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Back-to-School: Things Parents Should Check Before Choosing a School

Published

3 minutes ago

September 8, 2026

Shorya

Parents face a very crucial decision when the school year is about to begin choosing the right school. Choosing the right school in the UAE and across the GCC region can be difficult for families due to the variety of British, American, IB, Indian and bilingual schools available.

It is important that parents remember to never get fooled by shiny brochures or rankings. Inspection results, total costs, curriculum, the support offered for students, facilities and teacher stability can lead parents to choose a school that can meet their child’s requirements and future aspirations.

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Check Official School Ratings

A school’s promotional material should not be used as the sole basis for judging quality and should not be viewed in isolation but in conjunction with an inspection report. Dubai’s parents can request the inspection reports from the KHDA and Abu Dhabi parents can view the parental school ratings from the ADEK.

Parents should not just view the overall rating, but consider issues like teaching quality, the wellbeing of students, students’ achievement, leadership, and inclusion. This information can be more valuable in understanding the performance capabilities of the school.

Calculate the Real Cost

Tuition fees are just a fraction of the total cost. All registry fees, deposits, uniform prices, transportation expenses, technology requirements, lunch and outside the school miles expenses must be fully disclosed to parents before an offer is accepted.

Families should also make sure they understand what is “mandatory” and what is “optional. If the total annual cost can be identified even before the school year begins, there is no risk of having any unanticipated added financial burden.

Choose the Right Curriculum

This is vital in the curriculum where there is a chance of students moving and/or undertaking a university education in a different country. There are various academic structures and examination pathways for the British, American, IB, CBSE systems.

The parents may think in advance about where their child may go to school in the future, and whether it will impact academic learning if transferring from school to school or country to country. The most effective curriculum is appropriate for the child’s capabilities, goals and home situation.

Evaluate Student Support and Inclusion

The provision of pastoral care and student services in their own right should support a strong academic programme. Parents should seek information on counselling services, English language support, provision for special educational needs and what the school does for the needs of individual learners.

Also, having an understanding of class sizes and the ratios of teacher/student are helpful. These factors can have an impact on the amount of individual attention the child receives during the school year.

Visit the School Before Deciding

You may be able to see elements in person that are not seen on-line. Parents need to watch classrooms, labs, sports areas, teacher and student safety, and teacher and student interactions.

Additionally, families should inquire on teacher turnover as well. Frequent staff turnover may suggest management issues, working conditions and may impact classroom continuity.