Aatif Hassan on Dukes Education and the future of private schools
Aatif Hassan on Dukes Education and the future of private schools.
If you follow the state of education in the news, you're probably familiar with Aatif Hassan and his burgeoning enterprise, Dukes Education. Since founding it in 2015, Atif has grown the company to be one of the largest education groups in Europe, looking after some of the finest independent institutions, from nurseries to colleges. In this latest episode of Heads & Tales, he joins Oppidan co-founder Henry Faber to discuss his journey from childhood struggles to educational heavyweight.
🎙️ Episode highlights:
Aatif discusses his early mentors, including one who was a member of the coaching staff of England's famous 2003 rugby side
He also outlines the importance of informal role models, from family and friends to his commanding officer in the army
He struggled at school with dyslexia and ADHD, and was eventually expelled from his state school for bad behaviour
He discusses what the turning point was for him, as well as the roots of his entrepreneurial spirit at the age of 13
The challenges of starting Dukes Education, both personal and financial, as well as the implications of COVID on schools
He offers his views on the current education sector, disagreeing with Labour's proposed VAT on private school fees and advocating for collaboration between sectors
After struggling with dyslexia as a child, his love of reading came later in life and he discusses which books have inspired him
His parting advice for aspiring educators and the importance of recognising what legacy you want to leave