Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, has officially announced the appointment of Dan Clark as its Founding Principal. This marks a major milestone in the school’s mission to deliver world-class British education in the UAE.
The appointment follows initial approval by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for the establishment of the Dubai campus – the first international branch of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, in partnership with GEDU Global Education. The school is set to open its doors in August 2026.
The new Queen Elizabeth’s School Dubai Sports City campus will provide UAE students access to the National Curriculum for England, delivered to the same outstanding academic standards that have made the UK school consistently top-ranked by Ofsted and among the highest in UK league tables.
Leadership Rooted in Academic Excellence
Caroline Pendleton-Nash, CEO of Queen Elizabeth’s Global Schools, described the appointment as an exciting and pivotal step in expanding the Queen Elizabeth’s legacy.
“Dan joins Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City with an exceptional record of leadership at one of the UK’s most distinguished schools, Marlborough College,” said Mrs. Pendleton-Nash.
“His expertise in academic excellence, character formation, and high-performance school culture will uphold and advance the Queen Elizabeth’s tradition in Dubai. Our mission is to bring a truly world-class British education to the UAE, rooted in 450 years of scholarly heritage.”
A Vision for Educational Distinction
As Founding Principal, Dan Clark expressed his enthusiasm for expanding Queen Elizabeth’s legacy into the UAE:
“Throughout my career in outstanding schools, I’ve seen how powerful education can be,” said Mr. Clark.
“It challenges pupils to think deeply, act responsibly, and believe in their capacity to achieve. These values define the Queen Elizabeth’s approach, and I look forward to building a community that nurtures confident, able, and responsible young people ready to shape the future.”
Educated at George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh, and the University of St Andrews, Clark brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles at two of the UK’s most respected independent schools — Repton and Marlborough College.
He is widely recognised for his academic rigor, innovative leadership, and commitment to balancing excellence with character development — values that will define Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City.
A 450-Year Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 1573 by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet has a rich heritage spanning more than 450 years. It provides a merit-based, world-class education to students from diverse backgrounds, consistently outperforming even the UK’s most selective independent schools.
In 2025, Queen Elizabeth’s was named the Sunday Times State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels, with 55% of leavers in 2024 earning places at institutions ranked in the Top 5 of the QS World University Rankings.
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