Al Salam Private School

Al Salam Private School follows the UK National Curriculum for England (NCfE), delivered across EYFS (FS1–FS2), Primary (Years 1–6), and Secondary (Years 7–11), with UAE Ministry of Education subjects integrated throughout every phase. The school is dually accredited through Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) for its IGCSE programme, which commenced in 2024–25. A Levels are expected from 2026–27, with the school set to extend to Year 13 by 2027–28 — a significant structural expansion that will complete the full secondary pathway for the first time in the school's recent history. Among 105 British curriculum schools in Dubai, ASPS sits in the mid-range on both fees and inspection outcomes, holding a KHDA Good rating maintained consistently since 2013–14.

Academically, the picture is strongest in Secondary. The 2023–24 KHDA inspection rated Secondary mathematics and science attainment as Very Good — a meaningful distinction in a cohort where overall achievement is rated Good. Benchmark data reinforces this: in the 2021 PIRLS assessments, students exceeded their targets by 12 points, and internal science attainment improved from Good to Outstanding over two years. Mathematics attainment was maintained at Very Good across the same period. These are creditable results for a school whose first formal IGCSE cohort results are not expected until 2026, meaning external examination benchmarks remain unavailable for direct comparison. University destination data is similarly not yet published.

What distinguishes ASPS academically is its technology integration and inclusion infrastructure. The school holds recognition as a Google Reference School — one of a small number in the region — with Google Workspace for Education, a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy, and AI platforms embedded into classroom delivery. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and a Robotics and AI programme extend learning beyond the core curriculum. The school's SEND Department supports 241 students of determination — approximately 19% of total enrolment — and holds the SENDIA Inclusion Award, making ASPS one of the more meaningfully inclusive schools among British curriculum providers in Dubai. A dedicated Gifted and Talented programme and EAL provision round out the specialised academic offer.

Inspectors identified clear areas requiring attention. Teaching quality in lower Primary and Foundation Stage was flagged as inconsistent, with classroom routines described as insufficiently established and expectations not always high enough. The use of assessment data to inform lesson planning was rated uneven — effective in Secondary but unreliable in Primary. Reading outcomes in Primary were specifically cited for improvement, with the school's teaching of reading literacy rated only Acceptable in the National Agenda Parameter. Arabic attainment — both first and additional language — remains at Acceptable across Primary and Secondary, a persistent gap relative to the school's otherwise Good profile. Compared to peer British curriculum schools in Dubai where 18 of 23 Outstanding-rated schools follow the British curriculum, ASPS has not yet broken through to Very Good overall, and the absence of published IGCSE results means academic benchmarking against higher-rated competitors remains limited until 2026.