Ajyal International School has sets its sights on challenging the best institutes in the emirate after appointing a hugely experienced Principal from a renowned Hong Kong school.
Neal Maxwell has served as a Principal in a number of leading schools around the world, including schools in Jordan, Australia, and most recently, as Principal of Yew Chung International School, Hong Kong.
Now Mr Maxwell and his colleagues have set their sights on growing Ajyal International to its full potential.
The school, which is located in the Mohamed Bin Zayed City area of Abu Dhabi, follows the National Curriculum for England and has been open since 2014. It has a reputation for its innovative approach, which focusses on building connections to local employers and the workplace.
Now, with Mr Maxwell leading the school, the curriculum will also be driven to achieve academic excellence for its children, as he boasts an impressive track record of helping schools and pupils achieve some extraordinary results.
In his last post a number of children received international awards for their academic success in their IGCSE results. In 2017, three students received straight As (A* and A) in eleven subjects and two other students received ten straight As (A* and A), while three students earned nine straight As (A* and A). Several children from the school also achieved international accolades such as ‘Top of the World’ and ‘Top in Hong Kong’ in the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.
After 3 weeks in the role, Mr Maxwell commented: “In schools I like to work with leaders who have skills and personalities that are different from mine. My job is to create a team from individuals, who then work well together. When students and parents see a team that is working as a unit, and that is delivering and dynamic, it gives everyone a lot of confidence. ”
Before working as an Executive Principal in Jordan, Mr Maxwell worked as a Cluster Manager for the Abu Dhabi Education Council. As part of this role, he worked with principals and senior leadership teams to raise the standards of teaching and learning.
His appointment will bolster the academic programme at the school, which is owned by the Bin Omeir Education Foundation, while also ensuring that high standards are maintained.
Mr Maxwell will be a critical part of Ajyal International School’s development and will work alongside, Mark Whitfield, who will move into the full-time role of Chief Education Officer for the Bin Omeir Education Foundation. Mr Whitfield will continue to play an integral role in Ajyal International School’s growth, as the school looks to build on its strengths over the course of the academic year.
