Cranleigh head moves on with ‘mixed emotions’

The founding headmaster of one of Abu Dhabi’s top schools is to leave for a senior position in Dubai.

Brendan Law, the head of Cranleigh School on Saadiyat Island, will join Gems as its vice president of education.

Mr Law opened the school in 2014 and was involved in the project from its inception five years ago with the local partner, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).

His decision to move, Mr Law said, came with “hugely mixed emotions. These are remarkable staff and children and I am very fortunate.

“They are all very dear to me. Being the founding head has been a huge privilege.”

Among those paying tribute were Mohammed Al Mubarak, TDIC chairman. In a joint statement with Adrian Lajtha, chairman of Cranleigh’s board of governors, he said: “It takes a very particular skill set to launch and lead a new school and Brendan was perfectly suited to the role. He has been an outstanding leader and his legacy is one to be proud of.”

Cranleigh was recently chosen as the top school in Abu Dhabi by the website schoolscompared.com and was named New British International School of the Year 2017. Fees range from Dh65,000 to Dh96,333 a year.

In his new post at Gems, Mr Law will have responsibility for the company’s British schools and will work with Sir Christopher Stone, chief education officer, who in 2013 was knighted for his services to education in the UK.

Mr Law will take up his position with Gems at the end of the second term, in March next year.

His replacement is already a familiar face at Cranleigh. Mike Wilson is at present headmaster of Cranleigh Prep School in the United Kingdom, a member of the Abu Dhabi board and wrote the school’s curriculum plan.

He will formally take over on the Saadiyat campus for the start of the next academic year.