Michael Wilson joined the Sherborne Board in April 2017. He is an Old Shirburnian, whose family has had its roots in Sherborne since the 1940s. He was the Principal of Cranleigh Abu Dhabi from July 2018 until August 2023, having previously run Cranleigh Prep School in the UK, where he was Headmaster for ten years. Michael was no stranger to the Abu Dhabi school, having played a pivotal role in its foundation and development. He remains based in Abu Dhabi advising the Education Ministry on a new model for education.
Michael has over 30 years of top class British educational experience. Runner up in the Tatler ‘Best Prep School Head Award’ in 2016, the majority of his career as an educator has been in the UK but his CV also tells a story of passion for international education. Apart from his significant involvement with Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Mike has spent four years teaching in his native Kenya (where he also coached the national tennis team) and he also played a key role in the establishment of Dulwich International College in Phuket, Thailand when it opened in 1997. His career has taken him into every area of school life, as a practitioner, manager and, for the best part of the past 20 years, as a leader.
Michael has held a number of senior roles in leading UK schools including being Headmaster at Edge Grove School and Head of Sixth Form and careers at Bradfield College. He has been on the Board of Trustees at Mill Hill, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and Shrewsbury House Preparatory School. Michael is married to Carolyn, who is a teacher and they have three boys in their 20s. His interests are sport, wildlife and chocolate.
