Downe House Muscat welcomes Helen Booth-Smith as new Principal
A respected educator and senior leader, Miss. Booth-Smith has been an integral part of Downe House Muscat since its establishment in 2022 having served as Deputy Head. During this time, she has led academic and pastoral provision across Grades 1 to 12, playing a central role in developing the school's academic standards and fostering a learning environment where every pupil is known and valued.
Throughout her tenure, Miss. Booth-Smith has contributed significantly to the school's growing academic reputation, helping to deliver excellent academic results and championing a culture of high expectations and achievement. As she steps into her new role as Head of School, she will continue to shape and refine the school's tailored pathways, ensuring pupils are well prepared for success in IGCSEs, A-Levels, or the Omani General Education Diploma. As part of the prestigious Downe House family of schools, Downe House Muscat offers a dynamic curriculum that combines the academic rigour of the Cambridge Programme with the educational excellence of Downe House UK, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and independence, while maintaining a deep commitment to Arabic Language and Islamic Studies.
A passionate educator, she has remained actively involved in teaching, earning respect for the value-added progress achieved by the students. She brings with her a rich background in British and international education, with previous leadership roles in Cairo and London, as well as experience with Teach First, where she supported school-wide improvements across the UK.
Commenting on her appointment, Miss. Helen Booth-Smith said: 'I am honoured to lead Downe House Muscat into its next chapter. This is a community shaped by care, ambition, and shared values — a place where every girl is encouraged to challenge herself and is supported to succeed. As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring that our culture continues to expect excellence and live kindness every day.'
Miss. Booth-Smith will work closely with the current Founding Head Miss. Michelle Scott to ensure continuity and a smooth transition of leadership. Miss. Scott will be stepping down at the end of this academic year after having successfully launched and established the school.
Mrs. Emma McKendrick, Headmistress of Downe House UK, commented 'It has been a great privilege to work with Miss Scott in her role as Founding Principal of Downe House Muscat. Setting up a school during the pandemic brought with it unique challenges and yet she never lost sight of the need to keep the girls' best interests at the centre of all that she did. Her commitment and dedication to ensuring the delivery of a first-class holistic education to every pupil is the most powerful legacy to leave and one which will live on for many years to come. I am most grateful to her.
It will be a great privilege now to work with Miss. Booth-Smith, Miss Scott's successor. Having known Helen as Vice Principal, I am in no doubt that she will continue to build and develop our school community with both grace and humility but also ambition. Enabling all our girls in Muscat to benefit from an education where every girl can shine will, I know, be at the core of all she does. I look forward to visiting and seeing the continuation of the Downe House spirit shining through!'
Downe House Muscat has recently celebrated several notable achievements. In the past academic year, 100% of Grade 12 graduates secured places at their first-choice universities, both in Oman and internationally. Pupils were recognised with eight prestigious Pearson Education Learner Awards, including the 'Highest Mark in the World' for A-Level Arabic. Beyond the classroom, the Under-12 football team was crowned champions of the Muscat School Secondary Sports League, reflecting the school's commitment to all-round excellence.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 academic year, the school will further expand its offering with the launch of its new Kindergarten for KG1 and KG2, with a curriculum that is supported by small class sizes, bespoke facilities, and dedicated Early Years specialists, creating a warm and purposeful environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity and confidence.
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