20 Affordable British Schools In Dubai for 2021

 Schools Under AED 15,000

20. MSB (Al Ameen) Private School

Curriculum: UK
Ages: 3 to 16 years
Fees: AED 9,605 to AED 10,888
KHDA Ranking: Very Good
Location: Al Nahda

The Buzz:  In our guide to Affordable Schools of 2017, we wrote "if the school remains on the same track it might not be long until Al Ameen is awarded a Very Good rating". Move forward a couple of years and this small school that had been rated Good for the previous nine years achieved a‘Very Good’ by the KHDA in 2019-20. 

To be fair, MSB Al Ameen will not suit every family.  For one thing, it only offers Secondary education to Year 11. Students study for IGCSE over a three year period rather than the usual two.

Unfortunately, the school also does not publish its exam results - a great pity since there is clearly strong academic talent at the school, reflected in its position among the top 10 schools in Dubai for TIMMS testing in 2015 (6th and 7th places for Years 5 and 9). One student, Moiz Talib Mandsorwala, was also awarded Top In World in the June 2017 Cambridge examination series for IGCSE Accounting and IGCSE Mathematics (without Coursework).

What the KHDA Says: The challenge for MSB School appeared to have been the pace at which improvements were taking place, rather than the school's ability to make these improvements. Inspectors commented in 2017-18' report that "Action plans address the recommendations from the last report. However, the plans do not address the pace of implementation and the impact in achieving these priorities".

Clearly the message was taken on board and the arrival of a new Principal has evidently added impetus. In terms of the school's strengths, the DSIB team identified:

• Students’ high achievements in mathematics and science across the school and in English in Primary and Secondary;
• The highly effective and accountable leadership at all levels;
• Students’ personal and social development and their appreciation of the role and value of Islam within the UAE society;
• The very effective partnerships with parents and the wider school community;
• The rigorous monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning and the school’s commitment to the National Agenda priorities.

In terms of areas for improvement, MSB School should:

• Improve children’s achievement in English in the FS.
• In Year 1, build effectively on the strong learning skills developed in FS.
• Improve students’ attainment and progress in Islamic education and Arabic in Primary and Secondary

What the School Says:

Principal Zahabiya Juher Moiz comments - "it is our earnest endeavour to motivate every student to develop the need, and the desire to seek, to constantly modernise and to reach newer heights; every day, every moment. To prepare our students to be future-ready, to face the challenges that the unpredictable world of tomorrow shall bring. And in doing so, greet each day with a smile, pursue excellence with grit and rigour and develop an attitude of compassion and accountability which would then instil the greater quality of leadership."

Read the full WhichSchoolAdvisor.com school review including Parent feedback here