DESS Academic City

Welcome from our Headteacher

Leading DESS Academic City within a family with such a remarkable legacy is a huge privilege, and one that comes with high expectations. They are expectations I share, and I recognise the responsibility that comes with them. Every child who comes through our doors should feel known, valued and excited to come back tomorrow.

At DESS Academic City, we start by getting to know each child properly. Children arrive with different interests, different talents and different ways of learning, and part of our job is to notice that and act on it. Some children find their thing on a pitch or in a music room, others in a maths lesson or in a book, and plenty have not found it yet. We want to give them the opportunities to explore, and the confidence to keep looking.

Knowing our children also means understanding what motivates them, what challenges them and where they need support. That understanding shapes how we teach, the opportunities we provide and the expectations we have for every child. We want children to feel challenged and supported; to make mistakes, learn from them and understand that getting better at something takes time, effort and perseverance.

I believe all great schools are built on relationships. Children need teachers who know them well, staff who feel supported and valued, and families who know that we are working with them and, ultimately, for their children. Leadership needs to be visible and approachable, present in the life of the school and willing to listen. We will not always get everything right, but we will always be prepared to listen, reflect and make things better.

Our ambitions for DESS Academic City are high. We have the opportunity to build on 60 years of experience and expertise within the DESS family, while embracing the very best of contemporary educational thinking. We want to provide an education that is academically ambitious, broad and rich, while giving children the confidence, resilience and character they need to thrive in a changing world.

We are still at the beginning of our journey, and that makes this such an exciting time to be part of DESS Academic City. There is a great deal for us to build together, and I look forward to working with our children, our staff and our families as we establish a school where every child can discover what they are capable of, feel a genuine sense of belonging and be proud to call DESS Academic City home.

Warm regards,

Sam Bowen

Headteacher

Life at DESS Academic City

Our new DESS Academic City is where the time-honoured traditions of our legacy meet the dynamic energy of a modern, forward-thinking environment. Every day is an opportunity for our students to grow, learn, and thrive within a community that celebrates both the richness of our past and the excitement of new possibilities. From the warm, supportive atmosphere that feels like home to the innovative experiences that push boundaries, DESS Academic City offers a unique blend of the familiar and the new, creating a vibrant and inspiring journey for every child.

Learn more

Our Facilities

From classrooms to play areas, we believe that our amazing new school facilities have a key role to play in the learning experience we provide and so we are looking forward to watching our investment in the latest equipment and development of spaces encourage participation and endeavour.

Learn more

Curriculum and Learning

DESS Academic City follows the English National Curriculum, and so has a particular focus on essential outcomes in Mathematics, Literacy, and Science.

The learning journey we have crafted is engaging and meaningful, with lessons that are designed to be relevant, challenging, and engaging for every child.

Learn more

Foundation
Stage

The Foundation Stage at DESS Academic City encompasses FS1 (ages 3-4) and FS2 (ages 4-5). It is where we spend time laying firm foundations for every child's educational journey within an engaging play-based environment that we align with the UK EYFS curriculum.

Learn more

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1 (for Years 1 and 2) we create an inclusive, warm, and bright learning and development journey based on the National Curriculum for England.

We use current and cultural concepts linked to ‘The UN Global Goals’ to enrich and engage our children in different ways and give the curriculum a sparkling life force.

Learn more

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 at DESS Academic City will involve Years 3 to 6 students (ages 7-11), who we will guide gently through a syllabus and programme of activities designed to prepare them for the transition to secondary school and ignite a passion for learning that we hope can last a lifetime.

Learn more

Extra-Curricular Activities

Our range of all year-group activities encourages students to step away briefly from their important classroom commitments and enjoy recreation with House mates that builds resilience, teamwork, and a sense of belonging.

Learn more

DESSCares

When students show appreciation and treat others with empathy, understanding, and consideration - without expecting anything in return, it leads to collective growth.

That’s why we are dedicated to creating and implementing a range of DESSCares initiatives and events. These are designed to help students grasp the significance of supporting both their local and global communities.

Throughout the year, we will host various events aimed at deepening students' understanding of the world, our impact on it, and how they can contribute to making it a better place.

The DESS Academic City Community Charity Committee is dedicated to raising awareness and engaging our school community in supporting both local and international charities. We believe in the power of collective action to make a meaningful impact.

Our committee convenes regularly to plan and discuss upcoming fundraising activities that span the entire academic year.

Our Sustainability Promise is based on ideas gathered from our DESS Oud Metha School Council, Environmental Leaders, Facilities Team, and Teaching Staff.

Our sustainability initiatives are driven by our Environmental Committee, Environment Leaders, and Earth Club, in partnership with programmes like Eco-Schools UAE. We value the support from our parent community and hope to be proud of the ways our children extend their eco-friendly practices beyond the school.

Wellbeing sits at the heart of all that we do at DESS Academic City. As a school, we prioritise health and strive to create flourishing students, teachers, and families through a broad range of progressive and effective wellbeing initiatives and strategies.

For students, our Wellbeing Team works hard to teach social, emotional and wellness skills that help them to recognise and understand their bodies and minds and spot early warning signs before fatigue and illness strike. Our Wellbeing Lead is always be looking to share the latest thinking and trends, and create bespoke lessons to support our students’ personal, social, moral, and emotional development.

We are also committed to providing excellent care and support for our staff. Our Wellbeing Committee are advocates for effectively modelling and maintaining theirs and their colleagues’ wellbeing both in their professional and personal lives.

OUR TEAM

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

The skills and experience of our Senior Leadership Team sit behind the achievement and engagement of every staff member and student.

Through their contribution to the continuous improvement of curriculum, instruction, assessment and culture, they uphold our values and deliver against our mission by modelling healthy practices and making leadership a foundation of the school.

They lead by example and empower all staff to develop new skills. This underpins our enviable staff retention record and makes sure we are adaptable, flexible, approachable and nimble enough to achieve all our whole-school goals.

The DESS Academic City SLT is responsible to the Board of Trustees, and each member of the team has specific responsibilities around the school.