Cranleigh 'Aims To Be Best School in UAE'

The headmaster at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Brendan Law, has set his sights high stating in an interview with local media that he believes the school 'will become the leading school, especially in Abu Dhabi, if not in the Emirates.'

The school is set to open on Saadiyat Island in September on time admitting 650 pupils from 50 nationalities. Just over a third of pupils will be British nationals, 17 per cent North Americans, 12 per cent Emiratis, 9 per cent Europeans and 8 per cent Arabs. The remaining 19 percent will come from all over the world. The school has announced that it intends to attract boarders from around the GCC as well as from Africa and throughout Asia.

Phase one includes the completion of three main buildings – the junior school, science building and sports centre - and these will open on schedule in September. The senior school and a 650-seat auditorium are expected to open in January which will mark the completion of this phase of the building plan.

Phase two will include astroturf and grass tennis courts, a three-storey arts and technology centre as well as full boarding facilities at the seven-hectare grounds. This is due for completion in 2017.

“We’re running an extended-day programme, and the structure of the school day is such that it will lend itself to a boarding programme because children will be very actively involved in school until 7.30pm or so,” said Mr Law.

The school received a huge number of applications for teaching positions - more than 1,800 in total - and has selected 64 academic staff, 36 teaching assistants and 20 support staff from this group.

Fees will be between Dh65,000 and Dh80,000 and the school will be open in the first year for pupils from Foundation Stage 1 up to year 9.

When the school is in full operation by 2017, it will be home to 1,550 pupils aged from three to 18