Reach British School

The Reach British School campus is located in Baniyas East, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is easily accessible from the E11 highway, with the campus positioned near Mafraq Hospital and visible along the local road network. The campus features separate buildings for Early Years, Primary, and Secondary, reflecting its age-wide structure.

Ages 3 to 18, spanning Early Years (EYFS), Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form.

Co-educational (mixed gender).

Reach is an inclusive school that provides support for learners with additional learning needs. An EAL Learning Support Specialist is available, and admissions assessment considers a student's needs to determine appropriate support and placement.

British international school overseas; part of ISP and follows the National Curriculum for England.

No formal religious affiliation; the UAE curriculum includes Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies as required by local authorities.

The school day starts at 7:30am. Early Years typically finish around 12:45pm from Monday to Thursday and 11:30am on Fridays; timings may vary by year group and term.

Emirates Transport manages Reach British School transportation. Buses are equipped with GPS, electronic attendance, video surveillance and a control room; routes cover multiple Abu Dhabi areas including Reem Island, Khalifa City, Shakhbout City and Baniyas East.

Reach British School in Abu Dhabi delivers an enhanced English National Curriculum for students aged 3–18, spanning Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form. Early Years follows an Enhanced EYFS framework to develop foundational literacy, numeracy and social skills. Primary follows the English National Curriculum with core subjects, while Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies are taught in line with MoE guidelines. Secondary (Years 7–11) continues with the English National Curriculum, includes Geography, History and a Modern Foreign Language (French is taught in Years 7–9), and Arabic, Islamic Studies and UAE Social Studies remain part of the programme; students prepare for IGCSE examinations. Sixth Form (Years 12–13) offers A Levels or a BTEC Enterprise pathway; the school also emphasises STEAM and digital learning through Google for Education, with IGCSE and A Level results highlighted in the prospectus.

Reach British School supports students' social and emotional development through its safeguarding framework and a nurturing school environment. The safeguarding policy states the school aims to create a safe and nurturing environment where students can thrive, and protects them from exploitation, bullying and harm, while promoting cultural, social and mental growth. The safeguarding team includes designated safeguarding leads (e.g., Vice Principal and Principal) with clear protocols for handling child protection issues and open communication with students, parents and stakeholders. In the Sixth Form, the school provides robust pastoral care and dedicated wellbeing services to support student welfare. External accreditation notes strong pastoral care and wellbeing as part of the school's overall excellence.

The Inclusion Policy outlines ADEK-recognized categories of Special Educational Needs (SEN) the school can support, including Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability (Dyslexia), Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Speech and Language Disorder, Physical/Health Disabilities, Visually Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Multiple Disabilities, and Gifted & Talented Students. The school uses a six-week observation period before SEN referral to the SENCO, who then coordinates intervention and works with parents to develop a plan. SEN provision includes push-in or pull-out sessions with differentiated curriculum, accommodations and strategies in one-on-one or small-group settings. Plans such as Individual Educational Plans (IEP), Individual Support Plans (ISP), ILPs and Advanced Learning Plans (ALP) guide supports and are reviewed regularly. The SENCO also coordinates English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision within the school's SEN framework. Reach British School is a private mainstream school in Abu Dhabi, not described as a specialist SEN institution.

English is the main medium of instruction at Reach British School. Students build English language skills with targeted support across all year groups, delivered by specialist language teachers to meet diverse language needs. All children receive an initial language assessment and language checks to tailor language support as they access the curriculum. English as an Additional Language provision is coordinated by the SENCO within the school's Inclusion Policy framework. Multilingualism is celebrated, with programmes to build language confidence and opportunities for language development across the curriculum.

The safeguarding framework explicitly references cultural, social and mental growth as part of student development. The Sixth Form offers robust pastoral care and dedicated wellbeing services to support students' mental and emotional wellbeing. The safeguarding policy emphasizes protecting students from harm while promoting their wellbeing as part of a safe learning environment. External recognition of Reach British School highlights wellbeing as part of health and wellbeing in its high-quality, holistic approach. These elements together demonstrate a structured commitment to students' mental health and wellbeing.

Safeguarding is described as a promise to keep children safe, healthy and happy, with safeguarding underpinning every aspect of school life. The school maintains a safeguarding team with designated leads (including the Vice Principal and Principal) and clear protocols for handling child protection issues, prioritized communication with students, parents and stakeholders. The safeguarding policy defines terms, responsibilities and proactive approaches to student safety, and staff are trained to protect and support children. If concerns arise about a child, families are encouraged to talk to the school promptly. The school publishes safeguarding-related policies, including Safeguarding Policy and related procedures, as part of its formal policy suite.

Reach British School is an inclusive school that welcomes students of all abilities and backgrounds, providing a nurturing and international environment for your child to grow. The admissions process is designed to be straightforward and welcoming, guiding families through eight steps from initial contact to class placement: Get in touch, Start your application, Document review, Interview, Feedback, Offer, Secure your place, and Class placement. Applications are accepted throughout the year. To enroll, submit documents including a recent passport photograph, colour copies of the child's passport and Emirates ID for both child and parents, UAE residence visa copies, vaccination card, copies of water/electricity bill or lease, birth certificate (with attestation if born outside the UAE), two most recent school reports, and relevant transfer documents. The school uses assessments such as Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4), Classroom Monitor, and GL Progress Tests, and EvidenceMe is used for Early Years portfolios. The admissions policy follows ADEK regulations and uses placement tests to assess language access, behaviour, and additional learning needs (these are placement tests, not academic entrance tests). Students are placed by age on 31 August, or by transfer certificate if joining from another school in the UAE, and grade placement is shown in a grade-comparison grid. Class placement aims for diversity across gender, language, national status and additional learning needs, and the new teacher will share information including house colour for the sports uniform. A school prospectus is available to download (RBS-prospectus-2022-2023.pdf). Enquiries and tours can be arranged to learn more about the school.

Scholarships offer up to 75% tuition fee coverage for IGCSE, A Levels and BTEC pathways. Scholarships are open to students entering Year 10 or Year 12 from any nationality who demonstrate strong academic promise and a passion for learning. Eligibility includes completing Year 9 or Year 11 in the current academic year. To retain the scholarship through Year 13 (two years if starting in Year 12), students must achieve minimum GCSE grades of 7, 8 and 9 in English, Mathematics and Science. All scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the school's scholarship committee. Applications are open and the scholarship remains available until further notice; applicants should complete the application and book their assessment. The application process includes eligibility review, submission of the application, assessment with the Senior Leadership Team, potential shortlist, and a final offer for selected students.