Dear MIS Community,
As you know, the MIS Board of Directors has spent the past year conducting a comprehensive and thoughtful search for our next Head of School, in partnership with executive search firm Perret Laver that specializes in education searches. Today, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve selected Mr. Ben Figgis to succeed Mr. Tim Thomas, our current Head of School. Tim will continue to lead MIS through the end of the 2025/2026 school year, while working closely with Ben to ensure a smooth transition ahead of his official start in August 2026.
About Ben
We selected Ben as our new Head of School because he brings strong experience in school leadership, a diverse international point of view and a global perspective for the future. Ben currently serves as Head and CEO of Ardingly College, a private day and boarding school in the south of England, known for its academic strength and international outlook. Under Ben’s leadership, his current school has been recognized for its innovative curriculum, strong pastoral care and emphasis on developing global citizens – all traits that mirror our values and aspirations at MIS.
Under his leadership, Ben’s current school participates in the IB Diploma programme and the school is recognized for excellent academics, both in the IB and in the British curriculum. During his tenure, Ben also led Ardingly’s internationalisation through the opening of two Ardingly College international schools in China and Kazakhstan.
A graduate in History from Cambridge University, Ben has taught IB Diploma History for 20 years and continues to do so as a Head alongside supervising 11th and 12th-graders who are writing their Extended Essay. Prior to Ardingly, Ben taught at Oakham School and Abingdon School in the UK. Before becoming a teacher, Ben worked in television in London and in Munich, from which he brings a valuable perspective from outside education as well as conversational German. Ben’s mother is German and he lived abroad as a child so he also brings his personal experience as an expatriate to the role.
Looking to the future
With Ben’s appointment, we’re looking ahead with curiosity and purpose, but also respect for what makes MIS special. As the world continues to change, so too must the way we prepare students for the future. Education is evolving, and schools that thrive are those that stay open to new ideas while remaining grounded in their values. MIS has much to be proud of — and also much still to explore. With his broad range of experience, Ben is well positioned to help MIS build on its many strengths while introducing new perspectives that support continued growth.
With deep gratitude, we thank Tim Thomas for 13 years of outstanding leadership
As we look ahead, we also pause to recognize the remarkable contributions from Tim, who has led MIS with dedication, care, and vision for more than a decade. Tim’s leadership has helped shape MIS into the school it is today — one that values academic excellence, student well-being, and a strong sense of community. Over the past 13 years, he has guided the school through growth, change, and global challenges, always with a calm head, integrity, and a deep commitment to students and families. It goes without saying that his impact will continue to be felt long after he steps away from his role.
Tim leaves MIS to begin a new chapter in his own learning journey, as he pursues a PhD in Education Management — a testament to his lifelong commitment to education and growth.
As MIS prepares for its next chapter, we are fortunate to have another year of steady, experienced leadership from Tim. Over this school year, Tim will work closely with Ben on a smooth transition. His deep knowledge of the school, its people, and its values makes him uniquely positioned to guide and support this moment of change.
When the time comes to say goodbye, it will be with sincere appreciation and every good wish as he begins his next chapter — and with pride in all he has helped MIS become.
We invite you to read on for a personal note from Ben, and to join us in welcoming him as he prepares to join MIS as a leader of our community.
Best,
Alejandro Bethlen
Chair, MIS Board of Directors
Dear MIS Community,
I’m honoured to be appointed as MIS’ next Head of School, and to introduce myself to you. I’d like to build on Alejandro’s note by sharing a bit about me personally, and what matters to me as a school leader and educator.
As I’m sure is the case for many of you, much of my meaning starts with my family. Joining me in this new chapter is my wife, Joanna. We are the parents of three young adult children – George, Clemmie and Rosabel – who are now in university or in the early stages of their careers. Their educational journeys have inspired me throughout my career. As a father and an educator, I’ve always wanted to give my children and every student under my care an education that both inspires them to find and develop the best of their talents, and that prepares them for the world they’re growing up in.
To this end, I’d like to share three areas of focus that I value as a school leader:
- World Readiness: Much like MIS’ focus on “real world connection,” I’ve spent 10 years developing a supplementary curriculum to complement our core curriculum that I call “World Ready.” The goal of the World Ready programme is to cultivate social engagement, employability and enterprise. At Ardingly, we have chosen to develop these aptitudes through curriculum enhancement and activities, and through students reflecting their personal development through a World Ready passport. I will be excited to discuss with the MIS community how we can develop similar aptitudes and our own language for real world learning for all our students.
- Belonging: As the son of an international diplomatic family, I’ve grown up in multiple countries and attended international school in Madrid, so I understand the experience and challenges of highly-mobile families. At Ardingly, the school community integrates 300 international boarding students coming from over 35 different countries and an equal number of local students with much less global exposure. Fostering belonging within diverse schools such as MIS and Ardingly is essential to the wellbeing of each student as well as the entire school community.
- Celebrating Talent: It is important to me that students have ample opportunity to be seen and celebrated. I believe that providing a stage for students to showcase their talents is integral to school spirit and personal motivation through school and into adulthood. One of the phrases my students will often hear is ‘everyone can excel at something, but nobody excels at everything.’ I firmly believe in both parts of this, in that a great education provides the support and environment in which children can excel in their chosen subjects or activities, as well as taking the pressure off students to strive for perfection or excellence in everything.
Reflecting on my personal journey, becoming MIS’s next Head of School feels like coming full circle. As a television producer for Pro7 in my early 20’s, I gained some of my first work experience in Munich, so I am returning to a city that I know and love. I am eager to return to Bavaria and excited to get to know you all and work with the energy and creativity that I see in MIS to continue developing opportunities for students.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Best,
Ben Figgis
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