Brighton College Abu Dhabi, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Barney Durrant as the new Head Master, effective from April 2025.
MrDurrant joins Brighton College Abu Dhabi having held the position as Head of St Lawrence College UK for the last four years. Prior to his time at St Lawrence, he spent eight years at Harrow International School Hong Kong, most recently as the Principal Deputy Head, and a further fourteen years at the highly regarded Stowe School. In moving to Brighton College Abu Dhabi, MrDurrant brings a wealth of experience, having held senior leadership roles both in the UK and internationally. MrDurrant has a strong belief in academic accountability and teaching excellence; in addition, his commitment to a holistic education that prepares the pupils for the 21st Century aligns closely with the Brighton College ethos that puts kindness at the heart of the school community. With extensive experience of leading pastoral care in an international setting, MrDurrant has been a regular speaker at conferences on the link between pupil wellbeing and academic success and his current school was shortlisted previously in the prestigious Independent School of the Year Awards for Student Wellbeing.
MrDurrant holds a BA (Hons) Degree from University College London, a PGCE from Cambridge University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Nottingham.
Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. Durrant said, “I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to lead Brighton College Abu Dhabi, working alongside our outstanding sister schools in Al Ain and Dubai. Brighton College Abu Dhabi holds a special place in the Capital, consistently performing as the top school for A-level and GCSE results. Having recently visited the school, the culture of kindness, curiosity and confidence was evident in all that the pupils do, both in and outside of the classroom; the opportunities for pupils within Brighton College Abu Dhabi are truly amazing. My family and I are looking forward to our move to the UAE and cannot wait to meet the College community and support the staff and pupils in the pursuit of excellence, building on the outstanding work that has gone before. In the meantime, I look forward to working closely with Mr Craig Lamshed to ensure the school continues to go from strength to strength.”
Mr. Craig Lamshed, General Manager, Brighton Colleges UAE commented, “Through a rigorous selection process by Brighton College UK and Bloom Education, Mr Barney Durrant emerged as an exceptional candidate, unanimously chosen for his alignment with the ethos and values of Brighton College Abu Dhabi. I am confident that he will undoubtedly bring vision, energy, dynamism and a wealth of experience to the role of Head Master.”
With his wealth of experience and dedication to educational excellence, Mr. Durrant brings expertise aligned with the values of excellence, passion and dedication, and is well-positioned to lead Brighton College Abu Dhabi into a new era of growth and success. Mr. Durrant will assume the role of Head Master in April 2025, relocating to Abu Dhabi with his family.
