Glendale International School

Glendale International School is located in Umm Al Hurair, Oud Metha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (next to the American Hospital). The campus sits in a central Dubai district with easy road access for families moving from overseas. The school's Dubai address is Umm Al Hurair, Oud Metha (Next to American Hospital).

Foundation Stage (FS1 for 3–4 years and FS2 for 4–5 years); Primary School for ages 6–11; Secondary School; Sixth Form for ages 16–18.

The school is co-educational (mixed gender). There is no boarding facility indicated on Glendale Dubai pages; the school operates as a day school.

More than 70 nationalities are represented at Glendale International School; the most common nationality and the local-to-international student ratio are not published.

Inclusion is a core focus. The Inclusion Team delivers SEND support, including Individualised Education Plans (IEPs), Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), and assessments; support for English as an Additional Language (EAL); differentiated teaching strategies; exam accommodations; counselling and targeted interventions (e.g., literacy/numeracy support, speech and language therapy, and other interventions through external specialists).

The school follows the National Curriculum for England (UK). It is part of the Global Schools Foundation network, which is Singapore-based.

No religious affiliation is stated for the school.

School gates open at 7:30 AM. Registration runs 7:30–8:20 AM. Foundation Stage lessons run 8:30 AM–1:00 PM with a short break and lunch; Primary Stage lessons run 8:30 AM–3:10 PM with a mid-morning break and a lunch period; Secondary Stage lessons run 7:40 AM–3:10 PM with a mid-day break and lunch; Friday timings are shorter (Foundation Stage 8:30 AM–12:00 PM).

The school offers a bus service with defined routes. Bus zones include Zone 4 (areas such as Al Warqa, Mirdiff, Silicon Oasis, International City, Umm Suqeim 3, Muhaisnah, Sky Courts, The Lakes, Al Sufouh, Al Barsha, The Villa, Greens, TECOM, Barsha Heights, and nearby neighborhoods) and Zone 5 (including Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Production City, Emirates Hills, Arabian Ranches, and other listed communities).

Glendale International School in Dubai, UAE follows the National Curriculum for England (NCfE). The Foundation Stage (FS1 aged 3–4 and FS2 aged 4–5) is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and comprises seven areas of learning: Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design. The Primary Stage comprises Key Stage 1 (Year 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 3–6), with core subjects English, Mathematics and Science, plus Moral Education/Social Studies, Arabic, and Islamic Studies (for Muslim students); non-core subjects include Computing, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Physical Education, French, and STEAM/Design and Technology. The Secondary Stage covers Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) with English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Moral Education, Arabic, Islamic Studies (for Muslim students), Social & Moral Studies, and a broad range of other subjects such as Design and Technology, Computing, Business Studies, Computer Science, Art and Design, Music, Drama, and PE, with a Modern Foreign Language option (French or Spanish). A Sixth Form is available for students aged 16–18, described as a dynamic, university-facing pathway, though public materials do not specify examination qualifications.

Glendale International School supports social-emotional learning through its Wellbeing Hour and a dedicated Inclusion Team. The Inclusion Team includes trained Special Educational Needs teachers, a Behaviour Counsellor, and Learning Support Assistants who develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and personalized learning pathways. Counselling sessions are available for students and parents, and Play and Art therapy are offered to support emotional growth. A Buddy system in class promotes peer support, and monthly progress meetings help track SEL development. The Wellbeing Hour offers activities such as sports, coding/STEAM, music, art, yoga, and language classes to foster well-being and mindfulness.

Glendale supports students with SEND and Dyslexia through its Inclusion department rather than describing itself as a specialist SEN institution. The Inclusion Team includes trained Special Educational Needs teachers, a Behaviour Counsellor, and Learning Support Assistants who devise Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and personalized learning pathways, with literacy and numeracy interventions and differentiated teaching strategies. Therapeutic interventions, including speech therapy, applied behaviour analysis (ABA), and occupational therapy, are provided in collaboration with external specialists. Group and 1:1 Dyslexia support sessions are offered, along with exam accommodations to ensure fair assessment, and Gifted and Talented enrichment is available via advanced learning plans. The school follows Dubai's Inclusive Education Policy Framework, KHDA guidelines, and Wadeema Law. The school does not publicly describe itself as a specialist SEN institution.

An English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme is provided as part of Glendale's Inclusion Provision. The Inclusion Team coordinates EAL support across the school as part of the IEP process, with EAL listed among core support services alongside literacy and numeracy interventions and differentiated teaching strategies. Support is integrated with other inclusion provisions to help English language learners access the curriculum.

Glendale emphasises mental wellbeing through Wellbeing Hour and a broad counselling framework. Wellbeing Hour delivers daily activities including sports, coding/STEAM, music, art, and yoga to support emotional balance and mindfulness. Counselling sessions are available for students and parents, and Play and Art therapy sessions support emotional expression and growth. A Buddy system in classrooms promotes peer support, and regular progress discussions help monitor students' wellbeing alongside academic development.

Safeguarding is addressed through the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, aligned with UAE frameworks and Wadeema's Law. The policy states that all staff are committed to safeguarding, with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Level 3 safeguarding trained and all staff receiving termly Level 1 safeguarding training. It establishes defined responsibilities, reporting procedures, and records management, including designated safeguarding roles (DSL/CPT) and escalation procedures. Online safety is integrated into the curriculum, and there are clear guidelines for disclosures, with involvement of external agencies as needed. The policy is reviewed annually to ensure effective safeguarding practice.

Admission follows seven steps: 1. Enquiry: Fill in the enquiry form and an Admission Counsellor will contact you to discuss next steps; the enquiry initiates the process. 2. Application fee: Pay the application fee to proceed with the application. 3. Assessment: The student is assessed to determine placement and readiness. 4. Documents: Submit the required documents; a list of documents is available. 5. Registration deposit: Pay the registration deposit to secure a place. 6. Parent school contract: A parent school contract is generated for signature. 7. Tuition: Pay tuition fees according to the payment schedule. The session runs from September to June. Admissions are open for Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6. You can book a campus tour or contact the admissions team at Toll Free: 800 Glendale (45363253) or email [email protected]; Address: Umm Al Hurair, Oud Metha (Next to American Hospital).

Admission is dependent on the student's overall application and the availability within the grade level.