Redirect - AET Chief Departs to work for the Aga Khan’s Development Network

AET Chief Departs to work for the Aga Khan’s Development Network

Chair praises ‘remarkable transformation’ with AET going from strength to strength

Julian Drinkall, the Chief Executive of AET, will be stepping down from his post towards the end of the academic year. Mr Drinkall leaves the organisation to take up the post of General Manager for Aga Khan Schools, part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

During his four years at AET – one of the country’s most diverse, national and inclusive trusts - Mr Drinkall has overseen a radical transformation of the organisation, seeing year-on-year improvements academically, reversing multi-million-pound deficits, and overhauling governance to ensure arrangements are not just fit for purpose, but best in class.

With a strong management team and proven school improvement model in place, AET has seen sustained improvement educationally. At Key Stage 2, AET has seen a 21-point improvement in combined results from 2016. Whilst at Key Stage 4, the trust saw a 15-point improvement from 49% securing five good GCSEs in 2016 to 64% in 2020. Sixth form students also saw improved results, with an increase of 14 percentage point increase to 72% over the last three years in A* - C grades.

In Ofsted terms, on joining AET, only 29% of academies were graded as either Good or Outstanding. Today, that figure has increased considerably to 72%.

Having repaired the organisation’s balance sheet and delivered two years of surplus, AET went into the Covid crisis in a strong position financially. The organisation was able to invest in devices and wifi for children who needed access. Under Mr Drinkall’s leadership, the organisation committed over £2m in 14,500 devices and wifi access so that every child from a disadvantaged background had a laptop and wifi access.

During the pandemic AET has played a leading role in a number of areas, including virtual learning, the provision of free school meals ahead of Government support, and a heavy emphasis on the mental health and wellbeing not only of each and every child in the trust’s family of schools but also real care for all staff, parents, carers and communities. In doing this work, AET has successfully embarked upon its new 5-year strategy.

Mr Drinkall will take up post at the AKDN in June. Reflecting his passion for human development, both social and economic, Mr Drinkall will be responsible for further developing a global education network across AKDN and its 200 schools, 100,000 students in 15 countries, across Central Asia, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Eastern and Southern Africa.

In his new role, he will establish Aga Khan Schools, bringing together two agencies in the Development Network – Aga Khan Education Services which is one of the largest private, not-for-profit education networks in the developing world; and Aga Khan Academies, which seeks to identify and nurture the next generation of global leaders.

Together, the two agencies will form a single global education network leader, Aga Khan Schools, operating over 200 schools across 15 countries in East Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East. The organisation will have close to 100,000 students, with a wider reach of 2 million young people through its extensive education programmes with national and local governments and international educators .

When he steps down from AET in the summer term, Mr Drinkall will remain as a Trustee for a period of time to support a smooth and effective transition.

David Hall, Chair of AET said:

“The AET of today is simply unrecognisable from the organisation that was the bane of the sector back in 2016. Under Julian’s leadership, AET is flourishing, and is now an organisation of which we can all be proud. It’s an organisation where pupils can start to forge a remarkable life, and where teachers can develop a remarkable career. Thanks to Julian, this has been nothing short of a remarkable transformation, and which sets AET on track for even greater things to come.

“In many ways, it is no surprise that someone of Julian’s talents has caught the attention of an organisation with the ideals and values of the Aga Khan Development Network. I have no doubt whatsoever, that he will apply the same determination, vigour and clear sightedness to this role on the global stage. At AET, we owe Julian a huge debt of gratitude and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish him the very best for this fantastic new opportunity.

“It’s never a good time to lose a CEO of Julian's talents, but he leaves behind an organisation with a clear vision of AET’s future, including a well-defined 5 year strategy, a talented management team and 58 schools with strong leadership and staff. AET has successfully set its course for the next five years.”

Julian Drinkall said:

“I am incredibly proud of what the whole team has achieved over the past four years. When I joined AET, people said I was brave and/or mad. But it was clear to me that whilst there was a huge job to be done, it was doable. The AET team is extremely strong, and whilst the past nine months have been particularly challenging, it has spurred us all on to think harder and deeper about what and how we educate. The organisation has a clear roadmap for the next five years and I have every confidence that AET will continue to confound the critics of its past and become a nationally – and internationally – renowned organisation.

“His Highness the Aga Khan talks about education being a ‘high responsibility’, and that to do it well, we must look beyond the world which is passing from sight and turn our eyes to the uncharted world of the future. Throughout my life, my passion has been human development, both social and economic, and so this philosophy and approach resonates with me hugely. It is also the direction of travel for AET, and I am delighted that I will continue to be part of the AET family as a Trustee for a period of time to support a smooth transition.”

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