Taaleem announces the appointment of Simon O’Connor as the Executive Principal of Harrow International UAE.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in the development of Harrow International School Dubai and Harrow International School Abu Dhabi, through a landmark partnership between Harrow International Schools Limited (HISL) and Taaleem. As Executive Principal, O’Connor will oversee both schools and serve as the Founding Principal of the Dubai school.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience across outstanding British and international schools, O’Connor brings a deep understanding of academic excellence, innovation, and character-building education. Most recently, he served as Director of Deira International School and Chief Education Officer for the Al Futtaim Education Foundation. Under his leadership, the school received multiple accolades for digital learning, wellbeing, and inspection outcomes.
O’Connor is a former Principal of Jumeirah College and has also served as Vice President for a leading education company, overseeing the performance of British curriculum schools across the UAE. He is the founder of the Centre for Education Action Research (CEAR), a pioneering alliance of educators investigating topics including AI in education, instructional leadership, and language learning.
He also serves on the Board of COBIS, the TES Global Advisory Board, and chaired the T4 World Schools Leadership Council.
