International Community School - Al Najda

International Community School, Al Najda is a UK curriculum-based private school offering classes from Foundation Stage to Year 13. It was launched in 2013 and offered classes from FS to Year 5 but it is now a popular secondary school in the UAE capital.

International Community School has other campuses in Al Khaldiya, Al Mushrif and Al Falah. Students study in a co-education model till Year 5 after which boys and girls attend separate classes.

There are over 1,353 students at the International Community School Al Najda. The faculty has 88 teachers and the teacher-to-student ratio is 1:15. Most teachers are fluent English speakers from England and Ireland.

• Location: Al Najda, City Centre
• School fees: AED 28,101 - AED 57,945
• Curriculum: British
• Co-ed or segregate: Segregate from Year 5 onwards
• ADEK rating: Good
• Years offered: FS - Year 13

The centrally located ICS Al Najda is close to a few residential communities. Some well-known ones are:

• Al Zahiya
• Al Nahyan
• Al Manhal
• Al Danah

Al Zahiyah was formerly known as Tourist Club Area. The neighbourhood has many restaurants and entertainment spots. Furthermore, the popular Abu Dhabi Mall is in Al Zahiyah.

Those looking for spacious and affordable rental apartments in Abu Dhabi can consider living in Al Zahiyah. Al Nahyan is another popular area in Abu Dhabi with a mix of residential apartments and villas.

Those looking for residential options near the International Community School Al Najda can consider:

• Apartments for rent near International Community School
• Villas for rent near International Community School

International Community School Al Najda campus is spacious and has excellent outdoor facilities. The main feature of the school campus is its effective space utilisation for sports activities. Indoor facilities include a science lab, a well-equipped computer lab, a library and an innovation and technology room.

International Community School on Al Najda Street is also close to Al Sadafah Street and Fatima Bint Mubarak Street. It is surrounded by government offices including the Ministry of Finance, Abu Dhabi City Municipality and Marking Centre Abu Dhabi. There are only a few other schools in proximity.

International Community School has five campuses in Abu Dhabi. Three of them offer the American curriculum while the remaining two schools follow the National Curriculum for England.

ICS Al Najda Abu Dhabi is committed to providing a holistic education while focusing on students’ development as well-rounded individuals. The school is non-selective and supports students in their academic progress.

The school follows an Educational Philosophy that promotes research, critical thinking and creative skills. International Community School Al Najda has excellent academic programs that are on par with international standards. To ensure all students get individual attention from the teacher, the class size is kept small. Foundation Stage classes can accommodate not more than 25 students, while from Year 1 onwards, 30 students can attend a class at once.

International Community School Al Najda is an inclusive school and 0.81% of its students are identified as students of determination.

The school offers classes from Foundation Stage to Year 13.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is followed during the Foundation Stage. Seven areas of learning and development created by the Early Years Professional for FS1 and FS2 are the key highlights. These 7 areas of learning are split into 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas.

3 prime areas include:

• Personal, emotional and social development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language

4 specific areas consist of:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Art and Design
• Understanding the World

In Key Stage 1 and 2, core subjects include Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Art and English.

In Key Stage 3, students are taught the following subjects:

The school ensures that the best curriculum is taught to students. The English National Curriculum covers the key subjects including English, Mathematics and Science, together with a range of other subjects including Music, Art, PE, ICT, Moral Education and French. Topic-based approach and cross-curricular links are used to merge subjects. Elements of History and Geography are introduced to support the Moral Education curriculum as guided by the Ministry of Education. Also, students take Arabic as a first or second language and Islamic Studies. Non-Muslim students study PSHC.

In KS4, the school to follow the British national curriculum that includes the following subjects.

Learn more about the curriculum of International Community School Al Najda.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a government entity for licensing all private education institutes. One of the functions of ADEK is to provide ADEK school ‘ratings.’

ADEK inspected International Community Centre from 10th to 12th May 2022. The school was rated "Good" by ADEK.

The report suggests that students’ attainment and progress in English, Mathematics and Science are good. The teaching at the school is good throughout all phases except in phase 3. The assessment is acceptable in all phases. International Community School, Branch 1 has good health and safety procedures and acceptable student care and support.

Leadership effectiveness is good, as is the governance, management and partnership with parents.

The new academic year begins on 29th August. Students go on a winter break from 12th to 30th December. Term 2 starts on 2nd January. Spring break lasts from 27th March to 7th April. Term 3 starts on 10th April and ends on 5th July. Students then go on summer vacation.

Details about the academic calendar are available on the school’s official website.

Parents can primarily start the admission process by contacting the school’s admission office. The first step is to complete the online application form. Once the form has been filled and submitted with some essential documents, students must sit for an assessment. International Community School conducts the entrance assessment according to the age of the child. Once the child successfully passes the assessment, the school sends the final decision through email.

Below is the list of documents that parents must submit with the admission form:

• Copy of child’s Emirates ID card
• Copies of parents Emirates ID cards
• Copy of student and parents’ passport and visa
• Electricity bill with the address
• Copy of birth certificate (must be attested by UAE embassy if born outside UAE)
• Copy of immunization record
• Copy of filled medical consent form
• Copy of filled consent to administer non-prescribed medication
• Copy of student photo consent
• Copy of student medical history
• Three recent photographs of student
• School report from the previous school (if the applicant is transferring within UAE based private school)
• School transfer certificate (attested by the ADEK if student is coming from a public school)

The age-grade requirements of this school is as follows:

Registration fee is AED 1,000 which is non-refundable and it should be paid at the time of admission test. International Community School Al Najda fee is mentioned below:

In addition to the general discount of 20% over the tuition fee, the school also offers sibling discount.

Parents can opt for one of the following payment options:

• Option 1: Full Payment due by 30th August
• Option 2: Two Instalments of an equal amount. One is due on 30th August and the other on 3rd January.
• Option 3: Three equal instalments due on 30th August, 1st December and 4th April

The mentioned fee does not include the cost of:

• Uniform
• Transportation
• Books

Parents can opt for any of the following payment methods:

• Cash settlement
• Bank transfer/bank deposits
• Cheques

Details for bank deposits or bank transfers are as follows:

• Bank Name: Ajman Bank
• Account Title: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL-LLC
• Account Number: 011054179018
• IBAN: AE260570000011054179 018

International Community School Al Najda has a canteen where students can buy fresh snacks such as pasta pots, fruit pots and salads. Water is available throughout the day. However, students are encouraged to bring their own bottles.

Students are discouraged to bring sweets, cakes, pastries, nuts, chocolates, crisps, biscuits and fizzy drinks. The school advises parents to pack lunch that has reduced fat, salt and sugar and is high in fibre. It should be freshly prepared and include salads.

The school offers reliable and safe school bus service that’s in line with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEK) and Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT) Safety Standards. Emirates Transportation is the official partner for providing transport services to ICS students. Door-to-door service is available wherever possible.

All buses are checked and maintained as guided by the ADEK and DMAT safety standards. Driver and bus attendants are well-qualified and licensed by DMAT. They are supervised by ICS Transportation Coordinator.

Students should understand the following rules:

• They have to be present at the pick-up point at the specified time.
• Students should wear seat belts throughout the journey
• They should keep the bus clean.
• Eating and drinking on the bus is not allowed
• Putting hands and head outside the windows is strictly prohibited
• Speaking to the driver during the ride is not allowed
• They can talk to the bus attendant whenever needed
• Students must remain seated at all times while the bus is moving.
• Students must carry their bus ID card for boarding the bus
• They should be respectful towards the driver and bus attendant

A two-way bus service costs AED 4,630.

Students can improve their sports-related skills by participating in one or more sports offered at the International Community School, Al Najda.

Athletic Club at International Community School includes jump, running and throwing activities. Other popular sports for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students at ICS Al Najda include basketball club that runs once a week and football club. Key Stage 3 students can take part in football, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, Zumba and netball.

International Community School Al Najda has a variety of extracurricular activities for students. Irish dancing, choir and ICT clubs are a few options for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students.

Key Stage 3 students get more choices. They can take part in the following:

More creative or intellectually focused activities include debate, cooking, Mental Maths and chess. The Formula 1 is an exclusive club of the school for Year 5 and Year 6 students.

Students have been part of interesting educational field trips from International Community School City Centre Branch 1.

Young students were taken to the fire station to know more about how firefighters work.

The school clinic is managed by well-trained staff and remains open from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm from Sunday to Thursday. Parents can fill out Individual Healthcare Plan forms. School nurse can be reached via email at br1clinic@icshool-uae.com.

Parents are considered partners at International Community School Al Najda as it believes that students perform exceptionally well when their parents are concerned about their education. The school thus fosters and promotes a three-way partnership between the school, parents and students.

The school Principal and staff are always happy to meet parents. Parents are suggested to book an appointment to see the Principal and teachers.
Parents are kept informed regarding school events and other happenings through regular newsletters and emails. Other sources of communication include Orison/E-school, SMS and phone calls whenever required.

For facilitating Foundation Stage/Kindergarten students, parents are allowed to attend play sessions. Termly parents’ evening is organised by the school to keep parents well-informed regarding their child’s academic progress.

• Telephone: +971-2-644-4003
• Email: br1info@icschool-uae.com
• International Community School - Al Najda Website
• International Community School Al Najda Facebook
• International Community School Al Najda Instagram
• International Community School Al Najda YouTube

Please note that the cover image belongs to International Community School Al Najda

What are the timings of the school?

7:30 am to 2:30 pm.

How many grades are there in the school?

FS to Year 13.

Does the school follow a co-education model?

No. It is co-education only till Year 5. Students then study in separate classes.

Please describe the academic calendar of the school.

The school year starts in August and ends in July.

Please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by the school.

The school fee ranges from AED 28,101 to AED 57,945.

How does the school communicate with parents?

Parents can book an appointment to meet the teacher. To keep parents informed the school uses newsletters, emails, SMS and other communication methods like Orison platform.

How many students are currently studying in the school?

International Community School has 1,353 students.

Do you have any special education programmes or learning plans for students of determination?

International Community School, City Centre provides full support to students of determination and follows the SEN policy of ADEK. 

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, International Community School, Al Najda has a canteen.

Does the school arrange field trips?

Yes, the school organises field trips every year.

How many teachers are currently teaching in the school?

There are 88 teachers in The International Community School, City Centre.