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Brighton College Dubai (BCD) is located in the Al Barsha South region of the city on a purpose-built campus close to several other international schools (the area is fast becoming informally known locally as ‘school’s road’). And despite the school’s central Dubai location, this is a school that feels truly, authentically British: of the 1000 pupils on the current school roll, more than 50 per cent hail from the UK, and it was rated outstanding in every category in its recent British Schools Overseas inspection. Proud of its links to Brighton College UK, there are photos of the historic British campus displayed all around this bright and modern Dubai version. 

BCD’s main entrance opens into an awe-inspiring, airy atrium which, as well as being architecturally stunning, is also the central heart of the school. Stairs lead up to three floors of teaching space; the well-equipped and popular library is adjacent – the librarian works hard to ensure every child finds a book they will enjoy reading – and a collaborative Jackson Pollock-style artwork to which every child contributed decorates the space. This hub is not only for children, however: a parents’ coffee shop makes this a place for everyone to gather at drop-off and pick-up – parents often leave long after the school day has finished as they and their children catch up with friends. A big Brighton crest reinforces BCD as a valued member of the wider, international Brighton College family. With a commitment to continuous upgrading and development, next on the list is a huge theatre project.

Pupils in Years 12 and 13 have access to a brand new sixth-form centre. This enviable space is extremely popular with the students at the top of the school: here they can kick back, chat, socialise and study – there’s a common room, work space and dedicated library just for these two years. 

Travel to and from the school is usually by car – although there is a bus service, it’s not used by many.  The large car park and staggered pick-up/drop-off times make the school run headache-free. Those parents unable to do the run themselves use a taxi app which offers tracking and payment package options.

Headmaster Simon Crane joined BCD four years ago, having previously been vice-principal at Brighton College Abu Dhabi for six years. Highly knowledgeable about the UAE educational system and the Emirati culture, he also has a thorough understanding of the Brighton College ethos. From the outset, he and his staff have instilled the core Brighton values of kindness, curiosity and confidence into every child and, as a result, he says ‘a golden thread of kindness’ runs through the school. He’s friendly and approachable – as he walks around campus, he makes younger children laugh with his impromptu high-fives, and parents are delighted by his care and interest: he knows every pupil by name. Mr Crane has three young children who attend the school, and his wife also teaches here. 

The senior leadership team includes staff members with extensive experience working in the UAE and at international schools. The board of governors includes the headmaster of Brighton College UK and the CEO of Brighton College International. This breadth and wealth of experience stands the school in good stead as it looks towards its future.

BCD is a non-selective, co-educational all-through school. The school roll is currently 1,000 with 52 per cent of the pupils British; some year groups are full and the school will be at capacity when pupil numbers reach 1,200. 

Open days are held twice yearly in April and November, but if these dates don’t suit then parents can pop in for one of the school’s regular open morning sessions, held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – the perfect chance to meet the head and have a tour of the school, followed by coffee and a chat with members of the senior leadership team. 

Sixth-form entry is via an assessment, which includes a writing task and a CAT4 reasoning test, plus an in-person interview conducted by one of the senior management team.

The school week runs from Monday to Friday, with the day ending at noon on Friday to align with the working week in the UAE, leaving the weekends free for family time, except for occasional sporting events and fixtures.

BCD follows the British curriculum, which means at this stage pupils will work towards A-levels or BTec qualifications – three new BTecs were introduced this year, widening the scope for study of these practical exams at this level. Students can choose from 24 A-level options and are expected to study three or four; EPQ qualifications can also be earned. Spanish comes back onto the curriculum for these two years; Arabic A-level is an option for both native and non-native speakers. A new 3D-design A-level has just been introduced by the design department – proof the school adapts to the needs and interests of its new joiners.

BCD has a specialist, dedicated department for pupils requiring additional academic help (known as inclusion in the UAE). While the majority of the pupil body is British, the school is seeing an increase in admissions from international students and, as such, has a highly involved and active EAL department to ensure any child who needs extra help with their English language will receive personalised support. For any child who is applying, EAL testing will be included in the admissions process if required; and when the place is offered, a bespoke programme of support will be created which can include additional English lessons to get them up to speed (at an additional charge).

In 2023, BCD’s GCSE results ensured the school was among the very best in Dubai, with 21 per cent of all grades awarded the highest possible 9. A-levels are equally impressive: this is the first set of A-level results for the school and students did themselves and their teachers proud, with three-quarters achieving A*-B grades and every pupil heading to their first-choice university.

Most BCD leavers go on to top UK universities although interest in international universities is increasing, with some studying in America, and others looking to affiliated universities in the UAE such as Manchester, Birmingham and NYU. Whatever their plans, each student is given masses of help and support by BCD staff not only to ensure they are on the right track for their futures but also with application forms and interview practice, if needed.

All leavers are able to join the Brighton Connect programme, which connects all Brighton alumni from the international and UK schools together. Through Brighton Connect, leavers can network and keep in touch with OB news and events.

BDC offers a vast choice of more than two hundred co-curricular activities (CCAs) which are timetabled into the school day. The clubs on offer and their timings vary according to the age and stage of the child, but can take place either before the school day, during lunchtimes, or after school. All pupils must attend one CCA a week and great emphasis is placed on the take-up and enjoyment of these activities, which benefits students when applying to university. Sixth form CCAs on offer include DofE, pupil council, TED talks and chemistry Olympiad. 

Sport is a huge part of everyday life at BCD, with pupils of all ages expected to join in. The top-notch facilities include a large indoor sports hall, a fully equipped fitness suite, a 400-metre running track, full-size pitches, tennis and padel courts, and a stunning 25-metre indoor pool with additional learning pool. The main sports are football, cricket, rugby, netball, swimming, tennis and gymnastics, while off-site sports include rowing, sailing and golf. Pupils compete in inter-house and inter-school competitions, as well as the much-anticipated BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) fixtures which can see them travelling all over the Gulf for tournaments. 

Walls dotted around the campus are flooded with impressive art and photography pieces, and the whole school contributed to the eye-catching mural which hangs in the central atrium (a new piece of collaborative art – where every pupil has input – is created each academic year). A new head of art means the department continues to grow, and D&T is an increasingly popular choice for A-level. There are opportunities for musicians and those keen on the performing arts hone their skills through the CCA programme, with some talented leavers heading to drama and dance colleges. 

Sixth-formers are expected to give back by mentoring younger children through clubs and activities and running the prep and pre-prep sports days. Leadership positions include head pupils, which students apply for themselves in Year 12 and, if successful, hold the position for the duration of their time in the sixth form. 

In the senior school and sixth form, pastoral care is overseen by each pupil’s housemaster/mistress.  There are four co-ed houses and four house rooms within the college that pupils can use as their common space. Daily face-to-face informal chats with teachers or the senior management team mean any parental queries are swiftly solved. 

As well as the parents café in the atrium, parents are welcomed by an active Friends of Brighton College committee who arrange class coffees, onboarding coffee mornings for new joiners. Class reps organise class-specific evenings and events, with WhatsApp groups for purely positive interactions and necessary reminders. The school is also keen to keep the families involved – a parent council group meets with the senior leadership team each term to discuss and resolve issues. Those parents who relocated here with pupils in other Brighton schools say the transition between schools was seamless and they ‘didn’t look anywhere else’. Arabic lessons are offered to both parents and staff to help those relocating settle into the city. The Winter Wonderland festival celebration is the highlight of the school’s year, and parents, pupils and staff all work together to plan this glamorous and ever-growing event.

Whether as a tiny new joiner, welcomed to the school before their year group starts, or as a leaver supported by the extensive Brighton College network of alumni, every child at BCD is a valued Brightonian. Brighton College Dubai is a corker of a school set firmly in forward motion – and we can see why it’s on the lips of every in-the-know family in the UAE.