DESS Primary Oud Metha

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Welcome from our Headteacher

DESS Oud Metha is very proud to be the oldest British school in the United Arab Emirates, established in 1963 by the British Embassy on a site gifted by Sheikh Rashid, former Ruler of Dubai. We enjoy an excellent reputation, which we continually strive to ensure that we deserve. Being part of this great school is an honour, and we are fully committed to strengthening its legacy.

Our school is one of only a few not-for-profit schools in Dubai and, as such, is governed by a Board of Trustees who guarantee there is generous reinvestment in the school, on both a long-term and short-term basis. This has ensured that the facilities in the school are excellent, and we continue to make improvements. Rated 'Outstanding' by both DSIB and BSO, we also pride ourselves on always being at the forefront of educational development in Dubai and on our innovative learning spaces.

At DESS Oud Metha we are wholeheartedly committed to developing the whole child, grounded in strong values and high expectations. We want our children to develop a love of learning and to flourish in everything they do. Our highly skilled and dedicated teaching staff provide exciting, inspiring and realistic learning experiences through our child-led, personalised curriculum in which children are encouraged to invent, to explore and to inspire. An inclusive ethos permeates all that we do, giving everyone the opportunity to shine.

Alongside academic success, wellbeing sits at the heart of our school community. We want the children to be kind and compassionate to themselves and others, and to become good people for the planet. We encourage them to be curious, to question and to use their imaginations to find innovative solutions to problems. Cultivating a growth mindset and developing resilience will see them ready to face whatever challenges may lie ahead.

We are proud of the number of opportunities we offer our DESS Oud Metha children. We provide a wide range of extracurricular activities, which include cross-curricular provision, sports and Performing Arts. We also provide opportunities for the children to develop their skills and showcase their talents through our local, residential and overseas trips program.

Having had the privilege of working here since 2007, I am hugely proud of the warm and friendly community that we have created, which alongside our child-centered approach to learning, ensures that our children come to school with a smile on their face every morning, and are eager to learn. I hope that I will have the opportunity to welcome you, too.

Tony Clarkson

Headteacher

Life at DESS OUD METHA

At DESS Oud Metha, learning extends beyond the classroom walls. Whether in school or out, we are constantly pushing boundaries and exploring ideas that help shape our students' identities, our community and the future we aspire to create. Navigating the diverse opportunities we offer is about cultivating relationships rooted in respect, inclusion, integrity and trust, whilst always considering the broader impact of our choices. This isn’t just a place to learn, it’s a pivotal chapter in our lives.

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Curriculum and Learning

DESS Oud Metha 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.

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Foundation
Stage

The Foundation Stage at DESS Oud Metha 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 have aligned with the UK EYFS curriculum.

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Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) we have created 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.

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Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 at DESS Oud Metha involves Years 3 to 6 students (ages 7-11), who we 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.

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Our Facilities

From classrooms to play areas, we believe that our school facilities have a key role to play in the learning experience we provide and so we continually invest in new and existing equipment and spaces to encourage participation and endeavour.

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Results & Inspection Report

DESS Oud Metha maintains its Outstanding rating because of continual reviews and inspections by several bodies that are tasked with ensuring the consistency and quality of the education offered by Dubai schools.

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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.

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DESSCares

When students show their appreciation and treat others with empathy, understanding and consideration - without expecting anything in return, we all grow.

That’s why we work so hard to devise and deliver a programme of DESSCares initiatives and events that helps all our students to understand the importance of supporting their local and global communities.

Throughout the year, we put into place several events that our students take part in, all with the aim of increasing their understanding of the world, the impact we have on it and what they can do to make it a better place.

The DESS Oud Metha 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.

We are thrilled to announce a new fundraising initiative in collaboration with United World Schools (UWS) and Dubai Cares. UWS, a UK charity, focuses on providing education in rural areas with limited access. This year, our goal is to raise AED180,000 to help build a school in rural Cambodia, supporting UWS's mission to offer quality education to all children.

Our committee convenes regularly to plan and discuss upcoming fundraising activities that span the entire academic year. Our Key Stage 2 students are particularly enthusiastic, leading the charge in promoting events and encouraging widespread participation.

Over the years, our fundraising efforts have included supporting The Royal British Legion through poppy and wristband sales, assisting the Dubai Centre for Special Needs with festive decoration making for their Winter Fair and organising a Christmas Book Drive that collected nearly 365 second-hand books donated to Al Noor. Additionally, our DESStive Charity Bake Sale and International Day, with generous contributions from our parents, have raised significant funds for local charities.

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

We were very proud to be honoured with the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, a reflection of our efforts to include a proactive approach to environmental stewardship within each student’s educational journey.

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 are proud of how our students extend their eco-friendly practices beyond the school.

Among our green initiatives are:

The DESS Oud Metha Urban Farm initiative supports Good Health and Sustainable Cities and Communities, yielding healthy harvests of parsley, cherry tomatoes, basil and rocket. Updates on the health benefits of these foods and our composting efforts can be tracked on social media.
Reducing Single-Use Plastic: our students actively refuse single-use plastic, both at school and at home, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Classroom Promises: each class has committed to a sustainability promise, displayed on their classroom doors. We encourage parents to discuss these promises with their children and explore how they are being fulfilled.

The DESS Primary Cafe: in line with our commitment to sustainability, our catering service provides healthy, balanced meals using fresh ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Wellbeing sits at the heart of all that we do at DESS Oud Metha. 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 looking to share the latest thinking and trends, and creates 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 Oud Metha SLT is responsible to the Board of Trustees, and each member of the team has specific responsibilities around the school.

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Tony Clarkson
Headteacher