Frequently Asked Questions

As one of Dubai’s longest-established British schools, we keep class sizes intentional to support strong learning and relationships. FS1 has up to 20 students, while FS2 to Year 13 usually has no more than 24. In Secondary, classes may vary by subject, with a maximum of 25 students.

The English College Dubai is a multicultural international school that offers global awareness and inclusivity by having students representing more than 84 nationalities.
The diversity provides a quality learning atmosphere in which students of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds are assisted to excel both academically, socially and emotionally.

Teaching staff at The English College Dubai are mostly British-trained, with additional teachers from international backgrounds including Europe, South Africa and the GCC. This mix supports strong academic standards and cultural understanding. Parents can view the staff team page to learn about each teacher’s experience, which many families find helpful and reassuring.

The English College Dubai uses a strict and professional staff recruitment process in order to promote high standards of teaching, the safety of the staff, and the wellbeing of the students.

• Advertisements for teaching vacancies are posted on TES and on the ISP Portal. Visit our careers page.
• The shortlisting of applicants is determined by the school's values and the child-centred ethos.
• Any leaders who are engaged in hiring are taught about safer recruitment and safeguarding.

Shortlisted candidates are subjected to 10 years of rigorous background checks, such as police clearance and reference checks. This guarantees a well-trained workforce that takes the needs of students, their health, and future achievements seriously.

The English College Dubai has an average staff retention rate of around 80%, providing a strong sense of stability and continuity for students and families while also welcoming new talent and fresh perspectives into the school community.

Many of our teachers choose to remain at The English College for several years, reflecting the school’s supportive culture, strong sense of community and commitment to staff wellbeing and professional growth. Students benefit from building lasting relationships with experienced teachers who know them well and understand their individual learning journeys.

As part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), staff also benefit from access to international collaboration, professional development opportunities and a global learning network, helping us continue to attract and retain passionate, high-quality educators.

This balance of experienced long-serving staff alongside new educators with diverse international experience helps create a dynamic learning environment where students feel supported, inspired and challenged to achieve their best.

Admissions at The English College Dubai are selective yet inclusive, ensuring students are well suited to the school’s academic environment and community values. During the 2023–2024 academic year, approximately 50% of applicants were offered places at the school.

This approach helps maintain balanced class sizes, high-quality teaching and strong levels of individual support for students across all phases of the school. It also allows The English College Dubai to foster a diverse, ambitious and internationally minded community where students are encouraged to thrive academically and personally.

Particularly in Secondary and Sixth Form, the admissions process supports the school’s strong academic pathways, enabling students to progress successfully through GCSEs, A Levels and on to leading universities both in the UK and internationally.

The English College Parent Council (ECPC) supports communication and partnership between the school and families. Parents from different year groups take part in areas such as events, charity, sustainability and communication, along with a buddy system for new families. This strong collaboration helps parents feel informed, welcomed and actively involved in school life. Meet our team.

Homework at The English College Dubai is age-related, meaningful, and balanced and assists in learning without unjustified pressure.

Primary School:

• There is minimal formal homework, which is not introduced till Year 6.
• All primary students are supposed to read daily.
• They can study alone by using applications such as Mathletics.
• The use of play-based learning and ECAs is highly encouraged. 

Secondary School:

• Homework expectations in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 grow steadily.
• Activities are concerned with refining knowledge and not mere accomplishment. 

Approximate workload:

• KS3: Approximately 7 tasks per week (30–60 minutes).
• KS4 (GCSE): Approximately 1 hour a week in each subject.
• KS5 (Sixth Form): Self study approximately 1 hour during a lesson.

We would expect this to meet the same standards of class work, with students demonstrating aspiration and effort. Effort is the most important as the level of quality will obviously vary depending on the academic ability of the child.

In the primary school we have a positive approach to behaviour management, using restorative practice. This is structured within our Positive Behaviour Policy, where we look to highlight and reward as much positive behaviour as possible. We also use Class Dojo to award points for following school rules and relentless routines. Our three school rules are - be ready, be safe, be respectful.

In our secondary school, we have a Positive Behaviour policy which tries to educate students as to what behaviour is acceptable at EC, inline with our core values, especially Integrity and Respect. We use ClassCharts to award positive behaviour points to students across the school to reward those students who make the right choices, day in and day out. When a student behaves below our high expectations, we look to educate and use restorative action to move forward in as many cases as possible. Safety is the key focus in everything we do and therefore it is never compromised. This includes physical safety with regard to health and safety, as well as child protection. It’s worth noting that we have a zero tolerance approach to bullying or discrimination of any kind.

The English College Dubai incorporates both formative and summative assessment in monitoring the student progress and the general development.

Primary school:
In the Primary school, there are also 'mini assessments ' each half term in the core subjects. These assessments and the ongoing formative data, culminate in an end of term report for each child. Immediately following the reports we have parent teacher meetings to both recognise success and set targets to accelerate progress. We also use external tests such as CAT4 and Progress Tests to complement a data picture of progress for each student and help further support a personalised learning pathway for each student.

Secondary School:
In the Secondary school, students are summatively assessed in each subject, each half term in English Maths and Science and termly in all other subjects. These assessments, alongside holistic teacher judgements based on daily formative assessment, drive grades that are reported home to parents termly. Report grades are monitored by teachers and leaders with appropriate in year interventions put in place to ensure that no one falls through the net.

The English College Dubai has embraced the effective use of technology in teaching and learning to facilitate collaboration, self-directed learning, and digital literacy.

From year 4 and throughout the Secondary school, all students are expected to have their own device that is used to enhance learning. The Google suite is used across the school, centred around the Google Classroom application so that all lesson materials are stored in one place for each class. Students collaborate with each other and with their teacher using the Google applications to deepen and enhance learning.

There are also several online quizzing platforms that are used daily by teachers to assess students’ knowledge and intervene where necessary. There are also other platforms that are used by specific faculties, such as Sparx maths which is used to set and monitor independent learning in maths and Kamkalima which is used to stretch and extend native Arabic learners. Specialist computer lessons in primary and secondary support the development of IT skills for all students. In FS and Key Stage 1, students have access to iPads and interactive whiteboards and a designated STEAM area is utilised for the use of robots and drones.

All primary years have music and art as a lesson each week, which is taught by a specialist. In Year 6 the students all get to enjoy Drama in the secondary drama studio.

In KS3 students have an hour of Art, Drama and Music taught by our specialist and passionate team. Students are then able to elect to continue studying Art and Drama and Music at GCSE and A Level. We currently have many extra curricular opportunities in Drama, Art and Music. We offer a varied peripatetic programme, primary and secondary choirs and school band, however, we currently do not have a full orchestra. Drama offer LAMDA examinations in Drama for Years 7 through to Year 13 and an annual school production that celebrates the talent we have at EC whilst also promoting inclusivity. In Art you can enjoy photography club, Art competitions such as BSME as well as getting involved with set and props as part of the school production tech team.

At The English College, we offer an extensive array of extracurricular activities tailored to meet the diverse interests of our students. These activities encompass a wide spectrum including sports, arts, drama, computing, and more. At The English College, we are committed to continuously enhancing our extracurricular activities ECA programme to best meet the needs and interests of our students. We believe in the importance of incorporating feedback from both students and parents to ensure that our offerings remain dynamic and relevant.

Our school ECA programme ensures that all students have access to sporting opportunities. From Year 3 to Year 13, our students actively participate in DASSA schools competitions across various sports disciplines. Moreover, we actively engage in regional tournaments and competitions, such as those organised by BSAK, BSME, and Rugby 7s, held throughout the UAE.
In addition to our participation in regional events, we have also hosted numerous development tournaments on-site, welcoming participation from other local schools. Looking ahead, our aspiration is to extend our reach by representing our institution abroad, competing in national-level competitions. Visit club, sports and opportunities for more details.

The English College Dubai teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies according to the requirements of the UAE and KHDA and the programmes are aligned to the background of students.

Students study either Arabic A or B, depending on the passport that they hold.

• Arabic A up to Year 13
• Arabic B is taught up to Year 10 
  

Arabic lessons follow the same principles of effective teaching and learning as all other subjects with all lessons focusing on the 4 key language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The faculty use several online platforms to support and extend learning beyond the classroom. These include Kamkalimam, Language nut, I read Arabic and I start Arabic and have been specifically selected to improve the learning experience of both Arabic A and B learners and learners of all ages.

It’s worth noting that Arabic has been graded as Good for progress in both the primary and secondary schools for Arabic A and B in our recent DSIB report.

Students are taught either Islamic A or B, Islamic A is taught in Arabic, while Islamic B is taught in English.

Yes, this is outsourced to Busco. Bus routes cover most of the popular residential areas but we would strongly urge parents to contact them directly to check the  likelihood of a service covering your area next year.

Dubai. Not one concentration of students in an area, but areas include: Al Safa, Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills, Emirates Hills, Meydan, Al Qudra, Motor City, The Palm, Marina, Jumeirah Park, etc.

All students have a class teacher (Primary) or form tutor (Secondary) who they see for a significant amount of time each day. It is their role to notice changes in students and make sure that they feel safe and supported each day and have someone to go to if they have concerns.

All staff receive ongoing training in safeguarding, which covers all aspects of safeguarding children in education and is face to face. In addition, all teachers undertake 5 online training modules each year on a 4 year cycle (so 20 modules over the four years). There is a safeguarding team who meet fortnightly and have the overall responsibility of ensuring that all students are safe, happy and well.

Furthermore, there is a full time school counsellor onsite who not only gives one on one support, but also plans and delivers a student wellbeing curriculum for sixth form students and leads Safehouse, the student-led listening service. The counsellor also works closely with external professionals to ensure holistic support for our students. Finally, she also leads the staff wellbeing group.

There is a specialist inclusion team that spans both primary and secondary with our Head of Inclusion and several learning support assistants for both secondary and Primary. The inclusion team have a wide remit - from leading staff training, replanning and delivering curricula to nurture groups of students, 1:1 support and in class support.  We also have an Inclusion Support Team consisting of external experts and our own staff, this team helps evaluate our provision and suggests areas where we can enhance our provision.

The school has a regular and formal communication schedule with the parents to provide transparency, involvement and constant support.

• In-service Newsletters by Primary and Secondary Heads every week.
• Curriculum objectives Half-termly.
• Five major parent engagement events per year.
• Evenings and information sessions with secondary parents.

The other support entails:

• Curriculum overviews
• Weekly Parent Workshops
• Active participation by ECPC.
• Family Friday's 

Professional development is central to teaching at The English College Dubai. Each year, teachers follow structured CPD with clear goals linked to school priorities and personal growth. Training includes workshops, collaboration, coaching and external courses such as NPQs. As part of ISP, staff also access global training and shared best practice to keep teaching current and effective.

The English College!

In secondary we have 3 separate phases - KS3, KS4 and KS5

KS3 we follow a curriculum that is based on the National Curriculum but built backwards to ensure we prepare our students for the next phase. Departments base their grades on a flight path to the end of the next Key Stage which is their GCSE examinations. The top grade that a student can achieve is a grade 9 which is the equivalent of an A**. We would expect each student to make one grade of progress each year so the equivalent of a grade 9 at the end of year 11 would be a grade 5 at the end of year 7. The grades are based on attainment.

We also look at each student's cognitive ability using a CAT4 standardised test. We will have a projected grade that each student should be achieving. When we report home, we will report whether the student is meeting the curriculum expectations and also whether the student is meeting their academic potential.

Each subject will report on their own subject. Grades will be shared with parents at the end of each term.

Students are taught 13 subjects in Year 7  (14 if they are Muslim as they have additional Islamic study lessons English, maths, science, French and Spanish (they experience both in y7 and choose which to study in y8), geography, history, computing, PE, art, music, drama, Arabic (A or B) and Islamic (if they are a Muslim)

The transition is easier, the earlier it starts. The IB curriculum is very broad in nature, just like the British curriculum KS3. The British curriculum KS4 narrows a little and the KS5 curriculum narrows significantly. The IB remains broad throughout. Therefore, students moving from a very broad IB curriculum in KS3 to a British curriculum in KS4 won’t notice a difference. However, a broad IB curriculum in year 11 or even 12 is noticeably broader than studying 3 A levels. However, a broad GCSE curriculum is also much broader than studying 3 A levels. Therefore, students only really notice a difference between KS4 and 5, where there would be a difference anyway even within the British curriculum. All students joining a KS5 A level programme, whether that is from IB or GCSE, need to learn to master fewer subjects in a lot more depth rather than multiple subjects in less depth.

Students join EC from all different curricula from all over the world - it’s our job to ensure that all of our students flourish and are given the right support that they need to excel in our school. We identify areas for development and respond to their needs sensitively and swiftly.

Within our EYFS the features that are most impressive relate to the independence and progress made by children.

We have an extraordinarily high level of attainment by the end of EYFS which exceeds the UK's standards significantly.

The environment plays a part in this - our FS is only small and has great play areas and superb resources. The teachers are all UK trained and highly skilled, which makes the greatest difference for us. Most impressive are the language skills of the pupils. There is a strong focus on talk (if the children can't say it, they won't be able to write it) and then the phonics programme is highly successful. Ours is Read, Write, Inc. By the end of FS2, the children can read and write with confidence, giving them a headstart in Year 1.

For GCSE, core subjects have a total of 4 hours per week and each optional subject has a total of 3 hours per week. For A Level each subject option has 5 dedicated contact hours.

KS4 and KS5 are 2 year courses - GCSE and A Level examinations will be at the end of the two year course for each subject. These examinations and dates are set by the awarding examination boards.

In addition to these there will be ongoing internal assessments throughout the two year course to check and monitor attainment and progress, these approximate dates will be shared in advance.

Families need to submit:

• Completed medical forms
• Copies of parents/guardians’ passports
• Copies of parents/guardians’ Emirates ID
• Copy of applicant’s passport
• Copy of applicant’s Emirates ID
• Copy of applicant’s birth certificate (English or Arabic)
• Copy of vaccination records
• Copy of medical report (if the applicant has extra learning needs)
• 1 passport size photograph of the applicant
• Copy of the most recent school report
• Copy of examination results (if applicable)
• Original transfer certificate from the previous school

In addition to the documents listed above, applicants transferring from international schools must submit:

From Year 3 onwards, the original and a copy of the transfer certificate from the previous school, including:

• Full name and details of the previous school
• Curriculum of the previous school
• Full name of the applicant
• Date of birth of the applicant
• Date of enrolment at the previous school
• Leaving Year Group / Grade in the previous school

Yes, families are warmly encouraged to arrange a school tour to experience life at The English College Dubai firsthand. Tours provide an opportunity to explore the school’s learning environments, facilities and wider campus while gaining insight into the school’s values, curriculum and community.

During your visit, you will have the chance to meet members of the Admissions or Leadership team, ask questions and learn more about how students are supported academically and personally throughout their journey at the school.

School tours are designed to help families understand what makes The English College Dubai a welcoming and ambitious learning community where children are encouraged to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Yes, an assessment forms part of the admissions process at The English College Dubai. As a broadly non-selective school, we welcome students with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds, while ensuring that each child can be supported successfully within our learning environment.

From Year 3 onwards, applicants complete a CAT4 cognitive assessment, which helps the school understand a student’s learning profile, strengths and potential. In some year groups, students may also be invited to attend a short interview or additional assessment as part of the admissions process.

The purpose of the assessment process is not only to support admissions decisions, but also to help the school ensure that students are placed in an environment where they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally from the very beginning of their journey at The English College Dubai.

Yes, a deposit is required to secure a student’s place at The English College Dubai. Once an offer of admission has been made and accepted, families are asked to pay a deposit equivalent to 10% of the annual tuition fees.

This deposit confirms the student’s enrolment and is deducted from the overall tuition fees for the academic year. The Admissions team supports families throughout the enrolment process and provides clear guidance on timelines, documentation and fee arrangements.

Yes. English College Dubai has mid-year admissions that are open to availability of places within the corresponding year group.

Mid-year entry proves to be of great use especially when:

• Families that are moving to Dubai.
• Students in foreign schools change schools.
• Families were faced with an alteration of circumstances that had not been foreseen.

The Academic and the Admissions team collaborate with each other to make sure that the transition is comfortable, well facilitated and least intrusive to both students and parents.

In order to satisfy the regulations that are set by KHDA and the UAE, families will have to provide the following documents in the admissions process:

• Completed medical forms
• Duplicates of parents' or guardians' passports.
• Parents/guardians' copies of Emirates IDs.
• Duplicate of the passport of the applicant.
• A copy of the employee ID of the applicant in the Emirates.
• Duplicate of the birth certificate of the applicant (English or Arabic)
• Copy of vaccination records
• Duplicates of any medical or learning support reports (where available)
• A single passport-size photo of the applicant.
• Parents have a copy of the latest school report.
• Duplicates of examination reports (where necessary)
• Original Transfer Certificate of the old school.

The Admissions Team guides the entire process and assists the families in making sure that all the documentation is filled out and in accordance.

The documents required for the international transfer are:

• Completed medical forms
• Copies of parents/guardians’ passport
• Copies of parents/ guardians’ EID
• Copy of applicant’s passport
• Copy of applicant’s EID
• Copy of applicant’s birth certificate (Eng. or Ar.)
• Copy of vaccination records
• Copy of medical report for extra learning needs
• 1 passport size photograph
• Copy of the most recent school report
• Copy of examination results (if applicable)

Also, please note that from Year 3 onwards, original and copy of the transfer certificate from the previous school, including:

• Full name and details of the previous school
• Curriculum of the previous school
• Full name of the applicant
• Date of birth of the applicant
• Date of enrolment at the previous school
• Leaving Year Group / Grade in the previous school

Yes, The English College Dubai offers sibling priority as part of its admissions policy. Siblings of current students are given priority consideration for available places, provided they meet the school’s entry requirements.

This approach helps families stay together within the school community and supports continuity in students’ educational journeys. While sibling applications are prioritised, all admissions remain subject to place availability and the standard admissions process.

Yes, The English College Dubai offers scholarships as part of its commitment to recognising and supporting outstanding student achievement. In line with the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a number of merit-based scholarships are available for students who demonstrate excellence in areas such as academics, sport or the arts.

Scholarships are competitive and awarded at the school’s discretion, reflecting exceptional talent, commitment and potential. All awards are subject to an annual review in accordance with ISP guidelines to ensure students continue to meet the expected standards.

These opportunities are designed to celebrate high achievement and encourage students to further develop their skills within a supportive and aspirational school environment.

A Transfer Certificate is an official document issued by a student’s current or previous school confirming their academic history and completion of the last year of study. It is a mandatory requirement for students joining The English College Dubai from Year 3 onwards, in line with KHDA regulations.

If a student is transferring from outside Dubai, the Transfer Certificate must be issued on the school’s official letterhead, signed, and stamped by the school.

For students joining from overseas, the Transfer Certificate must also be formally attested by the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Education (or equivalent authority in the country of origin), the UAE Embassy in that country, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This process ensures that all admissions meet regulatory requirements and helps facilitate a smooth transition for students joining The English College Dubai.

Yes, The English College Dubai welcomes applications from students joining from a wide range of international curricula backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, IB, American, Indian, French and other national education systems.

Our admissions process is designed to support appropriate year group placement and ensure students are set up for success within the British curriculum. As part of this, assessment tools and academic review help the school understand each student’s learning profile and determine the most suitable pathway for their continued progress.

This inclusive approach enables students from around the world to transition smoothly into The English College Dubai and thrive within our supportive and academically focused environment.

Yes. To complete enrolment, families must:

• Finish the HDA registration procedure.
• Sign the Parent-School Contract, which is mandatory.

These measures will provide transparency, clarity of communication and full adherence to the education laws of Dubai, which will facilitate a good relationship between parents and the school.