Abu Dhabi Education Leader Departs After 30 Years in Gulf, Heads to Singapore

After three decades in the region and 12 years at the helm of The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK), Abu Dhabi head teacher Mark Leppard is set to depart the UAE next August. He is taking on a new position as chief executive of Singapore’s Tanglin Trust School, an institution established in 1925. Mr. Leppard, 57, will be succeeded at BSAK by Robin Macpherson, who currently serves as head of college at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland, and has prior experience at Repton School Dubai.

“I’ve been here for 12 years, in the region for 30 years,” Mr. Leppard shared with The National. “I consider this as home for me. My children have grown up here. I’ve had a fantastic life. It wasn’t an easy decision, leaving the UAE, but an opportunity to test myself in another environment arose.”

Mr. Leppard commenced his teaching career in the Gulf region in 1996 at Doha College in Qatar. He initially served as a physical education teacher and head of year before advancing to assistant principal, and then principal for the last nine years. Similar to BSAK, Doha College operates as a non-profit institution.

Mr. Leppard observed that the Gulf region, and the UAE in particular, has consistently demonstrated “very ambitious for education.” He noted, “It’s really changed, but for the positive. There’s more focus on education. There’s more focus on AI, there’s more focus on physical literacy.” He anticipates artificial intelligence will significantly influence education in the upcoming year. He also highlighted the trend of well-known British schools establishing branches in the UAE, stating these schools are “providing very good service.” He added that the sector is well-regulated and offers quality education. However, he pointed out that not-for-profit schools like BSAK possess a “unique selling point” due to their practice of reinvesting “every single dirham” back into the school, including staff training. “We retain quality staff, and they want to come here and stay here,” he said, citing the school’s exceptional staff retention rate, which ranges between 92 and 96 percent.

During his tenure, BSAK has seen expansion, growing from approximately 1,600 pupils to around 2,030 pupils currently. The school serves children aged 3 to 18. “We’ve worked hard on academic results, which have improved year-on-year,” Mr. Leppard stated. Beyond strong academic outcomes, he described BSAK as “a community school” offering up to 100 co-curricular or extra-curricular activities weekly. His contributions to education were recognized in 2015 with his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

BSAK, founded in 1968, was established on land generously donated by the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Mr. Leppard expressed his hope to have made a positive contribution to the school’s history, stating, “I generally think I’m just a cog, hopefully a positive cog, in its history.” His relocation to Singapore stems from a desire to experience a different culture and embrace new challenges. “If you’re in an institution for a period of time, you need a fresh challenge,” he explained. “I’ve been challenged every day at BSAK. It would be good to stretch myself and try it in a different context.”

Mr. Macpherson is scheduled to assume the role of BSAK head teacher in August, just before the commencement of the 2027-28 academic year. He has led Robert Gordon’s College as head of college since 2020. This independent school educates over 1,400 pupils aged three to 18. His previous experience at Repton School Dubai from 2008 to 2011 provided him with valuable insight into the UAE’s education landscape.

In a statement, BSAK noted that Mr. Macpherson “brings valuable regional experience and an understanding of the cultural context and relationships that underpin a thriving international school community.” Mr. Macpherson has authored books on educational theory and practice, including co-authoring “The Teaching Life: Professional Learning and Career Progression,” and has also written history textbooks.

Faisal Raja, chairman of BSAK’s board of governors, stated that the board was particularly impressed by Mr. Macpherson’s educational vision, values-led leadership, and dedication to academic excellence, inclusion, and community. “His belief in creating an environment where pupils and staff are supported, challenged and inspired to thrive aligns closely with BSAK’s ethos,” he remarked.