The Arbor School

The Arbor School in Al Furjan was launched in September 2018. It offers a British curriculum from Foundation Stage until Year 11.

The Arbor School has the honour of being one of the first schools in Dubai to offer a curriculum focusing on eco-literacy and sustainability. It aims to become the leading British school in Dubai.

The school facilities and extra-curricular activities organised by the school are world-class. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the school is the presence of six climate-controlled biodomes where students carry out different projects and study the soil, flora and fauna.

The Arbor School is first inspected for the academic year 2021 – 2022 by KHDA and was awarded good rating by the KHDA. Continue reading The Arbor School review by Bayut to learn more about the fees and admission, curriculum, campus facilities, etc.

• Location: Al Furjan
• School fees: AED 42,000 to AED 76,500
• Curriculum: UK Curriculum
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA/ADEK rating: Not inspected yet
• Years offered: FS1 to Year 13

The Arbor School’s location is Al Furjan, one of the vibrant residential districts in Dubai by Nakheel. It is accessible to the following residential communities in Dubai.

• Jumeirah Lake Towers
• Jumeirah Park
• Jumeirah Village Triangle
• Green Community

The nearest family-friendly residential community is Jumeirah Park. It is approximately a 12-minute drive from the school and is home to charming villas.

Families looking for residential properties near the school can consider:

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The 7-acre Arbor School campus provides top-notch facilities to students. There are 81 classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors, breakouts and a comfortable seating arrangement.

The Arbor School Dubai emphasises the eco-literacy component. You will find three large and three small temperature-controlled biodomes and a reflection or learning garden. These biodomes and gardens allow students to engage with the environment and learn more about nature. Also, the school has opened an ecological bio farm called ‘The Arbor School Farm.’ Local produce is supplied to the school’s food technology section and kitchen.

Another attractive feature of this campus is the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities.’ It is a dimly lit room with antiques and other treasures that spike students’ curiosity, creativity and wonder.

For school events, students can make the most of a 350-seater auditorium. One will also find a black-box theatre, a dining hall, an internal atrium and libraries. Other facilities, including a photography darkroom, a kiln room, a senior art studio, a senior library, a Sixth Form common room and a senior science laboratory, will be added shortly.

The Arbor School has maintained some top-tiered physical education and sports facilities, including two swimming pools – a 25-metre main pool with six lanes and a learner’s pool for FS and primary students. One can find two indoor basketball courts, a multi-purpose sports hall, a gymnasium, outdoor and indoor play areas, an interactive dance studio and a full-sized football pitch.

The Arbor school is located near Al Asayel Street (D72) in Al Furjan.

Parents can consider The Arbor School for their children. The highlight is the school’s ecological approach and the emphasis on sustainability. The school has developed biodomes, reflection gardens, and a bio-farm to ensure its mission is accomplished.

The school enables students to connect with the environment and understand how their actions impact the ecological system. Similarly, students know more about the measures that can be taken to ensure that the environment is free of toxic waste.

Besides this, the school will add a secondary section in the coming years. Hence, sending your children to Arbor means that students will receive an excellent education from the Early Years Foundation Stage until the Sixth Form.

The Arbor School, Al Furjan, offers years from Foundation Stage until secondary level or Key Stage 3.

Currently, the school is limited to Year 9. However, it will start teaching to Year 10 students from September 2022.

The Arbor School follows the National Curriculum of England. However, since the schooling, society and environment are going through change, the school has introduced eco-literacy, a unique component in the curriculum.

The school has built biodomes and reflection gardens with a core focus on environmental stability that facilitates eco-literacy programmes.  The school attracts students who are, by nature, problem solvers and creative thinkers. The curriculum helps children develop qualities like commitment and resourcefulness. So, they can connect their learning to nature and the wider world.

The British curriculum followed at the school has two main foundation pillars: ecological place-based education and project-based learning.

Foundation Stage

Since this stage is the start of the academic journey for little ones, The Arbor School develops essential skills to help them later in life. In FS1, children work on their physical, emotional and communication skills. The learning continues into FS2, where students are taught reading, writing, literacy and problem-solving skills. By the end of the Foundation Stage, they are well aware of simple subtraction and addition.

Activities that are part of the Foundation Stage curriculum include stroke-making, learning alphabets and phonics work.

Subjects like native and non-native Arabic, Islamic Studies, Physical Education (PE), Music, Swimming and Eco-science are taught by specialist teachers.

Primary Level

The primary level at Arbor School Al Furjan includes Year 1 to Year 6. During these years, the school strives to inculcate eco-literacy in students through innovative teaching methods and facilities.

Students in Years 1 to 4 have class teachers who deliver most lessons. Subject-specific teachers teach Arabic, Islamic Studies, PE, Swimming and French. Similarly, children are taken to biodomes and the reflection garden for their projects each week. This strategy allows them to experience learning outside of the classroom.

In addition to providing quality academic lessons, the school realises the need for play and socialisation. Thus, students enjoy a 20-minute morning break and a 40-minute lunch break.

Students in Year 5 and Year 6 have more interactions with subject-specific teachers. Students learn subjects that are within and outside of the timetable. Since the curriculum is advanced, students require guidance from specialist teachers.

The advanced level in the primary section has project-based learning on the school premises that extends into the local community.

Secondary Level

The Arbor School curriculum for the secondary level focuses on specialist subjects that are also part of the General Certificate of Secondary Examination (GCSE) and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) Levels.

The school aims to work on critical thinking, independent research work, projects, community services and extra-curricular activities for secondary stage students. The Arbor School is committed to launching its secondary curriculum for Years 10 and above in September 2022.

Key Stage 4 students appear for GCSE exams. Arbor School Dubai covers 13 broad areas of studies that has a total of 25 subjects. These subjects are an extension of the A-Level programme. Students can study them with BTEC subjects in Business and Technology.

Subjects offered during secondary years include:

• Mathematics and Further Mathematics
• English language and English literature
• Science courses include: Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Combined Sciences
• Business, Accounting and Economics
• Arabic
• Computing and Computer Science
• History
• Geography
• PE
• Art, Drama and Music
• Graphic Design, Resistant Material and Food Technology
• Additional languages like French and Spanish

The UAE government has established the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to inspect and rate private schools in Dubai based on their overall performance. The KHDA publishes an annual report after evaluating the school campus, facilities, inclusion framework, curriculum, parent involvement and senior leadership. As shown below, private schools in Dubai are rated on a six-point scale.

KHDA reported the performance of school as Good.
Here are some strengths of the school as mentioned in the KHDA's report:

• Students across all phases have shown positive attitudes and responsible behaviour.
• The Arbor Schools provide a very high quality of provisions for the Foundation Stage.
• The school provides an eco-friendly and green environment to students.
• Parents provide tremendous dedication and support to students and the school.
• The school provides an inclusive environment to students and their families.

On the other hand, the following weaknesses were spotted by the KHDA:

• The school must work on improving students' achievement in Islamic Education and Arabic Studies through challenging and stimulation lessons.
• The quality of teaching and learning should be consistent across all phases via self-evaluation and accountability.
• Senior leadership must regularly monitor the ecoliteracy curriculum and alligns it with the NCfE.

Like other British schools in Dubai, The Arbor School academic calendar is divided into three terms and is ten months long.

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December, followed by a three-week winter break.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March, followed by a two-week spring break.
• The third term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July, followed by a two-month summer break.

The school operates from 07:30 am to 04:30 pm on weekdays.

The Arbor School is a non-selective co-educational institute that invites parents and children to visit the school campus before starting the registration process.

Although not necessary, parents can book a tour during the scheduled school tour days or on an open day. The Arbor School admission process is divided into simple steps to make the process easier for parents.

Step 1: Registration

Parents are encouraged to either fill out an enquiry form online. They can visit the admissions department to understand their options better.

The final steps to completing the registration require the submission of an application form and the following documents:

• A copy of the applicant’s residence visa
• A copy of the applicant’s Emirates ID Card
• Most recent school report of the applicant
• A copy of the applicant’s passport
• A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate
• One passport size photograph of the applicant
• A copy of the parents’ residence visa
• A copy of the parents’ Emirates ID
• Attested and signed Transfer Certificate
• A copy of the parents’ passport
• One passport-sized photograph of each parent who is authorised to either pick up or drop off the applicant

The next phase begins after the registration paperwork is completed.

Step 2: Admission Assessments

To ensure that students are ready for an academic journey at The Arbor School, Dubai, the school conducts an entrance exam to gauge age-appropriate year groups for the student.

Applicants seeking admission into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Program will undergo an observed play session. Students applying to Year 1 onwards have to complete formal reading, writing and mathematics exams. Moreover, students coming for the assessment test will also spend some time in class to understand how the school conducts each session.

Students outside Dubai can apply to Arbor School, Al Furjan. These candidates will be judged on last year’s school progress report and the most recent assessment data for Reading, Writing and Mathematics. However, parents should note that any offer of admission at this point is provisional as the school will formally assess students once they move to Dubai.

Applicants needing special education during the assessment will be further referred to the inclusion team for evaluation. Parents have to pay an assessment fee of AED 500 (non-refundable) at the time of registration.

Step 3: Offer of a Place

**One week from the assessment date, the school dispatches offer letters for successful candidates.** However, students of determination will receive their offer letter three weeks to three months from assessment, depending on the complexity of the special education needs.

Step 4: Allocation of Places

The Head of Phase recommends a spot for each student in a specific year group which the principal then approves. The school allocates seats on a first-come-first-serve basis. If all seats are taken, the student is then placed on a waiting list. However, priority is given to students who have siblings at the school.

Siblings of students of determination, staff and those involved in an outreach program are given priority.

Step: 5 Enrolment

Within two weeks of making an offer, parents are requested to pay a registration deposit of 20% of the tuition fee to secure the seat. The deposit is non-transferable and non-refundable. But it will be adjusted against the first term’s tuition fee.

The school reserves the right to offer the seat to another candidate if parents pay to submit the deposit on time.

Step 6: Cancellation of a Seat

With prior consultation and approval from KHDA, The Arbor School, Furjan reserves the right to cancel the registration of a new student as well as the re-registration of existing students in case of.

• Non-payment of registration deposit
• Outstanding fee dues not cleared
• Poor attendance
• Non-compliance with school policies regulations by the student

Please ensure that your child meets the following age placement guidelines before enrollment.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

The following adjusted fee structure of The Arbor School is approved by the KHDA and will remain unchanged for 2021-2022.

Kindly note that the tuition fee does not include transportation, catering and uniform charges.

Other charges at this school are:

Please note that these charges are from the KHDA Fact Sheet.

The Arbor School fees can be paid in three instalments on 1st August, 1st December and 1st March. The first term fee is 40% of the annual tuition fee, while the second and third term fees will be 30%.

Parents can contact the school’s admissions team for information about further discounts for siblings, Emiratis, corporations, embassies, government employees, Esaad cardholders and upfront payment of fees.

Registration Deposit

New students must pay 10% of the annual tuition fee as a registration deposit after the school offers an admission letter and the parents accept it. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable but will be adjusted against the first term’s fee. Please note that failure to deposit the registration amount will lead to the school withdrawing the offer letter.

Existing students will be charged 5% of the annual tuition fee as a re-registration deposit to confirm a seat in the next academic year. Again, this deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable but will be adjusted against the first term’s fee. Parents should note that the re-registration deposit will not be accepted until the outstanding fees dues have been cleared.

Refunds

Tuition fees, including registration and re-registration deposits, are not refunded until and unless there are exceptional circumstances. Refunds can be entertained if students move out of Dubai.

Refund, if applicable, will be calculated from the date parents officially notify the school of the intent to withdraw their child from the school and not from the date the student was absent.

Refunds are calculated in the following manner:

• If the student attends school for two weeks or less, the school deducts one month’s fees.
• If the student attends school between two weeks and one month, the school deducts two months’ fees.
• If the student attends school for more than one month, the school deducts a term’s fees.

Non-Payment of Fees

In case of non-payment, The Arbor School, Al Furjan reserves the right to withhold the following until all outstanding dues have been paid.

• Progress reports
• Examination results
• Transfer Certificate

Similarly, the school can refuse to re-register students if dues are not cleared, or parents are habitual of making late payments.

Parents, guardians or sponsors can pay Arbor School fees via cash, cheque, bank transfer, and Visa and MasterCard debit/credit card.

For more information, you can visit the payment policies section on the school website.

There is a dining facility at school where hot and cold meals are served. However, students can bring their lunch from home as well.

By honouring the school’s aim of achieving eco-literacy, sustainability and environmental justice, The Arbor School has introduced ‘The Farmhouse at Arbor‘. It is an aspiring ‘farm-to-fork’ canteen concept that makes full use of school-grown produce to provide food to students, complemented by the careful sourcing (where possible) of seasonal ingredients from local and sustainable suppliers.

The four menus available to students are:

• Simply Farmhouse Menu
• Chef’s Non Vegetarian Menu
• Chef’s Vegetarian Menu
• Chef’s Vegan Menu

Parents of students enrolled in Foundation Stages and Year 1 will need to select one of the menus mentioned above for their children. The Farmhouse team will carefully pack every meal and deliver it to their classrooms.

However, students in the remaining years can choose the menu for themselves from the school’s canteen. For more information on school lunches, please click here.

The Arbor School in Dubai has commissioned School Transport Services (STS) to provide transport to students. STS is an established and reliable name within the transport industry and is the choice of many other reputable schools.

STS ensure a safe commute for all students by deploying state of the art technologies in their bus. Some notable features are:

• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• surveillance video,
• Electronic attendance
• seatbelts
• child locks

The school recommends downloading the STS Android and IOS applications on mobile and other handheld devices for convenience. These apps help you keep a record of your child’s school bus. Similarly, you can request changes in pick-up and drop-off locations and can check your account balance from time to time.

To know more about the areas covered and annual transportation charges, you can visit the school transportation page on the official website.

Although the school currently does not offer any holiday camps to its students, you can enrol your child in a summer camps facility provided by ISM Sports.

The Arbor School, Furjan, provides excellent sports facilities to help students pursue their interests in sports and outdoor activities.

Outdoor facilities include a full-sized football pitch and courts for various sporting activities. There is a 25 metre, 6-lane swimming pool for secondary students, while FS and primary students have access to a toddlers’ pool. There is a well-equipped outdoor play area as well for the little ones.

Indoor facilities include two basketball courts, a multi-purpose hall, a gymnasium and a play area. Also, children interested in dancing as an extra-curricular activity can use the interactive dance studio.

The well-rounded development of students is one of the top priorities of the Arbor School, Dubai. Hence, the school has developed an exciting mix of co-curricular activities. Here, students have access to facilities to help pursue their interests and passion in various fields. Apart from providing school-owned extra-curricular activities, Arbor School has partnered with ISM sports, responsible for carrying out after-school activities on behalf of the school.

Students have the opportunity to participate in five different activities each week. These activities are divided into five categories: sports**, creativity, school enrichment, community service, and culture**.

A list of the top-tiered activities is as follows.

Co-curricular activities timings are 02:55 pm to 03:55 pm, five days a week. Also, full-term payments for paid activities must be made directly in the ISM or school accounts.

Since Arbor School, Furjan has its roots in eco-literacy, students are often taken on day trips to deserts, mangroves, swamps and heritage sites across the UAE.

ISM Sports provide After-school activities (ASA) on behalf of the school. Foundation Stage timings for after-school ventures start from 02:00 pm onwards. However, there is an early pick-up facility for FS children at 12:30 pm. ASA Timings for students in Year 1 to Year 7 are 04:00 pm onwards.

Students with siblings will not be charged for staying late. However, children who do not have siblings will pay a minimum fee.

After-school activities managed by ISM Sports include:

A medical facility is available on the school campus. A part-time doctor and a full-time nurse are qualified to conduct healthcare sessions and provide first-aid treatment. The clinic is well-equipped to assist in case of emergencies and injuries.

Nevertheless, parents are requested to provide accurate information regarding the student’s medical history and should inform the school of any change in the medical condition. Similarly, parents must provide the school with updated contact details for a prompt response during an emergency.

So far, The Arbor School has appeared as a responsible facility where students’ needs are placed at the top of the priority list. Considering this, the school invites parents to be an essential part of their child’s academic journey. Apart from parent-teacher meetings, parents and guardians are a part of the school events and children’s activities.

Soon The Arbor School, Furjan will launch a parent portal to enable unlimited access to school events, calendar, exam dates, attendance, performance and other features.

Similarly, parents can be a part of a grade-specific WhatsApp group maintained by the class teacher or the administration department.

The Arbor School contact information and social media handles are listed below.

• Telephone Number: +971-4-581-4100
• Emails
  • General Enquiries: reception@thearborschool.ae
  • Admission Enquiries: admissions@thearborschool.ae
• The Arbor School Website
• The Arbor School Facebook
• The Arbor School Twitter
• The Arbor School Instagram
• The Arbor School YouTube
• The Arbor School Flickr
• The Arbor School LinkedIn

Note that the cover image belongs to The Arbor School.

What are the timings of The Arbor School?

The Arbor School starts Monday to Friday at 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Does the school conduct after-school activities?

Yes, the school offers after-school activities to students. These activities are usually carried after 4:00 pm. A variety of activities are offered after the regular school hours. Check out the after-school activities section in the guide to learn more.

How many grades are there in The Arbor School?

The Arbor school educates children from FS1 to Year 13.

Does The Arbor School follow a co-education model?

Yes, The Arbor School follows a co-education model.

What is the academic calendar of The Arbor School?

The academic calendar of The Arbor School starts in August and ends in July.

What is the tuition fee charged by the school?

The Arbor School charges between AED 42,000 and AED 76,500 as tuition fee. Check out the fee section to learn more.

How does the school communicate with parents?

Parent-teacher meetings, parent portal and social media platforms are the main sources of communication for school and parents.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen?

The Arbor School Dubai has a dining facility where students can enjoy a variety of nutritious food items.

How often and where does The Arbor School take children to field trips?

The school takes children on field trips throughout the year. The Arbor School typically arranges field trips to recreational spots, mangroves, forest and other ecological places in the UAE.