Cities / Dubai / Woodlem Park School (WPS)
Woodlem Park School (WPS)
Woodlem British School offers a hybrid curriculum combining UAE MOE requirements with Cambridge International and Edexcel programs. Recent parent feedback is positive, with children enjoying their experience and parents noting good teacher quality.
In brief
The school's distinctive approach blends UAE Ministry of Education curriculum requirements - including Arabic language, Islamic studies, and Emirati identity programs - with Cambridge International and Edexcel qualifications. This dual approach aims to give students both strong cultural grounding in UAE values and internationally recognised academic credentials. The emphasis on Arabic proficiency and Islamic studies reflects the school's commitment to preserving Emirati heritage while preparing students for global opportunities.
Parent feedback from recent years has been largely positive, with families reporting that their children are happy at school and praising the quality of teaching staff. The school appears to maintain good communication with parents about classroom activities and student progress. While detailed information about facilities, university outcomes, and specific academic results isn't widely available, the school's adherence to both UAE national standards and international examination boards suggests a structured approach to education that serves both local and expatriate families.
Strengths
- Positive parent feedback with children reportedly enjoying school
- Good teacher quality and classroom management
- Dual curriculum approach combining UAE MOE with Cambridge/Edexcel
- Strong emphasis on Arabic language and Islamic studies
- Integration of Emirati identity and cultural values
- International examination pathways through Cambridge and Edexcel
Considerations
- Limited publicly available information about facilities and resources
- No specific data on university placement outcomes
- Fee structure not transparently published
- KHDA rating and inspection results not readily accessible
- Small online presence compared to other Dubai schools
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG1 | 3 | AED 18,000 |
| KG2 | 4 | AED 18,000 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | AED 20,000 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | AED 20,000 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | AED 22,000 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | AED 22,000 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | AED 24,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | AED 24,000 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | AED 26,000 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | AED 26,000 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | AED 26,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | AED 500 | |
| Admission Deposit | AED 850 |
Reviews
A brand new Cambridge school that opened for 2023-24 and grew quickly, with around 750 children on roll by 2025-26 under principal Natalia Svetenok. Parent feedback so far skews warm: a small, caring community, visible leadership, named teachers picked out by name. The flip side of a new school applies in full. No external exam results yet, Arabic and Islamic studies still bedding in, and the usual question marks about how a young, fast-growing roll settles as classes climb the school.
Positives
- Head and leadership. Natalia Svetenok, in post since the opening, gets singled out by parents for visibility and follow-through. Long Gulf track record across Saudi Arabia and earlier UAE schools.
- Community feel. Small roll, very international intake (around 48 nationalities, large Sudanese and Pakistani groups), described by families as nurturing and welcoming. Individual teachers come up by name in praise.
- Inclusion provision. Inclusion team includes a SENCo, SEN teachers, a social worker, a psychologist and a bank of learning support assistants, with external speech and occupational therapy partnerships. Sizeable for a school this young.
Considerations
- Track record. Opened 2023-24, so no IGCSE or A Level results have been sat yet. Marketing around outcomes leans on the wider Woodlem group rather than this campus.
- Mid-ability support. Praise for stretch at the top is offset by a parent flagging that middle-of-the-pack children get less attention, and that progress conversations leaned on the family rather than the school. Isolated voice in a small sample, but worth holding in mind given how young the school is.
- Arabic and Islamic studies. Parents say this side of the curriculum still needs development. Not unusual at a new Cambridge school in the UAE, but a real gap for families who care about it.
- Behaviour in lower primary. One family raised unresolved behaviour issues in Year 1 that they felt the school was slow to grip. Single voice, but on a new roll, the systems are still being built.
Leadership
Natalia Svetenok
Natalia Svetenok is an experienced Principal and Educational Leader holding a M. Ed., MBA, and pursuing a Doctor of Education.