Dubai National School, Al Barsha

Dubai National School, founded in 1988, has two branches in the city. Dubai National School Al Barsha has 2,835 students and operates as a co-educational facility until Grade 3. Starting from Grade 4, girls and boys study in different sections. Functioning as a Pre-KG – 12 school, it follows the American curriculum. DNS Al Barsha has 250 full-time teachers and 21 teaching assistants. Emirati nationals dominate the student population.

The High School Diploma issued by DNS Al Barsha is recognised by the Ministry of Education and is equivalent to the National Secondary Certificate (Al Thanaweiah Al-Ameh). Graduating students have secured admissions into top universities in the United States and Europe.

Dubai National School Al Barsha has gained quite a reputation after being rated ‘Good’ for the eleventh consecutive year. It aims to provide quality American education aligned with the Islamic faith and vision of internationally-minded future leaders. The school appears to invest heavily in the professional development programme for teachers, which has positively impacted students’ outcomes. The teacher: student ratio is 1:11 to ensure personalised attention for students as necessary.

Parents looking for Islamic schools in Dubai can consider DNS Al Barsha, among other options.

• Location: Al Barsha
• Fees: AED 22,349 - AED 36,672
• Curriculum: US Curriculum
• Co-ed or Segregated: Co-ed till Grade 3
• KHDA Rating: Good
• Grade: Pre-KG to Grade 12

Al Sufouh 1 is the closest neighbour of Dubai National School, Al Barsha. Other residential communities nearby include:

• Al Barsha 2
• Al Sufouh 2
• Dubai Media City
• Umm al Sheif

Al Barsha 2 is a sub-community of Al Barsha. Residential options in Al Barsha 2 include villas and apartments in mid-rise buildings. Al Sufouh 2 is a sub-community offering luxurious villas and townhouses. Dubai Media City, also known as DMC, is Dubai's regional hub for media organisations. Residential options in the district include apartments and villas for rent. Umm Al Sheif is a small residential area with modern villas and townhouses. It is a family-centred neighbourhood with many reputable schools.

Those looking for accommodation near Dubai National School Al Barsha can consider:

• Apartments for rent near Dubai National School
• Apartments for sale near Dubai National School
• Villas for sale near Dubai National School
• Villas for rent near Dubai National School
• Townhouses for rent near Dubai National School
• Townhouses for sale near Dubai National School

Dubai National School has all the necessary facilities for effective learning. The spacious playground, gymnasiums and soccer field in Dubai National School Al Barsha are among the best in UAE. There are well-equipped labs, ICT rooms and five Arts rooms.

The school’s sports facilities include:

• Three gymnasiums
• A full-size soccer field
• Outdoor basketball playgrounds
• Girl’s pool with changing room
• Boy’s pool with changing room
• Toddler’s pool with changing room

Classrooms are spacious and have multimedia projectors. DNS Barsha has seven computer labs. There is a general Science laboratory for Grade 2 – Grade 6 students. Middle and High School students get access to four well-equipped Science labs of the highest international standards.

DNS Al Barsha has three spacious libraries for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. The libraries include visual and audio facilities, networked computers, and print material collection. Besides other labs, there are two Home Economics Labs where girls learn cooking and sewing skills. Boys, on the other hand, get access to the Electronics lab.

The Lecture Hall at Dubai National School is used for meetings, workshops, events and exhibitions.

DNS Al Barsha has two cafeterias; each unit can accommodate over 1,000 students. Students and staff are served hot food, snacks, and salads at these cafeterias.

Dubai National School is located near Street 44 in Al Barsha 1. Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road make it easily accessible for families residing in other parts of the city.

Dubai National School offers a quality educational programme based on the American curriculum. The school's educational programme meets the needs of the multi-national community of the UAE. English is used as the medium of instruction at DNS Al Barsha. External assessment tests used include TIMSS, PISA and PBTS.

The High School Diploma of Dubai National School is recognised by the Ministry of Education and is equivalent to the National Secondary Certificate (Al Thanaweiah Al Ameh).

Dubai National School Al Barsha is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Commission on International Education (CIE). The school greatly emphasises Islamic teaching within the context of the American Education Programme.

The mission statement emphasises every student's physical, moral and spiritual development. The objectives of the school include:

• Provide nurturing learning atmosphere and facilities to help students develop their capabilities
• Provide accurate and updated educational programmes to prepare students for their future education
• Help students and care for their physical, mental and social health
• Provide opportunities such as seminars, lectures and workshops to staff
• Provide proper educational materials to support Muslim students in maintaining their Islamic values and practising faithfulness, respect for all, honesty, forgiveness and tolerance

DNS Al Barsha offers classes from KG to Grade 12. Here’s a breakdown of the years offered to give you a good idea:

Dubai National School follows the American curriculum in all grades. In Grades 2 and 3, core subjects are:

According to the new KHDA requirements for American schools in Dubai, DNS Al Barsha has designed the curriculum as per The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks to meet the diverse learning needs and interests of Grade 9 to 12 students.

The high school curriculum includes core and elective subjects that students can select based on their interests. The school teachers will provide guidance regarding the High School Credit System and elective subjects for a better understanding of options. All high school students must earn at least 25 credit hours as stated in DNS Al Barsha’s Graduation and Equivalency Requirements.

Core subjects in Grade 9 include these:

Subjects taught in Grade 10 are:

• Islamic Studies
• English
• Arabic
• Math Core
• Math Advances
• Physics
• Social Studies
• World History
• Global Perspectives
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Personal Finance and Career Readiness

Grade 11 students study the following:

In Grade 12, these subjects are offered:

As stated earlier, DNS Al Barsha has successfully maintained its ‘Good’ rating for the last 11 years. KHDA inspected Dubai National School Al Barsha from 25th to 28th November 2019 and rated it “Good.”

According to the latest Dubai National School Al Barsha KHDA rating and report, Students of high school show very good achievement in English, Science and Mathematics. The same is the case with Arabic as an additional language. Across all other sections, the learning skills of students are good. Students’ achievement in Arabic as an additional language in the elementary phase is very good.

Students’ attendance and punctuality are excellent. In KG, students show very good personal and social development. Students’ behaviour, relationships and healthy lifestyle choices are exemplary. They understand Islamic values and are aware of Emirati and world cultures. Not to mention, their innovation skills are outstanding.

Teaching is most effective in High school. Teachers have very strong knowledge of their subjects and know how students will learn best. Teachers’ interactions with children and students are positive. Students show high levels of motivation and engagement.

The KG and High school curriculums are very strong. There is a broad range of learning opportunities for students to make cross-curricular links. High school students benefit from opportunities to be creative and entrepreneurial.

Health and safety procedures, including the ones that ensure children’s safeguarding, are very good throughout the school. In KG and High school, students benefit from good care, support and guidance. Identifying students of determination is one of the school's biggest strengths. However, there should be an improvement in the identification procedures for kids who are Gifted and Talented.

A strong principal leads the leadership team. The outcomes are clear, and the management works towards further improvement. The school has robust and comprehensive self-evaluation processes. The school improvement plan aligns more with external evaluations' recommendations and requirements.

The best features of Dubai National School Al Barsha are:

• Good and currently improving education provision for students of determination
• Students’ exemplary personal, social and innovation skills almost throughout the school
• Students’ excellent understanding and appreciation of Emirati culture, global heritage and Islamic values
• Strong and improved leadership and governance that is supported by engaged families and the wider community
• Strong teaching and support for high school students

Key recommendations made by KHDA are:

• The school should ensure that rapidly improving provision for students of determination is turned into more consistent and better inclusive practice in all classrooms
• DNS Al Barsha should build improved assessment procedures to enhance teaching by promoting the effective use of assessment data in lesson planning and delivery
• Address every identified inconsistency in curriculum implementation and adaptation, ensuring very good curricular provision across the school.
• Moderate the strategic and operational initiatives at one time to allow quality time for leaders to evaluate the impact of key initiatives with greater accuracy while reviewing them accordingly.

The academic calendar of Dubai National School Al Barsha has two terms. The school year starts in August and ends in June. The important dates in this year’s calendar are as follows:

Date	Event
August 29, 2022	Start of the First Term
December 9, 2022	End of The First Term
December 12, 2022 - December 30, 2022	Winter Break
January 02, 2023	Start of the Second Term
March 24, 2023	End of Second Term
March 27, 2023 - April 07, 2023	Spring Break
April 10, 2023	Start of Third Term
June 26, 2023	End of the Second Term

Besides, the school remains closed on many national and religious days. For more information, contact the school.

According to the KHDA guidelines, the school welcomes students regardless of religion or nationality. Parents interested in enrolling their child in DNS Al Barsha should complete the application form on the school’s website.

Parents are asked to submit a medical form with all relevant information about their child’s well-being. Students are enrolled in grades according to their age level, previous school records and entrance exam results.

Students applying for admissions in Grades 2 to 12 must appear for an entrance exam and pass three key subjects, including English, Mathematics and Arabic. The entrance exam does not require preparation and is based on familiarity and abilities for each level.
Here’s an overview of the Exam Duration:

• Lower elementary: 30 minutes
• Upper elementary: 90 minutes
• Intermediate: 2 hours
• Secondary stage: 2 to 3 hours

When students successfully clear the entrance exam, they receive an appointment for an interview with the principal, academic principal or their assistants.

Kindergarten teachers schedule a verbal interview to assess the student’s linguistic and motor skills. Grade 1 students are required to take an entrance exam and a spoken interview to check their attainment in English, Mathematics and Arabic.

A one-on-one evaluation may be conducted if required. The final admission decision is made within two working days. If the result does not match the admission criteria, the student might have to pass another entrance exam or be granted conditional acceptance. For admission in Grades 11 and 12, a proficiency test in the scientific subject is required. Please note that the school prioritises the siblings of already enrolled students.

DNS Al Barsha fee structure is mentioned below:

There are two cafeterias with a capacity of over 1,000 students. The cafeteria serves students and staff hot food, snacks and salads daily. The menu includes a variety of salads, croissants, manakeesh, fatayers, sandwiches, paninis, wraps, cakes, hot meals, snacks and beverages.

Dubai National School offers a bus service for students that follows the health and safety protocols outlined by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Students can only use their assigned bus. Changing vehicles is prohibited unless there's an emergency; parents must send a written request for the same.

Students must follow these rules:

• Students must respect the driver and the conductor.
• Students must remain seated at all times.
• They should not shout and abuse.
• Students must keep the bus tidy and should not dispose of anything on the bus.
• Students are not allowed to use their mobile phones.

Bus rules violators will be punished and may face temporary or permanent suspension from the school bus.

Dubai National School has exceptional indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including a multi-purpose gymnasium. Students can play soccer on the full-size soccer field. Sports Day is organised every year at DNS Al Barsha.

There are three well-equipped gyms along with three swimming pools. Each section has its pool with changing rooms.

DNS Al Barsha has numerous extracurricular activities for students. Many events and competitions are held during the academic year. Here’s an overview to give you a good idea:

Dubai National Al Barsha School takes students on various educational and fun trips. Students also participate in Scout trips. They have previously visited Safari, HQ – Forensic Department, LegoLand, People of Determination Centre and Dig It.

Parents are sent memos for important announcements. They are also kept updated through grade-specific WhatsApp groups.

• Telephone: +971-4-347-4555
• Email: dns.barsha@dns.sch.ae
• Dubai National School Al Barsha Website
• Dubai National School Al Barsha Facebook
• Dubai National School Al Barsha Instagram
• Dubai National School Al Barsha Twitter

Does the school organise after-school activities?

Yes, the school arranges after-school activities from 2:30 am to 4:00 pm. Both boys and girls take part in these activities separately.

How many grades does Dubai National School Al Barsha have?

The school educates children from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

How many students are there at Dubai National School Al Barsha?

Dubai National School currently has over 2,800 students, predominantly Emirati.

What is the academic calendar of Dubai National School?

The Dubai National School Al Barsha academic calendar starts in August and ends in June. For more information, check out the academic calendar section in this guide.

What is the tuition fee charged by Dubai National School?

Dubai National School Al Barsha tuition fee ranges between AED 22,349 and AED 36,672.

How does the school communicate with parents?

Dubai National School Al Barsha informs parents of the latest news and developments via regular meetings, social media platforms, official websites, and calls.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen?

Yes, the school has two canteens and cafeterias to meet students' needs.

Does the school arrange field trips?

Yes, the school organises several educational and recreational field trips.

How many teachers are at this school?

Dubai National School in Al Barsha Dubai has 250 full-time teachers and 22 teaching assistants.