About Carmen Dare
Founder, Dare Education
In Italian, dare means "to give, to offer, to provide."
My mission
- —To offer clarity and positive action where there is uncertainty.
- —To provide structure and lucidity when decisions feel overwhelming.
- —To give students the space to think.
Giving, in different ways, is at the core of my philosophy of education.
Two cultures, one perspective
I grew up in the U.K., with family roots in Morcone in southern Italy. Being shaped by two cultures from an early age has enabled me to appreciate — and, when required, to navigate — the complexities of different cultures. This interest in language, literature and perspective later led me to study Medieval and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford.
Different cultures demand different perspectives on life, and this knowledge has stayed with me throughout my career. I believe it gives me a unique understanding of the demands and challenges faced by students from different backgrounds.
My professional experience is in senior educational leadership, including over a decade in the U.K. as Principal of one of the country’s oldest and most academically successful tutorial colleges — Greene’s College, Oxford. I have also worked internationally in Portugal, Italy and Switzerland. In Switzerland, I was Head of Academic Studies at Institut auf dem Rosenberg, a leading boarding school in St. Gallen.
During my time as Principal, the College received outstanding outcomes across management, pastoral care and academic standards. I have worked closely with students and families at the points in their lives when important educational decisions are made: at times of stress and anxiety, and at moments when the full impact of their choices has yet to become clear.
At the centre of my work is a simple idea: to give clarity at the point where it matters most, by creating the conditions for thoughtful, independent decision-making.
The olive tree
Throughout history and literature, the olive tree is rich in symbolism. For me it has been a constant influence — through my family, and through my time spent in Italy. It is a tree that can sprout and grow strongly whatever the conditions; resilient and dependable, offering shade, nourishment and hope.
The steady growth of the tree, and the ultimate olive harvest, reflect an approach I value in education: the importance of taking time, paying attention to detail, judicious selection and refining, before fruition is achieved. Successful education is a process shaped through both independent and collaborative work.
This way of thinking shapes how I work. I do not see my guidance, nor your choices, as a series of quick fixes or reactive decisions, but as a structured, measured process. One that gives students the space to think, provides families with the confidence to progress from uncertainty to clarity, and offers solutions for a more secure, predictable and successful academic future.