Russel Ellicott
Misk Schools: Principal, Boys' Schools
Saudi Arabia
07-Jan-25
Riyadh: 7th January 2025 Misk Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Russel Ellicott – a distinguished British education leader with over three decades of experience – as Principal of its Boys’ Schools.
Russel is best known for his 11-year tenure as Head of Pate’s Grammar School, the UK’s top-performing, co-educational state school. Under his leadership, Pate’s achieved record academic results, expanded enrolment significantly, and became the only school ever to be named Sunday Times National Secondary School of the Year twice.
A passionate advocate for equity and excellence in education, Russel has also contributed to shaping the UK’s education policy as Chair of the Grammar School Heads’ Association and an advisor to government ministers. Immediately prior to his move to Riyadh, he was serving as Global Education Director for High Performance Learning and acting as a School Improvement Partner for multiple institutions across the UK and China.
Now, as Principal of Misk Boys’ Schools, Russel will draw on his expertise to advance the school’s mission of delivering a world-class education that prepares students for leadership futures at home and abroad.
Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General at Misk Schools commented: “Russel is a very strategic appointment for us. I am absolutely delighted to welcome him to the team at this most important time in our journey towards becoming one of the world’s top-ten schools.”
“I am tremendously excited by the opportunities this role affords,” said Russel. “Misk Schools’ vision aligns with my views on education, and I am very much looking forward to being part of its ground-breaking journey.”
With his proven track record of innovation, leadership, and impact, Russel Ellicott is set to play a pivotal role in driving Misk Schools towards new heights of achievement. He started in his new role in January 2025.
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About Misk Schools: Misk Schools is a pioneering, private K–12 day school for boys and girls in Riyadh that aims to prepare the next generation of leaders. It exists to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by instilling in students the knowledge, values and skills they need to grow into leaders of themselves, of others and in their field of study.
Founded in 2016 by HRH Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Misk Schools aspires to push forward the frontier of innovation in education, with a focus on approaches that enable students to become high performing and inquisitive critical thinkers, equipped with the knowledge, spirit and ambition to have a positive impact on their nation and the world. It was named one of the top 150 private schools globally – and in the top 15 in the Middle East – by The Schools Index 2024, an annual publication from global education group, Carfax Education.
