Named amongst the top 10 private schools in the Middle East by Spear’s Schools Index and part of the renowned Brighton College family of Schools and sister to England’s ‘School of the Decade’ (The Sunday Times), Brighton College Abu Dhabi offers pupils a vibrant and challenging learning environment, and a distinctive British independent school ethos which reflects the values and dynamic culture of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
The College is open for pupils from Nursery to Year 13. Located in Bloom Gardens in a purpose-built campus, Brighton College Abu Dhabi boasts state-of-the-art facilities and is committed to becoming the leading British curriculum school in the Middle East.
The College is known for upholding a record of academic results, accomplished by a strong dedication to recognising and nurturing the unique talents and passions of every child.
The College’s vision is for all pupils to be passionate learners, developing an intrinsic desire to consistently improve while having high expectations of themselves.
Every child at Brighton College is valued for his or her own sake and is encouraged to develop skills and talents to the full in a community where there are no stereotypes and where every achievement, however small, is noticed.
All members of the Brighton College family of schools share the same values and ethos, focusing on three core elements which are curiosity, confidence and kindness. We foster these through:
- Academic Excellence.
- Importance of the Individual.
- Innovation in the classroom.
- Making a Difference.
- Kindness.
- Debate.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi develops these values through a concerted effort to focus on these areas:
- Appointing excellent teachers.
- Supporting excellent and inspirational teaching.
- Providing opportunities outside the classroom – to consolidate and to extend.
- Ensuring a balanced life at school.
- Setting high standards, with clear accountability.
The College’s vision is to develop curious and confident individuals who are ready to make a positive impact on the world, by emphasizing three key values: a love of learning, innovation and kindness.
With highly experienced and talented academic and support staff, the College is able to provide an outstanding level of education, just as other Brighton Colleges already do around the world.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi continues to prepare its pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to achieve excellent GCSE and A-Level results, which ensures that the College’s alumni go on to study at leading universities around the world.
Why Choose this Curriculum?
Brighton College follows the National Curriculum of England, supplemented by the curiosity approach in the early years, the International Primary Curriculum in the Prep School, and GCSEs, BTECs and A-levels in the Senior School. This excellent academic curriculum is complemented by a wealth of sport, music, creative and performing arts, as well as a wide range of co-curricular activities.
Our eight-acre campus has been designed to maximise the use of every available space and offers state-of-the-art facilities including:
- 116 large classrooms and a range of specialist teaching and learning spaces.
- A range of outstanding sporting facilities, including a 25-metre shaded swimming pool and ‘toddlers’ pool, a modern fitness suite, a long jump pit and a full size 4G astro pitch.
- Spacious purpose-built playgrounds and outdoor learning environments which include innovative resources and equipment.
- Our Expressive and Creative Arts wing houses a 600-seat theatre, large dance studio, drama studio and teaching spaces, four music classrooms, 12 music instrumental practice rooms, a recording studio, two very large art studios, photography dark room and a cutting-edge design centre incorporating modern product design equipment such as a laser printer.
- Pupils have access to the main Dining Room which can seat 280 people. The ‘bistro’ dining room serves food to our youngest children with a child-friendly healthy menu. Older pupils also have access to two cafes serving salads, sandwiches and drinks.
Mr Scott Carnochan
Head Master
Born in the United Kingdom, Mr Carnochan and his parents moved to Hong Kong, where his family stayed for almost 20 years, prior to spells in Thailand and Laos. Mr Carnochan returned to school in the United Kingdom for his education. Following school (where he played international rugby for Scotland Schoolboys and Students), Mr Carnochan undertook a BEd(Hons) at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He then entered the teaching profession and began his career in the United Kingdom, prior to embarking on another overseas venture, this time in Africa. On his return to the United Kingdom, he started the next chapter of his career with senior roles at both St John’s College School, Cambridge and Repton School, Derbyshire, prior to being appointed to his first Headship at the age of 34. Mr Carnochan undertook his postgraduate studies in Educational Leadership at the University of Nottingham and was most recently Headmaster of Brighton College Al Ain, where the school was graded ”Outstanding” in all areas by ADEK.
Mr Carnochan very much believes in the importance of schools as communities, where the positive relationships between the teachers, parents and pupils allows us to get to know and understand the individual needs of each and every child. He believes that schools must foster children’s talents and nurture their growth through a broad, balanced, challenging and exciting curriculum and, in doing so, create an environment where each child is provided with every opportunity to fulfil their potential. He believes that emotional and social well-being, self-esteem, happiness and confidence are of prime importance and are in themselves inextricably linked to academic progress.
Mr Carnochan is incredibly excited to have joined Brighton College Abu Dhabi at a very exciting time and looks forward to building upon the many successes the College has enjoyed. Mr Carnochan knows and understands the Brighton College ethos and values extremely well given his daughter is a pupil at Brighton College, UK and he has worked very closely with the senior team at the school. Mr Carnochan has moved to Abu Dhabi with his wife, Kate, and his son, Rufus, who will join the Prep School.
Mrs Ruth Forsythe
Vice-Principal & Deputy Head Co-Curricular and Operations – Whole College
Vice-Principal, Ruth Forsythe is an outstanding educational leader with a wealth of experience in the field. She has dedicated over a decade of her career to Brighton College Abu Dhabi, and her impact has been felt throughout the College Community.
Mrs Forsythe’s leadership style is characterised by a commitment to the holistic development of all pupils. She strives to create an authentic environment where pupils can strive academically and personally. As a parent of two children at the College it places Mrs Forsythe in a unique advantage to allow her to understand the needs and perspectives of both pupils and parents.
Mrs Forsythe has always approached her work with a genuine spirit. Grounded in her own lived experiences, she possesses an extraordinary ability to connect with others on a personal level, fostering trust, showing acute empathy and a profound understanding of the needs and pupils and staff alike.
Furthermore, Mrs Forsythe is unwavering in her pursuit of excellence. She sets high standards for herself and her team and works tirelessly to ensure they are met. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in the school’s outstanding academic achievements and its vibrant and engaging co-curricular programme.
Beyond her role as an educational leader, Mrs Forsythe is a compassionate mentor and an advocate for personal and professional growth. She invests time and energy in empowering the staff, equipping them with tools and strategies needed to make a lasting impact on the lives of their pupils and beyond.
Ms Kelly Mansbridge
Head of Pre-Prep and Nursery
Kelly Mansbridge, Head of Pre-Prep at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi, joined the College six years ago. She is a dedicated educational leader with a wealth of experience both in the UAE and the UK. Kelly is deeply committed to early education and creating opportunities for every child to feel success.
Kelly’s philosophy is that a child’s school experience should be filled with happiness, excitement, and positivity. She places great importance on offering parents the opportunity to actively participate in their child’s learning journey. She believes in fostering a strong home-school partnership through daily interactions as well as planned events such as the Pre-Prep Prom.
Kelly strongly believes in preparing children for the future, not only academically but also socially and emotionally. She promotes a culture of kindness, compassion, and tolerance, as well as cultivating the learning skills to equip children with the resilience and perseverance needed to overcome challenges and succeed in their pursuits.
Kelly fosters a love for learning and provides a supportive and nurturing environment. By nurturing a passion for knowledge and creating a safe and inclusive space, she ensures that every child at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi can thrive academically and grow into a well-rounded individual.
Mr Daniel Cummings
Head of Prep School
Daniel Cummings is the Head of Preparatory School at Brighton College Abu Dhabi. He brings over 20 years of UK school experience to the role which spans highly successful stints in the Headship of two outstanding London Prep Schools, as well as Executive leadership support for over 14 schools working for Chatsworth Schools.
Daniel has a Level 7 PGCE in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Roehampton, and is currently completing his Masters in Education at the University of Buckingham.
Daniel greatly enjoys sport and can often be found supporting sports CCA’s and fixtures at the College, as well as enjoying a round of golf in his spare time.
Dr Jennifer Walters
Head of Senior School
