20 Affordable British Schools In Dubai
Schools Under AED 20,000...
Al Ameen Private School
Curriculum: UK
Ages: 3 to 16 years
Fees: AED 9,411 to AED 10,667
KHDA Ranking: Good
Location: Al Nahda
Website: here
The Buzz: Rated ‘Good’ by the KHDA for the past seven inspections this little school boast a 10:1 student teacher ratio and WSA thinks if the school remains on the same trackit might not be long until Al Ameen is awarded a Very Good rating.
What the KHDA Says: Al Ameen’s 2015/16 report was good and this year the school has addressed inspector recommendations and brought the school's indicators up further.
Core subjects are now considered almost all Very Good, as are all personal and social skills and innovation plus assessment and curriculum, while leadership and management improved to almost all Very Good or better.
Secondary education are rated ‘Very Good’ while the Foundation and Primary are rated ‘Good’ with ‘Very Good’ features. The 2016 inspection also notes very effective teaching in Key Stage 4 and strong IGCSE results.
What the School Says:
"At Al Ameen, we encourage every student to develop the need, and the desire ‘to seek’, ‘to constantly modernize’ and ‘reach newer heights’, every day, every moment. We prepare our students to be ‘future ready’, honing the skills they should have to face the challenges that tomorrow would bring, whilst living in the present, greeting each day with a smile and a go-getter attitude."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full school review: here
Name: Al Diyafah High School
Curriculum: UK
Years: Foundation to Year 13
Fees: AED 8,611 to AED 18,546
KHDA Ranking: Good
Location: Al Qusais
Website: here
The Buzz: With an impressive 18 indicators up this year, Al Diyafah School remains a really very good all round performer with happy students and positive atmosphere.
In 2017, principal Patricia Johnson was featured in the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com Educational Influencers list for her commitment to the school.
What the KHDA says: Although the Foundation at the school still has a smattering of Acceptable ratings, the rest of the school, especially Secondary and Post-16 are considered Very Good to Outstanding by this year's KHDA inspectors.
The WSA Parent Survey: Parents at Al Diyafah remain positive about almost all aspects of the school, with expectations, and confidence high. An impressive 80 percent have not thought about moving their child from the school. To read what parents at Al Diyafah think about the school, see here.
What the School Says:
"The Al Diyafah School is a place where you will find students honing multifaceted talents and abilities... superheroes, book worms, tech-savvy geeks, sport enthusiasts,political debaters, multi-media specialists, academicians, scientists, roboticians, up-and-coming musicians, dramatists… draped in compassion, global citizenship and integrity of values."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full school review: here
GEMS Westminster
Curriculum: UK
Years: Foundation 2 to Year 13
Fees: AED 7,558 to AED 14,693
KHDA Ranking: Good
Location: Al Qusais
Website: here
The Buzz: A huge school (5000+ students) offering 'Very Good' post-16 education.
What the KHDA Says: Westminster hauled its Islamic and Arabic as a first language ratings up in 2016/17 from Acceptable to Good.
Several core subject indicators fell this year from Outstanding to Very Good, however, personal and social skills/innovation and all protection, care, guidance and support indicators are now considered Very Good.
What the School Says:
The Westminster School is dedicated to making that difference in Education as the GEMS core values permeates every aspect of School life. We believe in GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP by celebrating diversity and building communities; We believe that GROWING BY LEARNING and continuous learning is the fuel for continual growth; We believe that by PERSUING EXCELLENCE great isn’t just good enough; We believe that LEADING THROUGH INNOVATION is what would lead our youth to a brilliant future!
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full school review: here
Oxford School
Curriculum: UK
Years: FS2 to Year 13
Fees: AED 11,216 to AED 17,782
KHDA Rating: Acceptable
Location: Al Muhaisanah
Website: here
The Buzz: While the Oxford School might only have received an over all Acceptable rating, the school's Secondary and Post-16 provision is considered thoroughly Good by the KHDA this year.
What the KHDA says: "Children in FS make good progress. In the primary phase, students make good progress and achieve high standards in Islamic education and Arabic as an additional language. However, attainment and progress are only acceptable in English and mathematics in primary. In the secondary and post-16 phases, students achieve high standards in most subjects except Arabic as a first language.
Students’ personal and social development, their understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, are good or better in almost all respects throughout the school.
The quality of teaching is good in FS. Teaching and assessment are good in both secondary and post- 16 phases; they are acceptable in the primary phase.
The curriculum is good throughout the school. It has been adapted well to meet students' learning needs in the post-16 phase."
What our parent survey says: Parents who responded to the WSA parent survey, say their children are reasonably happy going to school, have some sense of belonging and feel the curriculum is reasonably adapted to suit their child.
What the School says:
"The School is an accredited Cambridge International Examination and Edexcel Center and prepares students for the Cambridge IGCSE’s and AS/A2 . Students up to Grade Eight follow a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes all major subjects, extra-curricular activities and sports. In Grade nine, students select subjects to study at IGCSE level. The Board Examinations are taken at the end of Year 11. Students who have achieved good grades in the IGCSE examinations may continue to study for the GCE ‘AS’ and ‘A2′ qualifications to gain British ‘A’ levels."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full review: here
Apple International School
Curriculum: UK
Years: FS2 to Year 8
Fees: AED 6,562 to AED 12,052
KHDA Rating: Good
Location: Al Qusais
Website: here
The Buzz: Apple pulled its self up from Acceptable to Good this year with a staggering 31 indicators improving since its last inspection.
What the KHDA says: Although Arabic language remains Acceptable, the other core subjects, learning skills, teaching, assessment, curriculum and leadership are now all Good.
Exceptions include: personal development, health and safety and parental communication which are all rated Very Good, while curriculum adaption remains only Acceptable.
What our parent survey says: Overall, parents appear happy with Apple. They tell us they feel the school has improved their child's confidence, has positive expectations of their child and satisfied with feedback. The only flag looks to be a bullying issue, lets hope that Apple takes heed of their parents' concerns, as the school clearly has BIG plans.
What the School says:
"Life at The Apple International School is not only about education, it is about the ‘upbringing of our children’. It is not only about holistic education but about holistic educators too. Here we don’t just teach what to think, but how to think as well.
At The Apple International School Dubai, education is a joyful experience where the students’ learning is not confined to their exercise books alone. It reflects in the class room on the walls, in the hallways on display boards and it also remains recorded in the form of audio, video presentations, student blogs and in the bimonthly Student Led Conferences which are equally authentic evidences of their assimilation."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full review: here
Name: Pristine Private School
Curriculum: UK
Years: Foundation to Years 12/13
Fees: AED 9,508 to AED 17,812
KHDA Ranking: Good
Location: Al Nahda
Website: here
The Buzz: Pristine did exceedingly well in 2015 when one student was placed in the top world rankings for Cambridge exam scores while a further two students made the UAE top 50 rankings.
What the KHDA says: Another school with a thorough 'Good' to 'Very Good' ratings across all aspects of the report. In addition, Pristine scores 'Very Good' to 'Outstanding' for much of its Foundation provision, health and safety plus all personal and social indicators.
What they say: With happy parents and a happy KHDA inspection team, Pristine is certainly doing something right. Another 'oldie, but goodie,' the school has received a 'Good' for the past five inspections. Over the years, WSA has received many positive reviews from parents at the school, all rating parent/student satisfaction high.
WSA Parent Survey: According to our survey, Pristine has one of the highest parent satisfaction ratings in Dubai. Parent say they love the extremely high expectations, the increase in their child's confidence and extreme confidence in the school meeting the learning needs of their child. To read the full survey, see here.
What the School Says:
" Our teachers are highly qualified professionals committed to take on this challenge confidently. Our staff takes great pride in providing a safe and secure learning environment and is committed to establishing a school atmosphere that allows students to flourish and grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full school review: here
Name: St Mary's Catholic School Dubai
Curriculum:UK
Years: Foundation to Year 12
Fees: AED 6,116 to AED 13,138
KHDA Ranking: Good
Location: Umm Hurair
Website: here
The Buzz: Considered a 'hidden gem' St Mary's has been offering Not-for-profit education since 1968. With a near impossible one percent teacher turnover and 14:1 student/teacher ratio, St Mary's certainly has a lot going for it!
What the KHDA says: St Mary's doesn't focus on Islamic or Arabic, but put this aside and the rest of the indicators are all rated Good to Very Good, with the exception of curriculum differentiation.
The WSA Parent Survey: According to our survey, St Mary's has another very high parent satisfaction rating. Parents rate the disciplinary policy at 100 percent effective, 100 percent agree that the fees represent good value and 100 percent agree that the curriculum has been well adapted, possibly the highest ratings we've seen so far!
What the School Says:
"At St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai we firmly believe in the maxim, ‘Unity among Diversity.’ It is these values we hope the students will cherish as citizens of the future. Our multinational staff , along with parents, aim to create a microcosm of the co-operative, tolerant world we want our children to inherit."
Read the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com full school review: here
