“By focusing purely on the primary years of education we can instil the right values in our children from an early age.
We take pride in our sports teams and music groups (both of which form a huge part of school life) being inclusive, and we make a point of making sure that no child ever feels left behind.
We create the environment for children to flourish and, when this is combined with the highest standards of teaching, children experience success in all its forms.”
Nick Hart. Principal. Horizon English School.
Horizon English School continues to drive its credentials as one of Dubai’s top-tier private (mixed) primary schools, re-securing its Outstanding School rating for the third consecutive year in 2023 following Very Good with Outstanding features accreditation in all three of the KHDA’s round of inspections in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The school was ranked the Happiest School in the United Arab Emirates by The Top Schools Awards in 2021- 2022 with across-the-board unanimous praise by Judges, the Advisory Board and educationalists from both SchoolsCompared.com and WhichSchoolAdvisor.com.
Arguably the most contested category of the UAE’s defining Awards in education, Horizon English School again secured further Finalist recognition in the Top Schools Awards 2023 – 2024.
Horizon is also rated ‘outstanding’ by the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectorate and is a member of the British Schools Middle East (BSME) network.
Established in 1992 Horizon School caters to 926 students from a variety of backgrounds and 43 nationalities. 43% of students are from the United Kingdom and 12% from Australia.
The school employs 65 full and part-time teachers with between 19 and 26 students per class and a staff: student ratio of 1:14. Significant growth in student and staff numbers were noted in the 2015-16 KHDA report and teacher turnover in 2018 (at 24%) has stabilised somewhat – now around average across all UAE schools. The school role is still growing, around 8% last year.
In 2023, Horizon English School became part of Cognita which, prior to the acquisition of Horizon English School, was best known for its Royal Grammar School Dubai. It was a move that brings huge benefits to families as RGS now becomes the defined slipstream for a school that historically depended on the availability of places at its preferred outstanding graduating slipstreams. Worth noting for historical record, that this outstanding school has evolved through the contributing accomplishments of some outstanding former Heads including Ian Wallace, David Baldwin and Marion Sinclair.
Horizon English School now delivers an across-the-board Outstanding accredited level of education across all phases in Science, English and Mathematics.
Evidencing continued investment, both new and improved facilities have been introduced at the school over the last five years including:
- New specialist teaching spaces including a creative zone to stimulate new ideas, innovation and invention, especially among older primary children.
- Upgraded sporting facilities including (1) a raised playing area with a view of the iconic Dubai skyline; (2) upgrades to the pool’; and, (3) new fitness facilities.
- New dining and auditorium facilities
- Improved parking with additional parking spaces designed to minimise congestion during morning drop off and afternoon pick up timings
- New classrooms to allow the school to meet demand from its Waiting List
Sport is one of many of the outstanding features of life at the school.
Fees for Horizon English School range from between AED 42,063 to AED to 56,377 per year, although parents considering the school should note that the school comes with relatively steep ‘optional’ costs that parents claim are in practice required. Option costs can add more that AED 10,000 to the basic fees.
Historically, slipstream schools include Dubai College, reviewed here, English College, Dubai, reviewed here, Dubai English Speaking College, reviewed here, and more recently Al Najah Education’s sister school, Horizon International School, reviewed here. Horizon students are in demand – but with a defined slipstream to Royal Grammar School Guildford in place, some of Dubai’s most established outstanding schools have lost out.
Horizon English School Fees
Fees at Horizon English School are Premium Plus but the value proposition is high. We would like to see a dedicated scholarship programme.
FS1 | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Annual |
Tuition Fee – 2023 – 24 | 16,349 | 12,257 | 12,257 | 40,863 |
Medical Fees | 1,200 | 1,200 | ||
Total | 17,549 | 12,257 | 12,257 | 42,063 |
FS2 | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Annual |
Tuition Fee – 2023 – 24 | 19,591 | 14,688 | 14,688 | 48,967 |
Medical Fees | 1,200 | 1,200 | ||
Total | 20,791 | 14,688 | 14,688 | 50,167 |
Year 1-6 | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Annual |
Tuition Fee – 2023 – 24 | 22,073 | 16,552 | 16,552 | 55,177 |
Medical Fees | 1,200 | 1,200 | ||
Total | 23,273 | 16,552 | 16,552 | 56,377 |
Horizon English School bottom line? The SchoolsCompared.com verdict 2023 – 2024
It is increasingly difficult in Dubai’s landscape of new Tier 1 schools to find dedicated Primaries. To find one that remains on a small-scale with genuine community dynamics and the happiness that flows from this is even harder. Horizon delivers this – and with one of the broadest spectrum of slipstream choices for parents, including some of the best schools in Dubai. Worth noting that we rate teaching faculty at Horizon English School as cross-the-board outstanding – and caring.
Horizon English School has quite a reputation. Amongst Dubai parents the school is very much seen as part and parcel of the best of the dedicated group of pure flow Primaries. It may not have the not-for-profit “Ivy league” cache of some, but today it does have the powerhouse support of one of the landmark school groups behind it. Year-on-year, it continues to build its own highly creditable, very happy and successful school identity and extraordinarily high parental loyalty.
The school is constrained by its location from all-through expansion (parents clamour every year to “find a way” for our children to stay) – but we think that should be seen as a strength. This is a school dedicated to Early Years learning and the celebration of childhood unencumbered by the pressures that inevitably come with older children. With RGS as a defined pathway for graduating students, the issue is no longer pressing and parents are, in the vast majority, now satisfied that they have the very best of both worlds.
Horizon English School is a school that continues to play an important role in the educational life and culture of the UAE. It’s a school that we think deserves its Outstanding rating from KHDA inspectors. It has the spectrum of Tier 1 educational cogs in place enabling its children to reach for the stars. And that is exactly what they do – happiness in tow.
Highly recommended.
Note for parents: the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau refer to the school as the “Horizons English School” whilst it is also known as “Horizon English School.”
©SchoolsCompared.com 2023 – 2024. All rights reserved.
Outstanding (2020)
Outstanding (2019)
Very Good with Outstanding features (2018)
Very Good with Outstanding features (2017)
Very Good with Outstanding features (2016)
Outstanding (2015)
Private
Yes
FS-1 28,249
FS-2 28,249
YEAR-1 39,564
YEAR-2 39,564
YEAR-3 39,564
YEAR-4 39,564
YEAR-5 39,564
YEAR-6 39,564
YEAR-7: NA
YEAR-8: NA
YEAR-9: NA
YEAR-10: NA
YEAR-11: NA
YEAR-12: NA
YEAR-13: 84602
National Curriculum of England
Notes:
(1) EYFS
Not selective
Yes
Not published
926
1:14
British
24%
1989
Al Safa, Jumeirah, Dubai
British (largest nationality)
Mixed
Yes
Al Najah Education Limited (Al Masah Capital Limited (alternative investment/private equity fund))
Notes:
(1) Shailesh Dash, Chairman
(2) (Mr) Raza Khan, CEO
+971 (0) 4 3422891
80%
86.6%
NA
NA
80%
86.6%
NA
NA
40%
NA
NA
60%
NA
NA
50%
NA
NA
100%
100%
100%
80%
100%
100%
100%
90%
• Children’s attainment and progress is outstanding in English, Mathematics and Science at Foundation Stage and in Mathematics at Primary level
• Students achieve outstanding learning skills, and excel in personal and social development
• The quality of the curriculum, support for students and Special Educational Need [SEN] provision is outstanding
• School governance and leadership is outstanding with best-in-class parental partnership and communications
• The School is committed to a significant and recognised role for Governors in improving staffing, facilities and resources
• Horizon offers an extremely warm, inviting and inspiring atmosphere for its children's education
• Students’ progress in Islamic Education and Arabic language is not as impressive as in other core subjects
• No bursary or scholarship programme.
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