One of Dubai's most academically thriving schools, Al Salam Private School, developed for September 2019 with the Al Salam Community School opening in Al Twar. Like the authentic Al Salam Private School, students pursue the UK National curriculum teaching to A Groups. The original school's academic standing means the new school can open right through from FS1 to Year 13 from the start of the KHDA.
Overview
School style: International
School grade: All through
Review rating: Good
Curricula oriented: UK National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Level, AS Level, EYFS
Yearly price average: AED 30,000
Yearly costs: AED 22,000–38,000
Price band help: Mid-range
Status: Open
Gender: Co-educational
Opening year: 2019
School year: Sep to Jul
Headliner: Mr. Kifaya Khan
Proprietor: Al Salam Education
District: Al Twar, Dubai
About
One of Dubai's longest-established private schools extended its second campus in September 2019 and is expanding its high-quality, affordable education brand. Al Salam Private School has a long and demonstrated history of helping families in Dubai and has worked for almost three decades. The family-run school delivers a quality education at a reasonable price at its current campus. It has developed a unique collaboration with Bin Haidar Education, a deputy of the Mohamed Omar Bin Haidar Group (MOBH), to create a second campus at Al Twar.
Al Salam Private School and Nursery began in 1985 as a small Conservatory in Deira. It was extended by Mr. Magdy Gharib and Mrs. Sue Johnston and expanded progressively to meet local children's requirements, challenges, and needs, including their own, as they followed the school. The school has always been noted for its family nature. Mrs. Johnston had directed the school as owner and Headmistress from its start until 2017, when she left her position as Principal to focus on the development projects. She and her sons continue to be committed and concerned with the process and administration of the school, where inclusivity, academic and personal distinction, and family and spiritual matters are deeply entrenched.
With the transfer of Secondary students from Al Salam Private School to the latest campus, Al Salam Community School extended with close to 800 students. At the time of the school's first KHDA review in March 2022 - when it acquired a Good rating, the highest granted to new schools by the DSIB review team - the student cohort had increased to over 1,530! An education staff of 47 joined the Secondary area of the new school, including those who have moved from ASPS. The teaching team now numbers 128, with a further 32 teaching associates.
While the highest ethnicity group for students is Pakistani, most coaches are British. Also, true to its history, ASCS is a very international school with students from Singapore, South Africa, Vietnam, and Bulgaria, as well as numerous Arabic and western countries among its fellow. There are also 226 Emirati trainees at ASCS.
The teacher: student ratio is 1:12, a relatively low figure for an inexpensive school. If there is a problem at first sight, staff turnover is essential at 40%. Yet, this figure requires considering the increased staff numbers since the school opened.
Curriculum
Al Salam Community School pursues the English National Curriculum, delivered through the Cambridge International Curriculum, and the needed topics follow the Ministry of Education curricula. It seeks to offer a special focus on the Arts.
The school tracks the National Curriculum for England Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in the Foundation Stage. High value is set on literacy and numeracy within the earlier years. The prime focus spaces are Personal, Social, and Emotional Growth, Communication and Language, and Physical Development. The curriculum wraps Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design. Arabic is presented for all students in FS1 and persisted in FS2. Islamic Education is also delivered in the early years for Muslim kids.
International AS topics include Accounting, Applied ICT, Arabic, Biology, Business, Economics, English Language, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Literature, Physics, Psychology, French, History, Mathematics, Sociology, and Travel and Tourism. Students will usually choose three or four AS topics which will then be taken through to A Group.
The requirement for students of Judgment has also been incorporated. ASCS presents the ASDAN program from the UK, which concentrates on delivering life skills and giving students opportunities to grow with practical exercises. ASDAN is a teaching charity and awarding institution whose courses foster personal, social, and work-related talents. Educators widely acknowledge ASDAN programs for delivering an exciting curriculum that certifies students through personalized education and choice. Systems encourage and improve learners' trust, self-esteem, and strength. In addition, learners acquire core skills in teamwork, transmission, problem-solving, analysis, and self-management. The schedules are designed for young individuals and adults aged seven to 19 and over, and now, for example, one ASCS student is concerned with the day-to-day office work and preparing and serving breakfast to staff.
Facilities
The new campus has outstanding facilities that allow the school to deliver a modern and global education. Facilities contain over 70 large, well-resourced classrooms, including FS and Year 1, with direct outdoor play space access. There are also several outdoor breakout areas for Primary and Secondary. Professional facilities include seven Science labs, Art, media, technology, and design labs, and a 1,000-square-meter multipurpose hall delivering performing arts and sports. The facilities are prepared to provide a better quality of education -, especially in terms of the outdoor space and expert classrooms which now include a vast Music Room and a Double-sized Art Room.
The outdoor area contains over 4,000 sqm of external play spaces with separate FS, Primary, and secondary regions. Sports facilities include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool with proper coverage to provide privacy for girls and large outdoor and indoor playing areas catering to different sports. The facility has been designed to be available for people of Judgment.
The school features a UAE Heritage camp. The Al Salam team is decided to build on its world-class achievements and increase its curriculum creations with modern and accessible buildings.
Costs
Prices for Al Salam Community School are remarkably higher than those of ASPS, which is not unexpected given the new campus and its structures and the extension of topics. However, they are predominantly lower than many other UK curriculum academies. Costs start at AED 22,000 in the Foundation Stage, growing to AED 29,000 in Year 6. Secondary School costs commence at AED 32,500, increasing to AED 38,000 in Year 13.
Students who moved from ASPS to ASCS in 2019-20 were offered lowered fees in line with the original school's.
ASCS sets an Assessment cost of AED 500 once an application has been completed and a price of AED 1,000 on the recommendation of a place, which must be delivered within one week.