GEMS Jumeirah Primary School achieves IQM International Centre of Excellence Status

September 22, 2026

---

GEMS Jumeirah Primary School – Dubai has achieved the IQM International Centre of Excellence Award in recognition of its deeply rooted inclusive ethos, strong sense of belonging and commitment to ensuring every child is supported to learn, participate and succeed.

An inclusive culture built on belonging

Children and learning are central to every decision made and are at the heart of school life; celebrated by all. The school’s vision statement, driven by leaders and emulated by all, ensures inclusion remains at the heart of all it does: “An ever-evolving experience for ever-evolving learners, ensuring success for today and preparedness for tomorrow. Everyone Welcome, Everyone Belongs, Everyone Succeeds”.

Staff spoken with during the visit describe the inclusive ethos of Jumeirah Primary School (JPS) as, “belonging” and “family”. Both form part of the vision and values of the school and perfectly encapsulate the sense of working closely with children, staff, and families. Everyone in the school is important and included unconditionally, and due to the ethos of care and trust, every member of the school community truly feels that they belong and are valued; their qualities, gifts and uniqueness are recognised.

Personalised support for every learner

Through JPS Connect, the dedicated inclusion department, and the teaching of an expertly re-mapped high quality, holistic and innovative curriculum, JPS provides tailored support for all children including Students of Determination, English Language Learners (ELL), and those who are deemed to be Gifted and Talented (G&T).

The highly skilled and expert JPS Connect team works collaboratively with teachers, families, and external specialists to ensure personalised pathways are in place for all. Evidence of interventions and programs of support and resources provided for all children including English Language Learners, Students of Determination and Gifted and Talented are extensive; 1-1 provision, Connect, counsellors, Arabic teaching and English Language support, therapists, impact of Upstrive, Nessy, Toe by Toe, Communication in Print, sensory resources, implementation of sensory circuits, Zones of Regulation, visual timetables, weighted toys, wobble cushions, Bruno the school dog etc.

Staff at JPS are adept at providing bespoke and personalised learning opportunities for every child. The curriculum provides scaffolds and challenge for all learners including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), English Language Learners and those Gifted and Talented.

A curriculum that inspires and includes

JPS offers a creative, broad, and well-sequenced curriculum that is thoughtfully designed to support both academic achievement and the holistic development of every child and, in doing so, highlights and emphasises the importance of Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA), alongside continuing to champion Music and Art.

The JPS curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum yet has been expertly developed further to embrace experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children. Copious opportunities are given for children to try new things, to take risks and to raise aspirations. Real life immersion experiences enrich the curriculum and support the wider development of all children.

Reading at JPS is the cornerstone of the curriculum, with a strong emphasis on developing vocabulary and inference skills of every child. Creating a love of reading is at the heart of the curriculum alongside a focus on language acquisition, concentration, listening skills and high-quality phonics teaching. The curriculum provides children with memorable, real-life experiences through which they learn new vocabulary, skills and knowledge in context.

A strong sense of community

The recognised success of JPS is underpinned by strong, strategic leadership that places inclusion at the centre of all aspects of school life. The leadership of inclusion is highly visible, with a highly skilled Head of Inclusion who plays an integral role in strategic planning, safeguarding, staff development, and support for children.

Support for staff wellbeing is integral to the inclusive ethos at JPS. Staff were keen to celebrate the emotional empathy displayed daily by the Principal and the open-door policy which is “real”. It became clearly apparent through the discussions with staff that both Leaders and staff check on each other regularly both formally and informally to ensure positive staff wellbeing is sustained.

The school actively engages with local and wider communities to create enriching learning experiences. Children shared evidence of the numerous charity days celebrated; digital safety, environmental responsibility, and mental health awareness through initiatives such as Pink Day, Wellbeing Week, Eco Council projects, Odd Socks Day, in addition to participation in global initiatives such as World Kindness Day, Earth Day, Neurodiversity Celebration Week, celebrating cultural diversity and promoting global awareness, Unified Games and the opportunity to engage with the Youth Parliament sharing views and opinions whilst representing the entire school.

Find Out More About IQM

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award, contact the IQM team on 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.

To find out more about IQM and request a free information pack, visit www.iqmaward.com.