Letter from the Editor

Jon
Jonathan Westley, Editor of SchoolsCompared, with the engineers, programming the show just before the curtain rises.

For many years now, as an organisation, and individuals within it, we have wanted passionately to create a night of celebration for our schools, a way to give them a collective thank you.

But Awards are hugely expensive and complicated to deliver – and we just did not want to ever do something that did not live up to our values as an organisation or create something wonderful and memorable for those schools that attend.


In 2019 we finally realised that if we did not start the ball rolling, we probably never would and as a result brought the whole of WhichSchoolAdvisor.com and SchoolsCompared.com together on a mission and, collectively, over 12 months, and not a few sleepless nights, started building it. We had in our head the very Dubai-like line from “Field of Dreams”: if you build it, they will come.


We could not have done it alone, and we were helped by so many people. They will know who they are – and our list includes many schools, parents and students – as well as our wonderful, caring sponsors who worked with us. To each and all, a very big thank you.

The rest as they say is history. Together, with so many of our amazing schools, we had an extraordinary night of lights, sparkle and happiness. Friendships and memories were made, and there were even some tears of joy. It is so easy to forget how we all of us need recognition, it is empowering and absolutely right to recognise those who make a difference in our world. Our schools have needed this, and deserved it, for a very, very long time.


Can an Awards themselves make a difference? It would only take us to have helped a single teacher rekindle their passion for teaching to have made it worthwhile. As schools on the night shared their stories, the extraordinary achievements they all have made for our children and families came to life. We are certain that those stories will find their own way back to future generations of students and families, inspiring the innovation, investment and TLC all our schools make in children and young men and women every day.


Thanks to Covid-19 we could not run the awards in 2020, but 2021 they will be back. 

In fact, 2021 promises to be such a special year for the UAE. When the Expo finally launches a light will shine on the whole of the UAE for its achievements and future. 

But, at the absolute foundation of all that we are, and all that we will become, are our schools and the future generations they shape. 


We look forward to celebrating the schools and their leaders at the SchoolsCompared.com Top School Awards with all the passion, and even the sleepless nights, that make what we are building again so worthwhile.


We look forward to your joining us. Together, let us create a night of magic where the stars will again shine brightest for those who bring so much sparkle to the UAE where it matters most; education.


Jonathan Westley, Editor

SchoolsCompared.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 − 4 =

Top Schools Awards

Top Schools Awards