
Affordable IB Schools in Dubai 2026: Fees & Ratings
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British
62K - 106K AED
Al Quoz
Last updated · Sources: KHDA inspection reports · methodology
Sunmarke School is a British school established in 2016 in Al Khail, Dubai. The campus provides UK education for students from Foundation Stage through to Sixth Form.
The school welcomes boys and girls aged 3 to 18, covering FS1 to Year 13. Current enrolment stands at approximately 2,023 students across all year groups.
Sunmarke follows the UK curriculum with the Early Years Foundation Stage for younger learners and the National Curriculum framework for primary and secondary years. The school holds BSO and IBO accreditation, reflecting its commitment to international educational standards. KHDA has awarded the school a "Very Good" rating for 2023-2024.
Annual tuition fees range from AED 61,643 to AED 106,475. The Al Khail campus offers convenient access for families living in Al Qouz First, Al Qouz Second, and Al Qouz Fourth.
Facts reported by the school on its own channels, summarised by BestSchool.ae with a link to each source.
Sunmarke School has announced Ms Andrea Higgins as Vice Principal, alongside her existing role as Head of Primary. She brings more than 20 years of experience in education and has been part of the Fortes leadership team since 2014.
Source: InstagramThe school reports its best A-Level outcomes in its history for the Class of 2026: a 100% pass rate, with 60% of grades at A*–A, 99% at A*–C, and 30% of all grades at A*.
Source: InstagramPrincipal Nicholas Rickford announced that Sunmarke was rated Outstanding by British School Overseas in the 2026 BSO Inspection Report, covering curriculum, student progress, leadership, wellbeing, teaching, learning and assessment, with Outstanding recognition also in English, Mathematics and Science.
Source: YouTubeThe academic year of some recorded fees has not been verified against its source. Confirm current rates with the school before using them.
KHDA rated Sunmarke School "Very good" in its 2023-2024 inspection, its fourth consecutive "Very good". The school has been inspected 6 times since 2016-2017.
Sunmarke School was rated very good overall, with outstanding Foundation Stage provision and outstanding Post-16 English achievement, alongside a strong wellbeing and leadership culture. Islamic Education and Arabic attainment were weaker, and inconsistent teaching, limited independent learning and reading opportunities outside the Foundation Stage were noted as areas for improvement.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2023-2024 (PDF, pages 1–22), inspected 30 October to 03 November 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
Of the 85 performance indicators rated in both reports, 10 improved, 0 declined and 75 kept the same rating.
and 2 more
Of the 5 recommendations made in 2022-2023, 4 can be checked against the 2023-2024 ratings: 3 show an improvement, 1 no change yet.
Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment (Primary): Acceptable → Good · Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress (Secondary): Acceptable → Good
English — Attainment (Post-16): Very good → Outstanding · English — Progress (Post-16): Very good → Outstanding
12 related indicators kept their ratings in 2023-2024
School self-evaluation and improvement planning: Very good → Outstanding
| Indicator | Phase | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students' achievement | |||
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Islamic Education — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Secondary | Weak | Weak |
| Arabic as a First Language — Attainment | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Primary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as a First Language — Progress | Post-16 | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Primary | Acceptable | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Attainment | Secondary | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Primary | Good | Good |
| Arabic as an Additional Language — Progress | Secondary | Acceptable | Good |
| English — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Attainment | Post-16 | Very good | Outstanding |
| English — Progress | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| English — Progress | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| English — Progress | Post-16 | Very good | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Attainment | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Mathematics — Progress | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Mathematics — Progress | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Foundation Stage | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Attainment | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Science — Progress | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Science — Progress | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Learning skills | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Learning skills | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Students' personal and social development | |||
| Personal development | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Social responsibility and innovation skills | Post-16 | Very good | Outstanding |
| Teaching and assessment | |||
| Teaching for effective learning | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Teaching for effective learning | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Teaching for effective learning | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Assessment | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Assessment | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum | |||
| Curriculum design and implementation | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum design and implementation | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Curriculum adaptation | Primary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Secondary | Very good | Very good |
| Curriculum adaptation | Post-16 | Very good | Very good |
| The protection, care, guidance and support of students | |||
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Primary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Secondary | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Health and safety, including arrangements for child protection/safeguarding | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Foundation Stage | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Primary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Secondary | Very good | Outstanding |
| Care and support | Post-16 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | |||
| The effectiveness of leadership | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| School self-evaluation and improvement planning | Whole school | Very good | Outstanding |
| Parents and the community | Whole school | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Governance | Whole school | Very good | Very good |
| Management, staffing, facilities and resources | Whole school | Very good | Outstanding |
Sunmarke School was rated very good overall, with outstanding personal development, parent links, and premises. English, mathematics and science attainment are strong across phases, especially in Foundation Stage. Islamic Education and Arabic achievement remain weaker, and the report recommends more consistent classroom practice and sharper school improvement planning.
Source: KHDA inspection report 2022-2023 (PDF, pages 2–20), inspected 30 January to 03 February 2023. Restated by BestSchool.ae.
2023-2024 inspection
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As reported for 2023-2024