Kai Vacher

Principal - British School Muscat

A dynamic force in international education, Kai Vacher is celebrated for his bold vision and unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. With a quarter-century of transformative experience in the UK state sector, his journey took a global turn upon joining British School Muscat as Principal in 2011—a role that expanded in 2019 to also encompass British School Salalah. Kai’s leadership is defined by a relentless pursuit of the highest standards, inspired daily by the passion and potential of students, colleagues and the wider school community.

Under his guidance, British School Muscat has emerged as a beacon of progressive education, consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 schools and the Middle East’s top ten by Spears for four consecutive years. At the heart of his approach is a belief that happiness and confidence are essential foundations for learning and growth—a philosophy that has shaped BSM’s unique culture and earned it widespread acclaim.

Recognized as a leading voice in global education, Kai has served on the COBIS Board of Directors since 2016 and as Country Representative for BSME. His influence has been acknowledged by ISC Research, naming him as one of the world’s top international education influencers in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and by The Pie News as one of the Top 50 Voices in International Education for 2025.

Speaker Sessions

Leaders in Education 1637

Nov 13 2025 | 10:30am - 10:50am

Heading Towards Hybrid: Could Hybrid Schools Be the Answer?

Session Summary:

Building on his work since 2019 at British School Muscat and British School Salalah in Oman with blended learning, online teaching and hybrid models of education, Kai will explore how hybrid models are already transforming the education experience for students, teachers and families.

We will explore how hybrid models can tackle some of the big challenges in global education right now including student engagement and attendance, teacher recruitment and the demand for more flexible modes of working. We will also explore how hybrid models can create more personalised and flexible opportunities for students and what effective remote teaching really looks like post-pandemic.

Key takeaways:

- Why higher pay alone won’t solve teaching shortages
- The “25% problem” of student absence and disengagement
- The real benefits of hybrid schools for teachers and learners
- Design principles for creating a successful Hybrid Academy
- 5 tips for effective online teaching

Is hybrid the future of schooling? Come and join us, get inspired and join this compelling conversation!