GEMS Education Appoints Richard Jones to Lead Flagship GEMS School of Research and Innovation

GEMS Education has announced Richard Jones as the new incoming Principal and CEO of GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), following approval from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Richard joins SRI from Bryanston School in Dorset, UK, where he has served as Head since 2022, leading one of the UK’s most progressive and award-winning co-educational boarding and day schools. Under his leadership, Bryanston achieved sustained improvements in GCSE, A-Level and IB outcomes, expanded through strategic school integration, strengthened pathways into leading universities and careers, and built a national reputation for entrepreneurship, innovation, sport, performing arts, and digital transformation.

His appointment, effective August 2027, marks a significant milestone in the continued evolution of GEMS School of Research and Innovation, GEMS Education’s flagship school.

Future-Ready Education at SRI

Positioned as “The Finest School in the World”, and built to deliver “Future-Ready Education, Today”, SRI combines a rigorous and enhanced British curriculum.

Purpose-built as GEMS Education’s flagship school, SRI brings together world-class educators, cutting-edge technology, specialist teaching, and industry-standard partnerships and facilities to create a deeply personalised and future-focused learning experience.

From AI integration and entrepreneurship to interdisciplinary inquiry, elite-level sport, performing arts, wellbeing, and research-led teaching, the school’s pioneering approach is designed to empower students to discover their unique strengths and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Recent quality assurance reviews highlighted SRI’s inclusive culture, purposeful learning environments, strong sense of belonging, and innovation-rich curriculum. Students were recognised for demonstrating pride, confidence, and a clear understanding of the positive impact the school has on their lives, while the school’s trust-based partnerships with parents were identified as central to the strength of the community.

Leadership Vision for the Future

Commenting on the announcement, Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education said,

“GEMS School of Research and Innovation has been designed to redefine what outstanding education can look like in the 21st century, combining academic excellence with curiosity, creativity, human connection, and real-world impact. Richard Jones is an exceptional educational leader with the experience and strategic vision required to lead a school of this scale and ambition.”

Varkey noted that Jones brings a strong understanding of how to preserve educational traditions while fostering a future-focused culture centred on innovation, wellbeing, creativity, and excellence. He added that Jones’ proven track record in transformational leadership and commitment to student development make him ideally suited to lead SRI through its next phase of growth.

Richard brings more than thirteen years of senior educational leadership experience across leading British independent schools. Alongside his role as Head of Bryanston School, he has held leadership positions at Canford School and St John’s School, Leatherhead, gaining extensive expertise in academic excellence, pastoral care, boarding, strategy, operations, financial sustainability, and organisational transformation.

Richard Jones on Joining SRI

Richard Jones said,

“This is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. SRI represents one of the most ambitious and exciting educational projects anywhere in the world. I look forward to building a deeply collaborative culture across students, staff, and families, while establishing a school environment where excellence, wellbeing, curiosity, inclusion, and innovation are embedded in every aspect of school life. My focus will be on creating a world-class educational experience that prepares young people not only to succeed academically, but to thrive as globally minded, future-ready leaders capable of making a meaningful contribution to society.”

Richard holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Buckingham, Qualified Teacher Status through the University of Southampton, and an undergraduate degree in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham.

Supporting Dubai’s Education Vision

SRI forms part of GEMS Education’s long-term commitment to advancing educational excellence in Dubai and supporting the ambitions of the UAE’s Education 33 strategy and Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

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