United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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· Reviewed by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail has 1,006 pupils, typical class sizes of 27, instruction in English.
GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail is located in Dubai Hills, Dubai, UAE. The central Dubai Hills campus provides access from popular communities such as Dubai Hills, Al Barsha, Downtown Dubai, and surrounding areas. It is reachable via Al Khail Road (E44, Exit 18) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), with on-site parking and a dedicated drop-off zone. A school bus service operates with GPS-tracked buses for safety and convenience.
The school offers education from Nursery through Year 13. It includes Early Years Foundation Stage (FS1–FS2), Primary, Secondary, and Post-16 pathways, with programmes aligned to a British curriculum and progression from early years to sixth form.
The academy is co-educational (mixed gender). It is part of the British Schools Overseas network and follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales.
The academy describes itself as highly diverse, with representation from over 80 nationalities. The most common nationality is Arab, and a large majority of students are international rather than local Emirati. Local students are reported to be around 2% and international students around 98% in some third-party summaries.
GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail is an inclusive school with an Inclusion Team that includes Directors of Inclusion, SENCOs, specialist teachers, ELL staff, and counsellors. Teaching Assistants support FS1 to Year 6, and some students receive one-to-one Learning Support Assistant support funded by parents, with other levels receiving classroom or small-group support at no extra cost. The school follows KHDA guidance for inclusion and supports a range of learning needs, including English language learners and Students of Determination.
The school is a British international school overseas, following the National Curriculum for England and Wales. This aligns with its designation as a British curriculum school overseas.
There is no formal religious affiliation. KHDA/UK-origin listings describe the school as not having a specific religious ethos.
Primary day starts at 7:45 am and ends at 3:00 pm, with doors opening at 7:15 am; Fridays finish at 11:50 am. Nursery offers flexible attendance options (2, 3, or 5 days) with multiple pick-up times (12:30 pm, 3:00 pm, or 4:00 pm) and a bus service.
The school provides a comprehensive bus service across a wide range of communities. All buses comply with RTA regulations and are GPS-tracked for safety. Nursery transport is available with a dedicated pick-up and handover process, including a bus guardian for each child.
Annual tuition at GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail ranges from AED 46,436 to AED 94,406 for 2026/27.
GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail teaches British Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.
GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail delivers an enhanced British National Curriculum (NCfE) from Nursery through Sixth Form, with progression from Key Stage 3 to personalised Key Stage 4 and Post-16 pathways offering GCSEs, A-levels, and BTEC qualifications. Nursery runs for 2–3 years with a Reggio Emilia‑inspired approach, Foundation Stage covers 3–5 years with purposeful play, and Primary (5–11 years) delivers core subjects alongside UAE Arabic A/B, Islamic, UAE Social Studies, and specialist subjects such as Physical Education, History, Music, and languages French and Spanish. The Primary curriculum includes STEAM education from Year 1 and Projects for Change, plus LAMDA opportunities and a broad enrichment program including the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. In Secondary (11–16), Key Stage 3 provides breadth across subjects and Key Stage 4 enables personalised pathways with GCSEs, BTECs, and ASDAN qualifications. Post‑16 (16–18) offers a wide range of A-levels and BTECs with personalised pathways, plus Elite Sports Programmes, a Global Futures Curriculum, and performing arts qualifications such as LAMDA.
GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through an inclusive education framework. The dedicated Inclusion Team includes Directors of Inclusion, SENCOs, specialist teachers, ELL staff, and counsellors who provide tailored support across the school. The school welcomes English Language Learners, Students of Determination, and gifted students, and aims to develop social, emotional, and academic growth in every pupil. Teaching Assistants support FS1 to Year 6, with Level Three pupils receiving one-to-one Learning Support Assistant support funded by parents, and Level One and Two pupils receiving classroom or small-group support at no extra cost. Families are encouraged to share relevant documents to tailor planning, and the team collaborates with external specialists and runs parental engagement sessions to strengthen home–school partnerships.
GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail is an inclusive school rather than a specialist SEN institution. It welcomes students with a wide range of learning needs, including English Language Learners, Students of Determination, and gifted students. The Inclusion Team—involving Directors of Inclusion, SENCOs, specialist teachers, ELL staff, and counsellors—delivers tailored SEN support across the school. Teaching Assistants support FS1–Year 6, and Level Three pupils receive one-to-one Learning Support Assistant support funded by parents, while Level One and Two pupils receive classroom or small-group support at no extra cost. Admission is not conditional on a medical diagnosis, and the school collaborates with external specialists; parental engagement sessions help plan provision.
English Language Learners are included in the school's inclusive education approach. The Inclusion Team includes ELL staff who work across the school to support language development and access to the curriculum. The site describes ELL support as part of the inclusive framework, but does not publish detailed, separate EAL programmes beyond this staff role.
GroWell is embedded as the wellbeing curriculum across Foundation Stage to Year 6 and is a core part of the school's wellbeing approach. The Happy Confident Company's personal development and mental wellness programme is integrated into GroWell. GroWell lessons focus on self-belief, resilience, empathy, and emotional literacy, linking to social-emotional learning and life skills. The Upstrive app and daily emotional check-ins support ongoing wellbeing habits and self-reflection.
KHDA inspection 2023-2024 rates GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail as Very Good, noting safeguarding as a strength and citing procedures ensuring students are safe, cared for, guided, and supported. The school is National Online Safety Certified, indicating compliance with UK Keeping Children Safe in Education duties. A GEMS Careers posting confirms safeguarding is a high priority for staff recruitment.
The school serves Nursery through Year 13 and is located in Dubai Hills, Dubai, UAE. Address: Exit 18, Al Marabea Street East, Dubai Hills.
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