GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), one of Dubai's schools with the highest annual fees, has successfully reached its planned student enrollment number, continuing to demonstrate growth. The newly arrived director, Richard Jones, stated that the primary task is to maximize the effective use of the school's extensive resources and facilities.
Jones joined SRI in January 2027 after working at Bryanston School in Dorset, where he has been leading since 2022. He emphasized that he is not arriving with a plan for radical changes. Instead, his focus will be on ensuring the school fully realizes the investments already made before considering opportunities for further development.
In an interview with Khaleej Times on Wednesday, he noted: 'I am not coming with any preconceived notions about what needs to be changed. The school is fantastic. The facilities, the premises, everything there is amazing. And I suppose the first thing for me to do is ensure that we are utilizing all the facilities and capabilities we have.'
SRI, which follows the British curriculum, was established as the flagship campus of GEMS Education with an investment of 367 million dirhams—about 30 percent more than the budgets of previous premium schools. Since senior class fees exceed 200,000 dirhams, the school targets families willing to pay a premium for access to specialized technology, research, and equipment.
The school opened for 8th-grade students last year, and according to Jones, it has reached its target student number. He added that enrollment remains strong as preparations for the new academic year continue. 'So, my understanding, obviously, is that I am not settled yet, is that the numbers were incredibly positive. The school opened for 8th grade last year and reached the target number. It is in a very strong position. The school is growing as expected.'
This growth has also created a constant need to attract teaching staff, although Jones reported that staff retention has remained high despite broader regional conflict. He specified that SRI continues to recruit educators with the expectation that they will play a central role in implementing the school's approach.
'What sets SRI apart is that we are absolutely focused on hiring the best educators available because these are the people who work directly with students and children day in and day out, so they must be exceptional practitioners to be part of SRI.'
For parents considering elite Dubai schools, Jones believes the crucial question is what children receive for the fees paid. He pointed to the design and diversity of SRI's spaces, asserting that learning is not limited to traditional classrooms. Students can pursue interests ranging from broadcasting and podcasting to technology design, athletics, and motorsport.
'If you are a parent considering the various schools offered here in Dubai, you want to understand what you are getting for these different price points. I think anyone who visits SRI, and certainly when I first visited, and even several times since then, I am impressed by how vast it is... it feels different.'
Jones noted that the breadth of choice allows students to find interests that build confidence beyond a specific activity. 'Every child is individual. Every child learns differently. Every child will find their passion in a completely different field. My own two children are completely different. Perhaps some children will find their passion in media, a broadcast studio, or a podcast studio, or through DJing, or at the DT level (Design and Technology). '
He also sees the importance of SRI's connections with businesses and organizations for its future direction, allowing the school to understand the skills demanded by employers and integrate this knowledge into the students' learning process. Jones added that parents are also drawn to the school's emphasis on preparing children for a changing world. 'I think parents chose SRI because of the prospects the school has... the name 'School of Research and Innovation'. They choose the school... because, I think, they want to challenge what already exists, to look forward, rather than to what has always been done, because the world is changing so rapidly.'
Thus, Jones's next phase is less about changing SRI's identity and more about ensuring that existing investments translate into the experience promised to students and parents. 'So my priority is probably to ensure that we deliver what we have now in the best possible way, and then there is always the question: okay, let's see how we can improve this? What else can we do? What else should we test, etc.'