Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) is one of the oldest educational facilities in the country. Initially established in a small villa in 1963 by the British embassy, DESS has become one of Dubai’s top British curriculum schools.
Following its humble beginnings, DESS has grown into a coveted international school with a highly sought after Outstanding rating from the KHDA.
Today, DESS has over 800 students (representing 50 countries) who are given exposure to the high-quality British curriculum to help them secure admission to the top universities worldwide. This primary school in Dubai covers the National Curriculum of England for children aged 3 to 11 years. DESS established a new facility called Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) in 2006. They also started a new FS1 facility in September 2014.
Read this Dubai English Speaking School guide by Bayut to learn more about the school.
Located in the community of Oud Metha in Bur Dubai, DESS is a good option providing quality education for families residing in several neighbouring areas. Click the links below to know more about the top residential communities near DESS:
However, the nearest neighbourhood is Umm Hurair 2, with quite a few affordable and pocket-friendly apartments. It is a perfect option for families who wish to stay close to the school.
Nevertheless, parents looking for residential buildings close to the school can check out apartments for rent available in Bur Dubai.
Currently, DESS Dubai has only one campus in Oud Metha. The land for the campus was granted by His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the erstwhile ruler of Dubai. Latifa Hall, the main hall of DESS, is named in honour of his wife.
The school features many facilities to enhance the learning experience, including science labs, libraries, sports facilities, ICT rooms, music hall and more.
The school has come a long way since its initial beginnings. Over time, DESS has expanded by including various facilities for primary and secondary students to promote comprehensive learning.
A list of facilities include:
DESS school is on Oud Metha Road in Umm Hurair 2, Bur Dubai, near St. Mary’s Catholic High School. Since the school is in one of the key locations in Dubai, families from all over the Emirate can consider it for their children. The campus is well-facilitated, catering to the needs of students in academic and non-academic fields.
DESS takes pride in prioritising its students’ academic and personal development through an innovative approach to education.
This school believes that for students to be successful and responsible individuals, they must understand core human values.
DESS encourages children to identify their unique skill sets by taking on leadership roles and participating in philanthropic and environmental causes. For this purpose, this school offers a personalised learning environment allowing students to develop four essential skills: creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking.
Being one of the Outstanding rated schools in Dubai, DESS exposes students to a world of opportunities. Consequently, students graduating from this school are praised for their keen sense of understanding and academic acumen. The school is also affiliated and certified by the National Curriculum of England.
Besides the aforementioned, the rich history, highly qualified staff and innovative teaching practises are other considerations that add to the school’s popularity.
Phases | Years Covered |
---|---|
Foundation Stage | FS1 and FS2 |
Lower Primary / Key Stage 1 | Year 1 and Year 2 |
Upper Primary / Key Stage 2 | Year 3 to Year 6 |
Students completing Year 6 are given automatic admission in DESC. This facility currently has over 1,500 students and offers IGCSE, GCSE and A-Level qualifications to students aged 11 to 18.
DESS Dubai follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and British National Curriculum. The core subjects are:
French | Geography |
Arabic | Performing Arts |
Islamic Studies | History |
Literacy | Numeracy |
Physical Education | Science |
Personal Health and Social Education (PHSE). |
The school follows the UK’s EYFS educational framework in the foundation stage. It is a popular educational framework to introduce children to a school. It focuses on fun and engaging activities to build foundational skills that come in handy in the primary stage.
British Schools Overseas (BSO), in one of its inspections of this school, found the FS stage curriculum vibrant and exciting. It further added that the school regularly reviews the curriculum to cater to students’ interests and needs.
DESS also offers Music, Dance, Swimming and PE sessions by specialists.
In this stage, children are introduced to different languages, including Arabic, to help establish a strong foundation for later. Teachers use entertaining methods, such as playing games, singing, and acting, to improve Arabic vocabulary. Arabic is taught formally as part of the curriculum in Years 1 and 2.
From Year 3 onwards, students are exposed to more languages and introduced to language-based skills to help them develop their vocabulary.
Core subjects taught in KS2 are:
Islamic Education | French |
Literacy | Mathematics |
Science | Geography |
Moral Education Program (MEP) | Physical Education |
Performing Arts |
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a government organisation responsible for the growth and quality of private education in Dubai. It assesses private schools in Dubai and issues performance ratings based on a six-point scale.
According to the latest report, the Dubai English Speaking School KHDA rating is ‘Outstanding’. Given below is a 10-year history of the KHDA rating for Dubai English Speaking School:
YEARS | KHDA RATING |
---|---|
2009 – 2015 | Good |
2015 – 2018 | Very Good |
2018 – 2019 | Outstanding |
Some of the main reasons for obtaining this rating are as follows:
DESS also provides support for students with special educational needs (SEND). KHDA inspectors have noted that specialist teachers use extensive tools to identify students with SEND. The relevant data is utilised to match students’ needs, develop intervention programs, and provide in-class support.
DESS Dubai calendar is divided into three terms, as follows:
Academic Calendar Breakdown | Dates |
---|---|
First day of term 1 | 29 August 2022 |
Last day of term 2 | 9 December 2022 |
Winter Vacation | 12 December 2022 - 30 December 2022 |
First day of term 2 | 2 January 2023 |
Last day of term 2 | 24 March 2023 |
Spring Break | 27 March 2023 - 7 April 2023 |
First day of term 3 | 10 April 2023 |
Last day of term 3 | 7 July 2023 |
You can visit the academic calendar for detailed information regarding national and religious holidays.
Dubai English Speaking School encourages parents to check out the tour video and book a tour before filling out the form. Interested parents can send admission applications any time throughout the year. Parents can access the application form on the official website or contact the admissions team at admissions@dessc.sch.ae. Please fill out all the required fields in the online application.
After applying, parents will receive an automated acknowledgement email. The school will ask you to submit supporting documents and the admission fee.
Here is the list of documents required by Dubai English Speaking School:
Parents are advised to share the authentic and relevant information on time to avoid any delays in admissions. After that, the school will ask parents to bring their child for an assessment. Successful students will receive terms of acceptance and an offer letter by email.
Admission is decided on the following criteria:
You can get more information regarding the admission process on the website. Parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria.
Years | Minimum Entry Age | Maximum Entry Age | Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* |
---|---|---|---|
Years FS 1 |
Minimum Entry Age 3 |
Maximum Entry Age – |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* – |
Years FS 2 |
Minimum Entry Age 4 |
Maximum Entry Age – |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* – |
Years Year 1 |
Minimum Entry Age 5 |
Maximum Entry Age – |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* – |
Years Year 2 |
Minimum Entry Age 6 |
Maximum Entry Age – |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* – |
Years Year 3 |
Minimum Entry Age 7 |
Maximum Entry Age 9 |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* 6 |
Years Year 4 |
Minimum Entry Age 8 |
Maximum Entry Age 10 |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* 7 |
Years Year 5 |
Minimum Entry Age 9 |
Maximum Entry Age 11 |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* 8 |
Years Year 6 |
Minimum Entry Age 10 |
Maximum Entry Age 12 |
Minimum Entry Age for Overseas Transfers* 9 |
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)
Dubai English Speaking School fees structure reveals different ranges for foundation stage and primary stage. The breakdown of the tuition fee charged here is tabulated below:
Years | Term 1 Fee | Term 2 Fee | Term 3 Fee | Total Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Years Foundation Stage |
Term 1 Fee AED 13,024 |
Term 2 Fee AED 12,641 |
Term 3 Fee AED 12,640 |
Total Fee AED 38,305 |
Years Year 1 to Year 6 |
Term 1 Fee AED 16,118 |
Term 2 Fee AED 15,644 |
Term 3 Fee AED 15,644 |
Total Fee AED 47,406 |
Some additional charges include:
DESS Oud Metha provides discounts for siblings as well:
The above-mentioned fees can be paid by credit cards or via bank transfer. Below are the details of the bank account approved by the school to receive tuition fees.
DESS have a kiosk for students in upper grades. Using it, they can order food of their choice. Students can also bring home-packed lunchboxes from home.
Dropping and picking up children to and from the school can be a hassle for parents, especially if they are working full time. For this purpose, DESS has joined hands with United Car Rentals (UCR) to offer a reliable transport service to students.
UCR ensures students a safe and comfortable travel experience thanks to its fleet of modern buses and well-trained drivers. Drivers and other staff members continuously participate in training courses to better serve customers.
Concerned parents should get in touch with the company to know the transportation fee for their area.
Swimming, gymnastics, rugby, basketball and netball are some popular sports at Dubai English Speaking School. DESS also participates in various tournaments throughout the year where students can showcase their talents, compete with other kids on their level and improve their skills.
DESS provides an extensive range of extra-curricular activities. These activities include sports days, career fairs, drama festivals and literature days.
SchoolsBuddy is an ECA (Extra-Curricular Activities) management system by DESS. Parents can select activities they wish their child to participate in through this system and manage all the details. DESS regularly updates the list of available extra-curricular activities each term. Parents can access the details by downloading the SchoolsBuddy app.
Field trips are an essential part of modern-day schooling. Such initiatives allow schools to extend learning beyond classrooms’ walls. DESS also undertakes such initiatives by taking students to recreational and historical sites, such as parks and museums. These trips serve as an opportunity for DESS students to learn about their surroundings and related textbook learning with practical experiences.
Currently, there are no after-school care facilities at DESS other than extra-curricular activities conducted after regular school hours. These activities are charged separately in which students learn music, drama and performing arts.
Two full-time nurses are employed by the school to take care of any medical emergencies. A certified doctor also visits the school twice a week. Parents are informed of an emergency by the nurses.
The parent portal on the website is the primary channel for communication. Using a tablet device or smartphone, parents can easily access child-centric information. Through this portal, parents can also:
Besides the parent portal, DESS has WhatsApp groups for each grade to keep parents informed. Parents will need to get in touch with the form teacher or other staff members to join such groups.
Dubai English Speaking School remains open from Monday through Friday. The school starts at 07:25 am and ends at 03:30 pm, while Friday hours end at 12 noon.
The school encourages students to participate in after-school activities such as music, drama, performing arts and more.
FS 1 until Year 6.
Currently, there are around 995 students enroled at Dubai English Speaking School.
The academic calendar starts in the last week of August and ends in the first week of July.
Tuition fee ranges from AED 38,305 to AED 47,406.
The Parents' Portal is the main way to communicate with parents. You can also communicate with school administrators through WhatsApp groups and its social media pages.
One will find a canteen in the school serving fresh food to students. There's an outdoor parent café as well.
DESS Dubai takes students to field trips a handful times through the the academic year.
As of now, the school has 61 teachers and 46 teaching assistants.
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