Latest news with #ArborSchool
CairoScene
22-06-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Three UAE Schools Shortlisted for Worlds Best School Prizes 2025
Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Arbor School, and ATS-UAQ were shortlisted for World's Best School Prizes 2025 in innovation, environment, and community categories — a first for the UAE. Jun 22, 2025 Three schools from the United Arab Emirates have been named among the top 10 finalists for the 2025 World's Best School Prizes in a historic first. The annual awards, organised by UK-based T4 Education, honour schools that are driving positive change in education through innovation, environmental responsibility, and community impact. Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP), the Arbor School in Al Furjan, and Applied Technology Schools in Umm Al Quwain (ATS-UAQ) are each competing in a separate category: community collaboration, environmental action, and innovation, respectively. DBSJP was recognised for its community-first approach, involving parents and external partners in learning. The school integrates creativity, inclusion, and wellbeing into its curriculum, and maintains a 100% student pass rate. Partnerships include global names from Barcelona's Football Escola to Michelin-starred chefs. The Arbor School focuses on environmental learning through hands-on inquiry and sustainability challenges. Its curriculum features eco-literacy programmes supported by six on-campus biodomes. Students have previously presented their work at COP28. ATS-UAQ specialises in vocational education, with programmes centred on AI, sustainability, and engineering. Students combine academic and industry-based training, earning national and regional awards for practical projects with measurable real-world impact. Winners will be announced in October following a review by an expert panel. A public vote will also determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. Finalists and winners will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15th to the 16th.
The National
18-06-2025
- General
- The National
Three UAE schools named as finalists in global contest
Three UAE schools have been named as finalists in a global contest that highlights institutions for their innovation, environmental awareness, community collaborations and much else. Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Arbor School in Dubai and Applied Technology Schools – Umm Al Quwain Campus are named in the top 10 in different categories of the World's Best School Prizes. Run by T4 Education, the World's Best School Prizes were founded in 2022 with the aim, organisers say, of sharing 'the best practices of schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls'. The contest is split into five categories, with DBSJP shortlisted for Community Collaboration, Arbor School for Environmental Education and ATS-UAQ for Innovation. The other categories are Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives, with the winners in each category to be chosen by a judging panel and announced in October. There is an additional Community Choice Award selected by public vote. Along with the other finalists, the three UAE schools will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15 and 16, when they will share their experiences with education experts from around the globe. Alan Williamson, chief executive of Taaleem, which runs DBSJP, said the company was 'immensely proud' that the school had 'deservedly' been named as a top 10 finalist. 'This international recognition reflects the outstanding work of the school's dedicated teachers, talented students and highly supportive community,' he said. 'Their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and inclusion exemplifies the very best of Taaleem's educational values.' DBSJP, which has a kindergarten, primary school and secondary school, has been named as a Community Collaboration finalist for what T4 Education described as 'a community-driven approach that integrates families and the broader community into the learning journey'. This, the competition organisers said, meant every child had 'a personalised pathway to success'. 'Driven by community involvement, the comprehensive model gives equal weight to sports, art and academia to ensure every child is seen and every talent is nurtured,' T4 Education said. 'With academic achievement a primary focus in the region, the role of sports and the arts in shaping personal development has often been neglected and the school sought to address this.' T4 Education praised the school for its inclusivity efforts, especially for children with special needs. Top-class education Arbor School, a kindergarten, primary school and secondary school in Al Furjan, Dubai, secured its place as an Environmental Education finalist for integrating eco-literacy into its curriculum. The aim is to develop children who can tackle real-world problems in areas such as waste reduction and energy efficiency. 'Embedding sustainability, ethical stewardship and environmental education into its learning model was a direct response to the critical role education plays in addressing ecological challenges,' T4 Education said. The school campus has six biodomes, described as 'living laboratories', where pupils can learn in a hands-on way about sustainability, ecosystems and plant cultivation. Pupils have been involved in projects such as the Dubai Oyster Project, for which they worked alongside conservation groups and local restaurants to restore reefs off Dubai, and have their own eco-council, eco-ambassadors and what the school calls eco-influencers. The school has tried to reduce its environmental footprint by cutting waste, conserving energy and having buses powered by biodiesel. ATS-UAQ secured its Innovation finalist spot thanks to a career-focused and project-based curriculum. "This recognition holds deep meaning for our community, where passionate teachers and ambitious students work together each day with the dream to rise, lead, and inspire," said Rasha Diab, vice principal of Applied Technology Schools - UAQ. "Being named among the top 10 most innovative schools globally affirms that with unity, purpose and belief in education, excellence can thrive anywhere. It also reflects our commitment to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians who will lead the UAE's innovative and future-focused industries — a vision that drives all we do at ATS schools." Pupils are prepared for industry through 'clusters', which include workshops, hands-on learning experiences and brainstorming sessions, allowing them to focus on fields such as business, AI, health sciences or education. 'This vocational and technical training, combined with a curriculum that blends core academic subjects, ensures graduates are accepted into top universities and thrive in careers directly related to their chosen cluster,' T4 Education said. Vikas Pota, the founder of T4 Education and the World's Best School Prizes, said a good education 'has never been more important'. 'It is in schools like Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Arbor School and Applied Technology Schools – Umm Al Quwain Campus where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future,' he said. 'Congratulations on becoming finalists for the World's Best School Prizes 2025. Leaders and schools around the world have so much to learn from these inspirational UAE institutions.' T4 Education describes itself as a global platform that brings together more than 200,000 teachers in at least 100 countries, offering professional development and networking.
Khaleej Times
18-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
3 UAE institutions among 10 finalists for World's Best School Prizes 2025
Three schools from the UAE have landed among Top 10 finalists for the prestigious World's Best School Prizes 2025. This is the first time the country has had three schools reach the final stage. Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP), Arbor School, and Applied Technology Schools — Umm Al Quwain Campus (ATS-UAQ) have each earned recognition across key categories — Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, and Innovation respectively — marking the first time three UAE schools have reached the final 10 in the same year. What qualifies these schools in top 10? In an interview with Khaleej Times, Rebecca Coulter, Principal, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP) explained that DBSJP stands out for its strong belief in education as a shared journey, built on deep partnerships between students, staff, families, and the wider community. Coulter highlighted that their academic success, inclusive practices, and wellbeing initiatives all stem from a collaborative ethos. She said, 'Our nationally celebrated inclusion programme is a direct reflection of our collaborative ethos. As the first school in the UAE to achieve both the Inclusion Quality Mark and Centre of Excellence status, we ensure all voices are heard. From working closely with parents of determination to co-creating support strategies with specialist teams, we make inclusion a shared responsibility and a daily reality.' 'Our co-curricular and enrichment offer is deliberately inclusive and outward facing. With over ninety clubs and a calendar filled with cultural celebrations, community iftars, sustainability drives, and service initiatives, our school is a place where people connect across backgrounds and generations,' added Coulter. Alan Williamson, CEO of Taaleem, said, 'We are immensely proud that Dubai British School Jumeirah Park has deservedly been named a Top 10 finalist for the World's Best School Prizes 2025. This international recognition reflects the outstanding work of the school's dedicated teachers, talented students, and highly supportive community. Their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusion exemplifies the very best of our educational values.' Meanwhile, Arbor School earned its spot for embedding eco-literacy within its curriculum, empowering students to tackle pressing environmental challenges through hands-on learning at its biodomes, regenerative gardens, and other sustainability-focused initiatives. Gemma Thornley, Principal, Arbor School said, 'Arbor School is uniquely positioned with an integrated curriculum that intertwines the National Curriculum for England with a bespoke ecoliteracy programme. Our standout initiatives include the Centre for Abundance, where students work alongside experts in sustainability, science, and systems thinking to address real-world problems. Our Living Campus, which features biodomes, regenerative gardens, and native habitat areas, provides immersive, hands-on learning environments where children explore food systems, climate adaptation, and ecological resilience,' told KT. She added, 'Beyond curriculum, our student-led eco-committees, community conservation projects, and the integration of environmental justice across subjects ensure that sustainability is not confined to science lessons, but interwoven throughout the student experience.' Applied Technology Schools-Umm Al Quwain Campus-ATS-UAQ (ATS-AQ), a public secondary school in Fallaj Al Mulla – Umm Al Quwain, UAE, which has integrated AI, engineering, and sustainability into its project-based curriculum to transform the way students are solving real-world challenges and learning crucial life skills to become workforce-ready, has also been named among the top finalists. Five categories The winners of the five World's Best School Prizes — for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy based on rigorous criteria. In addition, all 50 finalist schools across the five Prizes will also take part in a Public Vote, which opened today, to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. All six winners will be announced in October. Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World's Best School Prizes, said, 'In a world being turned upside down by AI, as technology reshapes the way we learn and renders jobs that have existed for centuries obsolete, amid growing challenges of climate change, conflict, poverty and populism, the world our young people are entering has never felt more precarious. And a good education, with humans at its heart, has never been more important. 'It is in schools like Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Arbor School, and Applied Technology Schools-Umm Al Quwain Campus-ATS-UAQ where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future. Congratulations on becoming finalists for the World's Best School Prizes 2025. Leaders and schools around the world have so much to learn from these inspirational UAE institutions.' The winners and finalists of these global schools' prizes will be invited to the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16, where they will share their best practices and unique expertise and experience with policymakers and leading figures in global education.
Khaleej Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Arbor School Dubai earns top BSO rating, cementing its place as a leader in future focused education
This April, Arbor School Dubai achieved a remarkable milestone — an 'Outstanding' rating across every category in its British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspection, a globally respected review process regulated by the UK Department for Education. But why should this matter to parents, students, educators—and the wider Dubai community? What is the BSO Inspection? The BSO inspection is widely regarded as the gold standard for British curriculum schools abroad. Schools are evaluated on a framework aligned with the UK expectations, ensuring that institutions delivering British education overseas meet the same rigorous standards as schools in the United Kingdom. The inspection covers critical areas including quality of teaching and learning, curriculum depth and coherence, student progress and academic achievement, safeguarding and wellbeing, leadership and management, and governance, facilities, and communication with parents. This is more than a stamp of 'Britishness'— it's a certification of excellence, inclusivity, and accountability. Arbor School: A blueprint for future-focused education Over the course of a three-day inspection, Arbor was put under the microscope. Inspectors observed lessons, reviewed student work, and held conversations with staff, pupils, and parents. Their verdict? Outstanding in every category. Highlights from the report included: A trailblazing curriculum that fuses the National Curriculum for England with ecoliteracy, sustainability, and inquiry-based learning. Academic results surpassing UK averages, with students demonstrating strong progress and exceptional GCSE outcomes. A robust safeguarding culture, prioritising student wellbeing through mental health support and inclusive practices. A dynamic teaching environment, where educators use evidence-informed methods tailored to each learner. Innovative learning spaces like biodomes and living classrooms that bring science and sustainability to life. Visionary leadership, with a focus on community, professional growth, and empowering staff through shared responsibility. The inspection confirmed what many in the school community already knew: Arbor is more than a school; it's a mission. Why it matters For parents: The inspection offers peace of mind that your child is learning in a safe, academically rigorous, and values-led environment, validated by one of the highest international benchmarks. For students: It affirms that their education is not only of exceptional quality but also purposeful and future-ready, whether they pursue university in the UK or follow an international path. For staff: It's recognition of the dedication, innovation, and compassion that underpin their everyday efforts to shape a nurturing, inspiring learning experience. For Dubai: In a region that continues to evolve as a global education hub, Arbor's achievement underscores the calibre of institutions operating here and the city's commitment to world-class, forward-thinking education. From inspection to inspiration The BSO inspection is more than a compliance exercise; it's a celebration of impact, integrity, and intention. At Arbor, it reaffirms that small, consistent efforts grounded in empathy, curiosity, and environmental responsibility can lead to exceptional outcomes. So here's to the teachers who spark minds, the students who share their learning with pride, and the families who support this journey every day. Arbor's 'Outstanding' rating is a big win. But it's the thousands of small, daily victories that truly define excellence and how greatness grows.
Khaleej Times
19-03-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Purpose-driven Education: How The Arbor School is Shaping Future Leaders
Dubai's education landscape is constantly evolving, with schools striving to offer more than just academics. The Arbor School stands out with its forward-thinking approach, seamlessly blending the National Curriculum for England with a strong environmental and purpose-driven ethos. At the heart of Arbor's philosophy is personalised learning. With small class sizes, students receive individual attention, allowing them to explore their passions while excelling academically. The 'Arbor Extend' programme offers students the flexibility to pursue additional GCSEs and BTECs in subjects such as Engineering and Economics - broadening their horizons and preparing them for an increasingly complex world. The school's innovative 'Arbor Inspires' curriculum enables students to advance beyond their year group levels in Maths and English, reinforcing a culture of high achievement. This adaptability ensures that learning is not one-size-fits-all but rather a tailored journey that nurtures each child's unique strengths. What truly sets Arbor apart is its commitment to real-world learning. The eco-literacy curriculum, combined with the Global Perspectives IGCSE, encourages students to translate environmental awareness into action. Whether through community service projects, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, or initiatives like Model United Nations and the Global Impact Certificate, Arbor students are empowered to make a difference beyond the classroom. The school's facilities are equally distinctive. With biodomes, bio-farms, and a dedicated Sea School, students engage in hands-on learning, applying classroom knowledge to real-life challenges. This immersive approach ensures that graduates are not just academically accomplished but also environmentally conscious and socially responsible. Further amplifying opportunities is the Arbor Scholarship programme, which connects students with mentors in fields that align with their aspirations. By combining academic excellence with purpose-driven initiatives, The Arbor School is shaping the next generation of global leaders - equipped with the skills, values, and mindset to navigate the challenges of tomorrow.
