Our Leadership
Mr. Karim Murcia
EXECUTIVE HEAD TEACHER
Karim Murcia is a distinguished school leader known for his innovative leadership and strong commitment to educational excellence. As Founding Principal of Eden Girls’ School, Slough, he led the school to an outstanding Ofsted rating in 2018. He later served as Principal and CEO at GEMS Education in Dubai, where he led GEMS Al Barsha National School and contributed to strategic leadership across the GEMS network. He holds a First-Class Degree in French and Arabic from UCL, a PGCE and Master’s from the UCL Institute of Education, and has completed both the NPQH and NPQEL. Karim has also served as Chair of Governors and delivered national leadership training programmes. As Executive Headteacher, he leads all areas of RGS Riyadh, promoting high academic standards, strong pastoral care, and a culture of continuous improvement aligned with Vision 2030.
Mr. ALISTAIR DOWNS
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Alistair Downs is a highly experienced leader who has founded and led international schools across Asia and the Middle East. Since his first Founding Headship in 2010, he has established schools in Qatar, China, Thailand, and KSA. He is passionate about school improvement and is a qualified schools inspector, regularly leading BSO inspections and COBIS Peer Accreditation visits. He has led schools through BSO, CIS, COBIS, ISQM, and local accreditations. Alistair holds a BSc in Geography from Loughborough University, a PGCE from the University of Cambridge, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management, and the NPQH.
Ms. ANN PHILIP
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PARTNER
Ann Philip is an accomplished educational leader with over 30 years of experience in both Saudi Arabia and international settings. She holds degrees in Statistics and Education, and a Master’s in Strategic Educational Leadership from the University of Dundee.
Ann has held key leadership positions, including Academic Head and Deputy Principal at the Multinational School Riyadh. She was instrumental in the school’s re-establishment in 2020, serving as its founding principal for two years. Following this, she led the successful transition of MNS to Reigate Grammar School and served as principal here for the subsequent three years. She currently holds the position of School Improvement Partner, where she guides the school with a vision focused on innovation, inclusiveness, and academic excellence.
Mr. ATTHAR MALIK
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Atthar Malik is an experienced international educator with over 22 years in schools across the UK, UAE, Malaysia, and Egypt. He holds a Master’s in Mathematics from Imperial College London and began his career through the Teach First programme. He has held senior leadership roles focused on school improvement, curriculum development, teacher training, and inspection readiness, including strategic consultancy at government level in the UAE. In Malaysia, he was the founding Director of Studies at a British international boarding school. Now in his third year at RGS Riyadh, Atthar previously served as Head of Senior School, contributing to the school’s development and BSO accreditation. He holds the NPQH and is currently completing the NPQEL.
Mr. STEPHEN DEADY
HEAD OF PREP SCHOOL
Stephen Deady is an educator with 20 years of experience in international and UK schools. Over half of his career has been dedicated to leadership roles in prestigious schools, including Brighton College Abu Dhabi and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Fettes College in China. For the past four years, Stephen has overseen the development of Reigate Grammar School’s global village of schools, in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and of course Saudi Arabia. Stephen has gained invaluable experience working at RGS in the UK, where the school was recently named The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year for 2025.
