About
KGS
Karachi Grammar School is a non-profit organisation, committed to fostering duty and service as educational ideals, by promoting support for activities such as:
- Scholarship Awards for students on need-cum-merit basis.
- Blood donation camps on our premises.
- Student volunteers to medical facilities such as SIUT, Dar-ul-Sakoon, Kidney Centre, etc.
- Fund-raising efforts for various educational charities such as The Citizens Foundation and Ujala through Helpers’ Societies events.
- Free summer school classes and sports for children of domestic staff.
- Financial literacy classes for domestic staff.
- Competitive Arts and Science events for student teams from other schools organised by our own senior students.
- Book donations to low fee schools and educational charity schools.
The School is located on three sites. The original school, Middle Section in Saddar, the heart of the city of Karachi, is listed as a heritage building and now houses Year VII, VIII and IX. At Clifton, not far from the sea front, Kindergarten and Junior Sections opened in 1991, we teach children from Nursery to Year VI. Our newest premises, College Section opened in 1999, houses our O and A-level students.
The School is entirely independent, receiving no grant from the government or any other source, and is controlled by a Board of Governors registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.
The Principal of the School is Secretary to the Board and executes the decisions of the Board.
The Principal chairs the Senior Leadership Team which is made up of The Principal, the Heads of Sections, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Operations Officer.
Mr Carl P. Lander
Principal & CEO
Carl led prestigious schools in the UK and was recognised for developing academic excellence as well as building acclaimed extracurricular programmes. In 2013 he was recruited by the UK Government as an inspector and Director of Education for the British Overseas Territories which led to a desire to learn more about international models of education and saw him work as a Director, Rector and Principal in a number of leading institutions across the globe. Carl has over 25 years’ experience in education ranging across primary, secondary and tertiary education. He has been part of steering committees for Local Education Authorities and the Department for Education in the UK and was pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with both the Bolivian, Azerbaijani and Chilean Ministries of Education at a local and national level. Most recently he has served on the Board of Directors for the Council of British International Schools and is currently Chair of Synergy, the Cambridge Community Schools group in Karachi. His work in education has been recognised nationally by the UK Science Council and Association for Science Education, and internationally having been awarded the red cross medal as ‘ambassador for peace’ in Brazil, an honorary doctorate from the Council of Latin American Universities, a medal of honour in Bolivia and most recently, by Royal Charter, he was awarded ‘fellowship’ of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Carl cites Kurt Hahn as one of his leading inspirational figures for his work in education, and believes Hahn’s work is now more relevant, than any other time in history. His areas of passion and research are AI and its implications for learning and assessment, experiential and emotional learning, teacher training methodology, and personalised learning programmes for students. As the KGS principle, he aims to consolidate and improve the schools outstanding academic reputation, provide opportunities for students to find and develop their passion, whilst also preparing them with a skill set that will see them succeed in a demanding and rapidly changing world.
Maimoona Farooq
Headmistress
Kindergarten & Junior Section
An accomplished senior educator with extensive experience in the field of education, Mrs. Maimoona Farooq is Headmistress Kindergarten & Junior Sections of Karachi Grammar School and leads a team of dedicated teachers, overseeing the academic and holistic development of young learners from Nursery to Year VI.
With a profound passion for teaching and a strong commitment to educational excellence Mrs. Farooq’s academic journey reflects her multidisciplinary approach to education. Alongside a Bachelor of Arts degree from Karachi University she pursued a Diploma in Art, establishing a comprehensive foundation in the fields of education and art. Committed to developing her skills and knowledge in education, she has undergone rigorous training both within and outside of Pakistan to remain updated with teaching methodologies, educational practices and advancements.
Her experience in leadership roles as Senior Mistress and later Assistant Headmistress, has given her a deep understanding of curriculum development, assessment strategies, and pedagogical approaches.
Extending beyond classroom teaching, she played a pioneer role as one of the first Programme Leaders at Karachi Grammar School for CAIE PDQ
(Professional Development Qualifications), a Cambridge affiliated training programme for teachers.
Throughout her years as an educator, Mrs. Maimoona Farooq has demonstrated a passion for developing and enriching the educational experience for young KGS learners. She firmly believes that a school should be a safe and happy place for all students, where their holistic development and academic excellence are sensitively balanced. Her vision is rooted in the belief that every student possesses unique skills, talents, and strengths, which need to be nurtured and supported to reach their full potential.
She is a firm advocate of student-centered learning and emphasizes the importance of creating a conducive learning environment that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and independent learning skills. Driven by her vision, she strives to create a learning culture that celebrates diversity and encourages students to explore their interests and passions.
With her wealth of experience, commitment to excellence, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of education, she continues to make a positive impact on the lives of students.
Seema Haider
Assistant Headmistress
Kindergarten Section
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Karachi University, Mrs. Seema Haider’s teaching career at Karachi Grammar School, Kindergarten Section started in 1987.
She was instrumental in the launching of the Open Learning Scheme with the Nursery and then extending it to Prep in her capacity as Year Leader, this marked a significant shift in the Kindergarten’s pedagogical approach to teaching and learning. Her responsibilities then expanded to incorporate a variety of roles in all year groups, including Class teacher, Year Group Leader and as a mentor.
In 2013, Mrs. Haider, was appointed to Karachi Grammar School’s Senior Management Team as Assistant Headmistress, Kindergarten Section, with responsibility for the day-to-day academic running of the school and with oversight of matters relating to pupils’ wellbeing and pastoral care, curricular planning, academic strategy, teaching and learning, and co-ordinating the professional development of the teaching staff.
Saman Husain
Assistant Headmistress
Junior Section
An IB certified professional, Mrs. Saman Husain has had a diversified experience in learning & teaching and teacher training. Having studied at Kinnaird College Lahore and IBA Karachi, she realizes the impact institutions have in shaping a person. She firmly believes that a continually evolving learning environment plays a key role in the holistic development of young learners.
Mrs.Husain has been associated with Karachi Grammar School since 2002, with a hiatus of seven years, when she trained as an IB PYP Coordinator in Lahore, pursued CELTA certification from Cambridge University and earned the Singapore Teaching Award at The British Council, Singapore. She prides herself as a life-long learner and keeps herself abreast of latest practices. She has worked with all four Year Groups at the Junior Section of Karachi Grammar School, in various capacities, as a subject teacher, a Class Teacher, a Year Group Leader and a CPD member.
She was appointed as the Assistant Headmistress of the Junior Section in September 2019.
Muneeza Shaikhali
Headmistress
Middle Section
Sadia Ashraf
Assistant Headmistress
Middle Section
Sadia has been at Karachi Grammar School since 2002 and has served in a number of positions before becoming Assistant head (Pastoral Care) at the Middle Section in 2018.
Saadia Hannani
Head of College
Student Learning - College Section
Saadia completed her schooling in the Middle East. Her alma mater includes the American University of Cairo and the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. Prior to joining the field of education she worked in Investment Banking.
Having worked at both the pastoral side as well as the academic front, Saadia is a strong proponent of optimised learning environments, where care and connection must go hand-in-hand with learning. She has
launched several school improvement initiatives by formalising student feedback and student voice, support and reinforcement programs and subject masterclasses.
She joined KGS in 2004 as an A Level Mathematics teacher. She has worked as a Year Tutor, House Tutor, Program Leader for Mathematics, Assistant head, Performance Improvement and Assistant Head-Student Services.
Ahad Dada
Assistant Head
Student Learning - College Section
Ahad’s portfolio is diverse: besides being an experienced counsellor, he is a member of the A-level Biology and Physics faculty; he also prepares students for the SAT. This range of experience allows him to understand the many different components of college applications, leading him to effectively help and guide students on how best to prepare and present strong applications for colleges and universities.
