User:Simon OGrady

 Simon O'Grady  is an international school leader, who has led three outstanding international schools in Egypt, Malaysia and Mexico.

 Early Life:  Born in Harehills, Leeds, O'Grady grew up in a rich multicultural setting, which helped shape his internationalist values.

 Education:  Educated in Catholic schools in Leeds, he served as School Captain (Head Prefect) at St Michael's College, an all-boys grammar school. After graduating from the London School of Economics, he later completed two master’s degrees and management training at Harvard University.

 Career:  Before teaching, O’Grady was a research assistant in the House of Commons and later a lecturer in further education. He worked in UK independent schools (1987-2005) before moving overseas into senior management roles.

Wider Impact: He is a long-standing Board member of The Council of British International Schools, and a Director of High Performance Learning. He is a committed supporter of educational charities in Egypt, notably the Old Cairo Deaf School, The Autistic Society and The Alexandria Trust. He has been a governor of two UK state schools and is a serving school inspector. As a school leader, he is known for successful strategic change; having moved a school to a new campus (Cairo) and built a school from scratch (Kuala Lumpur). His calm management in big crises has marked his international reputation. In Egypt, he led his school through two revolutions and kept his team together despite the dangers. At one point, he was threatened with summary court martial, by the Supreme Council of the Armed Force s, for his actions in keeping his school open. As a member of the Overseas Security & Advisory Council, he is an informed source on in-country security.

 Awards & Recognition : In 2011, he was commended by HM Ambassador to Egypt for his work in aiding UK nationals during the revolution and was made Warden of the British Embassy. In 2015, the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate adjudged his school to be outstanding in all areas, with the quality of leadership and management seen as excellent. In 2019, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in recognition of his services to international education.