Safa British School

Safa British School (SBS) in Al Safa is among the top primary schools in Dubai. Opened its doors in 2004, Safa British School Dubai offers the England and Wales-based National Curriculum. It is a private and co-educational school providing education from the Foundation Stage till the Sixth Form.

Students’ well-being is at the heart of Safa British School’s management. Thus, its primary focus is to provide a nurturing and friendly atmosphere. In 2020, the school moved from Al Quoz to Al Safa on a new campus. The purpose-built new campus has top-notch facilities to support teaching and learning. Currently, SBS has over 1,600 students, out of which 290 are students of determination. The school has 140 teachers and more than 40 teaching assistants; the teacher-to-student ratio is 1:13.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) rated SBS's performance as 'Very Good'. Continue reading Safa British School Review by Bayut to learn more about this school.

• Location: Al Safa, Dubai
• Fees: AED 43,125 - AED 66,821
• Curriculum: British Curriculum
• Co-ed or Segregate: Co-ed
• Grades: FS1 - Year 13
• KHDA Rating: Very Good

Safa British School’s location is a blessing for families in Al Safa and neighbouring communities. Residents of the following communities can easily send their children to SBS:

• Al Quoz 1
• Jumeirah
• Umm Suqeim

Parents and guardians seeking residence near the school should look the following:

• Apartments for rent near Safa British School
• Apartments for sale near Safa British School
• Villas for rent near Safa British School
• Villas for sale near Safa British School

The school relocated to a spacious campus in Al Safa 1 in October 2020. The new two-storey campus has high-end facilities for students’ learning and convenience. 
The SBS campus boasts extensive facilities including an indoor/outdoor pool, indoor sports hall, football pitches, basketball courts and rooftop courts for various sports. A new sports hall above the current pool and additional rooftop multi-courts are planned for the academic year 2024-25. The Sixth Form Centre and an expansive auditorium for Performing Arts are under development. Younger students can enjoy an animal farm and the tranquil Safa Sanctuary. The campus also features large outdoor sports areas, two swimming pools, dedicated play areas for younger students and specialist areas like science labs, design workshops, music and performance spaces.

Previously known as Al Safa Private School, the Safa British School is located on 16th Street in Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Safa British School in Dubai, offering the National Curriculum for England from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13, provides an outstanding education, as confirmed by the BSO and KHDA. Committed to maximising each child's potential, the school offers creative and challenging learning experiences that develop lifelong skills. The school has achieved a 'Gold Level' in the National SMSC Quality Mark and boasts high parental satisfaction. The House System fosters teamwork and community spirit, with students participating in leadership roles and competitions. As an Independent Award Centre for The Duke of Edinburgh International Award, the school supports students in achieving bronze, silver and gold awards, promoting personal growth and achievement.

Initially, SBS started as a primary school; however, the school started the secondary section in 2020 and now offers classes till Year 13.

The school follows the National Curriculum of England for its educational programme.

Foundation Stage Curriculum

SBS follows an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for FS1 and FS2. The school focuses on providing a stimulating experience for students at this stage. The curriculum covers seven areas of learning and development including:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Literacy Development
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Art and Designs

A few specialist subjects are also taught in FS1 and FS2, that includes:

• Arabic
• Creative Art
• Physical Education
• Swimming
• Library

Primary Curriculum

At Safa British School, the primary curriculum is taught in Year 1 to Year 6. Aligned with British standards of learning, the curriculum stimulates and challenges students to reach their full potential through a clear progression of skills. Enrichment activities, both academic and physical, cater to diverse interests, promoting inclusion and equity. The unique "Safa Learning Gears"—collaboration, curiosity, self-management, grit, creativity and critical thinking—are interwoven into daily learning, equipping students with essential skills for personal and communal success. Online platforms like Seesaw, Century Tech and Times Table Rockstars support and enhance the learning experience.
For more detailed information about the primary curriculum at SBS, parents can read each year's booklet on the school website. 

Secondary Curriculum

In Key Stage 4, students study a broad range of subjects including:

During Year 9, students at Safa British School make their GCSE option choices for study in Key Stage 4 which is Years 10 and 11. The curriculum includes about eight core subjects, ensuring a strong academic foundation. Additionally, a range of optional subjects is available, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and career aspirations. Parents can check the available subjects in the GCSE curriculum on the school website. 

Sixth Form Curriculum

Safa British School offers a wide range of options with three academic pathways for sixth-form students:

• GCE Advanced Level (A Level)
• BTEC – Level 3 Qualifications
• A blended curriculum of A Level & BTEC

Detailed information about the Sixth Form Curriculum is available on the school website.

To maintain quality in the private education sector in Dubai, the UAE government established the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). This governmental body supports all stakeholders to create a remarkable education sector focused on the well-being of the children. It evaluates all private schools based on six parameters; the rating ranges from ‘Outstanding’ to ‘Very Weak.’

Safa British School’s KHDA rating for the current year is ‘Very Good‘. The below table depicts the school’s performance in a decade.

Like other British schools in the UAE, Safa British School follows a 10-month academic calendar. The calendar has three terms with the following important dates:

• The winter term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. It is followed by a three-week term break.
• After winter break, the spring term starts in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March. This is followed by a two-week break.
• The summer term starts in the second week of April and ends in the last week of June. Students then go for a two-month summer holiday.

You can view the SBS academic calendar for information on Islamic and national holidays.

Parents can fill out the application form online with supporting documents. Parents need to provide the following supporting documents:

• A copy of the birth certificate of the applicant
• A copy of the passport of the applicant
• A copy of the Emirates ID of the applicant
• A copy of the residence visa of the applicant
• A recent photograph of the applicant
• Copy of the latest End of the year and mid-term school report (excluding FS1)
• Parents need to provide details including assessment reports for their children if they require additional support in the school.

To complete the application process, parents need to pay a non-refundable administration fee of AED 500. Once the application process is complete and all mandatory documents are submitted, the school will reach parents for further information.

Students applying for Year 2 and above will be asked to take assessments individually or collectively to judge their capabilities. In the case of over-subscription, the school will place the child on the waiting list and offer seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parents are advised to visit the admission process given on the school website to clear any ambiguity that they might have.

Nevertheless, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria before initiating the admission process.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

SBS fee structure for the current academic year is as shown below:

Safa British School offers a sibling discount of 15% on tuition fees for the third child and subsequent children in a family.  Other services and their fee is mentioned here:

These charges are based on the info available in KHDA’s fee fact sheet.

The school encourages all students to bring healthy and packed lunches from home. However, there is a fully functional school canteen that delivers packed lunches for students in Year 4 and below. Students of Year 5 and above can use the tuckshop card to avail of the catering service at school.

SBS has a provision for transport with a well-known service provider. The charges depend on the location. The school website mentions the school transport charges and timings.

The school has two temperature-controlled swimming pools for swimming lessons. Students can also play netball, basketball, tennis, foosball and gymnastics in the indoor and outdoor multi-purpose halls. An Astroturf field and outdoor areas are also available for outdoor sports and activities.

Over 120 free extracurricular activities are accessible to students at Safa British School. Extra-curricular activities are divided into broad themes: Primary ECA and Secondary ECA.

Each year SBS school arranges local school trips. These trips are 24 hours long and allow children to experience team building and bonding, confidence build-up and individual skills development.

A school clinic is available on-site to cater to emergencies and injuries that children might incur while on the school premises. The medical team consist of one doctor and two nurses.

There are different school communication modes for parents to contact the school or teachers. The first is the iSams Parent Portal where parents can sign up to receive details regarding school events, holidays, attendance records and much more. Others are Seesaw, Learning Ladders, Abjadiyat, arabits, epraise and Microsoft Teams.

For a more conventional method, parents can visit the contact page on the website to message their queries to the school or book a school tour.

• Telephone number: +971-4-388-4300
• Email:
  General Enquiries: reception@safabritishschool.com
  Admission Enquiries: registrar@safabritishschool.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

• SBS Website
• SBS Facebook
• SBS Instagram
• SBS YouTube

HOW MANY GRADES ARE THERE IN THE SCHOOL?

Safa British School offers classes from FS1 to Year 13.

IS THERE ANY WAITING LIST?

The school puts the applicant’s name on a waiting list if a seat is unavailable in the required class.

HOW MANY STUDENTS DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE AT THE MOMENT?

Safa British School currently has 1,600 students.

PLEASE MENTION THE RANGE OF THE TUITION FEE CHARGED BY THE SCHOOL.

The annual tuition fee of Safa British School ranges between AED 43,125 to AED 66,821.

HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING IN YOUR SCHOOL?

The school currently has 140 teachers and more than 40 teaching assistants.

Please note that the featured cover image belongs to Safa British School.