Dubai English Speaking School Oud Metha

DESS Oud Metha is located on Oud Metha Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Oud Metha Primary campus sits in the vibrant Oud Metha community, providing central access for families across Dubai. The area is served by the Oud Metha Metro on the Green Line, with nearby roads and amenities supporting convenient travel.

DESS Oud Metha operates as a primary school for ages 3-11. DESS College provides secondary and sixth‑form education for students aged 11-18, located in Academic City.

DESS is part of a not-for-profit group of British-curriculum schools. The group follows a British education model and uses UK standards in its delivery. The schools are co-educational (mixed gender).

114 nationalities are represented at DESS Oud Metha. The most common nationality and the local-to-international ratio are not disclosed publicly.

DESS provides inclusive education through a dedicated Learning Zone, with tailored one-to-one programmes, booster and focus groups, and in-class support, guided by the Wave Model of support. The school follows the Dubai Inclusion Education Policy Framework and has inclusion policies published for primary education.

Country affiliation: United Kingdom; the curriculum is British UK-based.

Religious affiliation: Not specified. Islamic values are integrated as part of personal and social development within the curriculum.

The Oud Metha Primary day typically runs from 7:25 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Thursday, with Friday finishing at 12:00 pm. (Schedule published by the school for Oud Metha Primary; some campus pages show similar timings.)

Bus service is provided by Maverick with door-to-door routes from Foundation Stage 1 onward. Stops include areas such as The Springs and Wafi; the bus fleet uses safety features like GPS tracking and seat belts. The DESS Oud Metha Bus Coordinator is Ms Wilding (twilding@dess.sch.ae).

DESS Oud Metha follows the English National Curriculum for ages 3–11, with FS1–FS2 aligned to the UK EYFS and KS1–KS2 delivering the National Curriculum to prepare pupils for secondary education. The curriculum emphasises holistic development through the Invent, Explore, Inspire (IEI) programme and the '6Cs' of developing character, alongside wellbeing initiatives. DESS College (Academic City) serves ages 11–18 and follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales across KS3 (Year 7–9), KS4 (Year 10–11 GCSEs with a Vocational Pathway from 2026), and KS5 (Year 12–13 AS/A Levels and BTEC qualifications), with GCSE options drawn from a broad suite of courses and examination boards including EdExcel, AQA, OCR and Cambridge International. GCSE structure requires core subjects Maths, English and Science plus three option subjects; from 2026 a Vocational Pathway will be added. KHDA and British Schools Overseas rate DESS Oud Metha as Outstanding (KHDA 2023–2024; BSO 2024), and the Oud Metha campus serves ages 3–11 while Academic City serves ages 11–18.

The House System (Jaguar, Leopard, Lynx and Panther) fosters a sense of belonging and peer support, with House Captains and Vice-Captains coordinating activities and promoting collaboration across year groups. The

The Inclusion Policy describes provision for children with Additional Educational Needs (SEND) and defines four broad SEND categories: cognition and learning, communication and interaction, social, emotional and mental health, and physical/sensory needs. It states that DESS aims to meet the needs of all children through personalised learning, with a graduate approach (Assess–Plan–Do–Review) and Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) managed by an Inclusion Learning Zone (LZ) team led by an Inclusion Champion (SENDCo). The policy confirms that English as an Additional Language (EAL) is not considered a SEND, and that EAL status is assessed to determine if any lack of progress is due to language development. DESS follows the Dubai Inclusion Education Policy Framework and KHDA categories for students of determination, with admission not being refused on the basis of SEND; places are offered based on the school's ability to meet the child's learning needs. The school emphasises inclusivity and transitions, with detailed records, outside agency involvement (educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, CAMHS), and tailored support plans. The school is described as inclusive and not presented as a specialist SEN institution, instead aiming to meet diverse needs within its regular settings.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is not classified as a SEND in DESS's Inclusion Policy, and progress is monitored to determine whether difficulties arise from language proficiency rather than a learning disability. The policy specifies that EAL is considered separately when identifying and supporting learners, with monitoring of performance to establish whether language barriers affect progress. The published materials do not specify any dedicated EAL staffing or formal EAL programmes beyond this framework. The Admissions documentation notes that families may provide outside-language supports (e.g., speech and language therapy reports) as part of the application process, indicating awareness of language needs in intake, but no explicit EAL programme details are described in the policy. In short, the public documentation confirms EAL is not treated as a SEND and that language-related progress is evaluated, but it does not publicly detail EAL-specific programmes.

DESS 360 Care balances academic and pastoral needs with three areas of focus: staff devoted to a nurturing environment, initiatives to reassure parents about their child's wellbeing, and a school culture that empowers students to flourish with support and risk-taking, including collaboration with external agencies. The KHDA inspection data for Dubai English Speaking School Oud Metha shows an Outstanding Wellbeing rating, reflecting strong student wellbeing provisions. The DESS Oud Metha Medical Team (nurses and a doctor) provides health care during school hours, conducting health assessments, vaccinations coordination, and health records management, contributing to overall student wellbeing. DESSCares, the school's wellbeing initiative, emphasizes kindness, empathy and a safe classroom environment, and explicitly notes that it boosts mental well-being and reduces anxiety. The school's six-pillar strategic plan includes wellbeing as a core area, underscoring its priority in the overall educational approach.

Safeguarding and child protection are embedded in the school's governance and culture, with safeguarding highlighted by trustees as a key area of focus alongside inclusion. DESSCares outlines a safe classroom environment and a culture of respect and inclusion to prevent negative behaviours and support mental health. The Inclusion Policy notes collaboration with outside agencies (educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, CAMHS) and secure record-keeping for safeguarding-related information. Dubai's Inclusion Education Policy Framework also informs the school's safeguarding and inclusion practices. The school emphasizes safety in health and safety through operational practices (e.g., medical team, safety procedures) and through leadership aiming to protect students in daily school life.

1. DESS operates three campuses: DESS Oud Metha Primary (ages 3-11), DESS Primary Academic City (ages 3-11), and DESS College (ages 11-18). The Oud Metha and Academic City primary campuses follow the English National Curriculum and are English-speaking schools. The campuses are located on Oud Metha Road, Dubai, and in Academic City, Dubai.

2. Application forms are available for Foundation Stage, Year 1 to 6, and Year 7 to 10. For 2025 admissions, Year 7 and Year 6 applications are no longer being accepted due to full capacity and a substantial waiting list. Year 7 2026 applications closed on December 5, 2025. The Admissions Office is located at DESS College, Academic City, Security Gate 2, Parent Services Reception.

3. Supporting documents required: Birth Certificate (in English); Passport Copy; Recent passport-style photograph; Most recent End of Year and Term/Mid-Year reports; A CAT 4 assessment within the last 12 months (if available). CAT 4 results are only required for Primary School applications if available; if not completed within 12 months, local applicants may be required to attend a Taster Session. Emirates Identity Card (if available); UAE Visa (if available); Reports from external agencies (if applicable); If applying from overseas, a reference request may be required from the current school.

4. Book a Tour: Register for a tour to experience the learning environment; a Virtual Tour is also available. The Admissions Office is located at DESS College, Academic City.

5. The Admissions Team will guide you through the process.

Year 7 2025 - we are no longer accepting applications for Year 7 due to full capacity and a substantial waiting list. Year 6 2025 - we are no longer accepting applications for Year 6 due to full capacity and a substantial waiting list. Year 7 2026 - applications closed on December 5, 2025.