A group of adults standing in front of a yellow bus.

Dubai Inspires – Key Learnings from a Tour of Dubai Schools

A conversation with Richard Backhouse and Claire Robinson, hosted by Russell Speirs

In March 2023, RSAcademics organised a tour of Dubai schools for eight educational leaders from the UK.  It was a chance for the UK guests to meet Dubai school leaders, to talk to students and teachers and to learn about the culture, systems and structures which underpin the development of schools in the emirate.  The purpose: for the experience in Dubai to shape and stimulate the guests’ thinking for many years to come.  And the name of the trip… “Dubai Inspires”.

The 3 ½ day tour began with a visit to the offices of the KHDA, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, to set the scene.  Thereafter, we visited eight more schools for tours, presentations, discussions and Q&A sessions, travelling from one to the other in a modified yellow school bus. The schools had been chosen because they each offered an interesting approach to different aspects of education: two were linked to British school brands, two were part of global school groups, one was set up as a not-for-profit over 50 years ago, while others offered particularly impressive inclusion, wellbeing or eco-literacy programmes. On the last morning of the “Dubai Inspires” tour we held a symposium in which our UK guests shared their learnings from the week and discussed these with our hosts from the schools and other, invited guests.

This armchair chat will be hosted by Russell Speirs, Founder and Chairman of RSAcademics, who led the tour.  He will be joined by two of the guests who took part: Richard Backhouse (Principal of Berkhamsted Schools Group and Vice Chair of HMC, The Heads’ Conference) and Claire Robinson (Headteacher at Holme Grange School and Chair of Panel at ISTIP, Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel).

In our conversation at IPSEF Global, on 28th June, Claire and Richard will share some of the most striking and impactful learnings from their week in Dubai, such as:

  • The integrity, richness and joy to be gained from a truly inclusive school community
  • The way in which a frequent, rigorous inspection regime can be a spur for innovation, ambition and evidence-based leadership
  • The power of a clear and shared ethos to unite a diverse community and to differentiate your school in a highly competitive market
  • The importance of humility and open-mindedness as a condition for effective learning

And they will also explain what changes they have made in their schools, how their plans for the future have been shaped by their experience in Dubai and how they have worked with key stakeholders in their school to ensure they have their buy-in and commitment to these new ideas.

For further information please visit the RSAcademics website: https://www.rsacademics.com/

Source

Russell Speirs

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