GEMS acquires additional schools

The schools are situated consisting throughout England and the acquisition will bring the total number of schools owned by GEMS in the UK to 13, and the number of GEMS managed schools worldwide to 36.

Commenting on the announcement, Hugh MacPherson, Chief Operating Officer, GEMS, said "The acquisition of Nord Anglia's UK portfolio of schools represents significant growth for GEMS in the UK and will further enable the Group to achieve its aim of providing quality education to local and international schools."

The acquisition follows the GEMS announcement earlier this month to manage two new schools in the region, The Sheffield Private School in the UAE and the Cambridge International School for Girls in Qatar, which are scheduled to open in September this year. The Sheffield Private School will be open to primary and secondary students and the Cambridge to girls from kindergarten through to Year 13. Both schools will follow The British National Curriculum.

"Demand for education in the UK and the GCC is at an all time high and as a result of greater parental expectation, a desire for value and increasing interest in the actual quality of delivery. The GEMS experience of transferring best practise between schools enables us to develop a strong and successful network of which the Nord Anglia schools will now be a part," Hugh MacPherson added.

GEMS is one of the world's largest providers of quality private schooling with a long and successful track record for delivering the highest standards of teaching and learning. GEMS has been built on a business model that aims to make independent education as accessible as possible. Its credentials are based on long term vision and a commitment to provide high quality education for its pupils and the best possible professional development and support for its teaching and administrative staff.

GEMS in the UK is chaired by Professor, Sir Gareth Roberts, FRS, a distinguished academic who is a member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology and President of Wolfson College, Oxford. Another eminent educationalist is the Vice Chairman, Mike Tomlinson, CBE, FRSA who, until recently, was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for Schools and is currently Chair of the Government's working group on 14-19 reform. In addition, there are a number of highly respected advisers to the Board including Professor John McBeath, OBE, currently Chair of Educational Leadership at Cambridge University, Dr Elizabeth Passmore, OBE, formerly Director of Inspection at OFSTED and James Sabben-Clare for 15 years Headmaster of Winchester and Chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference in 1999.