Dubai British School Jumeirah Park achieves International Centre of Excellence Award

November 24, 2025

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Catering for over 2000 students from ages 3 to 18, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP) is a thriving British International school based in Dubai. Whilst the school is private and fee-paying, it is an inclusive school that welcomes students of all nationalities and abilities. The school represents 76 different nationalities, making up 58% of the school population, with 2% being Early Language Learners (ELL) and 13% are on the Inclusion Register for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). With many families moving away after a few years, academic, wellbeing and safeguarding information is sought from the previous school and thorough wellbeing and academic assessments are carried out on arrival to match the pupil with the right class and teacher.  The school overcomes the challenges of aligning the curriculum to previous settings and the inability to ensure quality education has taken place, through their assessments and getting to know their pupils using a relational approach. Inclusion is the thread woven through every practice and policy at DBSJP that ensures every learner can thrive and fulfil their full potential.

Enthusiasm for inclusion

There is a strong inclusive ethos at DBSJP and the Deputy Headteacher for Secondary states that, “every child has access to everything”.  This includes everything from trips, extra-curricular activities, classroom support, Counsellors, intervention and the use of the wealth of facilities the school offers.  Leadership is passionate about inclusion and see it as their duty to ensure policies are adhered to, and updated when needed, to ensure the wellbeing and success of every learner. Staff are just as enthusiastic about inclusion, seeing the real and lived results of it in their classrooms every day. Just like their students, staff are encouraged to be active learners, with targeted Continued Professional Development (CPD) providing opportunities for monitoring trends and addressing intake needs, ensuring skills are up to date and refreshed. Staff use this CPD to inform collaboration and shared best practice. Inclusion staff are part of the curriculum planning meetings to ensure they are collaborative and individual pupil needs are met. Inclusion is not just the responsibility of one member of staff or one department – it is an active commitment from every stakeholder.

Support for all learners

The school offers a broad range of qualifications and pathways to ensure all learners are catered for at the right stage in their education. BTEC courses, GCSEs and entry-level qualifications are on offer, as well as an abundance of interventions to support wellbeing, emotional regulation and Special Educational Needs (SEN), which include Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dyslexia. An EAL coordinator who works with the 65% of pupils who have EAL.  The support ranges from pupils who are new to English, as well as those high achievers who require stretch and challenge.  Assessments are carried out to baseline a pupil’s language acquisition and the language that is taught is blended with learning content.  Teachers are equipped with the tools to support EAL learners and lessons are co-planned and co-taught to model good practice with the EAL coordinator.  DBSJP supports children who may have additional needs by facilitating a Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting termly to coordinate the required support. Alternative pathways are on offer for pupils who cannot access the National Curriculum to incorporate life skills and wellbeing. Interventions are offered to pupils require additional support for their academic, social and emotional progress.  Social stories are used to prepare pupils for new experiences and to reflect on difficult situations.  There are also social skills groups, the Thrive programme, mindfulness, anger management and art therapy, to name but a few of the inclusive provisions in place.

Individual Learning Support Assistants provide invaluable support to learners across the school. Employed directly by families, they receive SEND and safeguarding training to help them provide the best support possible to the student they are assigned to. They are also provided with curriculum knowledge and scaffolding to ensure they can contribute to their student’s well-rounded education. The school also accesses support from, and signposts parents to, Insights and Kids First for screening and assessments from the Speech and Language team, Educational Psychologist and Occupational Therapists.  DBSJP welcomes the therapists into school to deliver the required interventions.

Wellbeing is a priority

Wellbeing is a priority for every stakeholder at DBSJP, offering a range of interventions to identify and address these needs, which include two school Counsellors, the Pupil Attitudes to Self and School (PASS) assessments, the Alert programme and the SCERTS assessment. Indeed, everyone in the school, including staff, can access wellbeing support – from the wellbeing committee and Counsellors, to mental health support for staff, newsletters, secret buddies, and a wellbeing room, there is no length the school won’t go to for its staff and students. Extra-curricular and enrichment activities also play an important role in the school’s inclusive vision, ensuring every learner can receive a holistic, well-rounded education. The Deputy Headteacher states that “every child has access to everything”, with other staff echoing “the school fits to the pupils’ needs, not the pupils fit the school’s needs”. All opportunities are made available so every child can participate, even if it requires additional staff, a risk assessment, a pre-visit or a meeting with parents. The students can choose whether they want to ‘Enjoy’ a club, ‘Aspire’ in something that they want to get better in or ‘Achieve’, where they may play in a league.  There are also safe space activities, that pupils can choose whether they want to take part in, before school or during lunch time.

Diversity and difference are celebrated

Diversity and difference is celebrated at DBSJP. There is an abundance of awareness days that are celebrated including Earth Day, Autism Awareness, Sign Language Day, Peace Awareness and celebrating unity.  These days are symbolised by wearing different coloured ribbons.  In addition, DBSJP celebrates its diverse community through International Day where 85 different nationalities come together to share their traditions and cultures through food, dance, clothes and celebration.

Staff openly state that “inclusive practice is how you meet the needs of the community”. Dubai British School Jumeirah Park is a shining example of how inclusive practice should be delivered. The approach is child-centred and parents, students and staff are happy to be included and welcomed in the school’s inclusive vision. The ‘village’ environment offered by the school is on offer to every learner, irrespective of how long their journey is with the school.