Senior Management Team
Abigail Fishbourne – Head of Junior School
Abigail is currently Head of School at a large primary academy in Bristol. Her
impact there has been immense: Greenfield E-ACT Primary Academy was the
most improved primary school in the United Kingdom in 2011; it constantly
exceeds national targets and this year was in the 2nd percentile for progress
nationally. She is Director of a Bristol based charity which educates children
on all aspects of safety.
Abi was born in London, the daughter of an architect and teacher. Educated
in Bath, she took an active role in school life, being part of the hockey and
netball teams as well as playing in the school orchestra and choir. She
attended the University of the West of England and gained a Bachelor of
Education. She has since successfully completed the National Professional
Qualification for Headship and last year was awarded a Diploma for Leading
the Outstanding Primary School Programme. Her expertise is used by Bath Spa University for whom
she sits on the interview panel for Post Graduate Certificate of Education courses. She has extensive
knowledge of curriculum as well as teaching and learning development.
Abi writes: “I am happily married with three children: my husband is an IT manager, my son an IT
content designer and our daughters will be attending Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. We love the arts, travel and
many sporting activities. It is a joy to have been able to share these interests with the children and
families at school too, by creating an exciting curriculum that engages children in their learning. I
wholeheartedly share the Cranleigh vision and can’t wait to encourage excellence in all areas of school
life. I am delighted to have been appointed to Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and am very excited by the prospect
of joining such a great team!”
Tania Moonesinghe – Head of Pre-Prep
Tania has over 20 years’ experience in UK independent and state schools,
including nearly five years in the Middle East.
She has a Music degree and a PGCE Primary from Bath and Bristol
Universities respectively. She writes: “After my son was born, I taught
FS1 at Edinburgh House, an independent UK boys' school and then went
on to help set up the Pre- Prep department at Talbot Heath School,
Bournemouth (UK Independent girls 3 – 18) as FS1 and then FS2 and
Early Years' Co-ordinator, staying there for ten years. A move to Grove
Place Prep School, Hampshire followed as Pre-Prep Co-ordinator and
Year 1 teacher, then Year 2 teacher at Hampshire Collegiate School. In
2009 I moved to Sherborne School, Qatar, as a founding teacher and Key Stage 1 Leader, becoming
Director of Studies for the Prep School, followed by Deputy Head (Academic). Being part of the team
establishing Sherborne was an exciting and challenging time as well as a personally rewarding one, as I
lead the academic provision from Early Years to Year 6. A qualified British Schools Middle East (BSME)
and British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspector, I have enjoyed being on three inspection teams to date. I
am married to Ron and have two grown up children. Music is my main passion, being a cornet/trumpet
player with a degree in Music and having sung in various choirs. We relish travelling to different places,
cooking and going to concerts and the theatre. It is very exciting to be part of such a great team and the
beginning of Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s journey!”
Matt Ford – Deputy Head (Academic)
Matt has considerable experience of UK boarding schools, having
started his career teaching Chemistry at Lancing College on England’s
south coast before moving to Fettes College in Edinburgh as Head of
Chemistry, and then to Wellington College in Berkshire, where he
held the posts of Director of IT and then Assistant Director of Studies.
When Wellington initiated an overseas expansion programme with a
school in Tianjin (China), Matt moved there as Director of Studies and
subsequently became Second Master. Matt has a first class BSc
Honours in Pure Chemistry from Exeter University and is a member
of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
He writes: “It is fascinating to see a classic UK boarding school
translated to a completely different environment. There are
numerous exciting challenges and rewards, so I jumped at the chance
to be involved in a similar operation by another renowned school.
The plans for the campus (and Saadiyat Island as a whole) look quite remarkable, and Cranleigh Abu
Dhabi has the undoubted potential to become one of the world’s top international schools. The location
is stunning. Being right next to the world-class galleries, museums and concert halls of the Cultural
District is a tremendous boon. I am equally delighted that also on the doorstep is the beautiful Saadiyat
Beach Golf Club; I suspect I shall get to know its enormous bunkers well!”
Simon Kenworthy – Deputy Head (Pastoral), Junior and Middle Schools
Simon has excellent experience of independent Preparatory Schools,
both in the UK and internationally. Having qualified with a BSc
(Hons) from Birmingham, University and a PGCE at Durham
University, he began his career at Beaudesert Park School,
Gloucestershire, teaching Mathematics and PE in Years 5 – 8. After a
stint at Clayesmore Prep School, he moved to Kenya and The Banda
School, Nairobi, where he was Head of Mathematics and Head of
Boys’ PE & Games. He joined Brighton College Abu Dhabi as part of
the start-up team in 2011, where he has fulfilled numerous senior
roles including Deputy Head (Academic) and Housemaster with his
trademark enthusiasm and effervescence!
He writes: “Hello everyone, my name is Simon Kenworthy. I
thoroughly enjoy living and working in Abu Dhabi and am really
looking forward to being part of the Cranleigh venture on Saadiyat. I teach Maths and PE and will be in
charge of setting up the house system; this will create an environment where every child will be cared
for as part of a family and we will be able to have healthy competition in a safe yet challenging
environment. It will also bring a whole load of fun and life to the school which helps make every child
more passionate about their learning experience. Before coming to Abu Dhabi, I spent six years in Kenya
where I fell in love with the open spaces, wildlife and the sense of community that prevails there. This
fuelled my passion for further travel and I gave myself a goal of visiting 100 different countries in my
lifetime - I have only been to 57 so far but I am planning on journeying to a couple more before I meet
you in September. I can't wait for the start of the new academic year and meeting everyone who has
signed up for this great new adventure. Until then...”
Stephen Deady – Director of Studies and Cultural
Development (Junior School)
Stephen was educated in Ireland at St Munchin’s College, Limerick
and the National University of Ireland, before completing his PGCE
Primary at St Mary’s College, London.
He writes: “Coming from the Irish country side, to now call Abu
Dhabi home, has been a wonderful journey. Eight years ago I
travelled to the east coast of the UAE, where I took up a post at
Fujairah Private Academy. In my time there, I fulfilled roles such as,
Head of Year, Head of Humanities and ultimately Head of the Whole
School Physical Education. On a personal level this is also where I
met my wonderful wife Sophie and we were blessed with the arrival our daughter Isabella.
For the past two and half years I have been part of the founding team at Brighton College Abu Dhabi,
where I am currently a Prep School House Master and Year 4 teacher.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi is the next stage in my family’s journey here in the UAE. Cranleigh School is
without a doubt a very special institution and it is a privilege to be part of its establishment here in Abu
Dhabi. I look forward to my ninth year in the UAE and to September, when we all create a new and
exciting chapter in the history of Cranleigh School.”
Adam Tesdale – Head of Early Years
Adam hails from the UK and is an honors graduate with a first
class degree in Sport and Exercise Science from University
College Worcester. He went on to study a PGCE at the University
Of The West Of England, specialising in Lower Primary and Early
Years. Adam has numerous years teaching experience in
prestigious British International Schools across Asia, where he
has held a variety of leadership posts. He joins us from
Wellington College International, Tianjin, where he is currently
Head of Nest (Pre-Prep).
Adam says: “I am so lucky to be a male Early Years specialist: I
love their humour, their liveliness, their creativity and their
bountiful energy. It is such an important age and I am blessed as
being someone who nurtures it first-hand.” He is married to Lily
and they have two beautiful children, Ethan and Mia.
Adam and his family are very excited about living in Abu Dhabi and look forward to embracing the
Arabic culture and exploring this amazing country. He feels not only blessed but also privileged to be
part of the founding team at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. Beyond teaching he is passionate about photography,
mountain biking, and running. Adam is currently undertaking a Master’s in Education.