The English College Celebrates KHDA Rating

The English College, a world-class British curriculum school in Dubai is celebrating its new inspection report from the KHDA.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the government body charged with rating the city’s private schools and other educational establishments, with five levels of rating from weak to outstanding.

Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) is the inspection arm of KHDA. DSIB assessed The English College as outstanding in 24 areas. 80% of the assessed areas were given a rating of outstanding or very good, leading to an overall rating of Very Good.

The school has previously been rated ‘Good’ by DSIB, since it began school inspections in 2007.

School inspection reports deliver a comprehensive review of the performance and standards of private schools in Dubai. The reports include a new ‘Parent Report’ section which gives parents detailed information about the quality of education provided by their child’s school, helping them to make better informed decisions on where to send their children to school.

Principal Mark Ford says, “Our new rating is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, our incredible students and our wonderful parents. It is good that the high quality education provided by The English College has been validated by the DSIB report and we were pleased that the DSIB team identified so many areas of outstanding and very good practice.”

The Principal added that the Very Good rating will not cause the school to rest on its laurels, with the senior leadership team constantly striving to maintain and improve the high standards pupils and parents have come to expect from the school – which first opened its doors in 1992.

While 20% of pupils hail from the UK, the school celebrates the diversity of many other cultures, with more than 79 different nationalities represented by more than 1000 students.

Since 2019 schools haven’t been inspected due to the pandemic, but now the Umm Suqeim school has received two new excellent inspection reports.

The higher KHDA rating comes just after a British Schools Overseas (BSO) outstanding rating, delivered in late 2022 after an inspection by Penta International, a company approved by the British Government to inspect schools overseas.

This means The English College is now one of fewer than 200 elite British Curriculum schools around the world to be recognised by the BSO.

The English College

Established in 1992, The English College is a non-selective, world-class British curriculum all-through school in Dubai – catering for students from FS 1 to Year 13.

We are an inclusive school, and our students come from more than 70 countries across the world. We strive to make all our learners feel welcome, accepted, safe and valued.

Our DSIB-rated “Outstanding” pastoral care, personal and social development ensure every child is valued as an individual and encouraged to bring their own uniqueness to our family-orientated community school.

Our British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection report states, “The quality of education provided by The English College is outstanding.”

This means The English College is now one of fewer than 200 elite British curriculum schools globally to be recognised by BSO.

We are very proud of our strong heritage, traditions and values and are constantly looking forward, seeking to innovate and improve at every age and stage for every pupil. High-quality teaching and learning and the very best pastoral care and extra-curricular provision lie at the heart of The English College.

Most importantly, we are a happy school with a great spirit and a sense that anything and everything is possible.

Our Core Purpose

To inspire confident and passionate learners who will thrive and make a difference.

Our Vision

We encourage students to always try their best and aspire to excellence. We strive to develop lifelong learners who flourish in all they do and embrace, with passion and confidence, their responsibility to support others and make a difference both locally and globally.

Our Values