Cities / Dubai / Brighton College, Dubai
Brighton College, Dubai
The Dubai outpost of Brighton College, opened 2018 on a 42-acre Al Barsha campus, taking around 980 pupils aged 3 to 18 through IGCSEs and A Levels.
In brief
Academics
GCSE: 40% A -A (9-8). A-Level: 47% A -A (2024 results). The school is ranked among the Top 3 schools in Dubai for A-Levels.
School life
Sports: Football (20 teams), Basketball, Netball, Swimming, Cricket, Athletics, Rugby, Volleyball, and Tennis. Arts: Art, Design and Technology, Photography, Drama, and Music. Clubs/Teams: 74 sports teams in 2025-2026, 301 competitive fixtures played, and 10 national and international sports competitions.
Campus size: 42 acres. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool, football pitches, hard courts, indoor court, gymnasium, running track, dance studio, science labs, design & technology lab, art room, Sixth Form common room, and a parent cafe. Our Spaces.
Student body
Enrolment: Total enrollment of 976 students (based on published data). Nationalities: Represents 70 different nationalities. Class size: Not published (though Sixth Form is described as having 'small' classes, with external sources mentioning averages of 8-9).
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 64,175 |
| FS2 | 4 | AED 66,519 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 70,900 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 75,029 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 75,424 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 75,424 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 75,700 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 75,700 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 85,876 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 91,640 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 93,279 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 95,596 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 102,722 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 102,722 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 105,773 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
- Sits in the top tier of Dubai's UK-curriculum schools, regularly grouped with Repton, JESS, Dubai College and NLCS.
- A survey of 150-plus families gives an overall score around 85 percent saying they would recommend the school; over 80 percent are satisfied with academic achievement, communication and discipline.
- Parents who shortlist Brighton against Repton, Nord Anglia and GEMS Wellington describe it as a strong, demanding school suited to families planning a UK secondary route.
- A Dubai-based teacher said publicly that Brighton, alongside Kings, Repton and JESS, demands long hours from teachers in return for the higher salaries; one expat parent who attended Brighton through Year 13 said quality declined in their final year and that several peers moved to Cranleigh for sixth form.
- Recurrent niggles among parents are practical: communication around busy assessment and fixture periods, more frequent academic updates between formal reports, and teachers reporting that resources are not always plentiful.
Positives
- Tier and reputation. Repeatedly named alongside Dubai College, Repton, JESS and NLCS as one of Dubai's top British schools, with a Very Good with Outstanding Features KHDA rating and an Outstanding BSO inspection.
- Parent satisfaction. WhichSchoolAdvisor's parent survey shows 85 percent willing to recommend the school, with high marks for safety, kindness and child confidence.
Considerations
- Academic demand. Parents and teachers describe a rigorous, selective programme; one teacher says staff at Brighton work hard for the higher salaries, and an ex-student said Sixth Form had drift, with several peers moving to Cranleigh.
- Communication and resources. Parent-survey free text asks for more advance notice during busy periods and more regular academic updates between formal reports.
- Fees and intake. Reddit discussions place Brighton among the more expensive Dubai schools alongside NLCS and Repton, with families typically on relocation packages.
Leadership
Simon Crane
As the Head Master of Brighton College Dubai, Simon Crane brings over a decade of experience within the Brighton College family of schools. He emphasizes a culture of kindness and values every child, ensuring they achieve excellent academic results while fulfilling their potential.
Accreditations
- BSO/COBIS Outstanding 2025 01
- BSME, COBIS 02
Academic results
- A* / A at A Level 2025 52%
- A* at A Level 2025 28%
- A* / B at A Level 2025 80%
- A* / A at GCSE 2024 40%
- 9-8 at GCSE 2024 40%