Dwight School Dubai

Back in 1872, the first Dwight School opened in New York. The school has scored many accolades during the 145 years, including the honour of being the first IB curriculum school in the United States of America.

Over the years, Dwight School expanded its operations to three continents and five cities, including London, Seoul, Shanghai and Dubai. The Dwight School Dubai (DSD) alumni are notable personalities who’ve made a mark in major industries worldwide.

Initially, the Dubai campus was launched in Al Barsha in 2018. However, the school relocated to a new campus in Dubai Sports City in September 2022. The newly built campus offers fantastic facilities to ensure that students receive a quality education and participate in extra-curricular activities. Being a part of Dwight Global, students can transfer to other branches.

Dwight School Dubai offers an IB curriculum from Pre-KG until Grade 12. It aims to become a leading IB curriculum school in Dubai. DSD in Dubai Sports City hasn’t been inspected by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) yet. Read this Dwight School Dubai review by Bayut to learn more.

Dwight School is located in Dubai Sports City, which makes it an easily accessible learning institute for families living in:

• Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)
• Al Barsha South
• Motor City
• Dubai Studio City
• Arabian Ranches

Jumeirah Village City is the nearest residential neighbourhood to the school. It is popular among renters and buyers for its spectacular views and unique residential and commercial properties.

Families looking to relocate near the school can consider:

• Apartments for rent near Dwight School Dubai
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• Villas for sale near Dwight School Dubai

Dwight School Dubai campus launched with much fanfare in the Middle East. Being a part of the famous global Dwight schools network, the expectations in terms of facilities were relatively high.

The 10-acre campus shares the location with neighbouring Brighton College Dubai. As a result, DSD has access to high-end amenities. The shared facilities include a 600-seater auditorium, a 400-metre running track, a full rugby and football pitch, a 25-metre 6 to 8-lane swimming pool and a Centre of Excellence for Arabic Language, Culture and the Arts. One can also find basketball, squash and tennis courts.

The three-storey Dwight School Dubai’s building has over 78 rooms, including classrooms, language, music, performing arts, specialists labs and learning centres. The library has over 7,000 books besides access to digital publications.

Students attending Dwight School Dubai can also find a canteen, a medical facility and an indoor multi-purpose sports hall to participate in various sporting activities.

Dwight School Dubai’s location is near the edge of Dubai Sports City.

As a school with a rich history, DSD has a lot to offer to students, parents and the community. Nearing its 150th anniversary, Dwight schools network gives parents many reasons to trust them with their children.

Dwight School Dubai has an outstanding IB curriculum well supported by extra-curricular activities. Students can experience the culture of the other Dwight schools and are prepared for entrance into Ivy schools around the world.

Dwight Dubai recognises that each child is unique and requires different levels of attention to succeed in life. Hence, there are Quest and Spark programmes in place. Under these programmes, Dwight Dubai determines learning differences in students and then plans tailored enrichment programmes to help students achieve their highest potential.

The Spark programme is more holistic and takes on a think-tank approach. Students who portray innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership qualities can consider this programme to nourish their minds further.

Finally, the network has introduced Dwight Global Online School, which provides various day-school and online learning elements to students from Grade 7 to Grade 12.

Since DSD places students in age-appropriate grades designed and approved by the UAE Ministry of Education and KHDA, parents should know the age requirements.

Dwight School Dubai follows the IB curriculum from Pre-KG until Grade 12. Graduating students get an IB diploma.

Primary Years Programme

The curriculum during Primary Years focuses on developing cognitive skills and social, emotional and physical well-being through six transdisciplinary themes. These themes allow children to learn more about themselves and their world. They also learn the right way to interact and socialise with others.

Subjects taught during PYP include Mathematics, Science, Literacy, Social Studies, arts physical education, languages (Arabic combined with either French or Mandarin) and Islamic Studies.

Middle Years Programme

Dwight School Dubai’s curriculum during MYP is more rigorous as students comprehend the subject knowledge and relate it to the real world. Children are taught to be creative thinkers and reflect on their personal growth.

To ensure a smooth transition into the secondary stage or Diploma programme, teachers adopt and implement international IB assessments methods. Generally, assessments include open-ended activities, investigations, organised debates, hands-on experimentations and reflections.

The Middle Years programme ends in Grade 10, where students submit a Personal Project. This project is an independent assignment that must be completed in eight months and must reflect the student’s understanding of the connection between their learnings and its implementation in the real world.

Courses taught in these years include Language and Literature, Language Acquisition (Arabic with an option of French, Mandarin, Spanish or German), Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education, Design and Arts and Islamic Education.

Diploma Programme

The final years, Grade 11 and 12, help students develop critical thinking and personal passion for focusing on a single area they’ll pursue at university and later adopt as a career.

The three main components of the IB curriculum at Dwight School Dubai, Dubai Sports City are:

• Theory of Knowledge
• Creativity, Action and Service
• Extended Essay

At this stage, students engage in a wide range of subjects such as Experimental Science, Mathematics, Arts, Economics, Finance, Films, Technology and Languages.

As per the new COVID-19 protocols issued by KHDA, schools are discontinuing the distance learning programme from October 3rd, 2021. Those wishing to continue their education via distance learning have to show a relevant health certificate issued by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Schools may revert to distance learning if COVID-19 cases are detected in a class or a group in a class.

KHDA was established with the sole purpose of improving and maintaining the quality of education provided by private schools in Dubai.

This organisation carries out an annual inspection of all the private schools to determine the quality of education, teachers, campus, facilities, and leadership provided to students.

The KHDA rates schools on a six-point scale, as depicted below.

Since DSD, Dubai was inaugurated in 2018, the first inspection by the KHDA is to be carried out in the year 2021 – 2022. Given the school’s history, we can expect Dwight Dubai to secure an admirable rating.

Dwight School Dubai’s academic calendar runs from September to July, divided into three terms.

• 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 resumes 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 two-month summer vacation.

Dwight School Dubai’s admission process is inclusive. It is divided into four steps for the convenience of parents.

Step 1

The registration process starts with parents or students completing the online application form. Besides this, you have to pay a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of AED 525.

Step 2

Step 2 involves completing the admission process by paying the registration fee of AED 5,000, which is non-refundable, non-transferrable and non-deductible. Parents also need to submit the following documents:

• A copy of the applicant’s passport
• One passport size photograph
• Confidential Recommendation Form for applicants to Pre-KG to KG2
• Confidential Recommendation Form for applicants to Grade 1 to Grade 5
• Confidential Recommendation Form for applicants to Grade 6 to Grade 12
• School or progress report from the last two years, including the current semester report. Please make sure that the reports are in English. Translated reports should be stamped and signed as an official translation.
• If available, a copy of the recent Standardised Assessment.
• Applicants with SEND requirements must submit reports, including Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), a therapist report or a psychologist report.

Step 3

After the successful application process, students have to go through an assessment. This will determine whether the applicant is ready to attend Dwight School Dubai and if they need additional English language or learning support.

Overseas students will be offered a conditional acceptance letter based on their current school report and learning progress. However, once the student has moved to the UAE, they will have to appear for an assessment.

Once student enrollment is confirmed, parents need to submit the following documents to Dwight School Dubai.

• A copy of the student’s Emirates ID Card, UAE visa and birth certificate
• A copy of the parents’ Emirates ID Card, a valid UAE visa and passport.
• One photo of either parent or a guardian
• A copy of the Family Card (Emirati students only)
• A copy of the student’s immunisation card or vaccination report
• Transfer Certificate (signed and stamped on official letterhead)

Please note that parents must seek the UAE visa status enquiry to know about the validity of their visa before submitting documents to the school.

Step 4

A place is offered after the complete student’s file is sent to the Admission Committee for review. Parents will have to deposit a registration fee of 10% of the annual tuition fee within 14 days of the date of the offer letter. The registration deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable but will be adjusted against the first term tuition fee.

Student Withdrawal

Suppose a student decides to withdraw from the school. In that case, Dwight School Dubai must be informed at least 30 days in advance to carry out exit formalities and the necessary documentation, including issuing a Transfer Certificate.

However, before initiating the admission process, you must ensure that your child meets the following age criteria.

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)

Dwight schools network is a prestigious group that offers one of the world’s best International Baccalaureate programmes. Considering the school’s reputation and the world-class facilities it provides, the Dwight School Dubai fees structure isn’t surprising.

Since the Dubai campus opened in 2018, Dwight has offered a Founders’ Fee structure with a significant reduction in the yearly fees. Although the discount was introduced for 2019 – 2020, it is expected that the school will extend this offer in the coming years to attract families looking for the best IB curriculum schools in Dubai.

Here’s an overview to give you a better idea about the KHDA approved fee and the Founders’ fee structure.

As per the KHDA guidelines, the school cannot increase the fee until the start of the fourth year of operation.

Tuition Fees also include all educational resources, including a personal learning device such as IPAD from PreK to Grade 5 and a Macbook Pro laptop from Grade 6 to 12. However, charges are not included for uniforms, food services, transport, or extra-curricular activities outside school hours.

There are a few additional charges that parents should be aware of, including:

• Application fee: AED 525 inclusive of VAT
• Registration fee: AED 5,000
• Re-registration fee: 5% of annual tuition fee

Sibling Discount

Dwight School Dubai has introduced a sibling discount programme to facilitate parents further. Under this initiative, parents will receive:

• 5% discount on the total tuition fee for the second and third child.
• 10% discount on the full tuition fee for the fourth child.
• 15% discount on the full tuition fee for the fifth child.

Tuition Fee Refund

Under the KHDA Framework, Dwight School Dubai can refuse refunds if a student does not return or accepts an admission offer from another school in Dubai.

However, there are circumstances where the school is permitted to refund deposits. Payments are refunded if the family moves out of Dubai and submits proof to the school’s finance department. In this case, the calculation of the refund is as follows:

• If the student attends school for two weeks or less, Dwight School will deduct a month’s fee from the refund.
• If the student attends school between two weeks and one month, Dwight School will deduct two months’ fee from the refund.
• If the student attends school for more than a month, Dwight School will deduct a term’s fee from the refund.

Please note that a single term in school lasts for three months.

Non-Payment of Fee

Suppose parents fail to deposit the tuition fee. In that case, the school has the authority to either withhold the child’s school reports, references and exam results or temporarily or permanently expel the student from the school.

Parents can pay Dwight School Dubai fees through cash, credit card, wire transfer or cheque.

Dwight School Dubai runs a merit-based scholarship programme for existing and prospective students from Grade 9 to Grade 12. The scholarship holder can receive up to a 50% discount on the annual tuition fee for two consecutive years. After this time, students will have to re-apply for the scholarship.

Since the process is merit-based, the scholarship is exceptionally competitive. It is only awarded to students with an impressive IB learner profile and tremendous scholarship achievement. All successful candidates are thorough Dwight ambassadors.

Scholarship Categories and Requirements

Academic Scholarships require the student to:

• Show exceptional academic abilities
• Show outstanding progress in coursework
• Produce a minimum of two most recent end-of-year reports showing excellent performance
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a current teacher
• Submit a personal statement

Athletic Scholarships are available for Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Swimming and Track and Field/Athletics. Students looking to apply for this scholarship must:

• Show athletic participation with remarkable results
• Personify good sportsmanship
• Show a positive attitude with teammates, coaches, equipment, officials and spectators
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a current coach
• Provide a letter of recommendation from an academic staff (teacher/leader) from the current school
• Submit a personal statement

Scholarships in innovation are for students who:

• Demonstrate inventive ideas or produce a prototype
• Provide a physical or digital prototype of a product with the rationale for its market readiness
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a current teacher, instructor or mentor
• Submit a personal statement

To get a Performance and Visual Arts Scholarship, a student must:

• Possess a genuine artistic or musical talent
• Provide a physical or digital portfolio
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a current teacher, instructor or mentor
• Submit a personal statement

The final step leading to a successful scholarship offer from the school is a presentation or interview with the scholarship committee. Residents are requested to appear for a face-to-face interview, while overseas students can settle for a video call on Zoom.

Upon successful application for a scholarship, the discount or remission will apply from the next academic year.

However, students should note that the school can withdraw the scholarship because of misconduct, failure to prove themselves as a Dwight ambassador and failure to uphold the scholarship criteria.

Dwight School Dubai has outsourced the catering service to Food Nation. The company has the reputation of providing healthy, tasty, nutritious and preservative-free meal plans. The organisation prepares fresh food daily without using artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, texture-altering chemicals, additives, trans-fats, GMO or preservatives.

The Food Nation is headed by Magnus Mamby, well-known for spending 30 years working in food allergy clinics and popular Michelin star restaurants. Exciting food options for students include soups, two main courses, sides, desserts and beverages.

For the convenience of students and parents, the school has introduced cashless payments for food. The main meal costs AED 22 and can be purchased via the student’s ID wristband.

You can visit the Food Nations website or download the app. The app allows you to top-up your child’s account, get updates about their daily spending allowance and keep track of your child’s food preferences.

To provide a safe and efficient transport service, Dwight School Dubai has partnered with School Transport Services (STS). The Roads and Transport Authority approves all the buses provided by the company. Each bus is accompanied by a qualified and experienced driver and a female attendant to look after children.

All the buses are well-equipped with seatbelts, a Global Positioning System (GPS), Video Surveillance System and RFID technology.

Parents and guardians are requested to download the STS app service, compatible with Android and IOS phones. The main features of this app are:

• Locate child: This helps parents locate their child, confirm the pick-up and drop-off points, and track when their child boards and de-boards the bus.
• STS Alert: This feature informs parents of any unseen development such as an accident, bad weather, or a late bus.
• Personal Request: Parents can inform the bus drivers if they wish to pick up or drop off their child or if the student will be absent.
• Account Summary: Parents can view the account or transport fee history to check for outstanding dues or advance payment. This saves time as parents need not go to the school and confirm any discrepancies in the transport service charges.
• Add another Child: Through this feature, parents can supervise and track each of their children without logging in with a different account or details.
• Settings: Here, you can learn about the terms and conditions of using the STS app.

To start using the transport service, please ensure that you submit a completed transport form to the STS Customer Representative at the school.

The table below shows areas covered by the STS buses, along with the two-way and one-way charges for a single child.

Until now, students have been a part of ‘Glamping’, a more luxurious, resort-style camping where various amenities are provided. It is expected that the school will bring in external companies to develop different holiday camps with time.

Sports facilities at Dwight School Dubai are awe-inspiring. The indoor facilities include a multi-purpose sports hall where sports, events and examinations take place all year round. Children can make the most of basketball, tennis and squash courts.

Students will find a fitness centre and a gymnasium with high-tech equipment to carry out an intensive workout session. You will find a 25-metre main swimming pool heated during the cooler months so that training and practise sessions aren’t interrupted. There is also a toddlers pool for primary students.

The outdoor facilities are equally remarkable. As mentioned earlier, the ‘super-campus’ is shared with Brighton College Dubai, which means students have access to a full football pitch, a rugby pitch and a 400-metre running track.

Dwight Schools network offers over 150 various extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Most enrichment activities are available after school hours to pursue their passion and interests without compromising their studies.

Extra-curricular activities designed at the school aim to ignite the spark of genius in every child. The main aim behind introducing over 150 activities is to allow students to further their interest in unconventional and unique curricular activities.

All activities are planned according to the ‘age-appropriate’ concept and are often taught by the school faculty, including leading external professionals. Another concept that the school applies when encouraging students to participate in activities is vertical grouping. Here, students can socialise and bond with their peers from different age groups, nationalities and abilities.

Extra-curricular activities at Dwight School Dubai are divided into five different categories.

Children can pursue additional co-curricular activities at Dwight School Dubai. Your child can opt for student exchange, collaboration and study abroad programmes that include other schools in the Dwight network.

Students willing to pursue a performing or visual arts career will be glad to know that DSD offers a grand opportunity. A treasured tradition across global Dwight Schools, students get to perform in a concert arranged at Carnegie Hall in New York. Students from any Dwight school can participate in this prestigious concert. In fact, since the opening of the Dubai campus, this concert will be held in Dubai, London, Seoul or Shanghai every other year.

Developing well-rounded students is one aim of Dwight School Dubai. So, students have been part of recreational and foreign trips. Recently, the school took five students from Grade 6 to Grade 10 to Space Camp in Turkey.

Other Dwight schools have arranged far more extensive international trips for students to get a deeper insight into various cultures, technological advancement and innovation.

As stated earlier, most extra-curricular activities are offered after school hours. The after-school activities for Pre-KG to KG 2 students are 02:15 pm to 03:45 pm. Students from Grade 1 until Grade 10 can participate in after-school ventures after 03:45 pm.

The health of students and teachers is of utmost importance to the school. Dwight School Dubai promises to provide outstanding healthcare; hence, it is associated with the King’s College Hospital London.

The school has set up a King’s College Hospital London medical centre. They have brought a dedicated King’s nurse and part-time family medicine consultant to provide expert, evidence-based healthcare to students and their families.

Besides first-aid treatment, the medical centre organises regular awareness workshops for children and their families from time to time to offer valuable health advice.

Dwight School Dubai requires parents to submit a medical form at the time of admission, which you can download here. The school must receive this form before the start of regular classes.

Parents, sponsors, and guardians are requested to keep the school posted with the latest contact information to contact the relevant party immediately in case of any emergency. Similarly, the school expects to remain posted about any changes in a student’s medical condition.

Like other Dwight schools, the Dubai campus has also introduced several methods to ensure instant and effective communication between the teachers and parents.

DSD has introduced a Parents Association programme, Aligned with this mission. Here, parents are allowed to be a part of the school, the global community and their child’s academic career by volunteering as a member of this association.

Research has suggested that children are more enthusiastic about learning when their parents are with them. The school understands this and incorporates it into the PA Programme. Celebrations, festivities, book fairs and cultural events, arts, drama, musical productions and sporting events are some popular activities of the PA Programme.

DSD’s ‘My Dwight’ programme enables parents and guardians to keep track of their child’s performance and school events. Different portals under the ‘My Dwight’ campaign give parents access to the information they require at all times.

• Parents Evening System: This portal allows parents to book a place in different conferences and extra-curricular activities.
• Manage Bac: This portal allows parents, students and teachers to access term reports, school schedules, calendars, curriculum, assessments, news and different files.
• Seesaw: This is a simple communication portal for parents.

You have to create an account to access these three portals.

Apart from these modern communication methods, the Dwight School maintains traditional communication via a ‘General Inquiry’ section on the website where parents can ask questions about their child’s education.

Last, parents can request class teachers to become a part of the grade-specific WhatsApp group and receive instant notification regarding school events, schedule, timings or any unseen development.

• Telephone Number: 800-394448
• Email:
  • Admission Enquiries: admissions@dwight.ae
• Dwight School Dubai Website
• Dwight School Dubai Facebook
• Dwight School Dubai Twitter
• Dwight School Dubai Instagram
• Dwight School Dubai YouTube
• Dwight School Dubai LinkedIn

Note that the cover image belongs to Dwight School Dubai.