About Us
We Know Schools. We Know Educational Excellence
Castlegate International Partnership Services
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We will connect your school with partner institutions abroad, government ministries, investors, and developers as you seek to establish a presence overseas.
We ensure that your educational ethos and philosophy is faithfully represented and adapted in an overseas context, planning all aspects of a project as members of your team.
Castlegate Consultancy Services
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It is an uncertain time for schools. We will support your school with your strategic development, leadership transition, and financial positioning so you can face the future with confidence.
We can work with your school board to strengthen and reposition your institution as the school of choice in an area, to appoint new leadership, or to prepare for a new chapter in your story, such as a merger or an acquisition.
Our Services
Castlegate International
Partnership Services
Bespoke international support
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Board facilitation days for international strategy
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Overseas travel to scope new markets and conduct research
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Executive search and recruitment for senior leadership teams
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Business planning and project management services for overseas projects
Castlegate Consultancy
Services
Bespoke Business and Strategic Consultancy
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Leadership skills audit for Boards and SLT
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Strategic Plan Development
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Repositioning within a school’s current market
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Preparing School Boards and Owners for future sale or merger, including finding acquisition partners
Vision
In the next five years we will support schools which face political, economic and social challenges which threaten their ability to deliver excellence to their communities.
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We will support board members and school leaders to explore new ways to deliver that excellence in the UK, Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
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We will help schools to grow their communities and to build partnerships or branch campuses overseas.
Mission
Castlegate Education works worldwide to bring high quality education to communities which desire the highest international standards.
We support schools to strive for operational excellence so that they can continue to serve their communities, thrive, and grow their influence within their own communities, and around the world.
Values
We put children first, and so work with schools who see each child as equally valuable.
We value educational excellence for all, regardless of circumstances, and so work with schools in every country and context to support them in delivery of QUALITY .
We value community, and so we support communities which seek to build an excellent education for their children.
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We value opportunity, and so work with institutions which can broaden experience and raise aspirations for each student
Our Team
FOUNDER
Alex McGrath
Alex founded Castlegate Education in December 2020. He worked in UK independent schools for over 20 years as Headmaster of two HMC schools; led the British Council’s commercial school development programme in China; and was then promoted to Global Director of British Council Schools.
He led overseas projects in Korea; Dubai; Mexico; China; Malaysia; Portugal; and West Africa; School Design projects in the UK, China, Malaysia and Portugal; advises on the sale of schools in the UK, USA, Latin America and Central Africa; and devised an Edtech teacher training project in Sub-Saharan Africa for the Commonwealth Education Trust, later serving as a Trustee. Alex also recruits senior leaders for schools across Latin America and China.
STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP
Mark Logan
Chief Operations Officer
Mark is a commercial Senior Director with extensive experience across the international education, working for a mixture of large multinational, private equity and government backed organisations.
He has developed a mix of operational, business development and executive level skills alongside experience in activities as diverse as government contracting, joint venture development, mergers and acquisitions and operation of premium level international schools. In particular, Mark has a deep understanding of Start-ups –a thorough understanding of the design and build process for new schools; Growth – opening new schools in the Middle East/Asia and developing schools in Europe; Operations – state and private schools across UK and Europe; & Financing – investment options to support business models.
Michelle De Havilland
Investment and Real Estate Consultant
Michelle is hailed as one of the most influential figures in the global property market. With an unparalleled network and extensive expertise, she stands as a highly sought-after advisor and contributor. Her professional journey commenced as a Management Consultant, and her illustrious career has seen her hold senior directorial positions at prestigious firms
including HOK, Woods Bagot, Manhattan Loft Corporation, Xchanging, Land Securities, Dalian Wanda, YOO, Sellar Property Group, and most notably, as the influential Managing Director of Sotheby’s Realty in the UK.
Michelle's legacy spans the development of over 50 iconic structures worldwide, encompassing landmarks such as The Shard, The Walkie Talkie, One Nine Elms, Manhattan Loft Gardens, and the revitalisation of Victoria in London. Her contributions extend globally, including the creation of the first branded residences in Hong Kong and the Philippines, residential developments across India and the USA, numerous hotels in Brazil, and the Nakheel Tower in Dubai. Michelle's global footprint has seen her call New York, London, Cape Town and Hong Kong home at different times in her career.
Kristen Smith
Strategic Director
Kristen works full time for Business In The Community, a part of the Prince’s Trust charity. She brings strong commercial experience to our team. She spent twenty years in the New York Retail sector, rising to Vice President at Macy's Merchandising Group. In this role she developed brand strategy across the organisation for new lines and products, managing a $300m budget and achieving consistent growth across her portfolio of brands.
Kristen spent several years traveling the world, and has experience of more than 50 countries.
Glyn Webster
Education Market Analyst
Glyn is a recent graduate of New College of the Humanities (Northeastern University) in London. He was the winner of the Entrepreneurship Prize at university for Digital Marketing, and supports Castlegate Education with our analysis of market trends in global education. He joined the team in October, 2023, and is based in London, UK.
Glyn assists our client schools with their understanding of markets, market engagement, and education strategy. We are delighted to have him join our team.
Glyn is a keen sportsman, enjoying rowing on the Thames.
CONSULTANCY TEAM
Jonathan Carroll
An experienced former UK Headmaster with extensive senior leadership and Governor experience in a wide variety of schools. He has worked overseas and in the UK in many settings.
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Jonathan's strengths are in educational leadership and developing school improvement initiatives including change management, curriculum development, coaching and mentoring senior leaders, Inspection preparation, and evolving new teaching and learning strategies to maximise pupil outcomes.
Magnus Cowie
Magnus has a wealth of experience in education within the UK and globally. He believes strongly in establishing a culture of organisational wellbeing as a platform for whole school development. This has involved reaching out to global centres of excellence, and developing context relevant, innovative and award-winning strategic approaches within
individual schools.
Magnus has a wealth of senior leadership experience in Malaysia (where the school was multi award winning, including COBIS Beacon status in Wellbeing, Pastoral Care and Safeguarding), the UK, Kenya and in Seychelles where he was on secondment by the British Government to the Government of the Seychelles for five years on sustainable educational infrastructure development.
Magnus continues to work on school inspection worldwide as he has done for over 30 years, with ISI, COBIS and with individual schools on customised ‘school improvement’ projects.
Zoubiya Ahmed
Zoubiya is an award-winning education professional with a passion for school leadership and the best possible outcomes for children in international schools. With a solid background in education, Zoubiya has established herself as a trusted authority in the field. Her career journey showcases her commitment to enhancing educational standards and driving positive change within schools across the world.
Zoubiya has experience in curriculum development, governance, stakeholder
engagement, pedagogy, and educational leadership. Her school leadership expertise is evident from her successful tenures at all levels, including executive principalship and senior leadership in 3 emirates. Her hands-on approach, coupled with her strategic vision, has resulted in significant improvements in student outcomes and Overall school performance.
Zoubiya is a Tribal and PENTA double-certified international inspector. Her empathy, meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive understanding of educational standards have earned her recognition as a trusted advisor in the education sector.
Clients & Partners
We're extremely proud of the relationships that we've established, and maintained, with our esteemed clients and partners across the globe.
Contact
118, Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5EA, UK
Tel: +44 207 1010724 Email:alex@castlegate-education.com