G_user A focus on, Academics

GEMS Royal Dubai School

Acknowledged as one of the emirate’s leading British-curriculum primary schools, RDS has been rated Outstanding in every DSIB inspection since 2015

Campus highlights
GEMS Royal Dubai School (RDS) has gone from strength-to-strength since it first opened its doors in 2005 and today it is acknowledged as one of the leading British primary schools in Dubai, further reinforced by being rated Outstanding in every Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) inspection since 2015. A relatively small standalone school, RDS has a family feel and friendly atmosphere and successfully combines a well-established, proven academic record with a host of modern facilities, including an innovation lab, well-being and mindfulness space, newly refurbished multi-purpose sports hall and swimming pool.

Now in her second year as Principal of RDS, Vicky Martin has been with the school since it opened in 2005
Now in her second year as Principal of RDS, Vicky Martin has been with the school since it opened in 2005

School mission
The school vision, Achieving Excellence Together, is achieved through community partnership with teachers, parents and students working in synergy. This was recognised in the latest DSIB report, which described the school as a “vibrant, caring and harmonious learning community”. Close communication and effective relationships are at the heart of the school, keeping those all-important channels of communication wide open, offering easy access to teachers and leaders.

Senior leadership team
The team leading RDS is well established, collectively boasting over 60 years’ experience. The school is led by Vicky Martin, who has been with the school since doors opened in 2005 and who is now in her second year as Principal/CEO. She has a clear vision for the school, with a central priority of creating the right conditions for the growth of students and staff, and a safe and secure environment where everyone in the learning community can thrive. Principal Martin is also an advocate of ‘balance in education’, recognising the importance of each child’s individual learning experience and ensuring pupils develop their collaborative and social skills to be confident and responsible members of their class and school community. She encourages high academic standards, while also ensuring there is an emphasis on fun and real-life, practical experiences.

Accredited as a High Performance Learning World Class School, RDS strives for a 'balance in education', recognising the importance of each child's individual learning experience
Accredited as a High Performance Learning World Class School, RDS strives for a ‘balance in education’, recognising the importance of each child’s individual learning experience

Teachers
RDS recruits and retains excellent UK-experienced teachers, many of whom have been at the school for more than 10 years. The talented and dedicated teaching team focuses on the whole child, developing each student’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic and creative potential alongside academic progress. Over the last five years, four members of the teaching faculty were either overall category winners or shortlisted for the annual Mariamma Varkey Award for Inspirational and Outstanding Teaching.

Curriculum
RDS offers an outstanding education that extends beyond the New National Curriculum for England. The bespoke learning model (named the ‘RDS Learning Wave’), completed by a concept curriculum, ensures a holistic approach where students develop webs of information rather than purely memorising facts. The learning model is underpinned by educational theory and research in affiliation with Professor Deborah Eyre, which led to RDS being accredited as a High Performance Learning World Class School.
Through the curriculum, students are encouraged to be creative and critical thinkers through stimulating and meaningful experiences, leading to fun and wonder. The syllabus celebrates the diversity within the school and equips children with the skills and attributes needed to become active citizens in the international community.

Modern facilities offered at RDS include an innovation lab, well-being and mindfulness space, refurbished multi-purpose sports hall and swimming pool
Modern facilities offered at RDS include an innovation lab, well-being and mindfulness space, refurbished multi-purpose sports hall and swimming pool

Extra-curricular opportunities
The formal curriculum is supported by an extensive array of extra-curricula activities (over 1,200 places) across sports, cultural and performing arts as well as access to holiday and residential camps as well as cultural activities. In its last inspection, RDS received the highest DSIB rating for UAE Social Studies, Innovation and UAE National Agenda targets. Furthermore, the school’s COBIS (Council of British International Schools) member certification recognises that RDS prepares students exceptionally well to enter or re-enter the UK system.