Introducing Mougins British International School’s New Head Paul Michael

Mougins British International School has offered a full British curriculum on the French Riviera since 1964, welcoming students from Early Years through to A Levels in the Sophia-Antipolis technology park, just outside Cannes. 

We spoke with Paul Michael, who has stepped into the role of Head of School after five years as Head of Secondary, about the transition, the school’s vision for the years ahead, and the developments already underway, from a new Bilingual Pathway to a refreshed outdoor learning offer.

Meet Paul Michael, Mougins’ New Head of School

Journey to Becoming Head of Mougins School 

My journey to becoming Head of School has been shaped by more than two decades in international education. I began my career teaching in Japan, then spent seven years in Bangkok leading English and Media at Harrow International School. After that, I moved to Amsterdam, where I led Sixth Form, university guidance and the IB programme alignment. Each of these roles strengthened my belief in ambitious scholarship, strong pastoral care and the importance of global perspectives.

Five years ago, I joined Mougins as Head of Secondary. Since that time, I have worked closely with students, families and teachers across the school all the way through to Sixth Form, helping to shape academic pathways, strengthen pastoral systems and deepen our culture of learning. Stepping into the role of Head of School feels like a natural continuation of that work. It is a privilege to lead a community I know well and care deeply about.

A Smooth Leadership Transition

Working with my predecessor, James Wellings has been a very positive experience. He has led the school with clarity, kindness and a strong sense of purpose, and I have learned a great deal from his approach. The transition has been smooth, helped by our shared commitment to continuity and to keeping students at the centre of every decision.

There is much from James’s leadership that I want to build on: the strengthening of academic excellence, the development of our campus, the expansion of student opportunities and the deepening of our values‑driven culture. My aim is not to change direction, but to extend the work already underway, bringing my own experience and ideas to help the school continue to grow.

A New Vision for the School 

My vision for Mougins is centred on three priorities: scholarship, opportunity and belonging.

• First, I want every classroom to be a place of ambitious, joyful, challenging learning, rooted in our Learning Principles and supported by excellent teaching. 
• Second, I want students to continue having rich opportunities beyond the curriculum, through super‑curricular exploration, expeditions, creative arts and sport. 
• Third, and a real benefit of a Mougins School education, every student must feel known, valued and supported, within our pastoral systems that help them to thrive academically and personally.

MBIS already has strong foundations. My role is to build on those strengths while bringing new ideas that reflect my own experience: deeper academic challenge, expanded enrichment pathways and a continued focus on wellbeing and relationships. 

A Future-Ready, Continuous Education from Early Years to Sixth Form

Continuity means that a child’s experience at MBIS feels connected, purposeful and aligned from the moment they join us to the moment they graduate. It means that our values, our expectations and our approach to learning are consistent across Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form.

In practice, this looks like shared language around learning, clear academic pathways, strong pastoral transitions and teachers who understand how each phase prepares students for the next. It also means that families feel part of a single community, not four separate schools. When continuity is strong, students move through their educational journey with confidence, clarity and a sense of belonging.

At our recent Graduation, seeing students who were celebrating world class university offers, on course for their target grades, and who had been with us since Early Years, was a real indication of how our school nurtures and enriches talent and potential across all key stages. 

How the British Curriculum Builds a Strong Foundation for University and Beyond

The British curriculum provides a clear, coherent journey from early years through to Sixth Form. It combines academic rigour with flexibility, allowing students to specialise in subjects they love while still developing a broad intellectual foundation. It encourages critical thinking, independent study and strong communication skills, all of which universities value highly.

Across my career in Japan, Bath, London, Bangkok and Amsterdam, I have seen how the British curriculum helps students develop confidence with complex ideas and the ability to express themselves with clarity. At Mougins, this is strengthened by our international context, where students learn to collaborate across cultures and perspectives. The result is a foundation that prepares them exceptionally well for university and for life.

New Developments at Mougins

Introducing the Bilingual Pathway: A New Route to Advanced French Proficiency

The Bilingual Pathway is an exciting development for our school and for the families we serve. It offers students aged 11 to 14 a structured route towards advanced French proficiency, combining high‑quality language teaching with subject learning delivered in French.

The aim is not only linguistic fluency but cultural confidence. Students will learn to think, discuss and create in both languages, preparing them for bilingual qualifications later in their school journey. For families who value strong French education within an international context, this pathway offers the best of both worlds.

New Dedicated Bus Routes, Connecting Mougins School to Valbonne and Monaco

The new bus routes have made a significant difference to accessibility and convenience. For many families, particularly those living in Valbonne and Monaco, the routes have reduced travel time, increased reliability and made daily routines much easier.

They also support our commitment to sustainability and community. More students travelling together means fewer cars on the road, and it strengthens the sense of connection among students who begin and end their day together. It is a practical improvement that has had a very positive impact.

Reviewing and Refreshing the THRIVE and Local Studies Programmes

THRIVE and Local Studies are important parts of our identity as a school. They help students explore interests, develop new skills and connect with the culture and environment around them. The refresh is focused on widening opportunities, increasing challenge and ensuring that both programmes feel meaningful and relevant to students of all ages.

For THRIVE, this means strengthening competitive clubs, further tailoring creative and outdoor learning, and ensuring students can pursue passions in depth. For Local Studies, it means deepening connections with the Côte d’Azur, local history, ecology and community partnerships whilst maximising the value gained from each experience. The aim is to make both programmes richer, more coherent and more inspiring.

Supporting Mougins’ Long-Term Vision

Each of these developments supports our long‑term goal of sustaining our position as a world‑class international school that offers exceptional learning, strong pastoral care and outstanding opportunities.

The Bilingual Pathway strengthens academic choice and cultural fluency. The bus routes improve access and community connection. THRIVE and Local Studies refresh enriches student experience and personal growth. Together, they form a coherent strategy: expanding what we offer, improving how families experience the school and ensuring that every student has the support and challenge they need to thrive.

They are individual improvements, but they all point in the same direction: a school that is ambitious, inclusive, future‑ready and deeply committed to the success and wellbeing of every learner.

Support and Wellbeing at Mougins

What Wellbeing Looks Like for Students Day to Day

Wellbeing at Mougins is not a separate strand of school life; it is woven into everything students experience. Day to day, it means that every child is known personally by their tutor, teachers and counsellors, and that relationships are at the heart of how we work. It means calm, purposeful classrooms where students feel safe to ask questions, take risks and challenge themselves. It means clear routines, supportive transitions and a pastoral structure that helps students understand themselves and others.

It also means that we pay close attention to balance. Academic challenge is important, but so are friendships, creativity, movement and time outdoors. When students feel secure, connected and valued, they learn with confidence. That is the wellbeing culture we aim to create every day.

Maintaining a Close-Knit, Pastoral Community as the School Grows

The closeness families describe comes from intentional design. Our tutor system ensures that every student has a consistent adult who knows them well and stays connected throughout the year. Teachers invest time in relationships, working closely with students to support them in a proactive, thoughtful way.

As the school grows, we protect this closeness by keeping tutor groups small, strengthening communication between pastoral and academic teams and ensuring that every phase of the school feels part of a single community. We also make sure that students are seen as individuals, not numbers. Our staff know students’ interests, strengths and challenges, and as such, we retain the warm, personal, and ambitious spirit our parents are right to expect. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Outdoor Learning at Mougins

Outdoor learning is one of the most distinctive aspects of life at Mougins. Our location, surrounded by forest, coastline and cultural heritage, gives us extraordinary opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. School in the Woods allows younger students to explore nature, develop independence and build resilience. Local Studies connects students with the history, ecology and culture of the Côte d’Azur, helping them understand the place they live in. Our trips and expeditions – The Journey – extend this further, offering challenge, teamwork and real-world learning.

These experiences enrich academic study, but they also shape character. Students learn to collaborate, solve problems, take responsibility and appreciate the world around them. Outdoor learning helps them grow not only as learners but as people.

Nurturing Student Passions in Art, Drama and Sport

Mougins is a school where passions are taken seriously. Students have access to a wide range of creative, athletic and exploratory opportunities through our Thrive programme, our arts culture and our outdoor learning ethos. They can join drama productions, music ensembles, sports teams, art studios, coding clubs and expeditions, each offering a chance to discover new interests or deepen existing ones.

Our teachers play an important role in this. They are scholars, artists, coaches and mentors who create environments where curiosity is encouraged and challenge is embraced. Whether a student finds their passion on stage, in the science lab, on the sports field or through community service, we make sure they have the support and inspiration to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Looking Ahead: Building the Next Chapter at Mougins

I am excited to build on the strong foundations already in place, which I have been proud to bring to this stage, and to help Mougins grow into the next phase of its development. Deepening our culture of scholarship matters: ensuring that every classroom is a place of challenge, revelation, and inspiration. Our expanding super-curricular and expedition pathways will give students more opportunities to explore ideas beyond the syllabus and connect learning to the real world. 

In addition, and underpinning everything we do, the continued strengthening our pastoral systems, so that every student feels known, supported and inspired, will ensure the warmth and vitality of day to day culture is the bedrock of our community spirit. 

Ready to Find Out More?

Mougins British International School offers rolling admissions, so families can apply and enrol at any point during the year, ideal if you’re relocating to the French Riviera. Get in touch with the admissions team to ask questions, arrange a visit, or book onto one of the school’s open days.

About Paul Michael

Paul Michael is Head of School at Mougins British International School, having taken up the role after five years as Head of Secondary. He holds a double Masters degree in English Literature and Educational Leadership, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).

His career spans more than two decades in international education, including senior leadership roles as Head of Faculty at Harrow International School Bangkok and Head of Sixth Form at the British School of Amsterdam, alongside earlier experience teaching in Japan. Known for his clarity of vision and collaborative approach, Paul leads Mougins with a commitment to ambitious scholarship, strong pastoral care and a coherent educational journey from Early Years to Sixth Form.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Mougins School

When was Mougins British International School founded?

Mougins was founded in 1964 and offers a full British curriculum from Early Years, at age two, through to A Levels at age eighteen.

Where is Mougins School located?

The school is set in the Sophia-Antipolis technology park, around fifteen minutes from Cannes and thirty minutes from Nice.

How many students attend Mougins School, and how international is the community?

Mougins is home to over 500 students from more than 55 nationalities, taught by an experienced international faculty.

What curriculum does Mougins follow?

Mougins offers the National Curriculum for England, preparing students for IGCSEs and A Levels, alongside daily French lessons.

What is the new Bilingual Pathway?

From September 2026, students aged 11 to 14 can join a structured route towards advanced French proficiency, combining high-quality language teaching with subject learning delivered in French.

Is Mougins part of a wider school group?

Yes. Mougins is a member of Globeducate, one of the world’s leading international education groups, educating over 40,000 students across more than 65 schools in 11 countries.

What are the school fees at Mougins?

Fees range from approximately €15,960 to €25,600 annually depending on age group, usually payable in termly instalments. Families should consult the school’s latest tuition fee schedule for a full breakdown.

How does admissions work at Mougins?

Mougins offers rolling admissions, allowing families to apply and enrol at any point during the year, ideal for families relocating to the French Riviera. Prospective families can arrange an in-person or virtual tour, or attend one of the school’s five annual open days.

Does Mougins offer school transport?

Yes. The school runs two dedicated bus routes, one serving Roquefort-les-Pins and Valbonne, and another connecting Monaco to the campus.

What facilities does the campus offer?

The peaceful, landscaped grounds include science labs, a theatre, sports courts, outdoor classrooms and shaded gardens.

Read more articles about international education on the MumAbroad blog