New Year Message
To the BSA Community,
It is my pleasure to write to you at the start of 2012 and our new academic term, with the aim of keeping you up-to-date with work being carried out at the level of School Governance.
When the new Board of Governors was constituted in June 2011, we made our key priorities clear:
- Firstly, ensuring the BSA has in place the required good governance and effective leadership to raise standards for teaching and learning;
- Secondly, ensuring the BSA has the required strategic action plan which can reinforce its position as the school of choice in Alexandria.
With these priorities in mind, the BSA Board has been working determinedly during the last 6 months to create and implement a series of policies and actions, including:
Appointing the new leadership team. The BSA Board recruited and appointed in July 2011 the new leadership team, consisting of the Principal/CEO of the School; Head of Primary/Vice- Principal; and Financial Bursar/School Business Manager.
Investing in professional development. During the first academic term for 2011/12, the BSA Board has introduced and supported a programme of training for the School’s Senior Managers, focused on leadership and measures for raising learning standards.
Upgrading the financial systems. In addition to appointing the BSA’s very first Bursar, the Board has worked with the Leadership to initiate a new financial management policy and first auditing system for the BSA, in accordance with international standards.
Focusing on the citizenship agenda. The Board has worked with the Leadership to bring a sharper focus on young people’s skills for debate and participation in the context of democratic transition, including through the BSA’s central role in the new ‘Young Arab Voices’ programme.
Expanding the Board’s capacity. The Board has increased its capacity through the recruitment of new members with targeted expertise, in addition to appointing a permanent Clerk and receiving professional training to reflect best practice from international schools and the UK.

Establishing sub-committees. The Board established in September 2011 its very first working sub-committees for ‘Finance’, ‘Learning and Curriculum’, ‘Staffing and Human Resources’, ‘Land and Buildings’, all of which are comprised of Board and Management representatives.
Developing a new communication policy. The Board has been working closely with the Leadership to put in place a comprehensive communication policy for key stakeholders of the BSA School Community, including developing new communication tools.
Upgrading the BSA’s institutional status. The Board has appointed a legal advisor to facilitate the process of formalising the institutional status of the BSA in Egypt, and is developing and upgrading its relations with local authorities and strategic partners.
Establishing the BSA strategic goals. The Board has been working to develop the key strategic goals for the School’s development over the next decade - ‘BSA 2020 Vision’ - which will be consolidated into a comprehensive plan in partnership with key stakeholders.
Concerning the School’s strategic direction, the Board would like to ensure that the new plan takes into consideration the diverse voices and ideas of the BSA School Community, and we will be putting in place a process of consultation involving parents, students, staff and partners. The initial phase of consultation will run until the end of March, in preparation of the next Board of Governors meeting and with the aim of consolidating the strategic vision paper in April 2012.
In the mean-time, let me take the opportunity to wish all of you a very fruitful start to the New Year, and I look forward to sharing with you our ongoing progress.
Yours,
Paul Walton
Chair of the Board of Governors
British School Alexandria
