Pristine Private School

Pristine Private School (PPS), established in 1992, is a co-ed British School located in Al Nahda. Offering education from the Foundation Stage to Year 13, Pristine Private School Dubai follows the National Curriculum for England. It is one of the premium-priced schools in Dubai that offers quality education to students.

The school hosts a diverse population of students belonging to different nationalities. However, most of the students are from South-Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. There are over 1,500 students enrolled in the school. The teacher-to-student ratio is 1:11. Currently, there are  134 teachers, 21 teaching assistants and two guidance counsellors.

Focusing on the overall development of students — it offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities along with academic education. This guide on Pristine Private School reviews the school facilities, quality of education and other details about the school.

Pristine Private School, which is located in Al Nahda 2, is easily accessible for residents living in several family-friendly neighbourhoods. Parents keen on residential areas near the school can look at detailed information about the following neighbourhoods close to Pristine Private School Dubai:

• Al Qusais
• Muhaisnah
• Al Mamzar
• Deira

Al Qusais — a residential area that features many properties, including villas and apartments, is located close to Pristine Private School. The locality is known for offering spacious living spaces at affordable prices.

• Apartments for rent near Pristine Private School

Spanning a large area, the campus of Pristine Private School is filled with various facilities. The school has a modern computer lab where students can hone their ICT skills. Classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and features, such as interactive whiteboards, aiding in students’ learning.

It is home to state-of-the-art science labs where students perform various experiments in chemistry, physics, biology and general science. Students also have access to a wide range of reading materials in well-stocked libraries.

Pristine Private School also houses art studios where children develop their creativity through an array of different tools. The expansive indoor swimming pool is amazing for students who like to work on their swimming skills. There also exists a multi-purpose auditorium used extensively by PPS for concerts, contests and exhibitions.

The school also has a large play area for kindergarten students to explore and learn in a joyful environment. It features climbing frames, covered sandpits and slides. A sports complex is also there which has racing tracks and game courts. Personal lockers are provided to students in Year 4 and upwards.

Pristine Private School is located on 15 Street in Al Nahda 2, Dubai. PPS is at an 11-minute drive from Al Mamzar Beach and a 10-minute drive from Sahar Centre Beach.

Known for offering spacious living spaces at affordable prices — Al Nahda is a calm and family-friendly neighbourhood that is located close to the Dubai-Sharjah border.

The school sits close to Al Ittihad Road and Al Wuheida Road. Easy accessibility to these thoroughfares makes it convenient for parents living in many areas to send their children to school.

Pristine Private School features a comprehensive learning programme that is tailored to meet the emotional, physical and cognitive needs of each individual. It nurtures the overall development of students through an extensive curriculum that involves a rigorous academic program along with extensive extra-curricular activities.

The school is equipped with top-notch facilities — from state-of-the-art classrooms and labs to expansive swimming pools and play areas. It also motivates students to discover their abilities in music, drama and other non-academic fields.

Pristine Private School focuses on creating a healthy environment for its pupils, where they feel happy and safe. The values of respecting every student irrespective of their caste, colour and religion are instilled in each student.

Al these features have made Pristine Private School one of the best schools in Dubai.

Pristine Private School educates students from foundation stage 1 to Year 13. Students are enrolled in one of the following stages of education based on their age:

Pristine Private School follows the National Curriculum of the UK for its educational programme. The specific details for each phase of education are as follows:

Foundation Stage Curriculum

In the foundation stage, the school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework of education. It is a popular educational framework for introducing young learners to the school environment. The school names its educational programme for the foundation stage as Smiling Minds and Busy Hands – indicating that the children spend a majority of their time trying out new things.

The EYFS framework uses informal teaching methods to teach fundamental concepts. Numerous indoor and outdoor activities are part of the syllabus that focuses on building the following seven key areas of learning:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Student’s Personal and Social Development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

The school uses the inquisitive nature of children by provoking their curiosity and imagination. It does so by exposing children to indoor and outdoor stimuli.

After completing Foundation Stage 2 (FS2), students are ready to enter the next academic endeavour – the primary stage.

Primary Stage Curriculum

In the primary stage, the school introduces children to a more formal teaching environment based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The school named its primary syllabus as the pristine pathway, which prepares students for subsequent phases of education. The primary stage curriculum is split into two key stages: Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2). In KS1, the school allows a smooth transition from a fun-based learning environment to a formal learning environment. In KS2, the school expands on the laid foundations by increasing the level of difficulty.

The primary stage curriculum is well-balanced and fully support the development of 21st-century skills. The school aims to inspire students to learn and discover. Teachers help students to build their capacity to work individually and collaboratively. Pristine Private School further enriches the curriculum with the mastery approach that uses innovative teaching practices and the help of technology. It also focuses on reading, creativity, critical thinking and students’ wellbeing.

Secondary School Curriculum

The secondary school curriculum is split into Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4). It is one of the most important educational stages in the life of a student. It prepares students for a definite career path. The school follows the Cambridge Secondary 1 and 2 framework in KS3 and the Cambridge Assessment International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) route for KS4.

At the end of Year 9, students sit for the Cambridge International Secondary Checkpoint Examination. Similarly, students sit the Cambridge Assessment International Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination at the end of Year 11.

The compulsory subjects in the IGCSE stage are:

Additional subjects available to students in the science and commerce streams are:

Students can select one optional subject from the following:

Post-16 curriculum

In the post-16 stage, students prepare for the AS-Level and A-Level certifications. In this stage, the school takes students on a more intellectual and creative journey which prepare students for employment or higher education.

The subjects available to students in the post-16 stage are:

Additionally, students can opt for the Cambridge International Project Qualification (CIPQ) as an additional project. Such an opportunity help students to develop their high-order thinking and communication skills in the field of science, technology and humanities.

Students are assessed at the end of Year 12 and Year 13.  Students clearing Year 13 receive an A-Levels Certificate.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a government’s organisation that ensures high-standard education and the growth of private education in the emirate. KHDA inspects each school thoroughly and makes a judgment on a scale of six points: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. KHDA focuses on maintaining a high quality of education as well as the happiness and wellbeing of students and educators.

Pristine School Al Nahda has been rated ‘good’ in the KHDA inspection report of 2019-2020. The school maintained its rating since the academic year 2012-2013. Here is the summary of ratings for the last 10 years for Pristine Private School:

Some positive findings of the report were:

• Stimulating learning environment and very strong outcomes in the foundation stage
• Students’ excellent social and personal development
• Exceptional safety arrangement for child protection and safeguarding
• Students’ very good attainment in mathematics, English and science in the primary and secondary stage

KHDA suggest a few improvements to the school which are:

• The school must ensure that the teaching remains consistently of the highest quality, leading to rapid progress in all subjects.
• Pristine Private School must ensure that the assessment information is accurate and effectively used for self-evaluation.

Pristine Private School’s academic year starts in the last week of August and ends in the last week of June. The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. This is followed by a three-week winter holiday. The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. Students then go on a spring holiday from the last week of March to the first week of April. The third term starts in the second week of April and ends in the last week of June.

If you want to admit your child into Pristine Private School, you can register online or drop an email to the admission department. The school will reply to your email/online application with a list of required documents. Before applying, the school encourages parents to visit the school and talk to the administration. Pristine Private School also offers a virtual tour on its website to help parents in making informed decisions.

You are required to submit the form at the school along with the required documents and the non-transferable application fee of AED 525 (inclusive of VAT) in cash.

To create a level of Arabic, mathematics and English, an age-appropriate admission assessment is held to make certain that the students will go well with the school learning programme.

The mandatory documents required at the time of submitting the form are:

• Photograph of the student
• A copy of the student’s passport
• A copy of the birth certificate of the student
• A passport copy of the primary contact

The supporting documents required by the school are:

• Student’s residence UAE visa and Emirates ID
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID of the primary contact
• Three copies of the passport, UAE residence visa and Emirates ID of the secondary contact
• Medical report of any known illnesses and circumstances (if any)
• Diagnostic testing/ educational assessment for special needs (if any)
• Evidence of nursery attendance (for admission in foundation stage)
• Copy of vaccination card (for admission in FS1 to Year 10)
• Copy of previous academic record (for admission in FS2 to Year 13)
• Attested transfer certificate, attested report card or KHDA transfer certificate (for admission in year 2 to Year 13)
• Recent CAT 4 result (for admission in Year 4 to Year 10)
• Conduct certificate (for admission in Year 5 to Year 13)
• Board examination results (for admission in post 16)

Assessments are carried out for admission and marks are matched against the benchmark standards. Assessment for FS1 is primarily based on observation at play and engaging him or her in different activities. Students in FS1 are expected to be toilet trained. The assessment for students in FS2 and above include Mathematics and English. The assessment for students in Year 2 and above also include Arabic language skills. Mathematics, English and subjects related to IGCSE examinations are also made part of the assessment for admissions in Year 9 to Year 11.

The age-grade guideline by the KHDA is as follow:

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)

For more information, read the admission process at Pristine Private School.

The Pristine Private School fees are as follows:

Other charges are as follows:

Parents whose children are enrolled in Year 1 and Year 2 will have to pay a fee of AED 220 for daily essentials.

Library, computer, activity, annual co-curricular and science lab charges are included in the ‘other fee'.

Students re-registering need to pay a non-refundable deposit of AED 500 to AED 900, which is adjusted against the tuition fee.

Registration fee for new students is:

In addition to these charges, a non-refundable and non-adjuted fee of AED 500 is also charged along with AED 1000 as a security deposit.

For more information, view the fee structure of Pristine Private School.

Currently, Pristine Private School does not offer any scholarships.

The school canteen provides hygienic and healthy food to students. Food options available are nutritious and affordable. The educational institution encourages students to adopt healthy eating patterns. The sale of soft drinks, chocolates and candies are not permitted in the school canteen.

To provide safe and smooth transport to students, the school has outsourced the transportation services to Progressive Transport LLC — a school transportation company known for providing comfortable and safe commutes.

The vehicles used by Progressive Transports are equipped with great safety features and adhere to the regulations set by RTA.

Currently, the school does not offer any boarding facility to its residents.

Currently, the school does not offer any holiday camps.

The school has Physical Education classes every week. Realising the significance of sports in students’ lives, PPS offers many different sports activities to students to enhance their reflexes and motor skills.

Sports facilities provided by the school include a specially built sports complex that has a racing track, game courts and an indoor swimming pool. Additional play areas include a shaded sandpit and shaded courtyards.

For kindergarten students, the school offers a specially designed play area with climbing frames and slides. Besides, the school arranges annual sports competitions for its students. The school’s sports facilities are used to arrange such competitions.

From enhancing the mental resistance to creating a sense of management skills — extra-curricular activities play a pivotal role in the development of students.

Not only do these activities keep children fit and active but also help them discover their passion and abilities. Pristine Private School provides a range of extra-curricular activities to pupils. Few of the listed activities include swimming, basketball, football, drama, robotics and so on. The extracurricular activities are charged separately.

Field Trips are very important for children to have new experiences, meet different people and learn valuable things in life. Pristine Private School arranges various field trips for its students. Pupils take local as well as international field trips. Students of Year 11 recently visited Oman. It was focused on building the teamwork, interpersonal and camaraderie skills of students.

The school organises the following types of field trips:

Currently, the only after-school care at this school is in the form of extra-curricular activities. The activities are offered after school hours from 2:15 to 3:15 pm.

The school has a clinic that is equipped with all necessary medications and equipped as per the standards of the Department of Health, Government of Dubai. The school clinic is managed by a doctor and a nurse.

Communication with parents is the key to ensuring that a student’s progress is tracked and developed. The school website is the first point of communication for parents wherein the school circulars with upcoming information on events are issued. Also on the website, there is a parent portal wherein the parents can see their child’s details such as area reports, attendance and so on.

Additionally, the school has a parent-communication tool, called Piota school app. The Piota school app is available on both google (android) and apple (iPhone) platform where parents can access valuable information. This application has impressive features; including push notifications, emergency notifications, forms for student absence and other services, school social media feeds and much more. The purpose of this app is make sure parents can avail all the information from a single platform.

Parent-teacher meetings are also held each term so that parents can spend time with the teacher and discuss the progress of their child. A list of activities is also planned each academic year wherein the parents are invited so they can see their child’s performance and provide encouragement. The school also has WhatsApp groups so parents can connect.

Pristine Private School timings are from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturdays.

Pristine Private School location: Amman Street (D97), Al Nahda 2, Dubai

Telephone Numbers

For General Enquiries

• +971-4-2674299
• +971-4-2675822

For Admissions

• +971-52-5866562
• +971-52-3924437

Email Address

• For general enquiries: info@pristineschool.com
• For admissions enquiries: admissions@pristineschool.com
• Principal: principal@pristineschool.com
• Parents association: ppa@pristineschool.com
• For Feedback: suggestionbox@pristineschool.com
• Board of governors: bog@pristineschool.com
• Bursar: bursar@pristineschool.com
• Reception: reception@pristineschool.com
• Clinic: clinic@pristineschool.com

Official Website and Social Media

• Pristine Private School Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

Note that the cover image belongs to Pristine Private School