Ranches Primary School

Also known as: RPS, RPS Dubai

Ranches Primary School is a private British curriculum school in Arabian Ranches, Dubai, for boys and girls from FS1 to Year 6. KHDA rated the school Very good in its 2023–24 inspection. Tuition for 2026–27 is AED 50,436 to AED 61,643 a year, depending on the year group.

Sources: KHDA inspection report 2023–24, p. 6; KHDA Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27.

rating
Very goodKHDA 2023–24, p. 6What Very good means
fee
AED 50,436 – 61,643a year, FS1 to Year 6, 2026–27Fees by year group at every school
whole
Which year group?See its fee and the cost to the end of school
students
1,089 students2024–25, KHDA school directory

The map shows the streets and places around the school. The same places are counted in «Within 1 km» below.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Fees at this school, 2026–27

AED 50,436 – 61,643a year, FS1 to Year 6, 2026–27

Year group

Not sure? Work it out from a birth date

Not included: transport, uniform, books, trips, sibling discounts.

See all fees

KHDA Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27.

Overview

Admissions

Places
KHDA does not publish how many places are free at a school or its waiting list. Ask the school directly, and early.
Age on entry
Counted on 31 December of the year of entry, for a child registering in a UAE school for the first time from 2026–27 (31 August before that).Source UAE Ministry of Education, 17 December 2025
Apply
rpsdubai.com+971 4 442 9765Steve.Arnold@rpsdubai.comTelephone and e-mail as KHDA's school directory lists them, checked 18 September 2026. What its own website says about admissions → How admission works across Dubai →
Fees on entry
«New Students — Application Fees : AED 500 (Assessment fees included)»«New Students — Enrolment Fees : Up to 10% of the tuition fees non refundable & deductible from the 1st term fees»Source KHDA Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27, FS1
Inspections
This school's latest full inspection report is 2023–24. KHDA’s visits resume in 2026–27. A full inspection brings a new rating; a shorter monitoring visit does not. Ratings and reports →Source KHDA, 3 June 2026

The school

Curriculum
British
Year groups
FS1–Year 6
Gender
Co-educational Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24Report wording: Boys and girls
Languages of instruction
English
Founded
2015
External examinations
GL ABT IBT Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Principal
Steven James Arnold
  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2024–25

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  2. Back to text, source B

KHDA in brief

KHDA’s own one-page summary of its 2023–24 inspection, written for parents, word for word. The full inspection report remains the reference. Source A: Parent Report 2023–24, summary only

Students’ achievement

In the Foundation Stage (FS) most children make rapid progress and attain standards above what is expected for their age. In the primary phase, achievement in English, mathematics and science is consistently very good. The rate of student progress in learning Arabic as a first language has increased since the last inspection and is now good. However, attainment in Islamic Education and Arabic remains acceptable.

Personal and social development

The behaviour of students is exemplary. They have very high levels of confidence and this helps them to successfully take on a number of leadership roles within the school. Students show respect for adults and for other students. They enjoy working together and have an outstanding work ethic. Students can explain clearly the Islamic values of charity, forgiveness and honesty. They understand the need to save energy and look after the planet on which they live.

Teaching, curriculum and care

All teachers develop positive relationships with their students. They use questioning very well to both challenge and check students' understanding. The large majority of teachers effectively engage students through very well-planned activities. In Foundation Stage, children are successfully taught how to be independent learners exploring and discovering knowledge for themselves. However, as children progress to Years 1 and 2, this independence is sometimes less evident.

Wellbeing

Well-being is a key priority in the school and is completely embedded in its vision and ethos. Students engage very confidently with a range of highly skilled and trusted adults to address their well-being concerns. They report that they feel safe and very well cared for. This ensures they have the confidence to become successful learners. Staff experience high job satisfaction in a supportive and collaborative environment, where their contributions are valued.

Inclusion

The school's inclusive education policy is comprehensive and students with a range of needs are welcome at the school. Most students of determination benefit from high quality support when working in their class, in smaller groups or one to one with external therapists. The support and pathways available for those with the most complex needs are not of the same high quality.

Leadership and management

The school thrives under the exemplary leadership of its dedicated leaders and governors, who are deeply committed to offering high standards of education. While leaders are clear on the necessary steps for ongoing improvement, there is room to enhance the monitoring of their impact on student learning. The sense of community within the school is greatly cherished by the partnership. Additionally, the school's facilities have seen significant enhancements recently.

  1. Back to text, source A

    Parent Report 2023–24

    Summary only

    Page 1

    Checked 16 September 2026.

    Found only in the summary for parents. Answers do not use it as evidence.

What parents told KHDA (survey, 2017–18)

The 2023–24 inspection report has no parents’ survey section; this is how the 2017–18 report, the newest with one and 8 years old, sums up parents’ answers, in the inspectors’ words.

2017–18 inspection · 114 parents responded Source A: Full Inspection Report 2017–18

  • Parents who responded to the survey are very positive about the school in most respects, particularly with regard to the provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities.
  • The least positive answers Parents indicate that the school does not foster a love of Arabic literature, that children do not gain a good understanding of Islamic values in Dubai.
  1. Back to text, source A

Fees 2026–27

Ranches Primary School tuition for 2026–27 is AED 50,436 (FS1 and FS2) to AED 61,643 (Year 1 to Year 6) across eight year groups, as published in the school's KHDA Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27.Note 1Source A: Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

Year group

Fees for Ranches Primary School
Compare with

Tuition is unchanged from 2025–26 in every year group.

Annual tuition by year group, Ranches Primary School, 2026–27 compared with 2025–26

Year group2026–27Source A: Fees Fact Sheet 2026–272025–26Source B: Fees Fact Sheet 2025–26
Foundation Stage
FS1AED 50,436AED 50,436
FS2AED 50,436AED 50,436
Primary
Year 1AED 61,643AED 61,643
Year 2AED 61,643AED 61,643
Year 3AED 61,643AED 61,643
Year 4AED 61,643AED 61,643
Year 5AED 61,643AED 61,643
Year 6AED 61,643AED 61,643

Checked 16 September 2026.

  1. Back to text, note 1

    The range names the lowest and highest tuition on one Fees Fact Sheet. Fees are never averaged across year groups.

  2. Back to text, source A

    Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

    Tuition for 8 year groups.

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  3. Back to text, source B

    Fees Fact Sheet 2025–26

    Tuition for 8 year groups.

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  4. Back to text, note 2

    Change compares the same year group in the two fact sheets. Fees are never averaged across year groups.

Ranches Primary School fees 2026–27 by year group Also the 2025–26 figures, fees since 2015–16 and other charges.

What a year costs, FS1, 2026–27

Showing FS1. Choose another year group above to see its costs.

Tuition
AED 50,436
KHDA's total for the year
AED 50,436

Required, but not in KHDA's total: uniform, books and the like, bought from the school or elsewhere

Uniform
AED 500 to AED 2,500

A year, before optional servicesAED 50,936 to AED 52,936

Optional services: tick what your child will use

KHDA prints most of these as a range the school may charge up to; the total keeps the whole range.

  • AED 6,500 to AED 7,500
  • AED 20 to AED 11,000
  • up to AED 84,000
  • AED 12,000 to AED 18,000

Joining and re-enrolling

Re-enrollment fees · Existing Students
Up to 5% of the tuition fees or AED 500 (whichever is higher), non-refundable and deductible from the 1st term fees
Application Fees · New Students
AED 500 (Assessment fees included)
Enrolment Fees · New Students
Up to 10% of the tuition fees, non-refundable and deductible from the 1st term fees

Other discounts the school states

Siblings 3 to 5
5%
School Employees
up to 100%

The sheet's sibling discounts start at «Sibling 3», as it names them.

The school requested not to increase the tuition fees for the academic year 2026–⁠27. Fees Fact Sheet 2026–27

Ranges are shown as KHDA prints them, never as a single middle figure.

Inspection

2023–24

Earlier reports

  1. 2022–23, Very good, Full Inspection Report
  2. 2019–20 to 2021–22, no inspection
  3. 2018–19, Very good, Full Inspection Report
  4. 2017–18, Good, Full Inspection Report

Wellbeing Dubai focus area

Very good

2023–24

Inclusion Dubai focus area

Very good

2023–24

Checked 16 September 2026.

KHDA ratings

KHDA ratings in the Full Inspection Report 2023–24. Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

KHDA’s visits resume in 2026–27. A full inspection brings a new rating; a shorter monitoring visit does not.Source KHDA, 3 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)

  1. OverallOverall performance

    Very good

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Very good in 2 reports and Good in 1 report.

  2. WellbeingStudents’ personal development and wellbeing

    Very good

    First rated in 2023–24

  3. InclusionProvision for students of determination

    Very good

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Very good in 1 report.

  4. LeadershipLeadership and management

    Very good

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Very good in 1 report.

Checked 16 September 2026.

Ratings by phase, 2023–24KHDA rates these in each phase, with no single rating for the whole school. Phases are named as the report names them.

AreaFoundation StagePrimary
TeachingTeaching for effective learningVery goodVery good
AssessmentVery goodVery good
CurriculumCurriculum design and implementationVery goodVery good
Adapting the curriculumCurriculum adaptationVery goodVery good
SafeguardingHealth and safety, including child protectionOutstandingOutstanding

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

  1. Back to text, source A

What the KHDA scale means

KHDA rates schools on six levels. Good is the level KHDA expects of every school; Acceptable is the minimum level it requires.

Outstanding
«Quality of performance substantially exceeds the expectation of the UAE»23 schools in Dubai hold it now
Very goodThis school
«Quality of performance exceeds the expectation of the UAE»47 schools in Dubai hold it now
Good
«Quality of performance meets the expectation of the UAE»«This is the expected level for every school in the UAE»85 schools in Dubai hold it now
Acceptable
«Quality of performance meets the minimum level of quality required in the UAE»«This is the minimum level for every school in the UAE»52 schools in Dubai hold it now
Weak
«Quality of performance is below the expectation of the UAE»No school in Dubai holds it now
Very weak
«Quality of performance is significantly below the expectation of the UAE»No school in Dubai holds it now

Ranches Primary School was rated Very good in 2023–24, one of 47 schools at this level.

Reports before 2015–16 used four levels, not these six. 21 of Dubai's 228 open schools hold no six-level rating yet. Counted the way Market Statistics counts ratings, for the schools open today.

Source UAE School Inspection Framework 2015–16, p. 19 (KHDA)

History

4 KHDA inspection reports on file, 2017–18 to 2023–24.

History of Ranches Primary School
Rating

Overall rating by academic year, newest first

  1. 2026–27Inspections resume this year. No report yet.
  2. 2024–25 and 2025–26KHDA paused full inspections. The 2023–24 rating is still the latest. About the pause
  3. 2023–24Very goodSame as 2022–23Note 1Full Inspection Report 2023–24 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  4. 2022–23Very goodSame as 2018–19Full Inspection Report 2022–23 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  5. 2019–20 to 2021–22No inspection.
  6. 2018–19Very goodUp from GoodFull Inspection Report 2018–19 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  7. 2017–18GoodFirst reportFull Inspection Report 2017–18 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  8. 2016–17No inspection.

Checked 16 September 2026.

  1. Back to text, note 1

    Change compares each report with the school’s previous report. Years with no inspection are skipped, never counted as a change.

Findings

8 findings in the last report: 5 strengths, 3 development points, 2 recurring across the last 4 reports.

Group by

Checked 16 September 2026.

English

Note 1

1 strength

  • Strength

    Students’ very good achievement in English, mathematics and science

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 3

Personal development and wellbeing

1 strength

  • Strength

    Students’ excellent work ethic and their exemplary behaviour

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 4

Health, safety and safeguarding

1 strength

  • Strength

    Outstanding procedures for the health and safety of students and staff

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 5

Parents and community

1 strength

  • Strength

    Outstanding partnership with parents

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 6

Leadership and self-evaluation

1 strength, 1 development point

  • Strength

    Leaders’ in-depth knowledge of the school’s curriculum.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 7

  • Development required, recurring in 4 of the last 4 reportsNote 2

    Increase the rigour and consistency of assessment and self-evaluation processes.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 14

Arabic

1 development point

  • Development required, recurring in 3 of the last 4 reports

    Improve students' attainment in Islamic Education and Arabic through more effective teaching strategies, including active learning and accelerated levels of progress.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 9

Attainment and progress

1 development point

  • Development requiredFS and Primary

    Improve the impact on students’ achievement of transition arrangements from FS to lower Primary by: - ensuring greater curricular coherence between FS and Year 1, - improving primary teachers’ knowledge, and use of data related to the Early Learning Goals, - ensuring that learning consistently builds on what students already know, understand, and can do, and raising teachers’ expectations of students’ ability to be independent learners.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 10

Findings from 1 of 4 reports

  1. Back to text, note 1

    Topics follow the order of the KHDA inspection framework, not how good or bad a finding is.

  2. Back to text, note 2

    Recurring counts the school’s last 4 reports, 2017–18 to 2023–24. Findings come only from Full Inspection Reports, never from Parent Reports.

Leadership

Principal at the 2023–⁠24 inspection
Emma Jane Overton Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Appointed 8 Jan 2023, as the report prints it. The current principal is under Location.
Principals since 2017–⁠18
3 changes of principal Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Samantha Steed, 2017–18 to 2018–19 → Julian Scott Pederick, 2022–23 → Emma Jane Overton, 2023–24 → Steven James Arnold, in KHDA's directory on 2026-09-18
  1. Back to text, source A

Subjects

Academic outcomes, Ranches Primary School

Attainment by subject and phase, 2023–24KHDA words for each subject in each phase.

SubjectFoundation StagePrimary
Islamic EducationNot in this reportAcceptable
ArabicNot in this reportAcceptable
EnglishVery goodVery good
MathematicsVery goodVery good
ScienceVery goodVery good

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

Arabic at every school in Dubai: at least 4 lessons a week from Year 2 to Year 10 for a child of non-Arab nationality. Arab children have 4 to 6 lessons to Year 13; Muslim children also study Islamic Education.Source KHDA, Guidelines on National Mandatory Subjects, page 14 (opens in a new tab)

Subjects over the years

KHDA's words in every Full Inspection Report since 2015–16, each row and phase as the reports print them.

Subjects over the years, Ranches Primary School

Islamic Education, by inspection report

Rated2017–182018–192022–232023–24
Islamic Education attainmentPrimaryAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableAcceptable
Islamic Education progressPrimaryAcceptableAcceptableGoodGood

International and benchmark tests

The National Agenda section of each Full Inspection Report since 2015–16: the school's results in PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS and benchmark tests against KHDA's targets. The only results in the reports that are not an inspector's judgement.

KHDA's verdicts, 2023–24

AspectWhole schoolEmirati cohort
International and Benchmark AchievementOutstandingNot applicable
Leadership: International and Emirati AchievementGoodNot in this report
Teaching and Learning: Improving reading literacyGoodNot applicable
Overall school standards in the National Agenda ParameterVery goodNot in this report

Registration requirements: Met Fully

  • Attainment in the 2021 test was outstanding with students achieving an overall score of 581.
  • In the National Agenda Parameter tests, students attained outstanding results overall.
  • The New Group Reading Test (NGRT) outcomes indicate that reading skills improved during 2022/23 from acceptable to good.

Earlier reports

  • 2022–23: Overall, the school’s progression to achieve the UAE National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2018–19: Overall, the school’s progression to achieve the UAE National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2017–18: The attainment of students in the most recent N.A.P tests — meets expectations in English and science, but is below expectations in mathematics
  1. Back to text, source A

Calendar 2026–27: term dates and holidays

31 Aug 2026 to 2 Jul 2027 · 185 school days

National Day
2 Dec 2026 to 3 Dec 20262 days
Winter break includes New year’s day
14 Dec 2026 to 1 Jan 202719 days
Eid al-Fitr
8 Mar 2027 to 11 Mar 20274 daysexpected, subject to moon sighting
Spring break
5 Apr 2027 to 9 Apr 20275 days
Eid al-Adha
17 May 2027 to 18 May 20272 daysexpected, subject to moon sighting

Public holidays are tentative and subject to official government announcements (KHDA).

Source Source A: KHDA school directory 2026–27

Fridays: every private school in Dubai finishes by 11:30, since 9 January 2026.Source The National, 19 Dec 2025 (opens in a new tab)

During Ramadan, whose dates follow the moon, KHDA caps the school day at five hours; each school confirms its own times.Source Gulf News (opens in a new tab)

How these dates compare with other Dubai schools: holidays 2026–27, break by break

  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2026–27

    Checked 18 September 2026.

Activities

Sports and activities

What the school lists on its own website and what KHDA’s inspectors mention in their reports. An activity missing here may still be offered.

Ball sports

  • Football
  • Basketball · outside of the curriculum
  • Netball · outside of the curriculum
  • Cricket · outside of the curriculum
  • Rugby · tag rugby · outside of the curriculum

Water sports

  • Swimming

Individual sports

  • Athletics · Cross Country
  • Martial arts · Shaolin Kung Fu · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports
  • Yoga & fitness · Yoga & Meditation

Theatre

  • Drama · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports
  • Musicals · Musical Theatre · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports

Music

  • Choir & singing · Ranches Singers (Choir) · Singing Club
  • Orchestra & bands · ensembles
  • Instrument lessons · Ukulele Club · peripatetic music programme

Art & design

  • Art · Cartoon Drawing · Arts & Crafts

Science & technology

  • Robotics · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports
  • Coding · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports · Computing

Debate & strategy

  • Debate & public speaking · Debating
  • Chess

Award programmes

  • Scouts & guides · Scouts · PAID PARTNERSHIP: Infinite Sports

Facilities

  • Music rooms
  • Playing field
  • Sports hall
  • Sports courts
  • Swimming pool
    ·

Mentioned in earlier KHDA reports

  • Cultural dance

Also mentioned: Multi Sports, Skating, rounders

Source Source A: School website, read 2026-09-23

  1. Back to text, source A

    School website, read 23 September 2026

    Checked 23 September 2026.

What the school offers

As the 2023–24 inspection report mentions them. Inspectors name these in passing, so this is not the school's full list: something not named here may still be offered. A line's page opens the report's sentence.

Languages besides English

  • Arabic · The Arabic curriculum is introduced to children in FS, encompassing listening, speaking, writing, vocabulary and phonics. It comprises two lessons of 40 minutes per week for FS1 and FS2, delivered by a team of two teachers. There are an additional 40 minutes each week for first language learners.

External examinations

  • GL ABT IBT
  • PIRLS
  • NGRT

Facilities

  • Swimming pool
  • Cafeteria
  • Medical centre

Support for students of determination and the gifted

  • The school has clear processes for identifying students of determination and those who have gifts and talents. p. 4
  • The school places a strong emphasis on identifying students of determination and those recognised as gifted and talented. p. 18
  • While the school has robust identification assessments, the application of these assessments to tailor educational provision requires further improvement. p. 19

Source Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24

  1. Back to text, source A

On the school's website

What the school says about itself on rpsdubai.com, read on 22 September 2026. The school's own words, not checked by KHDA; a figure here is the school's own count. Bus routes and bus fees can change each year, so confirm with the school. The site's name beside a line opens that page.

Admissions

School bus and transport

Source Source A: School website, read 2026-09-22

  1. Back to text, source A

    School website, read 22 September 2026

    Checked 22 September 2026.

Students

From KHDA’s 2023–24 inspection report, unless another year is named.

Students, 2024–⁠25
1,089 Source A: KHDA school directory 2024–25
Students of determination
109 Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Largest nationality group
British Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
KHDA gives no share. Context only, never used in results.
  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2024–25

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  2. Back to text, source B

Snapshots by year

Students and staff by academic year, Ranches Primary School

YearStudentsTeachersTeacher turnover
2024–251,089Not availableNot available
2023–2493556Not available
2022–237304915%
2021–22596Not availableNot available
2020–21472Not availableNot available
2019–20467Not availableNot available
2018–19452388%
2017–18370370%
2016–17248Not availableNot available
2015–1671Not availableNot available

Not available: KHDA did not publish that figure for the year.

Location

Address
Arabian Ranches
Phone and email
+971 4 442 9765Steve.Arnold@rpsdubai.comPrincipal: Steven James Arnold
As KHDA's directory listed it on 2026-09-18. Source A: KHDA school directory 2026–27

Around the school

Schools nearby

Within 10 km, by straight-line distance, not a route.

  1. Fairgreen International School

    0.7 km · Good 2023–24 · IB

  2. GEMS Metropole School – Al Waha

    1.2 km · Good 2025–26 · British

  3. Lycée Français International – Mudon

    2.5 km · No rating yet · French

  4. Jebel Ali School

    2.7 km · Very good 2023–24 · British

  5. GEMS Metropole School – Motor City

    3.0 km · Good 2023–24 · British

All 3 schools in Arabian RanchesAll British curriculum schools in Dubai

  1. Back to text, source A

    KHDA school directory 2026–27

    Checked 18 September 2026.

Sources

Every document behind this page. Official documents open on the KHDA site in a new tab.

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