Jumeirah English Speaking School

JESS Jumeirah is located at 28 8B Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The campus sits in central Dubai near Safa Park and is accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Road. JESS operates across two campuses: JESS Jumeirah and JESS Arabian Ranches, serving different year groups.

JESS Jumeirah provides Early Years and Primary education (Foundation Stage to Year 6, ~ages 3–11). JESS Arabian Ranches offers Foundation Stage through Year 13 (ages 3–18), including Secondary and Sixth Form. The Dubai KHDA inspection confirms a co‑educational, 3–18 range across the group, with separate campus sites for different phases.

JESS is a co-educational, not-for-profit day school. The school operates as a UAE-based not-for-profit with gender- balanced, mixed-gender classes.

KHDA DSIB 2023-2024 data for JESS Jumeirah shows 1,790 students on roll, Emirati students number 50, and the largest nationality group is UK. The school has 224 students of determination. (Ages 3–18; FS1–Year 13.)

The Oasis Learning Support (SEN) department coordinates in-class support and individualized learning programmes. Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Services are available, with Gifted and Talented provision for Primary and Secondary.

There is no formal country affiliation; JESS is a UAE-based not-for-profit school delivering UK/IB curricula.

JESS is non-denominational in its religious affiliation.

The school year runs August to June with three terms. The typical school day runs from about 7:40am to 2:40pm, depending on year group.

JESS offers a school bus service to secondary students, operated by STS Group. Bus routes include Jumeirah, Al Wasl Road, Springs/Meadows/Lakes, and Meydan. To join, contact the STS Service Delivery Executive at STS@jess.sch.ae or 056-3693149.

JESS Dubai delivers a British-based curriculum across two campuses—Jumeirah and Arabian Ranches—for Early Years and Primary up to Year 6, with the same programme on both sites. The curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for England and is adapted to the UAE context, with Foundation Stage (EYFS) and play-based learning in FS1–FS2, progressing to cross-curricular learning in KS1 and KS2. Primary (Foundation 2 to Year 6) combines traditional subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Art, Design & Technology, Computing, Music, and Physical Education with Arabic and Islamic Studies for Muslim students and a Moral & Social Curriculum. Secondary (Years 7–9, Key Stage 3) follows the English National Curriculum, with Year 9 GCSE option selections for Years 10–11 and GCSE examinations in up to nine subjects. Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers two pathways: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or the BTEC Plus Extended Diploma, with the latter being equivalent to three A-Levels and including specialist courses in Art & Design, Business, and Sport.

JESS places wellbeing at the heart of its approach to social and emotional learning (SEL). The school uses a Wellbeing Wheel with eight indicators to discuss and monitor student wellbeing: safe, healthy, active, achieving, responsible, respected, included, and nurtured. Wellbeing data is embedded in daily operations and used to plan care and support for individual students. Through all facets of school life, students and staff participate in activities that promote mental and physical wellbeing, with students empowered to take ownership and have their voices heard. Students feel safe to express themselves and to contribute as full members of the community.

JESS is an inclusive school that aims to discover the brilliance in every individual. The need for additional care and support may be recognised prior to entry, during school-based assessments, or via external reports. The Oasis (Learning Support) department may coordinate and deliver in-class support, personalised learning programmes, modified or reduced curricula, or an individual education plan (IEP); the arrangement is graduated and adaptive and part of the Standard School Service. The Counselling team provides play-based counselling sessions, friendship group formation, and guidance for parents and teachers. Provision includes Occupational Therapy Services and Speech and Language Services; some students may access specialist external support when appropriate. The school also runs a Gifted and Talented Programme for Primary and Secondary. The school is not a specialist SEN institution; it emphasises inclusive education.

The Admissions criteria require that applicants be fluent in English at an age-appropriate level; if English is not the applicant's first language or the applicant is multilingual, the English as an Additional Language Policy is referenced. This indicates that EAL support is provided under policy for non-native English speakers. Details of the EAL policy are published in the school policies and procedures framework.

Mental wellbeing is integrated into JESS's wellbeing framework. The Wellbeing Wheel identifies eight indicators and is used to monitor and discuss wellbeing, with data informing planning of care and support. The school provides opportunities for mental and physical activities, access to care and support, and a sense of belonging where voices are heard and individuals feel safe to express themselves. A counselling service and a range of wellbeing interventions support emotional health, with external verification of effectiveness from wellbeing awards and KHDA evaluations.

JESS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its students and staff, with safeguarding policies and procedures in place for staff and learners. Staff recruitment follows rigorous safety practices, including identity checks, qualification checks, online social media checks, and criminal background checks. All candidates are required to provide police clearance certificates for every country in which they have resided, with UK applicants also requiring Enhanced DBS and an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC). A minimum of three satisfactory professional references is required, and safeguarding guidance is integrated into the school's policies and procedures.

1. Identify the correct year group and intended start. JESS uses a debenture-based system to hold places and manage waiting lists, with corporate debentures no longer available for purchase and personal debentures used to secure a place. Personal Debentures are AED 20,000 and are not payable until a place is offered; they remain in place while the child is enrolled and are refunded when the child leaves, subject to policy. 2. Choose the waiting-list route. Waiting lists are open to Corporate Debenture Holders or Emirati Nationals, and FS1 and Year 7 siblings can apply for waiting-list consideration. If a place is not yet available, the waiting list remains in place according to the applicable route. 3. Check current year-group availability. For 2025-26, all year groups are stated as full with over-subscribed waiting lists. Sixth Form Year 12 2025/26 is closed to new applications, with information available for Year 12 2026/27. 4. Learn how to apply to waiting lists. FS1 and Year 7 for personal applications are two years in advance of enrolment; Personal Debenture applications are opened only when waiting lists fall below a threshold. Corporate Debenture or Emirati National applications can be submitted when the relevant waiting lists are open; check the monthly admissions updates for openings. 5. Understand the offer process. The timing of an offer depends on the year group and whether the place starts at the beginning of the academic year or mid-year; the offer procedure and required documentation differ by year group and are detailed in the offer letter and Admissions Policy. 6. Complete KHDA registration if an offer is accepted. To register with KHDA, a Transfer Certificate from the current school must be provided, with attestation guidelines applicable for the country of origin; the original TC must be submitted before attendance. 7. Confirm the debenture and deposit payments. If a Personal Debenture place is offered, the school deposit must be paid within 5 days and the Personal Debenture paid in full before starting; Debentures remain in place while the child is enrolled and are refunded when the child leaves, subject to terms. Corporate Debentures are no longer available; a separate debenture is required for each child. 8. Review the fees and payment options. An application/non-refundable fee of AED 500 applies; annual and term-based fee amounts are published for Foundation 1, Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form, with payment options and banking details available. 9. Contact the Admissions team for confirmation or questions.

The school uses waiting lists for most year groups. Waiting-list entry is available for Corporate Debenture Holders (all years except Years 10–13) and Emirati Nationals, and FS1 and Year 7 siblings may join waiting lists. Due to high application volumes, responses are limited to Emirati Nationals or Corporate Debenture Holders, and response time for other categories may be limited. FS1 and Year 7 personal applications are two years in advance of enrolment; Personal Debenture waiting lists operate when waiting lists fall below a threshold. For 2025-26, most year groups are reported as full with oversubscribed waiting lists, and Sixth Form Year 12 2025/26 is closed to new applications. Offers and waiting-list status are managed per year group, with monthly updates guiding when personal debentures may reopen. The team can be contacted via the Admissions page for current waiting-list openings and eligibility.