Kings’ School Dubai, Umm Suqeim – The Review
“Our children, teachers and parents are what makes our school special.
I feel very privileged to lead such a wonderful school, along with our dedicated team of learning and teaching professionals, so that we can continue to develop and inspire our young learners who will of course be our leaders of tomorrow.
We often say that Kings’ does things differently and to me that has much to do with the emotionally intelligent way in which we choose to operate.
Emotional Intelligence sits very much at the heart of what we do.”
Bede Higgins, Principal, Kings’ School Dubai
Prospective parents should read the following with reviews of Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba, here, and Kings’ School Al Barsha, here.
Kings’ School Dubai (known as Kings’ Dubai) is the only school in Dubai to have achieved an “Outstanding” ranking from the KHDA for the nine consecutive years since Dubai’s regulator inspections were introduced. Kings’ also achieved “Outstanding” in every single category of the BSO (British Schools Overseas) inspection in October 2014.
Kings’ follows the English National Curriculum and aims to “replicate the high standards of achievement at the best Preparatory and State (Primary) Schools in England.”
The primary school, which follows the English National Curriculum, was founded in 2004 by its current owner, Tayeb Al Baker, Chairman, ANC Holdings LLC to offer “the very best of British education, whilst offering a curriculum that is relevant to young men and women living and growing in Dubai.”
Starting with just 64 pupils, today Kings’ Dubai has grown to educate 914 students, with 55% of the student body drawn from the United Kingdom. There are currently six FS1 classes, each with 20 students, and five FS2 classes each with 24 students (May 2017).
Facilities are pretty much perfect for this age group. We really like the current building of external changing rooms being added to the pool area, as well as astroturf pitches within the existing field area. Both are indicative of the continued investment at the school – and as importantly an indication that Kings’ School Dubai, despite its (well deserved) reputation, is not resting on its laurels. Another feature we like, which really needs a visit to the school to appreciate, is the thoughtful and inspirational connection areas between the school’s two buildings which house a Parent Cafe, itself spilling outside during the cooler months into a shaded area next to the animal enclosures. These are unique in Dubai and just lovely – housing small animals loaned to the school by a supportive former parent whose child attended the school between 2006 and 2014. Again this is so telling of the relationships developed by the school with families and the affection in which it is held by former as well as current pupils. Iguanas and Tortoises have a permanent home outside the school while the weather allows.
The broader curriculum is fabulous, and we like to avoid hyperbole. Yes, it’s that good:
https://youtu.be/KCxNsQCwY6s
Kings’ School Dubai is ten times over-subscribed, with all 940 places taken. The school has no capacity for expansion. With just 120 places available each year at FS1, prospective parents are in for a struggle. One option for prospective parents is to look to th.e alternative Kings’ schools in Al Barsha and Nad Al Sheba, each modeled with great care on the founding school and in no small part established by the owners to respond to the disappointment of parents faced with the poor odds of securing a place at one of Dubai’s most outstanding schools.
The average staff to student ratio of between 1:10 (FS) and 1:12 (PR) is best in class and strengthened by a staff turnover rate of 15%
This, together with its unique model of education that balances the academic demands on children with a fundamental emphasis on ensuring each child’s happiness, is arguably the foundation of the King’s “magic” that places the school in such high regard by parents, teachers – and students, in EDSTATICATM reported independent feedback.
In 2014-15 Kings’ School Dubai reverted to offering Foundation and Primary phases of education only, with secondary education provision now relocated to the new Kings’ School in Al Barsha.
We, and our sister site whichschooladvisor.com have long campaigned for the provision of bursaries and scholarships.
In this context, Kings’ schools is to be applauded. The Kings’ schools offers dedicated scholarship programmes offering selected children a 50 percent discount on school fees.
The aim is squarely to be able to give outstanding children whose parents would not be able to afford the tuition fees the opportunity to join one of the Kings’ schools. For more information see: here.
https://youtu.be/yKJ5N-a5y8k
Kings’ School Dubai Principal, Bede Higgins, is a joint honours mathematician and psychology graduate – with a passion for sport. The importance he places on sport was cemented in his formal teaching qualification and underscored by his teaching at the UK’s respected Thomas’s London Day School. After relocating to Dubai, Bede was appointed Head of Physical Education at Jumeirah Primary School. This was followed by Deputy leadership positions at Dubai English Speaking School and Kings’ School Dubai. His stand-out leadership on Curriculum and Assessment since 2014 across Kings’ schools made him the natural appointment for Principal. Mr Higgins has a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management. Feedback to our team has been very strong and the common theme has been his appreciable commitment to children and getting the detail right. He is known for being hands-on, kind, approachable and visible in school life.
Stand-out features of the school are to many to list but include:
- Outstanding core Science, English and Mathematics Provision which meets the potential of every child and over-achieves against predicted flight paths
- Outstanding personal whole-child development
- Outstanding, inspirational leadership and management
- Exemplary teaching faculty and investment
- Outstanding student sensitivity and empathy to others
- Outstanding knowledge by teachers of each and every one of their students individually from their academic and extra-curricular strengths and weaknesses to their personalities, passions and inspirations.
We think one of the most telling comments by the KHDA follows:
“The curriculum includes a strong emphasis on the development of students’ emotional intelligence and personal development. Consequently, students display empathy and high levels of care for each other.”
These are the areas that lesser schools lose sight of in their focus on academic attainment – but which are increasingly recognised as equally, if not more important, by 21st century employers. Getting the groundwork in place at a young age is, in our view, critical – and the achievement in this area of Kings’ School Dubai children an absolute credit to them and the school.
Limited (relative) weaknesses fall into the areas of Arabic subjects provision – essentially, an in our view valid, plea by the KHDA to treat Arabic subjects with the same sort of outstanding focus, love and celebration as across other areas of the curriculum lifeblood of the school. It is understandable because it is Arabic language, in particular, if it can be established at such an early stage, that promises children a powerful USP in their later academical and professional lives. It is a gift that children in the UK are almost never given the opportunity to access. This said, all international schools struggle with this.
Kings’ School Dubai achieved our sister site WhichSchoolAdvisor.com “Good School” accreditation consistently between 2013 and 2023.
Kings’ School Dubai bottom line? The SchoolsCompared.com verdict 2023 – 2024
There are a very small number of dedicated Primaries in Dubai that deliver this scale of outstanding education for children. They are all subject to waiting lists. Kings’ School Dubai stands with the best of them, but with the further benefit of a defined slipstream to Kings’ School Al Barsha. You will not find an unhappy child at Kings’ School Dubai – and arguably that’s the most important feature of an across the board stand out school for children.
Highly recommended.
.
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding
See Kings' School Al Barsha
See Kings' School Al Barsha
Private, for-profit
Yes
FS1: 40,777 (42,734)
FS2: 40,777 (42,734)
YEAR-1: 51,419 (53,887)
YEAR-2: 51,419 (53,887)
YEAR-3: 51,419 (53,887)
YEAR-4: 51,419 (53,887)
YEAR-5: 62,058 (65,037)
YEAR-6: 62,058 (65,037)
( ) = 2018-19 fee structure
UK, UK NC, EYFS
See Kings' School Al Barsha slipstream
See Kings' School Al Barsha slipstream
See Kings' School Al Barsha slipstream
See Kings' School Al Barsha slipstream
No
Yes
Not Published
940
1:13 capped
FS: 1:10
PR: 1:12
British
9% (Extremely low)
2004
Al Sufouh, Dubai
UK (largest nationality)
Notes:
(1) Pre-KG: 101
(2) Emirati: 29
(3) Special Educational Needs (SEN): 21
Mixed, co-educational
Yes
Kings' Holdings
(A partnership between ANC Holdings LLC and Flag Holding LLC)
Tayeb Al Baker, Chairman, ANC Holdings LLC; Faris Al Baker, Vice Chairman, ANC Holdings LLC; Ahmed Ali Al Sarkal , Managing Partner, Flag Holding
+971 4 348 3939
100%
100%
NA - See Kings' Al Barsha slipstream
NA - See Kings' Al Barsha slipstream
100%
100%
NA - See Kings' Al Barsha slipstream
NA - See Kings' Al Barsha slipstream
50%
NA
NA
50%
NA
NA
70%
NA
NA
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
• Students’ attainment and progress in English, Mathematics and Science is outstanding
• Parents are highly supportive, committed, involved in their children’s education and fully integrated within the school
• Induction, ongoing teacher training and management are best-in-class
• The school recognises its core strengths and focusses its attention on FS and Primary provision only
• KHDA “Outstanding School” 2008 – 2018 (the only school to have secured this since inspections started)
• WSA Good School recommended 2013 – 2018
• Scholarship programme
• Hugely over-subscribed (as all Tier 1 Primary schools)
• Arabic subjects an ongoing challenge - the case for all international schools
Good one.