School system: British
School rating: Outstanding
Years admitted: FS1 - Year13
Tuition fees: AED 43,592 - 87,825
Address: Al Badia, Dubai Festival City
DIS vision
To create an excellent multicultural learning community that enables students to realize their potential and become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens.
DIS mission
DIS believes that all students can realize their potential in an inclusive, forward-thinking and safe environment, where each child's individuality is valued and encouraged. A team of dedicated educators provides opportunities for creativity and global awareness through a comprehensive and nurturing curriculum. They have high expectations, adopt innovative learning and teaching methods, and encourage the celebration of cultural diversity. We build partnerships so that students, parents, staff and the wider community actively support and contribute to the realization of the DIS vision.
DIS values
Respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity are the values that DIS lives by, helping to implement its vision and mission. These are also the values of the Al-Futtaim Group.
DIS motto
"Always learning, always achieving"
Established in 2005, Deira International School is renowned for providing an excellent inclusive and well-rounded education. We place great emphasis on academic progress and achievement, and for the vast majority of students, continuing on to university is their goal. We have students from over 80 different nationalities at our school, and this diversity is a feature of our school community. Excellent facilities provide excellent opportunities for a well-rounded education; we offer courses in sports, performing arts, academics, technology, leadership and creativity, ensuring that students enjoy a rich and diverse school experience both inside and outside the classroom.
Our curriculum model is based on the National Curriculum of England, but goes far beyond the minimum requirements and covers a wide variety of subjects. We provide a personalised and game-based ongoing service in the early years, ensuring that students receive rigorous assessments under the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, with a focus on developing key learning skills and the foundations for entry into the primary school curriculum. In the primary years, students have access to a rich and varied curriculum, which includes teaching in some non-core subjects. Our senior students take the Cambridge Board IGCSE examinations in Year 11 and enter the authorised International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) in Years 12 and 13. These highly regarded and internationally recognised pre-university qualifications help our students gain access to universities around the world. At all stages, we use innovative and engaging teaching methods to deliver a curriculum that caters to the needs of each student and focuses on developing key skills for life.
At Deira International School, students are placed in a challenging and stressful environment that raises their expectations to achieve rigorous goals. Our latest results bear this out and we are proud of the excellent results our students achieve. Such success comes from a partnership between the school, students and parents that is established through our commitment to parents. I am extremely proud of the excellent teaching staff we have at the school who provide students with a wide range of exciting learning opportunities. We are committed to enabling every student to make choices throughout their life, uninfluenced by the expectations of others, their own ambitions, external demands and boundaries. I firmly believe that all students are a complex combination of strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these elements is key to discovering and realising their potential.
The success of our students cannot be defined by academic qualifications alone. They graduate as dynamic and influential global citizens, fully capable of taking a leadership role in whatever walk of life they choose. To achieve this, we encourage them to participate in a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom.
Our excellent team ensures that every student is guided and cared for, working hard to meet their individual needs. Students leave Deira International School having achieved in their academic skills and becoming life builders that exceed expectations. I am very proud of the excellent team of teaching staff we have at the school, who provide a variety of exciting learning opportunities for students.
Deira International School is a challenging yet exciting place to learn, develop and explore. I warmly welcome you to come visit and experience for yourself all that Deira International School has to offer.
Simon O’Connor
Principal
At the heart of the DIS curriculum are 10 ‘learner attributes’ which are essential to a person’s growth. These are clearly planned into the curriculum and are nurtured in both core and non-core subjects.
1.Pre-School Curriculum (KS1, KS2)
The EYFS curriculum is uniquely designed using the learning statements from the Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters. The content is adapted to meet the individual needs of a diverse international student body and features play-based and engaging learning opportunities. Students are at the centre of planning, meaning that all learning is sensitive to the diversity of our classes and is designed to develop each child holistically by focusing on our 10 learner attributes. The EYFS curriculum provides a solid foundation and basis for students to enter primary school and transition smoothly into Year 1.
2.Primary School Curriculum (Years 1-6)
The Primary School Curriculum continues to promote children's holistic development and lifelong learning skills through a progressive and rigorous learning roadmap. The Primary School Curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Arabic B, Art, History, Geography, Computing, Performing Arts and Physical Education, and is adapted from the National Curriculum for England to ensure that content and concepts learned are cross-disciplinary, meaningful and closely connected to real-life and relevant contexts. DIS is committed to integrating learning with the school's international context and actively promotes diversity in the school community. Teachers explicitly develop students' higher-order thinking skills and encourage exploratory discussions and questions through engaging themes and topics. At the end of Key Stage 2, students are well prepared for secondary school through curriculum delivery and a focus on learner attributes. This preparation builds on the key features of the primary approach and pedagogy.
3.Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
★Aims
· To provide a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum that enables all students to achieve excellent academic results.
· To provide a breadth and depth of experiences that fully prepare students for success in GCSE/BTEC and IB qualifications
· To provide students with opportunities to explore, debate and solve real-life problems and in doing so become confident future global citizens, ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. They will become competent digital users, developing a range of transferable skills, ready for further education and employment.
· To provide explicit opportunities to develop the core values and attributes of We Are DIS and nurture students’ learner attributes as a means of becoming well-rounded individuals.
· To ensure that subject areas develop confident, resilient individuals who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead secure, healthy and fulfilling lives.
★Curriculum
Arabic A
Islam
Arabic B
Mathematics
Computer Science
Music
Design and Technology
Physical Education
Drama
Science
English
Social Studies
French
Spanish
Humanities (History and Geography)
Visual Arts
4.Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
★Compulsory subjects
·GCSE English Language and Literature
·GCSE Mathematics (one of two pathways)
·GCSE Science (one of two pathways)
·Core Physical Education (PE)
·Ethnic Studies: including Social Studies and Moral Education
·Islamic Education or Cultural Studies
·Arabic for Arab passport holders
★Elective subjects
Choose four of the following subjects (one must be a language)
Arabic A (first language)
Geography
Arabic B
History
Art and Design
ICT
Business Studies
Mathematics
Computer Science
Mathematics Additional
Design and Technology
Music
Drama
Physical Education
Economics
Psychology
English
Spanish
English Literature
Science Combined Trilogy
French
Triple Science Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Travel and Tourism
5.International Baccalaureate (IB) Program (IB1, IB2)
★IB Learning Skills Approach
Thinking Skills
Communication Skills
Social Skills
Self-Management Skills
Research Skills
★IB Teaching Methods
Based on inquiry; Focus on conceptual understanding; Developed in local and global contexts; Focus on effective teamwork and collaboration; Differentiated to meet the needs of all learners; Informed through formative and summative assessments
DIS students can choose from three IB pathways: IB Diploma Program (IBDP), IB Career Education (IBCP) and IB Program. IBDP and IB Program require completion of six subject groups, and the subject groups of IBCP are Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma (Tourism or Business), and Groups 2, 5, and 6. In addition, IBDP and IBCP require completion of three core elements.
★IB Subject Groups
Group 1 Language and Literature Studies: Arabic Language and Literature, English Language and Literature
Group 2 Language Acquisition: French from the Beginning, French B, Spanish from the Beginning, Spanish B, Arabic B
Group 3 Individuals and Societies: Business Management, Economics, History, Geography, Information Technology in Global Society, Psychology, Global Politics
Group 4 Science: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Society, Design Technology, Computer Science, Sports Science
Group 5 Mathematics: Mathematical Analysis and Methods, Mathematical Applications and Interpretation
Group 6 Art: Visual Arts, Theatre, Film, Music
★Core Elements
IB Diploma Programme (IBDP): Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
IB Career-Related Programmes (IBCP): Reflective Project, Language Development, Personal and Professional Skills, Service Learning
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE)
The DofE Award Scheme was created in 1956 and has expanded to 144 countries. It is a global framework for non-formal education and learning that challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements, build relationships and change the world. It provides young people (14-24 years old) with an excellent foundation for growth now and in the future. Each young person develops their own unique Award Plan by choosing to pursue self-identified areas of interest within a global framework: skills, sports and recreation, volunteering and adventure travel
DIS Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
DIS recognises the value of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and has created it specifically for students in Year 10 (Bronze Award) and IB1 (Silver Award). The Award is closely aligned with the DIS core values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity, enabling students to develop transferable skills, improve wellbeing, foster a spirit of adventure and make a positive contribution to their communities through volunteering.
Grade\Year Annual Fee
FS 1 AED 43,592
FS 2 AED 43,592
YEAR 1 AED 56,702
YEAR 2 AED 56,702
YEAR 3 AED 56,702
YEAR 4 AED 56,702
YEAR 5 AED 56,702
YEAR 6 AED 61,609
YEAR 7 AED 61,609
YEAR 8 AED 66,531
YEAR 9 AED 66,531
YEAR 10 AED 69,812
YEAR 11 AED 79,630
YEAR 12 AED 87,825
YEAR 13 AED 87,825