Cities / Dubai / Repton School Al Barsha
Repton School Al Barsha
Founded in 2014 as part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools network, Repton Al Barsha occupies a modern campus in Dubai Science Park serving students from Early Years through Year 13.
In brief
Founded in 2014 as part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools network, Repton Al Barsha occupies a modern campus in Dubai Science Park serving students from Early Years through Year 13. Under Principal Chandini Misra's leadership, the school follows the UK National Curriculum enhanced with ISEB elements, preparing students for 11+ and Common Entrance examinations. The school achieved IAPS World Hub School status - making it the first UAE institution and only the second globally to receive this designation - reflecting its commitment to British preparatory education standards.
Recent academic performance demonstrates the school's educational effectiveness, with 2024-2025 GCSE results showing an outstanding 97% overall pass rate and students consistently exceeding their projected attainment levels based on CAT4 assessments. Parent discussions reveal appreciation for the school's academic rigor and preparation for competitive entrance examinations, though some mention the demanding pace that comes with serious 11+ preparation. The school's connection to the broader Repton network, including the highly-rated main Repton Dubai campus, provides additional educational resources and pathways for families seeking continuity within the same school system.
Strengths
- Outstanding GCSE results with 97% pass rate in 2024-2025
- IAPS World Hub School status - first in UAE to achieve this recognition
- Strong preparation for UK 11+ and Common Entrance examinations
- Part of prestigious Repton Family of Schools network
- Modern facilities in Dubai Science Park location
- UK National Curriculum enhanced with ISEB elements
- Students consistently exceed projected attainment levels
Considerations
- Demanding academic pace focused on competitive entrance exam preparation
- Limited information available about fee structure and university placement outcomes
- Relatively new school having rebranded from Foremarke Dubai in 2014
- Preparatory school focus may not suit families seeking full secondary education on one campus
- Less discussion in expatriate forums compared to some established Dubai British schools
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 53,540 |
| FS2 | 4 | AED 58,948 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 64,356 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 64,356 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 69,764 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 69,764 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 75,172 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 75,172 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 89,774 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 89,774 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
An all-through British school on a ten-acre Al Barsha site, owned by Cognita and led since January 2023 by Chandini Misra. KHDA Very Good for the fifth inspection running, BSO Outstanding, with Foundation Stage and pastoral care drawing the warmest praise. The senior school is still maturing: the first A-Level cohort graduated in 2026 with offers from UCL, King's College London and Durham, and Cognita is visibly investing as numbers push past 1,300. Parents talk about a settled, characterful prep with strong STEM and a generous co-curricular bench; the gripes are familiar ones for a growing premium school in Dubai, around value as fees climb, classroom consistency higher up the school, and how much external tutoring families end up adding on.
Positives
- Foundation Stage and primary. Early Years and the lower school are the school's strongest phase. KHDA rates Foundation Stage Outstanding across English, maths, teaching and curriculum. Parents describe a calm, characterful prep-school feel that newcomers settle into quickly.
- Pastoral care and inclusion. Personal development, wellbeing and inclusion are rated Outstanding by KHDA. Children with additional needs are supported through personalised plans and tight home-school contact, and the wider student culture is described as kind and self-disciplined.
- Co-curricular and STEM. Music, drama, sport and clubs run deep, with scholarships in performing arts and a DASSA Division 1 swimming title in 2025. STEM is a clear strength, and the school is comfortable building programmes around children with a single strong interest such as chess or a science specialism.
- Senior school maturing. The first A-Level cohort graduated in 2026 with 27 students taking offers at UCL, King's College London, Durham and universities across the UK, Canada and the US. 2025 GCSE results sat at 97% pass and 55% at 9 to 7. The senior phase is now functioning end-to-end rather than as a school still being built.
- Leadership and staffing. Chandini Misra arrived in January 2023 from Jumeirah College and has steadied the senior side. KHDA rates governance Outstanding, and staff turnover sits at around 14%, below the Dubai international-school average. Music and drama, flagged as patchy in earlier years, are described as rejuvenated.
Considerations
- Fees and value. 2025 to 2026 fees run from AED 53,540 in FS1 to AED 89,774 in Years 7 to 13, with a 5% sibling discount only from the third child. Satisfaction on value has slipped: a meaningful minority of parents now say the package no longer feels fully aligned with what is charged, a shift from a much smaller share two years earlier.
- Teaching consistency higher up. KHDA flags inconsistencies in teaching quality across phases and subjects, with secondary maths singled out for uneven engagement. Around six in ten parents say their child uses external tutoring, more than double the Dubai average, which sits oddly against the academic-performance ratings.
- Growth and capacity. Roll has climbed past 1,300 on the same ten-acre site and the senior phase has only just completed its first full cycle. Cognita is investing in facilities and staffing, but the school is still finding its rhythm at scale, and that comes through in mixed comments about systems and day-to-day communication from senior-school families.
- Arabic. Attainment in Arabic remains at Acceptable across primary and secondary in the most recent KHDA cycle, despite improvements under refreshed leadership. A structural weak spot rather than a parent-driven complaint.
Leadership
Mrs. Chandini Misra
Mrs. Chandini Misra is the Principal of Repton School Al Barsha, having joined in August 2023 after serving as Head of Senior School there from 2021-2023. She holds a MChem (1.
Accreditations
- KHDA 01
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 02
Academic results
- IGCSE 2024/25 A*-C 97%
- IGCSE 2024/25 A*-B 73%
- IGCSE 2024/25 A*-A 55%