Amna Khalaf Al Habtoor, Director, Emirates International Schools announces the appointment of Sir Christopher Stone as the Chief Academic Officer for Emirates International Schools (EIS) Dubai, effective from January 2025
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Christopher Stone as the Chief Academic Officer for Emirates International Schools (EIS) Dubai, effective from January 2025. Sir Christopher brings with him a distinguished background in educational leadership, both in the UK and internationally. His extensive experience includes leading schools recognised as “World Class” by the UK government and advising education ministries globally.
Sir Christopher’s passion for education and commitment to excellence have earned him numerous accolades, including being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his services to education
From 2015 to 2021, Sir Christopher served as the Global Chief Education Officer for GEMS Education, where he oversaw 91 schools spanning multiple curricula, including British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB). Under his leadership, these schools experienced notable improvements in academic performance, positively impacting the quality of education for over 288,000 students across 13 countries.Sir Christopher’s passion for education and commitment to excellence have earned him numerous accolades, including being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his services to education. With over four decades of experience, he has transformed schools and educational systems worldwide, working alongside school leaders to drive significant improvements in academic performance.
At EIS, Sir Christopher will collaborate with our principals to continue enhancing academic achievements and ensuring we provide the highest quality education for your children
At EIS, Sir Christopher will collaborate closely with our principals, Mr. Rob Ellis and Mr. Ian Ward, to continue enhancing the academic achievements of our schools. His leadership will be vital in ensuring we provide the highest quality education for your children, preparing them for future success.
We are excited about the positive impact Sir Christopher will bring to our schools, and we look forward to the continued growth and success of our students under his guidance.
Quote by Sir Christopher Stone: “I’m humbled and honored by the faith shown in me by Amna Khalaf Al Habtoor and her team. I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the further development of both EIS IB Schools. They have a long, successful, and rich history of serving families in Dubai, and I will do everything I can to help them improve on their previous successes. Our children deserve nothing less.”
Sir Christopher Stone’s Background
Sir Christopher joined GEMS Education in 2015 as the Global Chief Education Officer. He was responsible for the quality of teaching, learning, and curricula across 91 schools globally, including specific oversight of 49 schools in the UAE, serving 120,000 students and over 8,000 staff.
Before joining GEMS, he was CEO of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, a UK-based multi-academy trust that he led from 2009 to 2015. He began his journey as a school principal in 1995, where his leadership was praised by Ofsted, and his schools were frequently noted for their remarkable progress. He played a key role in developing Teaching Schools and School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programs.
Internationally, Sir Christopher has provided leadership and training for principals and ministers in Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Finland, and Scotland on behalf of the British Council. He has also worked with the UK government, providing educational insights to several British Prime Ministers. In recognition of his contributions, Sir Christopher was named a National Leader of Education in 2008 and was awarded Honorary Doctorates by both Birmingham City University (2012) and Liverpool Hope University (2018).
He was knighted in January 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding service to education regionally, nationally, and internationally.
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