• Zara Harrington, head of Safa British School in Dubai, was named best school principal in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Zara Harrington, head of Safa British School in Dubai, was named best school principal in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • American School of Dubai was declared the UAE's best school at the Which School Advisor awards. Photo: American School of Dubai
    American School of Dubai was declared the UAE's best school at the Which School Advisor awards. Photo: American School of Dubai
  • Dino Varkey, chief executive of Gems Education, receives outstanding contribution award. Photo: Gems Education
    Dino Varkey, chief executive of Gems Education, receives outstanding contribution award. Photo: Gems Education
  • Charlotte Abbott, director of English at Dubai English Speaking College, centre, was named best secondary school teacher. She is flanked by Eimear McKenna Singh, from Which Media, left, and Andrew Gibbs, principal of Dubai English Speaking College. Photo: Which Media
    Charlotte Abbott, director of English at Dubai English Speaking College, centre, was named best secondary school teacher. She is flanked by Eimear McKenna Singh, from Which Media, left, and Andrew Gibbs, principal of Dubai English Speaking College. Photo: Which Media
  • Abu Dhabi's British School Al Khubairat (Bsak), pictured, was jointly named best school for post-16 education with Dubai English Speaking College. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi's British School Al Khubairat (Bsak), pictured, was jointly named best school for post-16 education with Dubai English Speaking College. Victor Besa / The National
  • Greenfield International School was named best international baccalaureate curriculum school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Greenfield International School was named best international baccalaureate curriculum school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dubai College, in black at the Rugby Sevens on December 2, 2021, was named best British curriculum school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dubai College, in black at the Rugby Sevens on December 2, 2021, was named best British curriculum school. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Indian High School Dubai was named best Indian curriculum school. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Indian High School Dubai was named best Indian curriculum school. Antonie Robertson / The National

UAE

Education

Best schools in the UAE: American School of Dubai crowned overall winner

Top Schools Awards 2021 announced Zara Harrington at Safa British School as best principal in the Emirates

Anam Rizvi
Anam Rizvi

December 06, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The country’s best schools and teachers have been recognised through UAE-wide awards announced on Monday.

At the Top Schools Awards 2021, American School of Dubai was named the overall best school in the country while Zara Harrington at Safa British School was named best principal.

Schools and teachers were lauded for their efforts and hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisers received more than 7,000 nominations from parents, pupils, teachers and educators in the country across dozens of categories.

The nominations were reviewed in collaboration with 25 education experts, with the final winners being voted for by a panel of independent educational consultants.

The awards were arranged by education ranking website SchoolsCompared.com.

Eimear McKenna Singh, from Which Media with Dubai English Speaking College's director of English, Charlotte Abbott, and principal Andrew Gibbs. Photo: Top School Awards
Eimear McKenna Singh, from Which Media with Dubai English Speaking College's director of English, Charlotte Abbott, and principal Andrew Gibbs. Photo: Top School Awards

There were winners in dozens categories, from the best primary school and best school for music to the the top early childhood centre and happiest school in the country.

Dubai Heights Academy and The English College were lauded for their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, while The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai won for their focus on architecture, environment, design and sustainability.

The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi won best school in the UAE for fine art and creative studio work while Nord Anglia International School Dubai was recognised as the top school for music.

Dubai College was the top UK curriculum school in the country and the Indian High School (Senior Campus) the best Indian Curriculum School.

The Varkey family who own the Gems Education group won an award for Outstanding Contribution to Education in the UAE.

The awards took more than 12 months to produce and involved 25 experts in education. The winners were chosen after hundreds of school visits and gathering data provided by both schools and parents.

David Westley, co-founder of the Top Schools Awards, said: "Flooded with nominations, there has been an outpouring of appreciation for what has been achieved for children during a pandemic that has placed almost impossible demands on teachers and school leaders to ensure that the education of our children has been protected."

"Top Schools Awards have the single purpose of recognising our amazing, schools, principals and teachers – and the educational community around them.”

The award for Best School in the UAE 2021 was decided by judges based on the winning schools in each of the curriculum awards. These included Best Indian School, Best Blended IB Curriculum School, Best Blended Arabic Curriculum School, Best British School, Best American School and Best International Baccalaureate School.

Dubai College marks five decades of education - in pictures

  • Dubai College's reception building in 1988. All photos: Dubai College
    Dubai College's reception building in 1988. All photos: Dubai College
  • Pupils during art class in the 1980s.
    Pupils during art class in the 1980s.
  • The school's first bus pictured in 1980. Dubai College is one of the city’s oldest schools.
    The school's first bus pictured in 1980. Dubai College is one of the city’s oldest schools.
  • The science room in the 1980s.
    The science room in the 1980s.
  • The old sports court in 1983.
    The old sports court in 1983.
  • Pupils conduct experiments in a science class.
    Pupils conduct experiments in a science class.
  • Plot B141 in Umm Suqeim pictured in 1980.
    Plot B141 in Umm Suqeim pictured in 1980.
  • Staff quarters on campus under construction.
    Staff quarters on campus under construction.
  • The beach road outside campus in Umm Suqeim in 1980.
    The beach road outside campus in Umm Suqeim in 1980.
  • The physical education changing room block, in 1989.
    The physical education changing room block, in 1989.
  • The campus in 1994 after extensions in previous years.
    The campus in 1994 after extensions in previous years.
  • The school's buses in the 1980s.
    The school's buses in the 1980s.
  • Dubai College's entrance in 2000.
    Dubai College's entrance in 2000.
  • The swimming pool on campus in 1984.
    The swimming pool on campus in 1984.
  • Foundations of the new campus block in 1982.
    Foundations of the new campus block in 1982.
  • Dubai College as seen from above in 1982.
    Dubai College as seen from above in 1982.
  • The Sixth Form Centre under construction in 1991.
    The Sixth Form Centre under construction in 1991.

James Mullan, co-founder of the SchoolsCompared Top Schools Awards 2021 said: “The awards are about recognising the talents and achievements of schools and educators in the UAE – and their vital, centrifugal impact on the lives of children.

“In the simplest terms, they are about celebrating those who are often not seen or celebrated nearly enough.

"With all the extraordinary challenges of Covid-19, professionals across the sector have ceaselessly, tirelessly – and often at great personal cost and no small amount of courage, worked to ensure continuity of an outstanding education for our children."

Top Schools Awards Winners 2021-2022

Award for Overall Best School in the UAE: The American School of Dubai

Award for Best Principal in the UAE: Zara Harrington, Principal, Safa British School

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education in the UAE: The Varkey Family (Gems Education)

Award for the Most Outstanding Response to Covid-19 by a School in the UAE: Dubai Heights Academy and The English College Dubai

Award for Early Childhood Teacher of the Year: Clare Nagle, Home Grown Nursery

Award for Best Early Childhood Centre in the UAE: Little Land Nursery and Montessori Centre

Award for Primary School Teacher of the Year: Troy Ellison, head of ICT and computing at Regent International School Dubai

Award for Best Primary School in the UAE: Victory Heights Primary School

Award for Secondary School Teacher of the Year: Charlotte Abbott, English teacher and director of English at Dubai English Speaking College.

Award for Best School for Post-16 Education in the UAE: Dubai English Speaking College and The British School Al Khubairat

Award for Best School for Technical and Vocational Stream Education in the UAE: Gems FirstPoint School – The Villa

Award for Best Mainstream School for Children of Determination: Gems FirstPoint School – The Villa and Raffles World Academy

Award for Value Add and Leaving No Child Behind: Safa Community School

Award for Happiest School in the UAE: Horizon English School

Award for Best Indian Curriculum School in the UAE: The Indian High School (Senior Campus)

Award for Best American Curriculum School in the UAE: The American School of Dubai

Award for Best International Baccalaureate Curriculum School in the UAE: Greenfield International School

Award for Best Blended Arabic Curriculum School in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Private School for Boys

Award for Best Blended International Baccalaureate Curriculum School in the UAE: Jumeirah English Speaking School – Arabian Ranches

Award for Best British Curriculum School in the UAE: Dubai College

Award for Best School in the UAE for Theatre, Dance and the Performing Arts: Brighton College Abu Dhabi

Award for Best School in the UAE for Music: Nord Anglia International School Dubai

Award for Best School in the UAE for Fine Art and Creative Studio Work: The British School Al Khubairat

Award for Best School for Sport in the UAE: The American School of Dubai

Award for Most Innovative School in the UAE: Fairgreen International School in Dubai and The Arbor School

Award for Best New School in the UAE 2015-2021: Arcadia School (Opened 2016)

Award for Best University in the UAE: Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Award for Best Architecture Environment, Design and Sustainability in a UAE School: The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai

%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE currency
While you're here
While you're here
Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Florida: The critical Sunshine State

Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991. 

Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.

In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Azerbaijan 0

Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')

RESULT

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87') 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?

The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.

Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.

New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.

“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.

The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.

The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.

Bloomberg

Captain Marvel

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law,  Ben Mendelsohn

4/5 stars

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

While you're here
While you're here
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km

Price: from Dh547,600

On sale: now 

Updated: December 07, 2021, 4:52 AM
SchoolsUAEDubai