Safa Community School

Also known as: SCS

Safa Community School is a private British and IB curriculum school in Al Barsha South, Dubai, for boys and girls from FS1 to Year 13. KHDA rated the school Outstanding in its 2023–24 inspection. Tuition for 2026–27 is AED 54,437 to AED 89,440 a year, depending on the year group.

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

rating
OutstandingKHDA 2023–24, p. 6What Outstanding means
fee
AED 54,437 – 89,440a year, FS1 to Year 13, 2026–27Fees by year group at every school
whole
Which year group?See its fee and the cost to the end of school
students
2,560 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 54,437 – 89,440a year, FS1 to Year 13, 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
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, IB
Year groups
FS1–Year 13
Gender
Co-educational Source B: Full Inspection Report 2023–24Report wording: Boys and girls
Languages of instruction
English
Founded
2014
Principal
Leanne Margaret Fridd
  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

Attainment and progress in mathematics and science are outstanding across all phases. In English, attainment is very good, and progress is outstanding. Attainment and progress are good in Islamic education in Primary and Secondary. Attainment and progress are acceptable in Islamic education in the Post 16 phase. In Arabic, attainment is acceptable, and progress is good. Students are keen and enthusiastic learners.

Personal and social development

Students demonstrate exceptional behaviour and attitudes. They are kind, considerate, respectful and highly motivated. Students have an excellent appreciation of Islamic values, a comprehensive awareness of Emirati culture and a strong understanding of their own and other cultures. Students in all phases demonstrate high levels of commitment to environmental sustainability.

Teaching, curriculum and care

Teachers at the school exhibit profound subject knowledge, engage in thorough planning, and deliver well-paced lessons. Throughout all educational phases, student independence is commendably fostered, with critical thinking, problemsolving, and innovation seamlessly integrated. The school boasts robust internal and external assessment processes, and the application of these assessments to cater to diverse student needs is noteworthy. The curriculum is extensive, well-balanced, ambitious, and age-appropriate. It undergoes frequent, rigorous reviews to ensure it remains rich, relevant, and meaningful. Careful curriculum planning supports seamless transitions between educational phases and prepares students for life beyond school. It is regularly reviewed and adapted to meet the needs of all students. A wide range of after-school programmes complements the curriculum, alongside an unwavering emphasis on UAE culture and society.

Wellbeing

Student wellbeing is central to the schools’ mission and vision. Well-being initiatives are deeply embedded across the school. It permeates every aspect of school life. Governors and leaders listen carefully and are very responsive to feedback. Students and staff feel very well cared for in a school which they say is like a family to them. As a result of the exceptional promotion of well-being, students flourish both academically and personally.

Inclusion

The school promotes a very well embedded and inclusive ethos. Detailed and systematic approaches identify student academic and well-being needs. As a result, students are supported at exceptional levels in all phases particularly those students who have the most challenging needs. Parents are delighted with the support received. In lessons, almost all students of determination achieve the very best personal and academic progress.

Leadership and management

Leaders are highly effective, inspirational, determined and committed. The school actively cultivates professional, supportive and compassionate relationships. Comprehensive self-evaluation generates reliable evidence to support school improvement. Parents are highly supportive of the school. The governing body has a strong commitment to the school and its stakeholders. Premises and facilities are of an exceptionally high quality.

  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, 2018–19)

The 2022–23 inspection report has no parents’ survey section. Inspectors mention parents’ views in it: Source A: Full Inspection Report 2022–23

  • Parents are highly appreciative of the school’s wellbeing work. p. 9
  • Highly engaged parents support the caring, inclusive mission of the school. p. 19
  • They are appreciative of the very high achievements of students, and of their exceptional personal and social development. p. 19
  • Parents appreciate how accessible all members of staff are, including the principal. p. 19
  • They recognise their dedication to ensuring that their children are safe, valued as individuals, happy and achieving very well. p. 19

Before each inspection, KHDA surveys parents; this is how the 2018–19 inspection report, 7 years ago, sums up their answers in the inspectors’ words, and parents’ opinions may have changed since.

2018–19 inspection Source B: Full Inspection Report 2018–19

Overall

  • Almost all parents responding to the survey were satisfied with the quality of education provided by the school.
  • Parents raised some concerns about parking, but most felt that this had been suitably addressed by the school.

Safety and care

  • A large majority of parents said their children were happy and felt safe.

Progress and learning

  • Written responses were invariably positive, especially about the support provided for students when they joined the school and as they moved through the school.

Communication

  • Most agreed they had access to all of the information and support needed to help their children in their education.

Leadership

  • A large majority of parents said that school leaders and staff listened to them and acted on their views.

  1. Back to text, source A
  2. Back to text, source B

Fees 2026–27

Safa Community School tuition for 2026–27 is AED 54,437 (FS1 and FS2) to AED 89,440 (Year 13) across 15 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 Safa Community School
Compare with

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

Annual tuition by year group, Safa Community 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 54,437AED 54,437
FS2AED 54,437AED 54,437
Primary
Year 1AED 56,753AED 56,753
Year 2AED 56,753AED 56,753
Year 3AED 56,753AED 56,753
Year 4AED 59,070AED 59,070
Year 5AED 61,386AED 61,386
Year 6AED 63,703AED 63,703
Secondary
Year 7AED 75,286AED 75,286
Year 8AED 75,286AED 75,286
Year 9AED 79,919AED 79,919
Year 10AED 80,495AED 80,495
Year 11AED 82,732AED 82,732
Post-16
Year 12AED 84,967AED 84,967
Year 13AED 89,440AED 89,440

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 15 year groups.

    Checked 16 September 2026.

  3. Back to text, source B

    Fees Fact Sheet 2025–26

    Tuition for 15 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.

Safa Community School fees 2026–27 by year group Also the 2025–26 figures, fees since 2014–15 and other charges.

What a year costs, FS1, 2026–27

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

Tuition
AED 54,437
KHDA's total for the year
AED 54,437

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

Uniform
AED 50 to AED 500
Books
AED 50 to AED 2,000

A year, before optional servicesAED 54,537 to AED 56,937

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 7,050 to AED 9,350
  • AED 50 to AED 1,500
  • AED 50 to AED 2,000
  • AED 50 to AED 1,500
  • AED 50 to AED 2,000

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

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. 4 earlier reports, see all years

Wellbeing Dubai focus area

Outstanding

2023–24

Inclusion Dubai focus area

Outstanding

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

    Outstanding

    Up from Very good Earlier: Very good in 3 reports and Good in 1 report.

  2. WellbeingStudents’ personal development and wellbeing

    Outstanding

    First rated in 2023–24

  3. InclusionProvision for students of determination

    Outstanding

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Outstanding in 1 report.

  4. LeadershipLeadership and management

    Outstanding

    Same as 2022–23 Earlier: Outstanding 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 StagePrimarySecondaryPost-16
TeachingTeaching for effective learningOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
AssessmentOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
CurriculumCurriculum design and implementationOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Adapting the curriculumCurriculum adaptationOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
SafeguardingHealth and safety, including child protectionOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

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.

OutstandingThis school
«Quality of performance substantially exceeds the expectation of the UAE»23 schools in Dubai hold it now
Very good
«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

Safa Community School was rated Outstanding in 2023–24, one of 23 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

5 KHDA inspection reports on file, 2016–17 to 2023–24.

History of Safa Community 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. 2023–24OutstandingUp from Very goodNote 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 goodSame as 2017–18Full Inspection Report 2018–19 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  7. 2017–18Very goodUp from GoodFull Inspection Report 2017–18 (opens in a new tab) PDF
  8. 2016–17GoodFirst reportFull Inspection Report 2016–17 (opens in a new tab) PDF

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

5 findings in the last report: 4 strengths, 1 development point, 1 recurring across the last 5 reports.

Group by

Checked 16 September 2026.

Leadership and self-evaluation

Note 1

1 strength

  • Strength

    Inspirational and highly committed leaders, including governors, who ensure that members of staff receive professional training to extend the high-quality teaching and assessments.

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

Personal development and wellbeing

1 strength

  • Strength

    Professional, supportive and compassionate relationships which enhance students’ welfare and wellbeing, and enrich their personal and social development.

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

Curriculum and challenge

1 strength

  • Strength

    An inclusive curriculum which promotes academic success and encourages students to be kind, creative, independent and entrepreneurial.

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

Parents and community

1 strength

  • Strength

    Strong partnerships with parents and extensive links with the community, safe and secure premises, wellmaintained facilities and high-quality resources.

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

Islamic Education

1 development point

  • Development required, recurring in 2 of the last 5 reportsNote 2

    Raise students’ attainment by enhancing their progress in Islamic Education and Arabic.

    Full Inspection Report 2023–24, page 5, paragraph 8

Findings from 1 of 5 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 5 reports, 2016–17 to 2023–24. Findings come only from Full Inspection Reports, never from Parent Reports.

Leadership

Principal at the 2023–⁠24 inspection
Leanne Margaret Fridd Source A: Full Inspection Report 2023–24
Appointed 9 Sep 2021, as the report prints it.
Principals since 2016–⁠17
1 change of principal
Stephen Duckitt, 2016–17 to 2018–19 → Ms. Leanne Margaret Fridd, 2022–23 to 2023–24
  1. Back to text, source A

Subjects

Academic outcomes, Safa Community School

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

SubjectFoundation StagePrimarySecondaryPost-16
Islamic EducationNot in this reportGoodGoodAcceptable
ArabicNot in this reportAcceptableAcceptableAcceptable
EnglishVery goodVery goodVery goodNot in this report
MathematicsOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
ScienceOutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

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, Safa Community School

Islamic Education, by inspection report

Rated2016–172017–182018–192022–232023–24
Islamic Education attainmentPrimaryAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableGood
Islamic Education attainmentSecondaryAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableGood
Islamic Education attainmentPost-16Islamic Education attainment, Post-16: not rated from 2016–17 to 2018–19AcceptableAcceptable
Islamic Education progressPrimaryGoodGoodGoodGoodGood
Islamic Education progressSecondaryAcceptableAcceptableAcceptableGoodGood
Islamic Education progressPost-16Islamic Education progress, Post-16: not rated from 2016–17 to 2018–19AcceptableAcceptable

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 AchievementOutstandingOutstanding
Leadership: International and Emiratis’ AchievementsOutstandingNot in this report
Teaching and Learning: Improving reading literacyOutstandingOutstanding

Registration requirements: Met Fully

  • With a score of 610 in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the school exceeded its target of 567 by a significant margin.
  • In the National Agenda Parameter tests, the school achieved outstanding outcomes in English, mathematics and science, in both the primary and secondary phases.
  • The results in mathematics in the primary phase showed considerable improvements.

Earlier reports

  • 2022–23: Overall, the school’s progression towards achieving the UAE National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2018–19: the school’s progression to achieve the UAE National Agenda targets — meets expectations
  • 2017–18: Overall, the school's provision for achieving National Agenda targets — is above expectations
  • 2016–17: Overall, the school’s improvement towards achieving its National Agenda targets — meets expectations

Recognised by UAE universities?

UAE universities ask for the Ministry of Education’s equivalency of the Grade 12 certificate. For this school’s curricula, the student needs:

  • British: five IGCSE or GCSE passes (grade E or 3) and one A level or two AS levels (grade E).
  • IB: the IB Diploma, or six IB subject certificates at grade 3 or above with 21 points, including English, maths and a science.

Arab students also need Arabic, and Muslim students Islamic Studies, in each of the last three years.
KHDA attests the certificate first. Ask the school which body accredits it.Source Ministry of Education, equivalency service, read 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)

  1. Back to text, source A

Calendar 2026–27: term dates and holidays

31 Aug 2026 to 2 Jul 2027 · 185 school days

First midterm break
12 Oct 2026 to 16 Oct 20265 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 · Secondary DASSA Basketball Leagues · DASSA Select Basketball Squads
  • Netball
  • Volleyball
  • Cricket
  • Rugby · Rugby Union · Rippa Rugby

Water sports

  • Swimming · Swimming Galas
  • Water polo

Racket sports

  • Tennis

Individual sports

  • Athletics · X-Country · cross country
  • Gymnastics
  • Martial arts · Jiu-Jitsu · Karate
  • Golf
  • Yoga & fitness · CROSSFIT OUTDOOR CONDITIONING ZONE · STRENGTH & CONDITIONS SUITES

Dance

  • Dance (other) · dance · dancing
    ·

Theatre

  • Drama · play · acting
    ·
  • Musicals · musical · musical performances
    ·

Music

  • Orchestra & bands · playing in the band

Art & design

  • Art

Debate & strategy

  • Debate & public speaking · Speaking in Public examinations · Years 7-13

Facilities

  • Playing field
  • Sports hall
  • Swimming pool
  • Sports courts
  • Dance studio
  • Theatre or auditorium
  • Makerspace
  • Music rooms
  • Art studio

Also mentioned: Sports leadership programme, Aquathlon, GAA, Skiing

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 · Children learn basic Arabic in the Foundation Stage (FS). In FS1 they are taught for 40 minutes each week and in FS2 for 80 minutes each week.

External examinations

  • GSCE

Courses after 16

  • A level
  • AS level
  • Engineering

Facilities

  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Art
  • Music
  • Dance
  • Drama

Support for students of determination and the gifted

  • The school has very sound systems in place for the identification of students of determination and those who are gifted and talented. p. 4
  • The individual education plans (IEPs) incorporate advice from experts. 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 safacommunityschool.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.

Exam results

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
2,560 Source A: KHDA school directory 2024–25
Students of determination
378 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, Safa Community School

YearStudentsTeachersTeacher turnover
2024–252,560Not availableNot available
2023–242,362207Not available
2022–232,1621874%
2021–222,038Not availableNot available
2020–211,877Not availableNot available
2019–201,852Not availableNot available
2018–191,55513711%
2017–181,1051014%
2016–17725Not availableNot available
2015–16528Not availableNot available
2014–15101Not availableNot available

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

Location

Address
Al Barsha South First
Phone and email
+971 4 385 1810sdaya@safacommunityschool.com
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. Dhruv Global School

    0.8 km · Acceptable 2025–26 · Indian CBSE

  2. Australian International School Dubai

    1.7 km · Good 2023–24 · Other, Australian

  3. Nord Anglia International School

    2.1 km · Outstanding 2023–24 · British, IB

  4. GEMS Metropole School – Motor City

    2.1 km · Good 2023–24 · British

  5. Repton Al Barsha

    2.1 km · Very good 2023–24 · British

All 13 schools in Al Barsha SouthAll British curriculum schools in DubaiAll IB 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.

Is something on this page wrong? Tell us what it should say; we reply within 5 working days. Corrections made so far

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