{
  "id": 16696416,
  "title": "After 30 years in the Gulf, Abu Dhabi head teacher of BSAK to leave UAE",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/after-30-years-in-the-gulf-abu-dhabi-head-teacher-of-bsak-to-leave-uae-16696416",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-27T02:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/27/mark-leppard-headteacher-bsak-leave-abu-dhabi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For three decades, Mark Leppard has served as the head teacher of The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) in Abu Dhabi. In August, he will depart the UAE to assume the role of chief executive at Tanglin Trust School in Singapore. Replacing him at BSAK will be Robin Macpherson, who currently serves as head of college at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland. Leppard, 57, attributes his decision to take on the new position to the opportunity to immerse himself in a different educational environment.\n\nLeppard, who began his teaching career in the Gulf in 1996, has been with Doha College since 1996, rising to the position of principal. He notes that the Gulf region has increasingly placed a strong emphasis on education, artificial intelligence, and physical literacy. He anticipates artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on education in the upcoming year. Leppard also acknowledges the proliferation of well-regarded British schools in the UAE, which he believes offer a high-quality education.\n\nSince his arrival at BSAK in 2015, the school's pupil population has grown from approximately 1,600 to around 2,030, and academic performance has continuously improved. The school's staff retention rate stands at an impressive 92-96%. BSAK, a non-profit institution established in 1968, uniquely reinvests all of its revenues into the school, including staff training, which aids in retaining quality staff.\n\nBSAK offers a broad range of co-curricular activities, including up to 100 per week. Leppard's dedication to education led to his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2015. He expressed his hope to contribute positively to the school's history during his tenure.\n\nMacpherson, who will assume the BSAK head teacher role in August, brings extensive experience to the position. Having previously served as head of college at Robert Gordon’s College and at Repton School Dubai, he holds significant regional experience. BSAK's board lauded Macpherson's educational vision, values-driven leadership, commitment to academic excellence, inclusion, and community.",
  "summary": "After three decades in the region and 12 years leading The British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi head teacher Mark Leppard will leave the UAE next August. He will take up a new role as chief executive of Singapore’s Tanglin Trust School, founded in 1925. Mr Leppard, 57, will be succeeded at BSAK by Robin Macpherson, currently head of college at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland, who…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}