Safa British School

Safa British School is located in Al Safa 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The campus is in the Jumeirah area near Safa Park and other residential neighbourhoods. The school moved in 2020 to a purpose-built Al Safa 1 campus to consolidate facilities for Foundation Stage through to the sixth form. The area is well served by roads and is accessible by car with nearby main routes.

The school provides an all-through education from Foundation Stage 1 through Year 13, covering early years, primary, secondary and sixth form.

The school is co-educational (gender of entry is Mixed) and follows an all-through British curriculum from FS1 to Year 13, with a dedicated Sixth Form area on campus.

The school represents students from more than 80 nationalities and cultures, with around 1,600 students in the 3–18 age range. The most common nationalities are not published, and no official local-to-international ratio is provided.

Inclusion is central to Safa British School. The Inclusion Team coordinates personalised interventions, curriculum adaptations and environmental adjustments. The Bridge Learning Centre partners with the school to support Students of Determination (e.g., ASD, ADHD, Down Syndrome) with on-site ABA therapy, speech and occupational therapy, and integrated specialist input, delivered alongside the British curriculum.

British Schools Overseas status (UK-aligned international school outside the United Kingdom).

No explicit religious affiliation; the admissions policy states the school accepts students regardless of religion.

School days run on weekdays with Monday–Thursday schedules and ECAs on Fridays. Morning drop-offs begin around 07:15 for most year groups, with end times typically ranging from around 14:30 to 15:30 depending on year group; FS may have earlier dismissal times.

Bus transportation is provided by School Transport Services (STS). STS buses are equipped with safety features (GPS, CCTV, child check button, etc.), and parents can track journeys via an app. The published timetable shows Foundation Stage arrivals around 07:25 with afternoon departures around 12:45, Year 1–6 around 07:25–14:30, and Year 7–11 around 07:25–16:10; a separate schedule indicates later pickups for some groups. Bus fees are billed termly and service is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Safa British School is an all-through UK national curriculum school serving pupils from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13, with a progression pathway toward GCSEs, BTEC, ASDAN, and A-Level qualifications. In Key Stage 3, the core subjects are English, Mathematics, Science, and Arabic, with Islamic Studies two weekly sessions for Muslim students; Humanities include Geography and History, and languages include French and Spanish. In Key Stage 4, GCSE core subjects include English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science (Double Award), Core PE, Core Arabic, Moral, Social & Cultural Studies, and Islamic Education (Muslims only), with Geography, History, and language options available. Other KS4 offerings include Triple Science, Psychology, Art, Design Technology, Food Technology, Drama, Music, Textiles, Business, and IT as part of GCSE/BTEC/ASDAN pathways. The Primary Curriculum is aligned with UK expectations, focusing on progressive skill development across year groups and involving families and the local community.

Safa British School implements a whole‑school Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) approach with wellbeing embedded in daily life, a DiverCity Curriculum that fosters empathy and resilience, and a Wellbeing & Pastoral Care team led by Tarana Khatri (School Counsellor & Head of Wellbeing).

The Inclusion Team provides personalised interventions within a fully inclusive framework, with early identification of Students of Determination, curriculum adaptations, collaboration with parents and external specialists, and alignment to the Dubai Inclusion Framework.

EAL is included in Safa British School's inclusion framework, with learners acquiring English as an Additional Language supported within the school's inclusive approach and data tracked under Through School Percentages for EAL/ELL/SEND.

Mental wellbeing is central to school life, with regular wellbeing checks using the Komodo platform from Year 3 to Sixth Form (and age‑appropriate methods for FS/KS1), a Wellbeing team including a School Counsellor and Head of Wellbeing, and Wellbeing Ambassadors plus wellbeing‑themed events and guest speakers.

Safa British School places safeguarding at the top of its priorities: all staff receive annual safeguarding and child protection training, there are trained Designated Safeguarding Leads to coordinate safeguarding actions, and a clear reporting system for concerns.

1. Enquire and book a tour. The Registrar is available to answer admissions inquiries. Enquiries can be made online or by calling 04 388 4300. A school tour can be booked through the admissions area. 2. Enrol Online. Complete the online application form to begin the admissions process. Enrol Online is available for submitting the application. 3. Submit required documents. Provide a copy of the child's passport plus UAE entry visa or residency, copies of Emirates IDs for the child and both parents, two recent passport photos, and copies of the last two school reports for entry to Year 1 and above. A transfer certificate is required for students transferring from another school and, where applicable, documentation of any special educational needs or IEPs. The application fee is AED 500 and is refundable if Safa British School does not offer a place. 4. Assessments and interviews. Assessments basel ine students before entry: FS1–Year 1 use Stay & Play observations; Years 2–6 involve basic mathematics, reading and writing or a computerised assessment; Secondary baselining typically lasts about 90 minutes and may include an interview with the Inclusion and Pastoral Heads. Parents may be invited to discuss their child's needs as part of the process. 5. Offers, deposits and transfers. If offered a place, the school may consider scholarship opportunities; decisions for scholarships are made by the school's governing body and an acceptance must be returned within ten days. A deposit is required to secure a place. For transfer, UAE law requires a transfer certificate from the previous school; original certificates may need to be attested (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE Embassy) for overseas transfers. Placement and any transfer requirements are coordinated with the Registrar.

Academic Scholarships are offered with three entry points (Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, and Key Stage 5). Each entry point provides up to five scholarships and can grant up to 50% off the KHDA-advertised fees. Applications are open to internal and external candidates and require submission of recent reports, CAT4/Progress tests, and a scholarship assessment. Conditions include that applicants must also gain a place at Safa British School through the normal admissions route, and offers are subject to the school's governing body decisions. The scholarship process also covers both Academic Excellence and Sporting Excellence, with timelines and terms published in the scholarship section. Applications for Sporting Excellence require evidence of national-level performance where applicable, and the offer must be accepted in writing within ten days.