Deira Private School

Deira Private School (DePS) in Al Twar teaches the National Curriculum for England from the Foundation Stage up to Year 9, with English as the language of instruction. The Early Years follow the EYFS through a hands-on, play-based approach adapted to life in the UAE. Primary (Years 1 to 6) and lower secondary (Years 7 to 9) combine the English programme with the subjects required by the UAE Ministry of Education, such as Arabic, Islamic Studies, Moral Education and UAE Social Studies. The International Early Years, Primary and Middle Years Curricula, STEAM and coding are woven into learning from FS1 to Year 8, and the school uses enquiry-based teaching without relying on textbooks and worksheets.

The school's motto, Ad vitam paramus ('preparing for life'), and its vision of building character one virtue at a time shape daily life. Character education aims for students who are conscious of the right thing to do, committed to it and competent in doing it, guided by four values: responsibility, excellence, equality and respect. A pastoral system built around 18 attitudes and attributes rewards positive behaviour every day, and the school promotes happiness, mindfulness and positive mental health alongside academic progress.

The campus has a large auditorium, a multi-purpose indoor sports hall, a sports pitch, an athletics running track and several outdoor play zones. Specialist spaces include a STEM laboratory, a food and design lab, a digital learning lab, art, dance and movement studios, a music room, a drama studio, a recording studio, a mindfulness room and an inclusion and speech therapy room. There is also a large library, an outdoor amphitheatre with tiered seating, a Forest School area for outdoor learning, an organic planting garden and a health centre staffed by the school medical team.

School buses serve more than 70 locations across Dubai; families apply through the transport office and places depend on availability. The health centre handles first aid, common illnesses and health checks, and a counselling service supports students' wellbeing. Uniform packs are sold through the school. DePS is a nut-free school and asks parents to send healthy food and drinks, without sweets, fast food or fizzy drinks. Sibling discounts and several partner discounts are available on tuition fees.

DePS describes itself as an inclusive school for students with mild to moderate special educational needs and disabilities, and admission is not refused on the basis of SEND alone. Needs are identified from admission onwards through a graduated approach, and students with a formal diagnosis receive an Individual Education Plan written by the SENDCO within their first month. The Head of Inclusion works with learning support assistants, teaching assistants, class teachers and the medical team, and support also covers English language learners and gifted and talented students through differentiation, intervention and personalised learning.

The enrichment programme includes lunchtime clubs and after-school activities across academic, artistic, performance, language, design and sporting areas. Arts options range from ballet, dance and drama to music, creative writing, art and design, with debating and public speaking too, and there are hands-on science experiments, environmental education projects and 'cooking without fire' sessions. On the sports side pupils can choose cricket, basketball, netball, athletics, football or gymnastics, and school teams train regularly and compete against other Dubai schools.