of organizational structures and policies, while considering the budgetary limitations, led the school towards becoming a financially stable institution that is now considering further expansion. • Innovative marketing strategies is progressively improving the reputation of Arab Unity School (AUS) to become a school of choice for affordable British Curriculum education in Dubai. • Part of the strategy includes improving the online footprint of the school and building the reputation of the school in the community and authorities e.g., KHDA, MoE, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority. • Innovative improvement of the admissions and registration policies and processes to modernize the outdated practices resulted in AUS now serving more than 3200 students of 47 different nationalities.
• As the need prescribed, ADEK seconded me to Principal or Vice-Principal positions in boys’ schools in Abu Dhabi. Supporting local Emirati Principals with special focus on a cycle of Self Evaluation, School Improvement Planning, managing and execution of action plans to systematically improve teaching and learning to raise standards and student attainment and progress. • Achieved very pleasing result in the 2016-17 school inspections report by successfully moving Al Qarm Cycle 2 Boys school to Satisfactory (Level B4) rating from a previous rating of Weak/Very Weak (Level C6). • Al Qarm was identified and selected for visitations by other cluster’s principals to observe successful systems – including an effective Positive Behaviour Management initiative - and impressive consistent classroom practice resulting in much improved EMSA attainment across the school. • Invited to present workshops at ADEC’s Gifted and Talented conference in Abu Dhabi and later at the Gifted and Talented Conference in Dubai in 2016. • Invited to form part of recruitment panel in support of ADEC’s English Medium Teachers recruitment drive. • Al Qarm school selected as one of the pilot schools for the SMART Learning initiatives where laptops are provided to schools to promote blended learning environments with the use of appropriate technology – including e-learning, online collaboration and formalized online assessment. • Seconded to Al Sammaliya Cycle 3 Boys School in Banyas to support the Emirati Principal to raise standards • Pleasing result in the 2018-19 school inspections report by successfully moving Al Sammaliya Cycle 3 Boys school to Satisfactory (Level B4) rating from a previous rating of Weak/Very Weak (Level C6) • Al Sammaliya identified and used for cluster wide training and modelling of good practice demonstrated in the context of boys’ schools in Abu Dhabi