College Beat - Beyond the Classroom
Welcome to your February 2026 newsletter
Beyond the Classroom
As the first half of Term 2 draws to a close, what strikes me is how often our students have taken their learning beyond the classroom walls.
It's there in our Year 10 Art students, trading the studio for Dubai Creek and Al Seef, sketchbooks in hand, capturing the atmosphere of early morning life in some of Dubai's most historic locations through plein air drawing.
It's in our BTEC Hospitality students running the 9th Annual Asian-themed lunch for over 40 guests, taking care of every tiny detail from planning through to presentation.
We’ve seen how flourishing beyond the classroom also means testing yourself against external standards. Our amazing swimmers brought home silverware from the DASSA Individual Championships, in which over 50 students competed. Our netball teams dominated both DASSA and BSME tournaments. Our U15 footballers came third in the BSME Football Tournament in Cairo (while making sure they took time out to explore the Pyramids and see Tutankhamun's mummy!). And our U12 boys and girls both lifted the DESS 7s Cup on home soil.
It's just as visible in academic competitions, where our students compete nationally and internationally. Vivan Panda in Year 12 scored 72 out of 100 in the British Physics Olympiad, placing him in the top 5% nationally and earning top gold. Zeina won the Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition against more than 1,000 students across the UAE, with her winning story now published in a book titled ‘Hope’.
And as ever, our students are also going beyond the classroom through service and leadership. Our BTEC Sport students designed and delivered basketball activity stations for primary students at the Unified Games, showing their maturity, creativity and leadership.
Perhaps the takeaway from all this is that stepping beyond the classroom matters because it builds qualities that can't be measured in exams; things like composure in competition, leadership in unfamiliar settings and the courage to perform when it counts in the real world.
Matthew Cotgrove
Headteacher
We've Won!
We're delighted to let you know that we won the Parent Partnership Award at the 2026 MENA School Excellence Awards in Dubai earlier in the month.
The award recognises Marhaba Mornings, our parent education programme that's evolved from post-COVID reconnection into something much more ambitious: a genuine two-way dialogue between the college and families.
The numbers tell part of the story. During the academic year, 1,500 parents attended 16 events featuring 30 specialist speakers. But what caught the judges' attention was how Marhaba Mornings actually work.
Far from being run-of-the-mill presentation formats where parents sit politely while we talk at them. They're interactive experiences designed to ‘lift the lid’ on how we operate. Sessions have covered everything from SEND provision and PE programmes to the transition to GCSEs, life beyond school, and our RISE wellbeing framework. Each includes expert presentations, interactive carousel activities and market stall-style information sharing.
We've also launched termly Marhaba Moments bulletins; curated resources recommending what to Read, Watch and Listen to, helping parents understand our educational approaches and child development.
What's particularly gratifying is how parents respond. They keep requesting additional topics, viewing these sessions as valuable learning opportunities rather than obligatory school events. When parents understand why we implement phone-free policies or specific assessment methods, they can reinforce these approaches at home rather than inadvertently undermining them.
The MENA School Excellence Awards are presented by Optimus Education, the leading provider of professional development and school improvement services across the Middle East and North Africa region. The awards are judged by education experts who bring very rigorous scrutiny to the process.
Our KHDA and BSO inspectors have consistently recognised parent partnership as a contributing factor to our Outstanding ratings, noting the quality of communication and collaborative decision-making as distinguishing features of our community. This award confirms what they've been telling us.
Thank you to everyone who makes Marhaba Mornings possible, and to our parent community for engaging so actively. This award belongs to all of us.
Gold Standard: DESS College Wins National Mental Health Award
We've been accredited with the School's Mental Health Gold Award - the highest level of recognition for mental health and wellbeing provision in schools.
After a year-long process involving countless meetings, lots of evidence gathering and a mountain of documentation, the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools (part of Leeds Beckett University) has confirmed we're excelling across all eight competencies of their national framework.
The award recognises schools that demonstrate a whole-school approach to mental health - not as an add-on but woven into daily school life. It's precisely what we've built through our RISE Framework: Relationships, Interests, Skills and Emotions.
RISE puts wellbeing at the foundation of everything we do. From meaningful relationships and personal passions to resilience-building skills and emotional literacy, every aspect helps our students navigate the complexities of school life and beyond. Rather than focusing on responding to challenges, RISE is about creating an environment where challenges are less likely to take root in the first place.
The Department for Education recognises a direct link between positive mental health and successful educational outcomes. The Gold Award confirms we're not just meeting that standard - we're smashing it!
Thank you to everyone who contributed evidence and documentation throughout the process. But most importantly, thank you to our amazing staff for embracing RISE and ensuring that mental health and wellbeing are ‘lived’ by our students every single day.
Arabic A Department Celebrates Writing Success
We are delighted to celebrate two wonderful achievements within the Arabic A Department.
Zeina Wins Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition
This prestigious competition is one of the largest literary contests in the UAE, with participation from more than 1,000 students across schools nationwide. Zeina Al Nseirat’s achievement reflects the department's comprehensive approach to developing students' creative writing skills.
We are also proud to share that her winning story has been published in a collective book titled "Hope", now available in several bookstores across the country.
Author Visit: Nadine Bakhous
As part of our ongoing efforts to enrich students' writing skills, we were honoured to host Syrian author Nadine Bakhous, known for her contributions to poetry, novels and children's literature. She led an engaging discussion with Year 9 students, sharing her writing journey, while students shared their experiences and asked insightful questions. It was a valuable and inspiring learning experience for all.
Plein Air Adventures in Dubai
During January, the Creative Arts team returned to Dubai Creek and Al Seef for another year of plein air drawing. The Year 10s enjoyed swapping the classroom for the open waterfront and winding lanes of the souk, taking in the atmosphere and hustle of early morning life in some of Dubai's most historic and traditional locations. Their task was to observe and record the experience.
With sketchbooks and cameras in hand, students spent the morning producing observational drawings and gathering visual references. Back at school, these initial studies were developed and presented in their art sketchbooks. Teachers encouraged students to look closely at their surroundings, paying attention to subtle details that often go unnoticed in a busy urban environment. Everything from shopfronts and traditional doorways to boats, crowds, and architecture was captured on location.
The trip concluded with a real sense of achievement in both the quality of the work and the shared experience of working outside. The Creative Arts department is committed to fostering these kinds of creative endeavours, where students can step beyond the classroom, expand their horizons and explore new ways of seeing and expressing the world around them.
Excellence in English: Term 2 Spotlight
Term 2A has been a vibrant and enriching period for the English Department, with students across the College engaging in creativity, critical thinking and collaborative learning.
In Key Stage 3, students have been immersed in imaginative writing, experimenting with narrative voice, descriptive craft and original storytelling. Their enthusiasm has been evident, and we are looking forward to seeing their completed pieces at the end of term. In addition, Key Stage 3 students created original poems last term for our very own Poetry Anthology, which has now been published. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the final copies, and we couldn't be prouder of the students who crafted such thoughtful and imaginative poems.
Our Year 10 learners have stepped into the world of Shakespeare, exploring the language, themes and characters of their set play. This challenging journey has helped develop their analytical skills and deepen their understanding of dramatic structure.
Meanwhile, Year 11 has focused on poetry, refining their ability to interpret, compare and write about a diverse range of poems. Their thoughtful discussions and growing confidence with unseen texts have been a highlight of the term. Our Year 11 revision sessions are well underway on Thursdays after school, and we'd love to see more students engage with this provision.
Beyond the classroom, Debate Club has had an impressive start to the interschool friendly competitions. Our Beginners and Intermediate teams have secured fantastic wins so far, demonstrating preparation, teamwork and articulate delivery. Although the Senior team faced a defeat, their performance showed resilience and ambition - qualities we are incredibly proud of.
Finally, Ms Northover has launched this year's AIC Production ECA, an annual initiative designed to immerse students in the play they will study for their Edexcel Pearson examinations in Years 10 and 11. This early engagement supports deeper understanding, confidence and creativity, helping students form meaningful connections with the text.
It has been a busy and rewarding term, and we look forward to celebrating even more achievements as the year continues.
Enrichment Programme: HPQ Projects, Academic Scholars and Celebrating GCSE Success
This term has been busy and productive across our Enrichment Programme. Our Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) students have successfully submitted the first draft of their 2,000-word research projects and are now preparing for their upcoming presentations, developing public speaking skills in an academic setting.
Our Academic Scholars ECA has offered students a wide range of stimulating experiences. Students have taken part in psychology experiments, developed negotiation and problem-solving skills through Model United Nations, practised their communication and teamwork skills, and delved into the exciting world of robotics. The term will end with an exciting team-building visit to TEP Factor, providing students with an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and leadership skills beyond the classroom.
Finally, we were delighted to host our first High Tea celebration in the theatre to mark the outstanding GCSE success of our Year 12 and Year 13 students. Parents joined us for this special occasion as we recognised and celebrated our students' achievements, presenting them with certificates and awards to mark the hard work and dedication that led to their exceptional exam results, placing some of our students in the top 1% across the world.
Ninth Annual BTEC Hospitality Lunch: A Celebration of Asian Culinary Mastery
The ninth Annual BTEC Hospitality Lunch was a vibrant and memorable occasion, celebrating the exceptional culinary talents and professionalism of our BTEC Hospitality students.
We welcomed over 40 guests, including proud parents, members of the Senior Leadership Team and staff, along with members of the Board of Trustees. The event highlighted the remarkable creativity, dedication and teamwork of our students.
This year's lunch embraced the rich and diverse flavours of Asia. Guests were treated to an exciting menu inspired by iconic dishes from across the continent. Each dish was thoughtfully selected to challenge the students' technical skills while allowing them to explore authentic Asian ingredients, seasonings, and cooking styles.
The menu featured crispy chicken katsu curry served with aromatic Japanese-style curry sauce, cauliflower bang bang (a vibrant plant-based dish bursting with sweet and spicy flavours), Thai fishcakes paired with refreshing Asian slaw and seasoned potatoes, and bulgogi beef marinated to perfection in a traditional Korean blend of soy, garlic and sesame.
Every dish was planned, prepared and presented independently by the students, showcasing their mastery of time management, organisation and culinary technique. Their professionalism shone through in every detail, from the precision of each cut to the thoughtful presentation of every plate.
But the lunch was more than a dining experience. It offered students the invaluable opportunity to run a large-scale hospitality event, a core component of the BTEC Hospitality curriculum. Their success reflected months of preparation, teamwork and determination, supported by the guidance of the Food and Nutrition Department and the wider DESS College community.
The event was a proud milestone for everyone involved. It highlighted not only the students' growing culinary expertise but also their confidence and passion for the hospitality industry.
Congratulations to our talented students for delivering an outstanding ninth Annual BTEC Hospitality Lunch and thank you to our guests for joining us in celebrating their achievements. We look forward to watching these young chefs continue to grow as they embark on the next exciting steps of their culinary journeys.
Year 7 and Year 9 Sharpen their Oracy Skills
To begin Term 2, students in Years 7 and 9 have been developing their oracy skills through two very different challenges.
Year 7 have been working in groups to research and present a campaign to save an endangered animal. Each group has explored why their chosen animal matters, the habitat it depends on, the threats it faces and the actions needed to protect it. Their presentations have been supported by carefully designed slides and thoughtful unique selling points (see cupcakes pictured). It's been brilliant to see their confidence grow as they speak clearly and purposefully in front of their peers.
Meanwhile, Year 9 have taken on a different challenge: planning a gap year around the world within a set budget. Students have researched destinations, accommodation types and routes, making financial decisions as they build a realistic itinerary. This project has encouraged them to communicate effectively as a team, justify their choices and present their plans in a clear and engaging way.
Both year groups have made a great start to Term 2, demonstrating creativity, teamwork and growing confidence in communication.
Forbidden Places: Year 9 Explore Tourism's Dark Side
Throughout Term 2, Year 9 have been immersed in their 'Forbidden Places' topic, which explores the impact of human interactions on the environment and debates whether places should be forbidden or not.
Students have explored the positive feedback loop that tourism provides to a local economy, which fuels reinvestment and ultimately development - something the UAE has certainly succeeded in. However, they've also discovered the vast impacts of overtourism on local communities and environments at many hotspots around the world, and the ethics we should consider when booking a holiday or gap year.
Through their lessons on the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand, students now know about the destruction that tourists unknowingly cause to local reefs, from boat propellers disturbing the waves to people crushing coral reefs underfoot - issues that local people and governments experience daily. Students have also explored the sustainable tourism sector and designed their own eco-lodges on the Maasai Mara in Kenya that consider social, economic and environmental sustainability to complement and benefit the local community and environment. Some students even used AI to generate initial ideas before creating the hand-drawn designs.
Next up: should we visit places where some of humanity's darkest events have unfolded? In Week 17, students explored both man-made and accidental dark tourism hotspots, from Chernobyl in Ukraine to the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam. Students can articulate the value that these places hold and their importance in the world, including how these places teach local and global populations about the event itself, and lessons learned moving forward to prevent them from happening once more.
Finally, students have explored the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently being overexploited for oil and rare minerals - often minerals essential for creating electronic items including mobile phones and iPads. Students have debated whether these beautiful natural places should be exploited for a country's own gain, especially if it's trying to develop itself into a more prosperous country, or whether certain areas should not be for sale or exploitation.
We hope that through this topic, students have gained the knowledge, understanding and skills to make informed decisions about holidays they plan in future, and can even help you find the most sustainable holidays you can embark on.
Physics Stars Shine in British Olympiads
Late last year, 32 of our Sixth Form physicists entered the British Physics Olympiad qualifying round, and five progressed to Round 1.
Results arrived over the winter break, and Vivan Panda in Year 12 achieved an outstanding score of 72 out of 100, earning a top gold certificate. This placed him in the top 5% of 1,800 students who advanced from an original 9,500 participants, made even more impressive by the fact that Vivan competed against Year 13 students.
The full results saw Yaseen Moussa (Year 12) and Yassin Foud (Year 13) both earning commendations, while Arnav Gupta and Jeff Sunil (both Year 13) took silver certificates.
Junior Astro Challenge
But that wasn’t all! Ten students from Years 10 and 11 entered the British Physics Olympiad Junior Astro Challenge, which involved two 30-minute online quizzes. The competition is designed to engage and challenge students of all abilities with problems based on the GCSE curriculum, plus general astronomy knowledge. It's a stepping stone for younger students interested in physics before undertaking the Olympiad sat by Years 12 and 13.
Joseph El Khoury and Aylise D'Souza Jamadar earned bronze certificates. Eshaal Asif, Ghazi Abbas, Sanyam Bathla, Pranshu Agarwal and Mohammad Murtaza Abid all took silver. Owen John Rosario Gaetan Pereira, Trinesh Liyanage and Chinmay Narendra achieved gold.
Exploring the Mind: PsychSoc Takes KS3 on a Journey of Discovery
This term, in support of the Academic Scholars programme, PsychSoc has worked hard to create exciting activities to introduce Key Stage 3 students to psychological topics. This eventually led to a presentation on areas of psychology that form the fundamentals of the A Level specification, such as the capabilities of human memory, and aspects of psychology beyond the A Level curriculum, including change blindness.
Students have also collaborated to update the psychology department's wall display, showcasing the cohort's wider passion for the subject. The intricate interests of PsychSoc span the way in which music influences our emotional responses, the nature of the human empathy response, and methods for supporting students with special educational needs.
Marhaba Morning: Social Media - The Good, The Boundaries & The Balance
When my son returned home from university for Christmas this year, a familiar noise entered my apartment that hadn't been around for a while. A tinny, whirring, mildly irritating wall of sound that seemed to change direction every three seconds. The inane sounds of the doomscroll, coming from the bathroom.
As the term 'doomscroll' officially enters the Oxford English Dictionary and is nominated as 2025's word of the year, it's undeniable that doomscrolling and social media in general play a big part in all our lives. The narrative around this is overwhelmingly negative. Short attention spans? Social media. A decline in literacy? Social media. Lacking communication skills? You get the idea. Indeed, the entire decay of morality itself seems to be placed firmly at the door of social media.
But what if we were to look at it a different way?
What if, instead, we chose to look at social media as a creative outlet offering limitless spaces for young people to feel a sense of belonging and expression? Social media as less 'brain rot' for our young people, but more as an opportunity to flex creative muscles and find communities and space to be themselves? Not scrolling, but skills.
I met with parents of Key Stage 3 to 5 students during a Marhaba Morning to discuss just this. How social media can provide our young people with communities that offer a sense of belonging. How students are using TikTok not just to scroll but to learn from and support their studies. We celebrated some of the amazing production work by our BTEC Creative Media students, opening up a discussion around what creativity actually means and how young people are repurposing social media tools to build a skill set which sets them apart from AI, securing their employability in an AI-driven future workplace. Finally, parents were offered tips and models to guide difficult conversations around social media, in addition to apps that can help put boundaries around screen time.
While teachers and parents don't have all the answers, perhaps it's time we focus on the possibilities of social media by shifting our perspective. We can begin to see social media not just as a challenge to be managed, but as a space filled with creative possibilities for our young people.
Ms Burns
Earth House Makes It Two in a Row
This year’s Sports Day was another wonderful celebration of energy, enthusiasm and community spirit, with the whole school off timetable and ready to dive into a full day of activity.
The event was bigger than ever, thanks to the introduction of basketball, golf, a lively boat race, and a revamped fitness challenge.
The golf competition was a real highlight, with students using a golf simulator to bring a touch of modern technology to the traditional sports day experience. E-sports also proved a huge hit once again, offering exciting digital sport challenges that drew gaming enthusiasts throughout the day.
Alongside the new additions, students took part in a wide range of established favourites including handball, netball, football, tag rugby, athletics, water polo and volleyball. One of the most rewarding parts of the day was seeing every take part in at least one event, and many jumping into several. The atmosphere across the school was buzzing, with parents cheering from the sidelines and staff joining in the fun.
As the day drew to a close, excitement peaked with the year group relays, which never fail to bring out the loudest cheers. The races were fast, fun and fiercely contested, and the staff relay added an extra layer of entertainment that students absolutely loved watching.
When all the points were finally tallied; making sure both participation and performance were recognised, Earth House emerged victorious…..for the second-year running!
It was a fantastic day enjoyed by students, parents and staff alike, and a brilliant reminder of the joy and fun we have whenever we come together as a school community. The smiles, the teamwork and the shared moments of triumph made Sports Day 2026 one to remember.
Leading with Heart: BTEC Students Shine at Unified Basketball
The Unified Games basketball event offered a brilliant platform for inclusion, leadership and community spirit, and our BTEC Sport students played a central role in making it a success. Acting as sports leaders, they designed and delivered a series of basketball-themed activity stations tailored for primary students from different schools across Dubai.
The heart of the Unified philosophy was evident throughout the day. Students from diverse learning profiles worked together, supporting one another, celebrating small wins and building new friendships through shared experiences. The atmosphere was energetic and positive, reflecting the event's aim of bringing young people together through sport.
DESS Academic City entered a team and absolutely thrived. Their pupils embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, showing excellent teamwork and a willingness to try new skills. The encouragement from our BTEC leaders helped them grow in confidence as the day progressed, and their smiles said everything about the impact of the event.
The Unified Games continues to grow and highlight the power of inclusive sport, and we can't wait to create our own DESS College teams to also take part in these events. Our BTEC students demonstrated maturity, creativity and leadership, while the primary participants enjoyed a memorable, uplifting experience that strengthened both their sporting skills and their sense of belonging.
DESS College Sports Round-up
Pyramids, Pride and Third Place: U15s Conquer Cairo
Our U15 Boys recently travelled to Cairo for the BSME Football Tournament, combining strong performances on the pitch with some unforgettable experiences off it. The squad earned a well-deserved third place finish, but they also got to explore the Pyramids of Giza and the new Grand Museum, where they viewed Tutankhamun's mummy up close. The boys did us proud throughout.
Home Glory: Both Teams Lift the DESS 7s Cup
We hosted our annual DESS Football 7s Cup for the U12 age group, welcoming 12 schools and more than 250 students for an exciting morning of football. With enthusiastic students, supportive staff, and families on the sidelines, the atmosphere was electric. After a series of intense seven-a-side matches, our boys' and girls' teams both won their divisions. A brilliant day all round.
DASSA Individual Championships: 50 Swimmers, Plenty of Silverware
Our swim squad shone brightly at the DASSA Individual Championships, with an impressive 50 students representing us. The team showed outstanding determination, team spirit and skill across all events, making it one of our most successful galas to date.
We were thrilled to see so many swimmers set new personal bests. There were several standout performances on the day, including Yahia Abdallah (Year 8), Eldrick Van Emmenis (Year 10), Vedant Mehra (Year 10) and Heidi Edgar (Year 11), who each delivered exceptional swims and brought home well-deserved silverware to add to their growing collections.
Well done to every swimmer who competed. You did us proud, both in and out of the water. We look forward to building on this momentum as the season continues.
Watch Out For: The DESS Sparkle Series
Looking ahead, we're excited to announce the DESS Sparkle Series, a mixed netball tournament we're hosting later in February. The event will bring our wider school community together through sport while supporting a meaningful cause.
The Sparkle Series will be held in aid of the Sparkle charity, combining netball with community spirit, inclusivity and fundraising. We look forward to welcoming players, supporters and spectators for what promises to be a highlight of our sporting calendar.
Netball Teams Dominate DASSA and BSME Tournaments
Our netball programme enjoyed a triumphant weekend against schools from Dubai and Abu Dhabi across several major tournaments.
At DASSA, our U19A team delivered an outstanding series of performances to be crowned Performance Champions. The squad showed teamwork, composure, and competitive maturity throughout, setting the standard against strong regional opposition.
The success continued with our U16A team, who produced a resilient and determined display to finish as runners-up. Their consistency, work rate, and ability to respond positively under pressure were a credit to them across a demanding schedule.
Our U15 team secured third place at DASSA, showing great resilience and development throughout all their matches. They followed this with an impressive runners-up finish at the BSME tournament, playing with a lot of confidence against high-quality opposition.
These tournaments provide valuable experience against a wide range of regional schools. Across all age groups, our players showcased not only their netball ability but also the core values of sportsmanship, commitment and perseverance.
Congratulations to all players and staff on an excellent set of results that show the continued strength and depth of our netball programme.
New Section
Though a fresh new learning environment with modern facilities and lots of space, DESS Academic City will never become a 3-18 ‘through-school giant’. Instead, it will extend the DESSC family to three standalone schools each with their own entrance/exit points and all playing a role in making sure our next 60 years are as successful and achievement packed as the first 60, which we have been so proud to celebrate recently.
As we move through the various preparatory processes towards the start of construction, timelines and deadlines will be confirmed in good time for you to make the best choice for your child/children and family. Updates will be frequent and meaningful, and more information will be added to this page when it is available.