Ash Mount School

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Leadership

Leadership

Guided by vision. Driven by excellence. Built on trust.

  • Abigail Fishbourne
    Abigail Fishbourne
    Principal
  • Governance & Founding Philosophy
    Governance & Founding Philosophy
    CEO
  • Senior Leadership Team
    Senior Leadership Team
    HEAD OF PRIMARY
  • Senior Leadership Team
    Senior Leadership Team
    HEAD OF MIDDLE
  • Senior Leadership Team
    Senior Leadership Team
    HEAD OF SENIOR
Abigail Fishbourne
Principal

Abigail brings over 28 years of educational leadership across the UK and the Middle East. She has held roles as a teacher, school principal, director, consultant, and school inspector, making her a respected figure in international education.

Abigail has led schools through transformation and growth, including greenfield school start-ups, curriculum redesign, and regulatory compliance. Most recently, she served as Principal of an IB school, where she launched new IB programmes, led wellbeing and academic reform, and achieved 100% ADEK compliance. She has also worked as a School Improvement Partner, supporting multiple schools across the region to raise standards and foster innovation.

She is a qualified Tribal and BSO inspector and has supported schools in achieving “Outstanding” and “Very Good” inspection outcomes.

Key Skills

  • Strategic leadership and school improvement
  • Curriculum development (IB, UK, US, UAE frameworks)
  • Coaching and professional development for teachers and leaders
  • Inspection readiness and compliance (ADEK, KHDA, BSO, CIS)
  • Building inclusive, inquiry-based learning environments
  • Leading greenfield school start-ups and large-scale reform
  • Student wellbeing strategy and implementation
  • Stakeholder engagement and partnership building

 
Philosophy

Abigail believes education should open to student’s futures. She champions a school culture that nurtures academic excellence alongside personal growth, curiosity, compassion, and resilience. Her approach is collaborative, reflective, and always student-centred.

Abigail views leadership as a service: to students, staff, and families. She works alongside teachers to create purposeful, inclusive learning environments and believes in growing leadership capacity at every level of the school.

For her, true success lies in building schools that are joyful, rigorous, and ready for the future; places where every learner is seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

 

Quote to Live By

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

— Nelson Mandela

Governance & Founding Philosophy
CEO

At Ash Mount School, our governance model reflects the same values that underpin our vision, to lead with courage, learn with purpose, and act with compassion.
Through strong, principled governance, we ensure that every decision supports:

Our Board works closely with the school’s leadership team to uphold the highest standards of education, safeguard student wellbeing, and ensure alignment with international benchmarks and UAE Vision 2071.

Key Governance Priorities

Our Governance Philosophy

Our governance team includes leaders from education, business, and public service, bringing together a diverse range of expertise. At Ash Mount, governance is more than compliance, it is stewardship. We make decisions guided by integrity, transparency, and responsibility, always prioritising the best interests of our students.

Through this approach, we honour our mission: to nurture responsible global citizens who embody curiosity, compassion, and innovation, while shaping a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and full of possibility.

Senior Leadership Team
HEAD OF PRIMARY
Senior Leadership Team
HEAD OF MIDDLE
Senior Leadership Team
HEAD OF SENIOR

Principal’s Full Message

At Ash Mount, we deliver a curriculum grounded in an international framework, enriched by the local and global context of the UAE, and aligned with national priorities, including UAE Vision 2071. This education balances rigour with joy, inquiry with structure, and academic success with wellbeing and student voice. Every child will be challenged, supported, and celebrated, developing as inquirers, leaders, and change-makers. I have had the privilege of opening and leading schools both across the region and internationally. Each of those experiences has deepened my belief in the power of partnership: between students, staff, families, and the wider community. At Ash Mount, we are creating a culture where people are valued, voices are heard, and ideas flourish. Our open-door philosophy reflects our commitment to being a school where relationships come first.

Ash Mount School is proudly part of the Interstar family of schools — a group recognised for excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to the communities they serve. Ash Mount builds on that legacy while creating something distinctly its own: a school with heart, ambition, and a bold sense of purpose.

Thank you for considering Ash Mount School. We look forward to welcoming you and your family as we shape something extraordinary together.

Abigail Fishbourne

Principal