Newlands School

Newlands School Dubai is located in Al-Warqa'a 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The regional office for the school group is Beaconhouse MENA, based in Knowledge Village, Dubai. The campus sits in eastern Dubai and is accessible to nearby communities such as Nad Al Hamar, Mirdif, and International City.

Newlands School offers education from Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) through to post-16, following the IB continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP) for primary, Middle Years Programme (MYP) for middle years, Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) for pre-university levels. The school's age range is roughly 3 to 18 years, aligning with these programmes.

Co-educational day school (mixed gender).

Nationalities represented exceed 50, with the principal noting a diverse, multi-national community. The most common nationality cited by external sources is Pakistani. A precise local-to-international ratio is not publicly published by the school.

The school provides a Learning Support Programme aligned with Special Educational Needs (SEN), with inclusive practices and provisions to support diverse academic, social, and emotional needs.

British international school; affiliated with the United Kingdom as a British overseas school.

No formal religious affiliation is stated publicly by the school.

School timings: FS1 and FS2 from 7:45 am to 1:30 pm; Year 1 to Year 12 from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. On Fridays, FS1 and FS2 finish at 11:30 am and Year 1 to Year 12 finish at 11:30 am.

A bus service is provided through Guardian One (G1). The school operates 13 routes across Dubai, with transport in compliance with RTA, KHDA, and MOE health and safety guidelines. Bus seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the operator provides route details and contact for transport matters. The school's transport team can be reached at transport@newlandsschool.ae.

The school follows the English National Curriculum, delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum for England in Primary and Secondary, with Arabic language, Islamic Studies for Muslim students, Moral Education and UAE Social Studies, French as a foreign language, and STEAM along with PE, Music, and Art, plus English as an Additional Language. Foundation Stage is aligned to the EYFS framework; Primary School is split into Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) with a bespoke, concept-led approach that integrates across subjects. In Secondary, Key Stage 3 covers Year 7–9, and Key Stage 4 (Year 10–11) leads to IGCSE examinations; Sixth Form (Year 12–13) offers Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Levels and Cambridge International A-Levels, along with BTEC options. The Arabic Curriculum includes Arabic as a first language and Arabic as an additional language, with MOE-based standards and Islamic Education for Muslims, alongside French introduced from Year 3. Across all stages the school emphasizes inclusive education, cross-curricular provision, and extensive enrichment (70+ activities) to support holistic development, with Learning Skills Profiles to track progress.

Newlands School Al Warqa supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through an inclusive mainstream environment with a holistic approach to pupil wellbeing and personal development. The school has qualified, special education staff who assess children on an individual basis to identify social-emotional and learning needs. Counselling for social-emotional and mental health-related problems is provided as part of the student support offer. Wellbeing is central to the school's values, with pastoral care, safeguarding, student voice and leadership opportunities embedded across school life. KHDA DSIB 2023-24 rated wellbeing as Good and the quality of student support as Good, corroborating a strong focus on SEL.

Newlands School is an inclusive school rather than a dedicated SEN institution. The school conducts assessments by qualified special education staff to identify needs and may provide support for a range of special needs in line with KHDA categories, including gaps in literacy and numeracy, mobility difficulties, and mild-to-moderate hearing or sight issues. The inclusion framework is implemented in collaboration with KHDA's Inclusive Education Policy Framework. The school also operates an ILsA (Individual Learning Support Assistants) policy to provide targeted supports when needed. This SEND provision is designed to be delivered within the mainstream school context, not as a separate specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is provided where needed. Students not proficient in English are identified on admission and a teaching programme is put in place with the aim of achieving proficiency for their age group. Language support includes in-class differentiation, extra English classes and home extension activities, with case-by-case decisions and curriculum modifications as far as possible to ensure full inclusion. The English as an Additional Language component is part of the overall curriculum offering at Newlands, which includes EAL as a formal element.

Mental wellbeing is addressed as part of the school's wellbeing framework. Wellbeing is described as central to the school's values, with provisions spanning pastoral care, safeguarding, student voice and leadership opportunities. Counselling for social-emotional and mental health-related problems is available as part of student support. KHDA DSIB 2023-24 ratings reflect this emphasis, with Wellbeing rated Good and quality of support rated Good; personal and social development is described as Very Good in the inspection, indicating strong mental wellbeing outcomes. The principal highlights a calendar of wellbeing activities and community engagements that contribute to students' emotional health and sense of belonging.

Safeguarding and child protection are supported by a suite of policies and procedures. The School Policies page lists Health & Safety Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Missing Child Policy, and other safeguarding-related documents, with Well-Being Policy also in place. The Positive Behaviour Policy outlines a pastoral team and ongoing parent communication, with a Guidance Counsellor involved in pastoral support and safeguarding matters. E-safety guidance and related practices are part of school policy, and the school maintains a clear framework for safeguarding through its policies and pastoral teams. KHDA DSIB 2023-24 ratings corroborate safeguarding strength, with Good health and safety, and Good quality of safeguarding support observed; wellbeing and inclusion are rated Good as well.

1. The school currently enrolls students from FS1 to Year 12 for the 2024-25 academic year. To join, complete the Application Form, submit the listed documents, pay the 500 AED Application Fee, and visit the admissions office for guidance through the process. The admissions team will support applicants and confirm eligibility.

2. Submit the following supporting documents: copies of student and parents' passports; Emirates ID; UAE residency visa. A birth certificate (English or Arabic) is required, along with copies of the last two years' school reports (English). Passport photos of the student and parents, immunization records, and address proof (Dewa/tenancy) are also required. A Transfer/Leaving Certificate, signed, stamped and attested as required, is needed, and KHDA enrollment registration must be completed within the timelines defined by the school.

3. If the visa has not yet been granted, applications can be submitted with copies. The school is inclusive and will hold a diagnostic assessment to understand your child's needs. The assessment is not an entrance exam but helps tailor learning support where needed.

4. The school will confirm whether a place is offered within 3 days after the diagnostic assessment. If a place is offered, parents should proceed to secure the seat. The assessment decision considers the student's fit with the programme and readiness.

5. To secure the seat, pay 10% of the annual tuition fee at the time of acceptance. Ensure all required documentation has been provided. The Transfer Certificate and a Health Certificate are required before the student starts.

6. Transfer Certificate information: The TC must be in English or Arabic and show the leaving date. Attestation requirements depend on country of origin: North America, Western Europe and Australia require a signature and school stamp; other regions require MOE attestation and UAE embassy/consulate endorsement as applicable. A sample transfer certificate is provided by the school for reference.