Latest news with #school inspections
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Dubai's 23 best-ranked schools with annual tuition fees
Parents in Dubai have the choice of dozens of highly rated private schools. Twenty-three schools in the emirate have been rated as 'outstanding' with 48 considered 'very good' by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), according to its latest report. The authority regulates and periodically inspects the emirate's schools, and their scale also includes ratings of 'good', 'acceptable' and 'weak'. The inspections mainly focus on two criteria – wellbeing and inclusion. Schools must also meet the requirements of the National Agenda Parameter which examines their performance in international assessments and progress towards meeting those targets. The parameter also looks at the results of external assessments for key subjects. Pause in inspections The authority released a report rating 209 schools in 2024 and announced that they would be pausing full inspections for the 2025-26 academic year for most schools. Only schools in their third year of operation would be subject to a comprehensive inspection, the authority clarified in May. It said the pause was part of an 'evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate'. The inspections were also paused during the 2024-2025 academic year. However, schools will have to continue measuring students' academic progress through external benchmark assessments and submit self-evaluation forms as required. KHDA will monitor school progress with targeted visits focused on specific criteria, Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, chief executive of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, said in May. Demand is higher than ever. Dubai's private school operators told The National last year that they were planning to expand campuses and launch more schools to keep up with demand from the growing population. More than two million more people are expected to be living in the emirate within six years. Here are the 23 schools rated as 'outstanding': Deira International School, Dubai Festival City Curriculum: British/International Baccalaureate (IB) Fees: From Dh44,616 in Foundation Stage 1 to Dh89,889 in Year 13 The school operates under the Al Futtaim Education Foundation and was founded in 2005. Dubai English Speaking College, Academic City Curriculum: British Fees: Dh84,326 for Years 7 to 11 and Dh90,633 in sixth form Part of the Dubai English Speaking Schools group, the institution offers the UK curriculum to Year 7 and above. Dubai English Speaking School, Umm Hurair Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh43,084 in FS1 to Dh53,320 in Year 6 The primary school (for children aged three to 11) in Oud Metha has maintained its top rating since 2018. GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, Al Safa Curriculum: British Fees: Dh44,200 in FS1 and Dh55,714 for Foundation Stage 2 to Year 6 The primary school, founded in 1996, has been rated 'outstanding' since 2010. GEMS Wellington International School Curriculum: British/International Baccalaureate (IB) Fees: From Dh47,527 in FS1 to Dh103,399 in Year 13 This school offers the UK curriculum from Foundation Stage to Year 11 and the IB Diploma Programme courses and careers programme in Years 12 and 13. Horizons English School, Al Wasl Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh43,849 in FS1 to Dh58,825 in Year 6 The primary school is part of the Cognita group. Jumeirah College, Al Safa Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh78,496 in Year 7 to Dh98,681 in Year 13 This GEMS Education school offers Year 7 to 13 and has been consistently rated 'outstanding' since 2010. Nord Anglia International School Dubai, Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh69,625 in FS1 to Dh105,288 in Year 13 The school follows the British curriculum and offers the IB Diploma programme too. Safa Community School, Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: Dh54,437 in FS1 to Dh89,440 in Year 13 The school, founded in 2014, improved from 'very good' to 'outstanding' in the latest inspections. Victory Heights Primary School, Dubai Sports City Curriculum: British Fees: Dh40,138 in FS1 to Dh54,733 in Year 6 The primary-only school was founded in 2012 and offers after-school care options. Dubai British School, Emirates Hills Curriculum: British Fees: Dh53,027 in FS1 to Dh79,541 in Year 13 This Taaleem group school features two campuses that are walking distance away from each other – one for nursery to Year 2 and the other for Years 3 to 13. Dubai British School, Jumeirah Park Curriculum: British Fees: Dh64,160 in Year 1 to Dh83,015 in Year 13 Another Taaleem institution, the school achieved its 'outstanding' rating after the 2024 inspection. GEMS Dubai American Academy, Al Barsha Curriculum: American/IB Fees: Dh66,185 in KG1-2 and Dh93,300 for grades 1 to 12 Founded in 1997, the American school has been consistently rated 'outstanding' since 2011-12. GEMS Modern Academy, Nad Al Sheba Curriculum: Indian/IB Fees: Dh38,246 in KG1 to Dh56,706 in Grade 12 (Indian) and Dh73,876 in Grade 12 (IB) This school is the only Indian curriculum school on this list and offers a dual curriculum pathway that allows a choice between Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and IB programmes. Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh54,129 in FS1 to Dh65,097 in Year 6 JESS was founded in 1976 and is a primary-only school (FS1 to Year 6), Jumeirah English Speaking School, Arabian Ranches Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh54,129 in FS1 to Dh104,544 in Year 13 The Arabian Ranches branch of JESS offers both primary and secondary schooling. Kings School Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh57,999 in FS1 to Dh105,873 in Year 13 Part of the Kings Schools group, the Al Barsha institution was founded in 2014. Kings School Dubai, Umm Suqeim Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh47,179 in FS1 to Dh71,801 in Year 6 This primary school is next to Burj Al Arab. Dubai College, Al Sufouh Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh97,415 in Year 7 to Dh110,305 in Year 13 The secondary-only campus was established in 1978. Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills Curriculum: IB Fees: From Dh44,979 in KG1 to Dh79,696 in Grade 12 Established in 2005, the school offers the complete IB continuum curriculum from KG1 to Year 13. Lycee Francais International, Oud Metha Curriculum: French Fees: From Dh29,488 in preschool to Dh62,363 in the final year This French international school got its first 'outstanding' rating after the 2023-2024 inspection cycle. Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School Oud Metha Curriculum: French Fees: From Dh31,276 in preschool to Dh50,700 in the final year This French school is a partner institution of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and also offers the full French curriculum from preschool to Grade 12. Repton School, Nad Al Sheba Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh57,178 in FS1 to Dh102,753 in Year 13 This British-curriculum school has a boarding option for students in Years 7 to 13. The fees mentioned are for the 2025-2026 academic calendar and taken from the official websites of the schools and cross-checked on the KHDA school fact sheets where the latest information was not available. These amounts do not include other fees including and not limited to registration fees, transportation, extra-curricular activities, or other administrative fees.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Dubai's 23 best-ranked schools and how much they charge
Parents in Dubai have the choice of dozens of highly rated private schools. Twenty-three schools in the emirate have been rated as 'outstanding' with 48 considered 'very good' by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), according to its latest report. The authority regulates and periodically inspects the emirate's schools, and their scale also includes ratings of 'good', 'acceptable' and 'weak'. The inspections mainly focus on two criteria – wellbeing and inclusion. Schools must also meet the requirements of the National Agenda Parameter which examines their performance in international assessments and progress towards meeting those targets. The parameter also looks at the results of external assessments for key subjects. Pause in inspections The authority released a report rating 209 schools in 2024 and announced that they would be pausing full inspections for the 2025-26 academic year for most schools. Only schools in their third year of operation would be subject to a comprehensive inspection, the authority clarified in May. It said the pause was part of an 'evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate'. The inspections were also paused during the 2024-2025 academic year. However, schools will have to continue measuring students' academic progress through external benchmark assessments and submit self-evaluation forms as required. KHDA will monitor school progress with targeted visits focused on specific criteria, Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, chief executive of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, said in May. Demand is higher than ever. Dubai's private school operators told The National last year that they were planning to expand campuses and launch more schools to keep up with demand from the growing population. More than two million more people are expected to be living in the emirate within six years. Here are the 23 schools rated as 'outstanding': Deira International School, Dubai Festival City Curriculum: British/International Baccalaureate (IB) Fees: From Dh44,616 in Foundation Stage 1 to Dh89,889 in Year 13 The school operates under the Al Futtaim Education Foundation and was founded in 2005. Dubai English Speaking College, Academic City Curriculum: British Fees: Dh84,326 for Years 7 to 11 and Dh90,633 in sixth form Part of the Dubai English Speaking Schools group, the institution offers the UK curriculum to Year 7 and above. Dubai English Speaking School, Umm Hurair Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh43,084 in FS1 to Dh53,320 in Year 6 The primary school (for children aged three to 11) in Oud Metha has maintained its top rating since 2018. GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, Al Safa Curriculum: British Fees: Dh44,200 in FS1 and Dh55,714 for Foundation Stage 2 to Year 6 The primary school, founded in 1996, has been rated 'outstanding' since 2010. GEMS Wellington International School Curriculum: British/International Baccalaureate (IB) Fees: From Dh47,527 in FS1 to Dh103,399 in Year 13 This school offers the UK curriculum from Foundation Stage to Year 11 and the IB Diploma Programme courses and careers programme in Years 12 and 13. Horizons English School, Al Wasl Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh43,849 in FS1 to Dh58,825 in Year 6 The primary school is part of the Cognita group. Jumeirah College, Al Safa Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh78,496 in Year 7 to Dh98,681 in Year 13 This GEMS Education school offers Year 7 to 13 and has been consistently rated 'outstanding' since 2010. Nord Anglia International School Dubai, Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh69,625 in FS1 to Dh105,288 in Year 13 The school follows the British curriculum and offers the IB Diploma programme too. Safa Community School, Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: Dh54,437 in FS1 to Dh89,440 in Year 13 The school, founded in 2014, improved from 'very good' to 'outstanding' in the latest inspections. Victory Heights Primary School, Dubai Sports City Curriculum: British Fees: Dh40,138 in FS1 to Dh54,733 in Year 6 The primary-only school was founded in 2012 and offers after-school care options. Dubai British School, Emirates Hills Curriculum: British Fees: Dh53,027 in FS1 to Dh79,541 in Year 13 This Taaleem group school features two campuses that are walking distance away from each other – one for nursery to Year 2 and the other for Years 3 to 13. Dubai British School, Jumeirah Park Curriculum: British Fees: Dh64,160 in Year 1 to Dh83,015 in Year 13 Another Taaleem institution, the school achieved its 'outstanding' rating after the 2024 inspection. GEMS Dubai American Academy, Al Barsha Curriculum: American/IB Fees: Dh66,185 in KG1-2 and Dh93,300 for grades 1 to 12 Founded in 1997, the American school has been consistently rated 'outstanding' since 2011-12. GEMS Modern Academy, Nad Al Sheba Curriculum: Indian/IB Fees: Dh38,246 in KG1 to Dh56,706 in Grade 12 (Indian) and Dh73,876 in Grade 12 (IB) This school is the only Indian curriculum school on this list and offers a dual curriculum pathway that allows a choice between Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and IB programmes. Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh54,129 in FS1 to Dh65,097 in Year 6 JESS was founded in 1976 and is a primary-only school (FS1 to Year 6), Jumeirah English Speaking School, Arabian Ranches Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh54,129 in FS1 to Dh104,544 in Year 13 The Arabian Ranches branch of JESS offers both primary and secondary schooling. Kings School Al Barsha Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh57,999 in FS1 to Dh105,873 in Year 13 Part of the Kings Schools group, the Al Barsha institution was founded in 2014. Kings School Dubai, Umm Suqeim Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh47,179 in FS1 to Dh71,801 in Year 6 This primary school is next to Burj Al Arab. Dubai College, Al Sufouh Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh97,415 in Year 7 to Dh110,305 in Year 13 The secondary-only campus was established in 1978. Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills Curriculum: IB Fees: From Dh44,979 in KG1 to Dh79,696 in Grade 12 Established in 2005, the school offers the complete IB continuum curriculum from KG1 to Year 13. Lycee Francais International, Oud Metha Curriculum: French Fees: From Dh29,488 in preschool to Dh62,363 in the final year This French international school got its first 'outstanding' rating after the 2023-2024 inspection cycle. Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School Oud Metha Curriculum: French Fees: From Dh31,276 in preschool to Dh50,700 in the final year This French school is a partner institution of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and also offers the full French curriculum from preschool to Grade 12. Repton School, Nad Al Sheba Curriculum: British Fees: From Dh57,178 in FS1 to Dh102,753 in Year 13 This British-curriculum school has a boarding option for students in Years 7 to 13. The fees mentioned are for the 2025-2026 academic calendar and taken from the official websites of the schools and cross-checked on the KHDA school fact sheets where the latest information was not available. These amounts do not include other fees including and not limited to registration fees, transportation, extra-curricular activities, or other administrative fees.
The Guardian
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ofsted's new inspection proposals are vague and out of date, say experts
Proposals for overhauled school inspections have been criticised as cosmetic, vague and potentially out of date by school leaders and Department for Education (DfE) officials, just days before approval by Ofsted's management. Ofsted, the schools inspectorate, has made changes to its new school inspection toolkit – how it will carry out inspections – after earlier criticisms. It plans on renaming grades and shrinking the number of evaluations areas from nine to seven, in the latest draft seen by the Guardian, but appears unlikely to win over sceptical teachers in England. The new system is part of efforts to implement the government's manifesto pledge to replace inspection reports with a 'report card' format and do away with single summary grades such as 'inadequate' that have become controversial since the death of Ruth Perry in 2023. But Ofsted's struggle to reform its inspection framework is turning into a headache for Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, who is also juggling a curriculum review and an overhaul of special needs education in England that are all scheduled to be published in autumn. The draft proposals, to be approved by Ofsted's executive on Wednesday, has ditched controversial plans for a 'secure' grade and instead renamed it 'expected standard', after complaints that the original term was confusing. The top grade, previously proposed as 'exemplary', has been replaced by 'exceptional', the 'strong' grade amended to 'strong standard', while the lowest 'causing concern' grade is changed to 'urgent improvement'. There are also plans to cut the number of evaluation areas from nine to seven, by combining the teaching and curriculum areas into one, and merging the attendance and behaviour areas. It also revises the report card's 'traffic light' colour codes for grades, with the top exceptional grade to be blue instead of dark green. But the changes have been criticised as 'cosmetic' by school leaders and are unlikely to settle the fears of teaching unions and multi-academy trusts, with one describing the proposals as 'a pick-and-mix of statutory rules taken from random documents and turned into an inspection framework'. Those who have seen the revisions say it is studded with ill-defined language asking inspectors to evaluate categories such as leadership or assessment as 'broadly,' 'typically' or 'on the whole' in line with national performance. 'Some of the things that have made it in, you're thinking, how do you inspect that? There's a whole lot of vague language. I don't think they are going to implement it,' one school leader said. 'A lot of schools are going to end up in the middle bracket [of grades] because Ofsted won't be able to argue against it. It's a mess, it lacks precision, and there's too much overlap between different categories.' DfE officials have raised concerns that the proposals fail to take account of the government's plans to have mainstream schools open more units for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), as part of the overhaul of special needs provision in England to be announced in autumn, around the same time as the new inspection framework is being introduced. Feedback by DfE officials seen by the Guardian describes 'future-proofing and sequencing concerns' about the toolkit, including that the expectations around pupils with Send 'may become out of date'. The DfE feedback also suggests schools may be put off enrolling pupils with special needs because of Ofsted's requirement that schools must achieve 'above average outcomes' in Sats or GCSEs to be awarded high inspection grades. A spokesperson for Ofsted declined to respond directly to the criticisms but noted: 'Our proposals, including the toolkits, will be formally finalised when we publish our response to the consultation in early September and not before. 'We don't recognise the 'DfE criticism' assertion – we are not out of step with government proposals. We have already made clear in recent press releases that we're revising the toolkits to tighten language, in response to feedback – we are confident this will be recognised in September.' A DfE spokesperson said: 'Our Send reforms will make sure there is more early intervention in mainstream schools, and we are working closely with Ofsted to ensure their education inspection framework enables this. 'We are laying the groundwork to ensure all children have access to the help they need, from more early support in mainstream schools across ADHD, autism and speech and language needs, through to £740m investment to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools.' Ofsted's full proposals are due to be implemented from November. However, the Association of School and College Leaders and the National Association of Head Teachers have said that timetable is 'entirely unacceptable', adding: 'It will significantly add to workload pressures, negatively affect leaders' and teachers' wellbeing and mental health, and further undermine trust in the proposed framework.' Relations between Ofsted and the teaching profession have been deeply strained since a coroner's finding that Perry's death was 'contributed to by an Ofsted inspection'. Perry's sister, Julia Waters, has described Ofsted's proposed changes to inspections as 'a rehash of a deeply flawed system'.
