GEMS FirstPoint School - The Villa

GEMS FirstPoint School – The Villa is in The Villa community along Al Ain Road (Dubai–Al Ain Road) in Dubai. The campus sits in a green residential area that is well connected by road, with families commonly traveling from nearby communities such as Villanova, Arabian Ranches, Mudon, Mira, and Serena. The school serves families across Dubai and benefits from established transport links to the area.

FPS offers from Nursery to Year 13, covering Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Post-16 provisions. The age range is typically 2 to 18 years.

FPS is a co-educational, day school. There are no boarding facilities.

More than 100 nationalities are represented at FPS, with British students making up the largest group at around 18%. There is no single dominant nationality, reflecting a diverse international student body; the exact local-to-international ratio is not published.

Inclusion and support are part of FPS's approach. The school has Inclusion Support Areas and an Inclusion Support Team to assess and provide targeted provision for students with additional learning needs; there may be additional charges for certain supports (e.g., LSAs, SALT, OT) as part of differentiated provision.

The school is a British-curriculum, British-schools-overseas institution, affiliated with the United Kingdom through its NCfE framework.

There is no religious affiliation. Islamic Studies and Arabic are part of the UAE curriculum options; Islamic Studies is taught for Muslim students as appropriate.

The school day commonly runs from around 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday–Thursday, with Friday finish around 12:00 PM.

A School Transport Service operates for FPS. Nursery and Foundation Stage buses arrive for the start of the day and depart at 12:00 PM or 3:00 PM; on Fridays, buses depart at 12:00 PM. The service features CCTV, GPS tracking, and adult handovers; safety equipment such as five-point harnesses can be provided.

GEMS FirstPoint School - The Villa delivers a British-style education from Nursery to Year 13. Nursery (2-3 years) blends Reggio Emilia with the British EYFS framework, while Early Years (3-5) follows EYFS. Primary (5-11) combines the National Curriculum with Ministry of Education subjects; core subjects include English, Maths, Science, Arabic A/B (specialist), Islamic (for Muslim students), Geography, History, Design and Technology, Art and Design, and Computing and Robotics, with a Connected Curriculum and STEAM emphasis. Secondary (11-16) follows the English National Curriculum and prepares students for GCSEs and related qualifications; Post-16 (16-18) offers A Levels and BTECs. Entry requirements for Post-16 include a minimum of five GCSEs (grades 9-4) including English and Maths, with subject-specific prerequisites.

The school weaves wellbeing and social–emotional learning (SEL) into its curriculum, guided by the READY values (Resilient, Empathetic, Adaptable, Dynamic, be You) in Primary. Wellbeing is treated as a core part of learning, with ongoing tracking of student wellbeing across year groups to ensure support where needed. Leadership roles linked to wellbeing include Wellbeing Warriors, Friendship Fixers, and Play Leaders, empowering students to take active roles in the school community. Secondary students are trained as Mental Health First Aiders to provide peer support. KHDA reports that wellbeing is given a high profile within the school, underpinning personal development and safeguarding of students.

Inclusion Support Areas are provided as part of the school's facilities to support learners with additional needs. The KHDA notes a well-developed inclusive education approach for pupils of determination, English language learners and the most able, indicating a broad, school-wide commitment to inclusion. FPS is described as offering inclusive education rather than operating as a specialist SEN institution. The inclusion provision is complemented by targeted, dedicated assistance for those who need additional wellbeing support. The school's safeguarding and wellbeing framework, including pastoral care, is highlighted in inspections as a central part of school life.

The school publicly recognises English language learners as part of its inclusive education provision. KHDA notes a well-developed inclusive education for English language learners, indicating explicit EAL-related inclusion. A dedicated Language Hub is planned as part of a two-phase expansion to support language learning (languages include French, Spanish and Arabic). FPS also advertises EAL staffing, including Teacher of EAL roles, demonstrating formal provision for English as an additional language. Overall, EAL support is integrated within the school's inclusive approach and language development initiatives.

Mental wellbeing is integrated into FPS's core provision. Wellbeing is woven throughout the curriculum, with emphasis on emotional and social development and systematic tracking of wellbeing across year groups. Leadership roles such as Wellbeing Warriors, Play Leaders and Friendship Fixers empower students to contribute to the wellbeing culture. Secondary students are trained as Mental Health First Aiders to provide peer support and promote mental health literacy. Inspections recognise the high profile given to wellbeing and its central role in safeguarding and student development.

Safeguarding and child protection are embedded in FPS's pastoral and wellbeing framework, with a strong emphasis on a safe, inclusive school environment. The KHDA/BISO inspection notes a culture of safety and belonging, and the school's wellbeing emphasis supports safeguarding goals. The pastoral care team provides personalised guidance to students, reinforcing safeguarding through support structures. Mental Health First Aiders contribute to safeguarding by enabling peer support and early help. KHDA notes Wellbeing has a high profile and that inclusive practices protect vulnerable groups, including pupils of determination and English language learners.

1. Enquiry: Submit an enquiry via the Enquiry page to provide the guardian's name, relationship to the applicant, a valid email address, and a contact number; provide the applicant's name, date of birth, and year group being applied for. An Enquiry reference number is emailed to you. You may complete the enquiry now or continue it later. 2. Application: Return to the Enquiry page to complete the admission application; you may include siblings in the application. The Enquiry reference number can be used to access and submit the full application at your convenience. 3. Documents and fee: After completing the enquiry, you will be informed of the documents required to share with the Admissions Team. These typically include photocopies of the applicant's and sponsor's passports, Emirates IDs, the applicant's birth certificate (in English or Arabic), vaccination records, and reports from the previous two years; a Transfer Certificate is required for admission to Year 2 and above. The AED 525 application fee is payable as part of the submission. 4. Assessment and inclusion review: The Admissions Team will schedule an interview and/or assessment. The Inclusion Support Team may review the student to determine whether additional provision is required to access learning. Assessments vary by year level and may include CAT, language assessment (English reading and writing), and mathematics assessment; for Early Years, play-based observations may be used. 5. Offer: If a place is offered, an offer letter is emailed by the school Registrar within 24 hours. 6. Deposit: To secure the place, a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the total tuition fees is required.