Jared Nolan appointed Headmaster of Kent College Dubai

Kent College has confirmed the appointment of Jared Nolan as its new Headmaster following the departure of former Headmaster Anthony Cashin who has led the school since 2018. Mr Nolan made the decision to move from his position as Taaleem Education’s Director of UK Curriculum Schools and Strategic Expansion to Kent because he missed the cut and thrust of school life and having a more direct impact on the lives of students:

“I was missing the opportunity to directly engage with, motivate and inspire young people and those who lead them. So having the opportunity to join the ‘Mir Hashem Khoory’ (MHK) Group in the capacity of Director of Education, and to lead Kent College Dubai, was both timely – and an opportunity I was incredibly honoured to take.”

Jared Nolan. Director of Education MHK Group – Kent College and Kent Nursery Dubai. 2022. 

Mr Nolan told SchoolsCompared that he sees his core attributes for the role as his combination of experience and “integrity, resilience and determination” to deliver for students:

“I hold an uncompromising belief that when it comes to life chances for our young people, there is no room for complacency.”

Mr Nolan brings an unusual background to Kent College including 12 Years as a Detective in the UK, specialising in ‘Serious Crime and Child Protection.” Realising his vocation as an educationalist, and an unswerving commitment to children, Mr Nolan was fast-tracked to appointment as Deputy Headteacher and then, to Headteacher at Usk Church in Wales Primary School before later being appointed Headteacher of the Charles Williams Church School, a position he held for four years.

Mr Nolan’s first international appointment was as Head of School at Nord Anglia’s British International School Shanghai (BISS Puxi). More recently he spent 3 years as Executive Principal leading Aldar Education’s Al Yasmina Academy in Abu Dhabi, a school that progressed from ‘Very Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ under his leadership.

Mr Jared holds a BSc (Hons) in ‘Psychology’, a Post Graduate Certificate in ‘Child Forensic Psychology’ and a Master’s degree in ‘Leadership & Management’. He holds UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH) and was a qualified UK School Inspector.

Artists impression of Jared Nolan presenting to Kent College faculty on announcement of his appointment as Headmaster in 2022

He is currently embarking on a Doctorate of Education with Bath University exploring the connection between theory and practice in the context of philosophical, organisational, political, managerial and technical dimensions of international schools.

Mr Jared is married to Emma, an experienced International Principal currently leading the new Rashid and Latifa School in Nad Al Sheba reopening by royal decree in 2023.  Their have adult children live and work in various parts of the world including the UAE, some in education.

Mr Nolan is a keen mountain climber and has climbed the Himalayas with his wife Emma to reach Everest Base Camp.

On his appointment, Mr Jared told SchoolsCompared:

“I really am honoured to be able to lead a school with such potential and to represent a board with such ambition. All involved should be looking forward to the future at Kent College Dubai with great optimism and enthusiasm.”

Opened in 2016, Kent College sees itself as a second campus to the UK’s ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) ranked outstanding Kent College in Canterbury. Educating around a thousand students (2022) from its flagship campus in  some 11 students from its flagship campus in Meydan City, the school stands out for the outstanding breadth of its technical and academic qualification pathways at British Sixth Form:

• A Levels (Academic pathways – 18 subject options)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (Academic pathway – 14 subject options plus the IB Core)
• BTEC (Technical pathway – 3 subject options: Performing Arts, Business or Sport)
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (Technical pathway – 14 subject options hubbed in BTEC (above))

Read our review of Kent College Dubai here.
Visit the official Kent College Dubai web site here.