What is the KHDA rating for Sunmarke School?

Sunmarke School is rated Very Good by Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

How much are the fees at Sunmarke School?

Annual tuition fees at Sunmarke School range from AED 53,040 to AED 88,538. Additional costs include registration, transport, and uniforms.

What curriculum does Sunmarke School follow?

Sunmarke School follows the British curriculum.

Where is Sunmarke School located?

Sunmarke School is located in Jumeirah Village Circle (South), Dubai, UAE.

Who is the principal of Sunmarke School?

The current principal of Sunmarke School is Nicholas Matthew Grierson Rickford.

Sunmarke SchoolBritish School in Jumeirah Village Circle (South)، Dubai

Curriculum

British / International Baccalaureate

KHDA

Very Good

Location

Dubai, Jumeirah Village Circle (South)

Fees

AED 53K - 89K

Sunmarke School

The Executive Summary

Sunmarke School is one of the most ambitious all-through schools in the Jumeirah Village Circle (South) schools corridor, offering a rare dual-track post-16 pathway that combines the UK curriculum - following the National Curriculum for England through to GCSEs, IGCSEs and A-Levels - with the full International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, including both the IBDP and IBCP programs. Rated Very Good by KHDA across four consecutive inspection cycles and Outstanding by the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectorate, Sunmarke is backed by Fortes Education's four decades of experience and led by Principal Nicholas Rickford, who brings an elite international pedigree from Nord Anglia and Harrow International. With school fees Dubai families will find competitive for the breadth on offer - ranging from AED 53,040 in Foundation Stage 1 to AED 88,538 in Year 13 - the school positions itself firmly in the premium mid-range bracket, delivering genuinely distinctive programming through nine Signature Programmes that cover everything from STEAM and Design Thinking to Positive Education, Financial Literacy, and a Pro Sports Academy. For families who want more than a standard British curriculum school, Sunmarke makes a compelling case. The honest caveat is that Very Good is not Outstanding, and the KHDA 2023-2024 report is candid about where the school must improve: Arabic attainment in Secondary remains weak, teaching consistency across phases is uneven, and feedback to students on their written work needs to be more systematic. The school's Positive Education philosophy is genuinely embedded - not a marketing slogan - but a small number of families find the ethos insufficiently rigorous in managing secondary behaviour. Sunmarke is the right fit for globally mobile families who value wellbeing, curriculum flexibility, and a school that thinks carefully about character alongside results. It is less suited to families seeking a hyper-academic environment focused narrowly on exam outcomes, or those who require a school where Arabic language attainment is a priority. On balance, this is a school with real momentum and a clear strategic identity - one of the stronger choices in its postcode for families weighing a long-term Dubai education.

BSO Outstanding AccreditedKHDA Very Good 2023-2024Dual IB and A-Level Sixth FormPositive Education School

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

“What struck me most when we joined was how genuinely the school lives its values. My daughter struggled socially in her previous school, and within two terms at Sunmarke she had found her footing. The pastoral team were proactive - I never had to chase anyone.”

— Year 6 Mother(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Sunmarke School offers both the UK curriculum, following the National Curriculum for England, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. The UK curriculum provides a structured academic pathway leading to GCSEs and A-Levels, while the IB curriculum focuses on inquiry-based learning and international education, culminating in the IBDP and IBCP programs. This dual-track model is relatively uncommon in Dubai and gives families genuine flexibility: academically focused students can pursue the IB Diploma, vocationally inclined students can opt for the IBCP with BTEC components, and those who prefer the depth-over-breadth British model can follow A-Levels. The school was among the first in the UAE to offer both IB pathways alongside A-Levels and BTECs on a single campus, a distinction that still holds competitive weight in 2026. In the Foundation Stage, the school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. KHDA inspectors rated FS teaching as Outstanding, with children making rapid progress in English, mathematics, and science, and developing outstanding independent and collaborative learning skills. The Forest School approach in FS - where children build volcanoes, classify insects, and conduct simple experiments outdoors - reflects an inquiry-based philosophy that is genuinely embedded at this stage. Primary and Secondary teaching is rated Very Good by KHDA, with the caveat that the quality seen in FS is not yet fully consistent across all phases. The best lessons in upper school feature high expectations, probing questioning, and strong cross-curricular links, but problem-solving and independent research are not yet routine features of every classroom. Post-16 attainment in English is rated Outstanding by KHDA - the only subject to reach that benchmark in the most recent inspection. Mathematics and Science are Very Good across all phases, with Outstanding progress in FS for both subjects. The school's academic results page on its own website highlights strong A-Level and IB outcomes, with university destinations including UCL, LSE, Imperial College London, University of Manchester, University of St Andrews, NYU, McGill, and leading Australian and European institutions. The breadth of university destinations - spanning the UK, North America, Europe, and Australia - reflects the school's genuinely international student body and the flexibility of its post-16 pathways. Academic support is a visible strength. EAL provision is rated highly by KHDA, with dedicated support helping students who arrive with low-level English skills to integrate into mainstream lessons effectively. The Achievement Centre (Inclusion Department) provides structured support for students of determination, with a Life Skills Pathway for students in Years 7-12 who require a more individualised programme. A University and Career Readiness Programme operates from Secondary upwards, with a dedicated Careers Counsellor, internship partnerships, and a structured CIVITAS programme in Sixth Form. The school's Mini MBA initiative in Secondary is a distinctive feature, introducing enterprise thinking and financial literacy well before most students reach Sixth Form. Gifted and Talented provision is acknowledged but less prominently detailed in inspection findings. The key weakness flagged by KHDA is Arabic attainment: First Language Arabic in Secondary is rated Weak for attainment, and Islamic Education sits at Acceptable across all phases - a gap that families for whom these subjects matter should weigh carefully.

Outstanding

Post-16 English Attainment

KHDA 2023-2024 inspection rating

Outstanding

FS Teaching for Effective Learning

KHDA 2023-2024 inspection rating

Very Good

Mathematics & Science (All Phases)

KHDA 2023-2024 - Outstanding progress in FS

Weak

Arabic First Language Attainment (Secondary)

KHDA 2023-2024 - key improvement area

Curriculum Details

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

Sunmarke's extracurricular offer is one of the most extensive in the Jumeirah Village area, with the school reporting over 100 activities spanning free school-run ECAs, paid school-run activities, and third-party paid programmes. The three-tier structure - free, paid school, and third-party - gives families genuine choice but also means parents need to read the small print carefully, as not everything is included in the tuition fee. The school's own website lists dedicated pages for each category, and the breadth is genuine: performing arts, music, visual arts, robotics, STEAM projects, competitive sports, debating, Model United Nations, coding, and environmental initiatives are all represented. Sports are a particular strength, anchored by the Fortes Pro Sports Academy - one of the school's nine Signature Programmes - which develops athletes through elite coaching, over 100 competitive squads, and global competitions. Athletics and volleyball have produced notable individual achievements, and the school actively participates in inter-school competitions across Dubai. The Sports Heroes programme - a Thursday afternoon initiative where Sunmarke students train as Junior Sports Coaches and in turn coach students with additional needs from schools across Dubai - is a standout example of community-facing sport that consistently has a waiting list, reflecting genuine student buy-in. Performing arts are embedded across all phases, with music, drama, dance, and media and communication all formally timetabled. The school's Communications, Media and the Performing Arts Programme is one of its nine Signature Programmes, and students can produce online newspapers, podcasts, and blogs as part of structured media education. The vast main staircase serves as a rehearsal and performance space, and end-of-term productions are a visible fixture of school life. Enrichment beyond the campus is active: the school participates in the World Scholars' Cup, with students Carlota and Ruben winning the 'World's Best Debater' competition at the Global Finals held at Yale University, competing against thousands of students from 40 countries - a genuinely impressive benchmark achievement. School trips have included Kenya, and the school's Environment and Sustainability Programme takes students through outdoor learning, garden projects, and real-world environmental challenges from EYFS through to Secondary. Community service is integrated through the school's ASPIRE values framework and its social responsibility strand, with students regularly participating in community projects and adopting leadership roles - a point specifically highlighted as Outstanding by KHDA inspectors.

100+

Extracurricular Activities Available

Free, paid school-run, and third-party options

100+ Competitive SquadsWorld Scholars Cup - Yale FinalsSports Heroes Community ProgrammePro Sports AcademyStudent Media Production

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care and wellbeing are not peripheral features at Sunmarke - they are the school's defining strategic commitment. The Positive Education framework, developed from principles pioneered at Geelong Grammar School in Australia and grounded in Positive Psychology, is embedded across all aspects of school life: curriculum design, assembly themes, staff training, and the physical environment. Every teacher - with the exception of language specialists - undergoes a week of Positive Education training before entering a classroom, and the school's wellbeing lead runs ongoing professional development linked to the latest research. KHDA's 2023-2024 inspection rated overall wellbeing provision as Very Good, with the inspectors noting that the drive and energy of the wellbeing team ensures effective provision and high wellbeing outcomes for almost all students and staff. The school's safeguarding and health and safety frameworks are rated Outstanding by KHDA across all phases - a consistent finding across multiple inspection cycles. School transport is well managed, premises are regularly monitored, and students are explicitly taught about personal safety. The care and support strand is also rated Outstanding across all phases, reflecting the school's investment in a structured pastoral infrastructure. The house system and Student Council provide formal structures for student voice and leadership. Heads of Year are described by students as actively engaged - not just administrative figures but genuine pastoral touchpoints who check in proactively. Student Wellbeing Champions operate within classrooms, supporting peers and creating a culture of mutual support. The school's ASPIRE values (Accountability, Service, Purpose, Integrity, Respect, Excellence) are visible in daily life and form the backbone of the school's character education agenda. Mental health support is provided through two guidance counsellors on site, supported by the wellbeing team. For a school of over 2,000 students, two counsellors is a ratio that warrants scrutiny - families with children who may need more intensive support should enquire specifically about referral pathways and waiting times. The KHDA report notes that the school does not yet align its self-evaluation sufficiently closely with the KHDA wellbeing framework, suggesting some structural refinement is still needed. Anti-bullying is addressed through the Positive Education ethos and explicit teaching, with students reporting that any bullying is dealt with quickly - though some secondary parents have noted that behaviour management in corridors could be more consistently enforced.

“My son is on the autism spectrum and the inclusion team at Sunmarke has been exceptional. They modified the curriculum so he could stay in a mainstream class, they consult us regularly, and the Learning Support Assistants are brilliantly integrated. I feel genuinely heard at this school.”

— Year 4 Parent, Student of Determination(representative)

Campus & Facilities

Sunmarke's campus in Jumeirah Village Triangle - adjacent to the Jumeirah Village Circle (South) corridor - is a purpose-built, modern facility designed for a capacity of 3,000 students, meaning the current roll of approximately 2,023 students leaves meaningful room for growth without overcrowding. The four-storey white, grey, and red blocks are arranged in a horseshoe formation around an astroturf football pitch, with the architectural layout creating a series of internal courtyards and garden spaces that soften what could otherwise be a purely functional campus. Vegetation and shaded outdoor areas are dotted throughout, and the roof space has been cleverly repurposed for basketball courts, tennis courts, and shaded climbing frames for younger children. Classrooms are spacious, bright, and well-furnished, with colourful displays and breakout seating areas in corridors that are actively used for small-group work - particularly in the primary phase. iPads and smartboards are visible in almost every classroom, and the school operates a Bring Your Own Device model from Year 3 upwards. The technology infrastructure extends to dedicated IT suites, a media room, and a design technology suite. A robotics facility is planned to consolidate the school's progression pathway from LEGO robotics in primary to Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and mechatronics projects in post-16. Specialist facilities are genuinely impressive for a school of this age (opened 2016): science laboratories, music rooms, art studios, and a design technology suite are all spacious and well-equipped. The school's half indoor/half outdoor swimming pool is a standout facility, available to all year groups. A large sports hall is well-equipped for indoor sports, and the dining areas - two separate cafes for primary-level students - are described as inviting. The primary library is imaginatively designed, and the early years library is a bright, welcoming space that reflects the school's investment in literacy environments. The campus is located 5 to 15 minutes from major residential communities including Emirates Hills, Meadows, Springs, Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Park, Dubai Marina, Dubai Sports City, and Jumeirah Beach Residence - making it genuinely accessible for families across western and southern Dubai. Parking and traffic are not major concerns for most families, as many students live locally and walk or cycle to school. Transport services are available through a third-party provider. The main entrance features a vast staircase that doubles as a performance and rehearsal space, and a Dubai historical timeline wall that reflects the school's UAE cultural integration.

3,000

Student Campus Capacity

Current roll ~2,023 - room to grow without overcrowding

5-15 mins

Travel Time from Major Communities

Emirates Hills, Dubai Marina, Arabian Ranches, JBR

Half Indoor/Outdoor Swimming PoolAstroturf Football PitchDedicated STEAM LabsRoof-Level Sports Courts3,000-Student Capacity CampusForest School Environment

Campus Details

Teaching & Learning Quality

The largest nationality group among Sunmarke's 201 teachers is British, reflecting the school's BSO accreditation and its alignment with UK pedagogical standards. The school employs 72 teaching assistants, creating a support structure that allows for meaningful differentiation in the classroom. KHDA data confirms a teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:10 based on the current roll, and the school reports an average class size of 24 students with a maximum of 26 - figures consistent with premium British curriculum schools in Dubai. Teacher turnover is approximately 7% - a figure that compares favourably with many Dubai private schools, where annual turnover of 15-20% is not uncommon. This relative stability matters: it means that students benefit from teachers who know the school's systems, culture, and Positive Education philosophy, rather than a perpetually rotating staff. All teachers undergo a week of Positive Education training before entering classrooms, and continuous professional development is a stated priority, with the school's wellbeing lead delivering ongoing training linked to current research. KHDA inspectors found that teaching in the Foundation Stage is Outstanding, characterised by high expectations, effective use of assessment in lesson planning, and probing questioning that genuinely tests understanding. In Primary, Secondary, and Post-16, teaching is rated Very Good - solid, but with a clear finding that the best practice seen in FS is not yet consistently replicated across all phases. The inspectors specifically noted that problem-solving and independent research are not common features of lessons in upper school, and that teacher feedback on student work is inconsistent - sometimes failing to give clear guidance on how to improve, and not always requiring students to respond to advice given. The school's pedagogical approach is broadly inquiry-based, with STEAM cross-curricular projects providing a vehicle for collaborative, hands-on learning. The STEAM curriculum is strongest in Primary, where cross-curricular links are well established. In Secondary and Post-16, these links are less consistently embedded. Technology is integrated thoughtfully: devices supplement rather than replace traditional written work, and online safety is explicitly taught. The school's use of assessment data - including standardised benchmarking tools - to track student progress is rated Outstanding by KHDA, suggesting that leaders have the data infrastructure to identify and address teaching quality gaps, even if implementation consistency remains a work in progress.

201

Teaching Staff

Plus 72 teaching assistants - KHDA 2023-2024

Annual Teacher Turnover

Well below the Dubai private school average

~1:10

Teacher-to-Student Ratio

Based on 2023 students and 201 teachers

Leadership & Management

Sunmarke School is owned and operated by Fortes Education, a group with over four decades of history in UAE education, most notably through its flagship school Regent International School in the Greens. This institutional backing provides Sunmarke with operational depth, curriculum expertise, and a governance structure that holds school leaders accountable - a point specifically noted by KHDA inspectors, who rated governance as Very Good and the overall effectiveness of leadership as Very Good, with self-evaluation and improvement planning rated Outstanding. The current Principal is Nicholas Matthew Grierson Rickford, who joined Sunmarke in August 2023. Mr. Rickford brings an impressive international CV: he was previously Head of Secondary at Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong (where the school was twice awarded Secondary School of the Year during his tenure), Deputy Head of Secondary at the British International School Shanghai Puxi, and Director of Student Achievement at Harrow International School Beijing. He holds an MA in History from the University of Edinburgh, a PGCE, an MA with Distinction in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Nottingham (where he received the Faculty of Social Sciences' Academic Excellence Award), and is currently working towards a Doctorate of Education. He also holds the UK's National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). This is, by any measure, an exceptionally well-qualified school leader for the Dubai market. The school's strategic direction is articulated through its vision - 'Empowering young people through an innovative and character-building education that inspires them to thrive and achieve with purpose' - and its ASPIRE values framework. The focus on inclusion and wellbeing as twin strategic pillars is consistently reflected in resource allocation, curriculum design, and leadership messaging. KHDA inspectors noted that leadership across phases is linked cohesively, and that self-evaluation robustly identifies improvement priorities. Parent communication is managed through the school's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), accessible via desktop and mobile app, with tools including Seesaw for younger year groups. Regular curriculum workshops keep parents informed about what and how their children are learning. A formal Governance Committee provides oversight, and the school maintains positive links with the local community and is reinstating national and international partnerships. Parents consistently praise the open-door policy and the responsiveness of staff - though some note that communication about school trips can be last-minute, and families with multiple children occasionally receive duplicate communications.

Leadership Details

KHDA Inspection Results (Decoded)

Sunmarke School has been inspected by KHDA's DSIB inspectors six times since opening in 2016. The trajectory is one of consistent improvement followed by consolidation: the school was rated Good in its first two inspections (2016-2017 and 2017-2018), then moved to Very Good in 2018-2019 - a rating it has maintained across every subsequent inspection, including 2019-2020, 2022-2023, and most recently 2023-2024. The school has not yet broken through to Outstanding under KHDA's framework, but the 2023-2024 report makes clear that the foundations are in place. The BSO Outstanding rating (awarded in February 2023) suggests that by UK inspection standards, the school is already performing at the highest level - the gap between KHDA Very Good and Outstanding may partly reflect the specific requirements of the UAE inspection framework, including Arabic and Islamic Education attainment, rather than a fundamental quality deficit. The 2023-2024 KHDA report reveals a school with genuine strengths and identifiable growth areas. Students' personal and social development is Outstanding across all phases - an exceptional finding that reflects the depth of the Positive Education investment. Management, staffing, facilities and resources are rated Outstanding. Self-evaluation and improvement planning are Outstanding. Parents and community engagement is Outstanding. These are not marginal scores - they represent the school's genuine areas of excellence. The overall picture is of a school that knows itself well, communicates effectively with its community, and has the infrastructure to support its students comprehensively. The key improvement areas are specific and actionable. Arabic First Language attainment in Secondary is rated Weak - the only Weak rating in the report - and Islamic Education sits at Acceptable across all phases. Reading skills in Primary and lower Secondary need development, with KHDA specifically recommending the school promote reading for pleasure more actively. Teaching consistency across phases remains the central challenge: the Outstanding standard achieved in FS has not yet been fully replicated in Primary, Secondary, and Post-16, and teacher feedback on student work needs to be more systematic and responded to by students. These are solvable problems for a school with strong self-evaluation capacity and stable leadership.

Outstanding Personal Development

Students' personal and social development, understanding of Islamic values, and social responsibility are all rated Outstanding across every phase - Foundation Stage through Post-16. KHDA inspectors noted students' exceptional maturity, confidence, and genuine community leadership.

Outstanding Management and Resources

Management, staffing, facilities and resources are rated Outstanding by KHDA. The school's physical environment, technology infrastructure, and staffing model are among the strongest in its peer group.

Outstanding Self-Evaluation and Parent Engagement

Self-evaluation and improvement planning are rated Outstanding, as is parent and community engagement. KHDA found that leaders robustly identify improvement priorities and maintain genuinely open communication with families.

Arabic and Islamic Education Attainment

Arabic First Language attainment in Secondary is rated Weak - the only Weak rating in the 2023-2024 report. Islamic Education is Acceptable across all phases. KHDA recommends refining lesson plans, raising teacher expectations, and integrating multimedia resources to close the gap with core subjects.

Teaching Consistency and Student Feedback

KHDA found that the Outstanding teaching quality seen in Foundation Stage is not yet consistently replicated across Primary, Secondary, and Post-16. Teacher feedback on student work is inconsistent and does not always give clear guidance for improvement. Students do not always respond to the feedback provided.

Full Inspection Report

Inspection History

2023-2024

Very Good

2022-2023

Very Good

2019-2020

Very Good

2018-2019

Very Good

2017-2018

Good

2016-2017

Good

Fees & Value for Money

Sunmarke School offers a British and IB curriculum education in Dubai, with tuition fees for the 2025–2026 academic year ranging from AED 53,040 for Foundation Stage 1 to AED 88,538 for Year 13. Fees are structured across three terms, with Term 1 carrying the largest portion (approximately 40%) and Terms 2 and 3 each accounting for around 30%. The school's annual fees are inclusive of a broad enrichment programme, instrumental music, EAL and SEND support, making them competitive for a school rated Very Good by KHDA.

AED 53,040

Annual Fees From

AED 88,538

Annual Fees To

Year / GradeAnnual Fee

FS1

AED 53,040

FS2

AED 58,164

Year 1

AED 65,844

Year 2

AED 65,939

Year 3

AED 66,824

Year 4

AED 66,920

Year 5

AED 66,980

Year 6

AED 66,982

Year 7

AED 82,676

Year 8

AED 82,755

Year 9

AED 82,876

Year 10

AED 86,860

Year 11

AED 86,985

Year 12

AED 88,411

Year 13

AED 88,538

The annual tuition fee covers core educational provision including the school's signature enrichment programmes, primary and secondary instrumental music, and EAL and SEND support through the Achievement Centre. Fees do not include third-party extracurricular activities, GCSE, BTEC, IB and A-Level examination fees, transport, dining, uniforms, or educational visits, which are charged separately. Student Individual Needs support beyond standard SEND provision is also chargeable.

Sibling discounts are available for families with more than one child enrolled, offering savings of 5–10% on the third term's tuition fee depending on the number of siblings attending. A one-time application and assessment fee of AED 525 applies for new students, and an acceptance fee of 10% of tuition is payable upon offer. Fees are subject to annual review and KHDA approval.

Additional Costs

Application & Assessment Fee525(one-time)

Acceptance Fee (New Students)(one-time)

Re-enrolment Fee (Existing Students)(annual)

Exam Fees (GCSE, BTEC, IB, A-Level)(per-exam)

Student Individual Needs Support(annual)

Transport Services(annual)

Dining Services(annual)

After-School Activities (Third-Party)(per-term)

School Uniform(annual)

Educational Visits / Field Trips(annual)

Discounts & Concessions

Sibling Discount – 2nd Child5%%

Sibling Discount – 3rd Child5%%

Sibling Discount – 4th Child10%%

Sibling Discount – 5th Child10%%

Scholarships & Bursaries

Scholarships are available at Sunmarke School. For full details, visit the school's Scholarships page at sunmarke.com/admissions/scholarships/ or contact the Admissions Office.

Full Fee Structure

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Sunmarke School is a genuinely distinctive proposition in the Dubai private school market. It is not trying to be a hyper-selective academic hothouse, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers instead is a thoughtfully constructed, values-driven education with real curriculum breadth, a dual post-16 pathway that is rare in the UAE, and a pastoral infrastructure that is among the most developed in its peer group. The KHDA Very Good rating and BSO Outstanding accreditation together paint a picture of a school that performs strongly by both UAE and UK standards, with specific areas - personal development, management, parent engagement, self-evaluation - that are genuinely Outstanding. The school's trajectory since 2016 has been upward and consistent. Principal Nicholas Rickford brings elite international experience and the intellectual credentials to drive the school toward Outstanding. The Fortes Education ownership provides institutional stability. The Positive Education philosophy is embedded, not cosmetic. For families who value wellbeing alongside academic results, who want flexibility at post-16, and who are looking for a school that thinks carefully about character and community, Sunmarke makes a compelling case. The honest weaknesses - Arabic attainment, teaching consistency across phases, feedback quality - are real but not disqualifying, and the school's own self-evaluation demonstrates it knows where to focus next.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Sunmarke is the right fit for globally mobile families who value a well-rounded, character-driven education with genuine curriculum flexibility at post-16, strong wellbeing infrastructure, and a school community that feels warm and inclusive rather than pressured and competitive.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Sunmarke is less suited to families for whom Arabic language attainment or Islamic Education are academic priorities, or those seeking a narrowly exam-focused environment where academic pressure and competitive ranking are the primary drivers of school culture.

“

We looked at over ten schools before choosing Sunmarke. What sealed it for us was the Sixth Form offer - our daughter could keep her options open between A-Levels and the IB right up until Year 11. That flexibility is genuinely rare in Dubai, and the school delivered on its promise.

— Year 12 Parent

Strengths

BSO Outstanding accreditation alongside KHDA Very Good rating
Rare dual A-Level and full IB (IBDP and IBCP) post-16 offer
Outstanding personal development and wellbeing outcomes across all phases
Low teacher turnover of approximately 7% ensures staff stability
Nine distinctive Signature Programmes including Pro Sports Academy and STEAM
Outstanding inclusion provision with dedicated Life Skills Pathway
Excellent facilities including indoor/outdoor pool and planned robotics centre
Strong university destinations spanning UK, North America, Europe and Australia

Areas for Improvement

Arabic First Language attainment in Secondary rated Weak by KHDA 2023-2024
Teaching consistency across phases uneven - Outstanding in FS but not yet replicated throughout
Teacher feedback on student work is inconsistent and not always acted upon by students
Examination fees (GCSE, A-Level, IB, BTEC) charged separately from tuition
Only two guidance counsellors for a school of over 2,000 students