We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Sarah Wade as Principal of Rugby School Japan.
Dr Wade has spent her career leading and growing diverse school communities across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. She most recently served as Executive Principal of Amity International School in Abu Dhabi, a large co-educational international school of 1,700 pupils. She was previously Principal of an international school in Amsterdam, where she successfully launched the senior school, led a period of rapid growth, and secured IB accreditation. Her experience also includes roles in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, giving her a strong understanding of international education across a range of cultural contexts.
With a Doctorate in Education from the University of Bath and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University, Dr Wade brings to RSJ a rare combination of academic insight and practical expertise. Her career has been defined by building strong, values-driven school communities, developing high-performing teams, and ensuring that academic ambition is always balanced with pastoral care and holistic development.
Dr Wade shares:
“I feel deeply honoured to be joining Rugby School Japan at such an important and exciting moment in its journey. RSJ has already established strong foundations, shaped by a shared commitment to excellence, holistic education, and the values that define Rugby’s ethos of the whole person, the whole point. I am very much looking forward to working alongside staff, pupils, and families as RSJ enters its next phase of growth. Together, we have a genuine opportunity to build on what has been achieved and to define what the very best of British education can look like within the rich cultural context of Japan, ensuring that every child is known and able to reach their potential. The opportunity to lead a school that is both academically rigorous and profoundly holistic is one I embrace with enthusiasm and a strong sense of shared purpose.”
Central to Dr Wade’s vision for RSJ is a deep commitment to the “whole person, whole point” philosophy. She believes that exceptional education must extend beyond examination results to include character, wellbeing, independence, and a sense of purpose. Under her leadership, RSJ will continue to strengthen its academic rigour while ensuring that every pupil is known, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Dr Wade is particularly passionate about creating schools where pupils feel both challenged and cared for, and where staff, pupils, and families work in close partnership. She sees RSJ as uniquely positioned to deliver the very best of British education within the rich cultural context of Japan, preparing pupils for leading universities worldwide, and for meaningful, fulfilling lives in an increasingly complex global society.
Mr Nick Bacon, Rugby School’s Chairman of the Governing Body comments:
“We are delighted to have secured the commitment of an educationalist with such a strong track record as the next Principal of Rugby School Japan, following Tony Darby’s success as the founding Principal. This is a historic moment for Rugby School Group as we grow globally from strength to strength.”
We would like to thank Principal Tony Darby for his leadership and guidance since RSJ’s foundation, and for the vision and dedication that have shaped the school from its very beginning. His work has established strong foundations upon which the next chapter of RSJ will confidently build.
As we look ahead, we are committed to ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition. We very much look forward to welcoming Dr Wade to Rugby School Japan in August 2026 as she leads the school into its next phase of growth.
