Cities / Dubai / The Aquila School Dubai
The Aquila School Dubai
ISP's first new-build flagship in the UAE, opened 2018 opposite Dubai Silicon Oasis, running the English National Curriculum with IB Diploma and Career-related Programmes in sixth form for around 1,300 pupils.
In brief
Founded as ISP's first new-build flagship project in the UAE, The Aquila School operates from a purpose-built campus opposite Dubai Silicon Oasis under founding Principal Wayne Howsen's leadership. The school follows the British National Curriculum from Early Years Foundation Stage through Key Stages, enhanced with IB Diploma and Career-related Programmes post-16 under Head of Sixth Form Arran Elmes. Recent BSO inspection awarded Outstanding ratings for leadership and management, while KHDA rated the school Good overall with Very Good recognition in Foundation Stage, wellbeing, and personal development.
Parent discussions reveal generally positive experiences with the school's teaching quality and community environment, with families particularly appreciating the school's approach to supporting children who don't speak English well initially. The school maintains a 1:11 teacher-to-student ratio with nearly all 120 teaching staff from the UK or Ireland, creating what parents describe as a supportive learning environment. However, the school generates moderate discussion levels compared to established Dubai British institutions, suggesting it serves families seeking quality British education without the premium positioning of schools like Dubai College or JESS.
Strengths
- Outstanding BSO rating for leadership and management (2025)
- Strong teacher-to-student ratio of 1:11 with UK/Irish qualified staff
- Positive parent feedback about teaching quality and community atmosphere
- Good support for English language learners
- Purpose-built campus with specialist facilities from FS1
- KHDA Good rating with Very Good recognition in key areas
- IB Diploma and Career-related Programme options post-16
Considerations
- Relatively new school (opened 2018) with limited track record compared to established institutions
- Moderate visibility in Dubai education discussions compared to tier-one schools
- Location in Wadi Al Safa may be less convenient for some Dubai families
- No specific data available on university placements or IB results
- Limited detailed discussion in parent forums compared to established British schools
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 48,673 |
| FS2 | 4 | AED 51,917 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 54,081 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 54,081 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 56,244 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 56,244 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 59,489 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 59,489 |
| Year 7 | 11 | AED 64,897 |
| Year 8 | 12 | AED 64,897 |
| Year 9 | 13 | AED 71,386 |
| Year 10 | 14 | AED 71,386 |
| Year 11 | 15 | AED 71,386 |
| Year 12 | 16 | AED 77,876 |
| Year 13 | 17 | AED 77,876 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | AED 500 |
Reviews
A purpose-built British all-through that opened in 2018 in Wadi Al Safa, Dubailand, and reached full FS1 to Year 13 provision with the first sixth-form cohort sitting exams in 2026. KHDA last inspected in February 2024 and rated it Good, noting many aspects already at Very Good. The April 2025 BSO inspection was the stronger headline, awarding Outstanding across leadership, curriculum, pastoral care and premises. The wider sentiment is a community-feel school with a visible SEND offer, an early-years strength, and uneven secondary teaching that the school is openly working on. Fees sit in the mid-to-upper British tier, AED 48,673 in FS1 to roughly AED 77,876 in Sixth Form.
Positives
- Early years and primary. The Foundation Stage is the part of the school most often singled out. Inspectors and parents land in the same place on this one: small classes, an inclusive ethos and visible attention to children settling in. Repeat enrolments across siblings are common.
- SEND and inclusion. The inclusion team comes up repeatedly in parent feedback as a genuine strength rather than a marketing line. Families with children on individual education plans describe the support as proactive and properly resourced.
- Leadership and pastoral tone. Principal Wayne Howsen is described as accessible and responsive, and the wellbeing programme is one of the most consistently praised parts of the school. Both KHDA and BSO inspectors flagged pastoral care, safeguarding and student happiness as a strength.
- Space and facilities. Operating well under the post-expansion 3,200-pupil capacity, so corridors, playgrounds and specialist rooms are not crowded. Hydroponics farm and animal care areas are unusual for a Dubai campus and used in lessons rather than left for the brochure.
Considerations
- Secondary teaching consistency. KHDA's standing recommendation in 2024 was greater consistency in teaching quality, especially in Secondary, and more rigorous middle-leadership monitoring. Parents echo this in a softer form: experience varies by subject and teacher rather than by year group.
- Sixth form is new. The IB Diploma and IB Career-related pathways only began in August 2024, with BTEC and ASDAN sitting alongside. The first cohort graduated in 2026, so there is no body of results yet. The breadth of pathways is unusual for a school this size; the depth is still to be proven.
- Arabic. Attainment in Arabic, particularly reading comprehension and use of standard Arabic, was singled out by KHDA in 2024 as the area needing the most lift. A common pattern across British-curriculum schools in Dubai, but worth tracking.
- Fees and value. Around two-thirds of surveyed parents read fees as good value; the remaining third do not. AED 48,673 in FS1 rising to roughly AED 77,876 in Sixth Form positions the school in the mid-to-upper British band, against competitors with longer track records and Outstanding KHDA ratings.
Leadership
Wayne Howsen
Wayne Howsen has served as a school principal for over 27 years, with his career spanning both the UK and the UAE.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
Academic results
- GCSE A*-C 80%
- GCSE A-A 28%
- 5 GCSEs including English and Maths 68%
- 5 strong passes at GCSE level 45%
- Grades at 9 5%
- Grades in English as a second language at 9-7 83%
- BTEC qualifications pass rate 100%
- BTEC Distinction level or higher 43%
- BTEC Merit level or above 57%
- LAMDA Speaking in Public exams pass rate 100%