Robert Tarn CBE

Managing Director at GEMS School Management

Speaker

Rob Tarn is widely regarded as a visionary leader whose values-driven approach has reshaped educational outcomes for thousands of students. His work has been praised for turning around failing schools and setting new standards for leadership in education.

Rob began his teaching career as a teacher of chemistry in 1998. He held a number of posts before moving to work for Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) as Assistant Principal in 2008. He was rapidly promoted to Vice Principal before taking up his first headship in 2009.

Over the next six years Rob worked in a further eleven secondary schools across the North East, in seven different local authority areas. When Rob joined these schools, they were all judged to be Inadequate, rising to be judged Good or Outstanding under his leadership. Rob became a National Leader of Education in 2013 and was promoted to Regional Chief Executive (North) for OGAT in 2015.

In 2017, Rob was appointed as Chief Executive of Northern Education Trust UK and with the support of Trustees, has led the Trust through a radical transformation. Responsible for devising and implementing the NORTHERN model of school improvement, this has led to substantial and sustained improvements in student outcomes.

In April 2025, Rob was appointed as Managing Director of GEMS School Management in UAE, a new venture launched by GEMS Education, a service aimed at sharing its expertise in school management with school groups, governments, investors, developers, and other K-12 educational operators globally. Rob will lead the next phase of the organisation’s growth, building on its mission to deliver GEMS Education’s renowned standards to schools worldwide.

Rob Tarn was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to education and school leadership across the UK.