Find The Best Dubai School For Your Child

Whether you have a young child who is getting ready to start school for the first time, or a teenager who is counting down the years until they finish, choosing the right school is of utmost importance. Location, curriculum, facilities, class sizes, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care, special needs support and, of course, budget are just some of the factors parents need to weigh up when looking at schools.

On top of that, there is a jungle of advice and opinion from well-meaning friends/colleagues/neighbours to sift through, too.

The good news is that, because expat schools are largely private, the calibre of education is high.. The hard part is whittling down the many options to a short list of choices that will suit your child.

Here is our pick of some of the best schools in Dubai right now.

For A Village School Atmosphere

Nestled in the heart of Jumeirah, Horizon English School offers a traditional British village school atmosphere. Recently ranked number one in a list of the ‘Best Primary Schools in Dubai – Based on Parent Feedback’ on WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, Horizon English School promotes a 360-degree approach to child development, whereby emotional health, relationships and identity are right up there with STEM and academics in order to give young learners the best possible start.

For Senior School Opportunities

Gems Wellington Academy Dubai Silicon Oasis is easily accessible for many of the newer parts of the city and boasts a wide range of qualifications and curriculums for seniors in what they call their Fifth Strand. BTEC, International Baccalaureate and A Levels are all on offer at this popular UK-curriculum school, giving senior students the opportunity to focus their studies on subjects of particular interest to them, while preparing them for further education and careers. This school is certainly a heavy-weight in terms of academics, however, it weighs is on the lighter end of the scale in terms of fees as one of the cheaper schools awarded the KHDA “Very Good” rating.

For culture And Inclusivity

Not only is Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) one of the oldest schools in Dubai, founded originally in 1975, but it is also one of best in terms of culture. Both JESS (primary school) and its sister school, JESS Arabian Ranches (primary and secondary), are not-for-profit enterprises, offering old-school ethics alongside new-school technology-focused learning. Additionally, the JESS schools are committed to supporting students with special educational needs (SEN), often at no extra cost.  

For More Than Just Academics

With its prime location smack bang in the middle of some of Dubai’s most popular residential areas, Nord Anglia International School NAIS) is the school that parents wish they had been to themselves. As well as top notch academic achievements, the school offers fabulous sporting facilities, including two pools, multiple sports fields, courts and lots more, a 450-seat auditorium and many other purpose-built facilities, NAIS also has links with Juilliard School of Performing Art, MIT and UNICEF, showing their commitment to making sure that creative arts, STEAM and sustainability education are top priorities.