Brett Girven has been appointed as Principal of the Arbor School, an extraordinary school in Dubai which blends academic rigour with a deep understanding of the world and our place within it.
The school, which delivers the National Curriculum for England to students from FS1 to Year 7, was inspired by an ecologist and is taught by a community of passionate educators.
It utilises six climate-controlled biodomes, a reflection and learning gardens as key educational spaces to engage children in a deeper understanding of their ecology and environment.
Mr. Girven shares the vision of the Arbor School founders in teaching children to question their impact on the planet and to assume their responsibility as stewards of the future in a profoundly interconnected world.
A New Zealand national with more than a decade’s experience in Middle East education, Mr. Girven holds a Master’s of Science in Educational Leadership, a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science.
In Mr. Girven’s previous role, he played a pivotal part in successfully moving the school from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ in the KHDA rating, underlining his credentials in quality assurance and continuous school improvement experience. His current academic focus on continuous professional development, innovative strategies and methods for assessing student learning.
“Brett’s appointment comes at a time when we’re continuing to spread the message about Arbor throughout Dubai and why we place ecology at the heart of everything we do,” said Dr Sa’ad Al-Omari, Co-Founder of the Arbor School and CEO of Praxis Education, owners and operators.
“It was clear to us from our first meeting with Brett that he is entirely aligned with the ethos of the school. At Arbor, children are taught the skills to question their impact on the planet and develop an ethical skillset which provides them with the intellectual courage and knowledge to explore.”