Cities / Sharjah / Scholars International Academy (SIA)
Scholars International Academy (SIA)
Founded in 2007 as the second campus in the Scholars International Group network, the school follows the National Curriculum for England enhanced with High Performance Learning methodology from Foundation Stage through A levels.
In brief
Scholars International Academy opened in 2007 as the second school in the Scholars International Group. It teaches the National Curriculum for England, with the High Performance Learning approach, to around 1,600 pupils from Foundation Stage to A Level in Muwaileh, Sharjah, and holds British Schools Overseas accreditation. Full-time fees run from AED 23,500 in FS1 to AED 35,875 in the top three years. The school reports 27 per cent of A Level grades at A or A and 73 per cent at A to C.
Parent opinion is sharply split. Supporters describe practical British-curriculum teaching, teachers who are supportive once families get to know them, and extras such as a student news channel, themed weeks and international trips. Critics describe inconsistent teaching, teachers replaced mid-term, strict discipline, and fees they see as high for what the school delivers. Some parents allege that children with European passports are favoured over Indian and Pakistani pupils, a claim other parents reject.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (4-day) | 3 | AED 18,000 |
| KG1 / FS2 | 3 | AED 23,500 |
| Pre-KG / FS1 | 3 | AED 23,500 |
| KG2 / Year 1 | 4 | AED 25,970 |
| Grade 1 / Year 2 | 6 | AED 26,970 |
| Grade 2 / Year 3 | 7 | AED 27,970 |
| Grade 3 / Year 4 | 8 | AED 28,700 |
| Grade 4 / Year 5 | 9 | AED 30,200 |
| Grade 5 / Year 6 | 10 | AED 31,200 |
| Grade 6 / Year 7 | 11 | AED 31,775 |
| Grade 7 / Year 8 | 12 | AED 31,775 |
| Grade 8 / Year 9 | 13 | AED 34,338 |
| Grade 9 / Year 10 | 14 | AED 34,338 |
| Grade 10 / Year 11 | 15 | AED 35,875 |
| Grade 11 / Year 12 | 16 | AED 35,875 |
| Grade 12 / Year 13 | 17 | AED 35,875 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Fee | AED 200 |
Reviews
- The Dubai listing for Scholars International Academy points to the same operator and website as the Sharjah campus; the school itself sits in Sharjah's Muwaileh district, regulated by SPEA. Reviews about a Dubai address mostly describe the Sharjah campus or the older Dubai Scholars Private School in Al Mizhar.
- Parent commentary is polarised. International School Advisor's Dubai page averages across 6 reviews, with criticism focused on inconsistent teaching, frequent mid-term teacher changes, strict discipline, fees seen as high relative to perceived quality, and allegations of differential treatment of students by nationality.
- Positive reviews on the same page describe the British curriculum as practical, teachers as supportive once you get to know them, and extracurriculars including a student news channel, themed weeks and international trips.
- A small but recurring complaint flags racism and favouritism: parents allege European-passport children get preferential treatment over Indian and Pakistani students. Other reviewers reject these claims.
- Edarabia and Bayut listings carry warmer tone; they cite IGCSE and A-Level results and BSO accreditation, both of which trace back to the Sharjah campus.
- Reddit and PullPush had effectively no signal: a single 2019 r/dubai mention noting the school is related to Dubai Scholars.
Positives
- British curriculum and extracurriculars. Positive reviews focus on practical British-curriculum delivery, supportive teachers, student news channel, themed weeks and international trips.
Considerations
- Polarised parent reviews. Same-source reviews split sharply between strong recommendations and one-star write-ups, with no clear time pattern.
- Teacher turnover and discipline. Recurring complaints about mid-term teacher replacements and a school culture described as overly strict.
- Allegations of differential treatment. Multiple reviewers allege European-passport students get preferential treatment over South Asian families. Other parents disagree.
- Listing-versus-location confusion. The Dubai listing points to the Sharjah campus' website. Most reviews effectively describe the Sharjah school.
Leadership
Mr Andrew Marshall
Mr Andrew Marshall is a and educator with over 25 years of experience teaching in Australia, New Zealand, China, Qatar, and the UAE.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
Academic results
- A Levels (A* – A) 27%
- A Levels (A* – C) 73%
- A Levels (A* – E) 92%
- IGCSE (A* – A) 25%
- IGCSE (A* – C) 64%
- IGCSE (A* – E) 88%