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Glendale International School, Dubai

British School in Oud Metha, Dubai

Last updated

Curriculum
British
Location
Dubai, Oud Metha
Fees
AED 42K - 58K

The Executive Summary

Glendale International School Dubai is one of the most intriguing new entrants to the Oud Metha schools landscape, having opened its doors in September 2023 on a 20,000 square metre campus that was extensively renovated before its launch. Operated by the Global Schools Foundation - a Singapore-headquartered, not-for-profit organisation with 64 campuses across Asia, Europe and the Middle East - the school follows the National Curriculum for England, providing a structured learning journey from EYFS through to Year 9 (with Year 9 launching in AY 2026-27), and with a long-term roadmap that culminates in IGCSE and A-Level examinations. The school's KHDA rating remains pending as it has not yet been formally inspected, which is an unavoidable reality for any school in its early years of operation. School fees range from AED 42,000 at Foundation Stage to AED 57,600 at Year 8-9, positioning Glendale at the upper end of the mid-market - a fee level that demands scrutiny given the school's nascent track record. The founding family discount of 20% off annual tuition fees is a meaningful incentive that reduces effective fees to between AED 33,600 and AED 46,080, making the value proposition considerably more compelling for early movers. The school is best suited to families who value the National Curriculum for England framework within a genuinely international community - founding students represent over 20 nationalities - and who are comfortable enrolling in a school that is still building its identity and track record. The Leader in Me programme, a well-being centred curriculum approach, and a stated commitment to sensory and experiential learning differentiate Glendale from more conventional British curriculum schools in the area. Principal Ms. Jasmit Kang, who previously served as Vice Principal at Capital School Dubai where she contributed to a Good KHDA rating, brings credible leadership experience. The honest caveat: parents who need the reassurance of a published KHDA inspection rating, established exam results, or a proven university destinations record will need to look elsewhere for now. For families willing to back an ambitious project with strong institutional support, Glendale represents a calculated bet with genuine upside.
National Curriculum for England20% Founding Family DiscountNot-for-profit operator20,000 sqm renovated campusLeader in Me programme

See how Glendale International School compares across all 105 British schools in our Best British Schools in Dubai 2026 guide.

“Since my daughter joined Glendale Dubai, I have seen a clear shift in her thinking. Their emphasis on sensory learning and prioritising creativity has really sparked her brain, even at such a young age.”

— Foundation Stage Parent

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Glendale International School follows the National Curriculum for England across all year groups, incorporating the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for FS1 and FS2 students. The school's academic architecture is structured to grow sequentially: EYFS establishes foundational literacy, numeracy and social skills through a play-based, experiential model; Primary builds on this with a thematic, mastery-oriented approach across core subjects; and Secondary - currently operating up to Year 8, with Year 9 launching in AY 2026-27 - is designed to develop metacognition and independent learning, ultimately leading to IGCSE examinations. The long-term plan includes International A-Level and BTEC programmes at Sixth Form, though these remain several years away from implementation given the school's current FS1-to-Year 9 footprint. The curriculum philosophy is notably thematic and multi-sensory, with no single subject given explicit priority over others. In the Foundation Stage, the guiding principle is 'Play, Communication and Exploring' - a framework that gives young learners structured freedom to discover through hands-on experience. In Primary, French is introduced as an additional language from Year 3, and the school emphasises real-world project work alongside higher-order comprehension and writing skills. The use of Apple technology is embedded from the Foundation Stage, though the school has confirmed this is deployed in a controlled, teacher-regulated environment rather than as unrestricted screen time. Secondary students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, with increasing ownership of their learning as they progress through the year groups. On homework, Glendale takes a deliberately light-touch approach: no homework in Foundation Stage, and only the bare minimum for higher Primary year groups. This is a deliberate pedagogical stance rather than an oversight, and will appeal to families who are concerned about over-pressuring young children. The school has one specialist SEN teacher supporting students with Wave 1 and Wave 2 requirements, and provision is also available for English as an Additional Language learners and students identified as Gifted and Talented. Given the school's early stage, published IGCSE or A-Level results are not yet available, and university destinations data does not yet exist - parents should factor this transparency gap into their decision-making.
FS1 - Year 9
Current year group range (Year 9 from AY 2026-27)
Expanding to full secondary and eventually Sixth Form
Year 3+
French introduced to curriculum
Added to core subjects from Year 3 onwards
IGCSE & A-Level
Target examination pathway
Long-term roadmap; no results published yet
Wave 1 & 2
SEN support levels offered
Specialist SEN teacher in post from opening
Curriculum Details

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

For a school in only its second and third years of operation, Glendale International School has moved with reasonable pace to establish an extracurricular offer. The programme is structured around two distinct pillars: a morning Well-being Hour and an after-school activities schedule. The Well-being Hour - offered before the formal school day begins - provides students with access to Music, Coding, Art, Sports and French, a deliberately broad set of options designed to develop skills outside the core academic timetable in a low-pressure setting. After-school activities currently include Football, Table Tennis, Basketball and Tennis, with the sports facilities on the 20,000 sqm campus - including an expansive football and athletic field, and dedicated tennis and basketball courts - providing a credible physical infrastructure for competitive and recreational sport. The school has stated clearly that the ECA programme will expand significantly as student numbers grow, with planned additions including further language programmes, Drama, a wider range of sports, and Yoga. The Leader in Me programme - embedded across the school - functions as a structured character and leadership development programme, drawing on values of Responsibility, Achievement, Resilience, Humility, Empathy, Collaboration and Mindfulness. This is not a peripheral add-on: it is woven into the school's daily culture and informs student committee structures including the Anti-bullying Committee and Happiness Committee. A specialist Black Box Drama room signals an intent to develop performing arts as the school grows, and dedicated art rooms are already in use. The honest assessment is that the ECA programme is currently modest in breadth - as expected for a young school - but the infrastructure and stated ambition suggest it will develop meaningfully over the next two to three years.
5
Morning Well-being Hour activity options
Music, Coding, Art, Sports, French
Morning Well-being HourLeader in Me programmeBlack Box Drama roomFootball and athletics fieldCoding from Foundation Stage

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care and student well-being are positioned at the centre of Glendale's educational philosophy rather than as supplementary provision. The school's Leader in Me programme - built on the seven values of Responsibility, Achievement, Resilience, Humility, Empathy, Collaboration and Mindfulness - provides the structural backbone for character development and emotional literacy across all year groups. This is not simply a values poster on a classroom wall: it informs how teachers engage with students, how student leadership is cultivated, and how the school community is expected to function. On safeguarding, the school operates within the KHDA's regulatory framework, which mandates robust child protection policies for all Dubai private schools. The campus includes sensory outdoor rooms specifically designed to support student well-being, reflecting a thoughtful approach to the physical environment as a tool for emotional regulation. A Happiness Index and Happiness Committee - student-led structures - provide a mechanism for student voice on well-being matters, while an Anti-bullying Committee and annual Anti-bullying Week give the school's stance on peer relations a formal, structured expression. Counselling provision details have not been published on the school's website at the time of this review, which is a gap that parents of students with complex emotional needs should probe directly with the admissions team. The school's relatively small current size - with one class per year group at launch - does, however, mean that staff-student relationships are likely to be closer and more attentive than in larger, more established institutions.

“I have watched my child flourish academically and develop good life skills like speaking confidently with others at Glendale Dubai and am a very happy parent here.”

— Primary Stage Parent

Campus & Facilities

The Glendale International School campus is one of the most significant assets the school brings to the Oud Metha schools market. Located next to the American Hospital in Umm Hurair, the 20,000 square metre site has a well-documented history: it previously housed GEMS Education's Our Own English High School and, more recently, GEMS Winchester School before that institution relocated to Dubailand in 2021. The campus stood empty for approximately two years before Glendale undertook what has been described as a significant renovation prior to its August 2023 opening. The result is a facility that combines the scale of an established campus with the freshness of a newly fitted interior. Key facilities include a multi-purpose hall and auditorium - already in use for assemblies and school productions - a specialist Black Box Drama room, dedicated Music rooms, a Metaverse (ICT) lab and Immersion Room that uses virtual reality technology, specialist Art rooms, and fully equipped Science labs. The technology infrastructure is notable: Apple devices are integrated from the Foundation Stage, and the Metaverse lab and Immersion Room represent an investment in experiential digital learning that is unusual for a school of this age and size. Outdoor sports facilities are substantial, with an expansive football and athletic field, tennis courts, and basketball courts all on-site. Foundation Stage students benefit from specially tailored outdoor spaces and a calming FS breakout area designed with young learners' sensory needs in mind. Location-wise, Oud Metha is a central, well-connected district of Dubai. The proximity of the Oud Metha Metro station is a genuine practical advantage for families using public transport or for older students commuting independently. The trade-off is that the surrounding road network in the Oud Metha and Bur Dubai area is subject to congestion, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up windows, and parents driving to school should factor this into their daily planning.
20,000 sqm
Total campus size
Extensively renovated prior to 2023 opening
3,000
Student capacity
One of the larger campus capacities in the Oud Metha area
20,000 sqm campusMetaverse ICT labAuditorium and Black BoxApple technology integratedMetro-accessible locationRenovated 2023
Campus Details

Teaching & Learning Quality

At launch, Glendale International School opened with a teaching team of 25 teachers supported by 15 teaching assistants, giving a combined adult-to-student ratio that is relatively strong for a school at this stage. In the Foundation Stage, the ratio is 2 adults to 25 students; from Year 1 to Year 6, it is 2 adults to 30 students. Class sizes are capped at 25 students, which is a meaningful structural commitment to manageable learning environments. The teacher cohort at opening was notably diverse: British, Irish, Indian, Pakistani, Ukrainian, South African, Egyptian and Nigerian nationals were all represented, reflecting the school's international character and its position within a global school group with recruitment reach across multiple countries. The main teacher nationality is British, which aligns with the National Curriculum for England framework being delivered. The pedagogical approach is multi-sensory and thematic, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning in the early years and progressive development of metacognitive skills in the secondary phase. The school's use of Apple technology from Foundation Stage onwards, and its investment in a Metaverse lab and Immersion Room, signals an intent to embed technology as a genuine learning tool rather than a novelty. The mastery approach in Primary - where students practice and receive real-time feedback before moving on - is consistent with evidence-based pedagogy and is a credible framework for building secure foundational knowledge. Professional development culture and teacher retention data have not been published at this stage of the school's development, which is understandable for a school in only its second and third years of operation. Parents should ask directly about staff continuity at any admissions meeting, as teacher turnover in a young school can have a disproportionate impact on consistency of provision.
2:25
Adult-to-student ratio in Foundation Stage
Teacher plus Teaching Assistant per class
2:30
Adult-to-student ratio in Year 1 to Year 6
Teacher plus Teaching Assistant per class
25
Maximum class size
Structural cap applied across all year groups

Leadership & Management

Glendale International School is led by Principal Ms. Jasmit Kang, who joined the school at its founding in 2023. Ms. Kang brings a credible and relevant leadership background to the role: she previously served as Vice Principal at Capital School Dubai, an English National Curriculum school where she was closely involved in achieving a Good KHDA rating during the 2021-22 inspection cycle. Before that, she held a Deputy Head position at Raffles International School, which holds a Very Good KHDA rating. Her experience spans both curriculum leadership and regulatory inspection preparation - a combination that is directly relevant to Glendale's immediate priority of achieving its first KHDA inspection rating. In her own words, Ms. Kang frames the school's purpose around unlocking hidden talent and nurturing every child through an innovative and holistic educational offer, citing the Martin Luther King principle that true education develops both intelligence and character. This is a coherent and values-driven leadership philosophy that aligns well with the school's Leader in Me programme and well-being centred curriculum approach. The school is owned and operated by the Global Schools Foundation (GSF), a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2002 and headquartered in Singapore. GSF operates 64 campuses across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, educating approximately 31,000 students of over 70 nationalities, and has received more than 600 national and international awards for academic excellence across its network. The Foundation's track record in launching schools in the UAE - including the Global Indian International Schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - provides institutional credibility and operational support that a standalone startup school would lack. Parent communication channels include a direct admissions enquiry process via the school's website and email contact through secretary.glendaledxb@globalschools.com. Details of parent portals, app-based communication platforms, and governance structures such as a board or advisory council have not been published on the school's website at the time of this review.
Leadership Details

Fees & Value for Money

Glendale International School offers a British curriculum education in Dubai with annual tuition fees ranging from AED 42,000 for Foundation Stage to AED 57,600 for Years 8 and 9, as approved by the KHDA. Fees are structured across three terms per year and are payable on a term-by-term basis in advance. The school currently operates from FS1 through Year 8, with Year 9 scheduled for AY 2026-27.

AED 42,000
Annual Fees From
AED 57,600
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
FS1
AED 42,000
FS2
AED 42,000
Year 1
AED 46,800
Year 2
AED 48,000
Year 3
AED 48,000
Year 4
AED 51,600
Year 5
AED 51,600
Year 6
AED 55,200
Year 7
AED 55,200
Year 8
AED 57,600
Year 9
AED 57,600

A standout feature of Glendale's fee structure is the Extended Founding Family Discount, which offers all families a 20% reduction on annual tuition fees. This discount is KHDA-approved and represents significant savings — for example, FS1 and FS2 fees reduce from AED 42,000 to AED 33,600, and Year 8 fees reduce from AED 57,600 to AED 46,080. This makes Glendale a competitively priced option among British curriculum schools in Dubai, particularly for families enrolling during the school's founding phase.

Initial costs include a one-time, non-refundable Application Fee of AED 500 and a Registration Deposit of AED 1,500, which is non-refundable but deductible from the tuition fee. Continuing students are subject to an annual Re-registration Fee of AED 1,500, also deductible from tuition. All fees are expressed in AED and are subject to annual review.

Additional Costs

Application Fee500(one-time)
Registration Deposit1500(one-time)
Re-registration Fee1500(annual)

Discounts & Concessions

Extended Founding Family Discount20%%
Full Fee Structure

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Glendale International School is a school for families who are willing to invest in potential rather than proven performance. The combination of a substantial, well-equipped campus, a credible not-for-profit operator in the Global Schools Foundation, an experienced principal in Ms. Jasmit Kang, and a meaningful 20% founding family discount creates a compelling case for early adoption - provided families understand clearly what they are signing up for. This is a school that is still writing its story. There are no KHDA inspection results, no published exam outcomes, and no university destinations data. The ECA programme is developing. The secondary school is still being built out year by year. These are not criticisms - they are simply the honest realities of a school in its third year of operation. What Glendale does offer with confidence is a genuinely international community (over 20 nationalities at founding), a well-being centred curriculum philosophy that takes the Leader in Me programme seriously, a multi-sensory and technology-integrated learning environment, and a campus infrastructure that would be the envy of many more established schools in Dubai. The Oud Metha location is convenient for families living in Bur Dubai, Karama, Oud Metha and surrounding areas, and the proximity of the metro is a practical advantage. For families currently in the area who are weighing Glendale against longer-established Oud Metha schools, the founding family discount makes the financial case significantly stronger than the headline fees suggest.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Families who value the National Curriculum for England, prioritise well-being and character development alongside academics, are comfortable with a school in its early growth phase, and want to secure the 20% founding family discount while places are available.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Families who require the reassurance of a published KHDA inspection rating, established IGCSE or A-Level results, or a documented university destinations record before committing - or those who need a full secondary school (Year 10 and above) in the near term.

“

I have been consistently impressed by the innovative teaching methods used at Glendale Dubai. The school stays up-to-date on educational trends and implements them in a way that benefits students.

— Primary Stage Parent

Strengths

  • Substantial 20,000 sqm renovated campus with strong facilities for a new school
  • Meaningful 20% founding family discount locked in for five years
  • Not-for-profit operator (Global Schools Foundation) with 64 campuses globally
  • Experienced principal with direct KHDA inspection track record
  • Genuinely international community - over 20 nationalities at founding
  • Metaverse ICT lab and Apple technology integrated from Foundation Stage
  • Well-being centred curriculum with structured Leader in Me programme
  • Metro-accessible location in central Oud Metha

Areas for Improvement

  • No KHDA inspection rating published - parents cannot access independent quality verification
  • No exam results or university destinations data available given school's age
  • Full headline fees are higher than nearby Outstanding-rated schools without an inspection track record to justify the premium
  • ECA programme is currently limited in breadth, though expanding
  • Secondary school still being built out year by year - no Sixth Form provision in the near term
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