Principal, Rugby School Dubai

The Rugby School Group’s fourth international sister school opens in Dubai in September 2026. Rugby School Dubai will be a day school for 2,300 students aged three to 18 located on a spectacular campus in the heart of one of the world’s most exciting cities. It will offer the full Rugby experience focusing upon the development of the whole person. Students will follow the Rugby curriculum, leading to IGCSE and A-level studies, and this will provide them with access to the world’s leading universities. Rugby School Global and its operating partner, Aldar, wish to appoint a dynamic and inspirational Principal to lead the school community from September 2026, or earlier.

Founded by Royal Charter in 1567 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Rugby is one of the world’s most famous boarding schools. Today, it educates 850 students aged 13 to 18 and 360 boys and girls in its Prep school. Described by Tatler as ‘a school at the top of its game’, Rugby’s students achieve outstanding GCSE and A-level results within an educational environment where the whole person is the whole point.

Rugby School Dubai will start from a strong base with a current roll of 1,400 students aged three to 18 across its Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior sections. It will offer Rugby’s academic and co-curricular programmes, including its day House pastoral structure and a wide range of co-curricular activities to support and enhance students’ academic achievements. Students at Rugby School Dubai will participate in Rugby Global, Rugby’s enrichment programme, which involves an exchange programme with other schools within the group.

The Principal of Rugby School Dubai will be accountable to its Governing Body for all aspects of its leadership and operations, and for delivering Rugby’s vision to become one of the leading schools in the GCC. The Governors are seeking to appoint an experienced, dynamic and inspirational school leader who is a skilled strategic thinker and someone able to build effective relationships and manage change. The Principal of Rugby School Dubai will work collaboratively with the CEO, the Deputy CEO and the Director of Education of Rugby School Global and with the Head Master of Rugby School in the UK and the Principals of Rugby School Thailand, Rugby School Japan and Rugby School Nigeria. They will promote the Rugby model of education, embracing the vision of ‘The Whole Person, the Whole Point’ and embedding ‘The Rugby Way’ as an approach to teaching and learning within the school.

Further information on Rugby School Global can be found here:

https://www.rugbyschoolglobal.com/

A candidate brief will be available soon.

A covering letter and CV should be submitted by 9.00am Gulf Standard Time on Friday 13^th June 2025.

For an informal and confidential conversation about this opportunity, candidates are invited to contact Conor Wilson on conor.wilson@odgersberndtson.com

Rugby School and Aldar are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the relevant authorities.