Life at Durham

Alongside our strong academic focus, Durham Dubai encourages our pupils to participate in an have an extensive co-curricular programme which includes sporting, artistic, academic and musical opportunities.

Life at Durham

We believe that co-curricular opportunities enrich and develop the individual, fostering skills such as leadership, collaboration and teamwork.

Our mission is to provide pupils with a rounded education; one which instils in them an aspiration for achievement, confidence for life and respect for all.

The Co-Curricular Offering

Alongside our strong academic focus, Durham Dubai encourages our pupils to participate in an have an extensive co-curricular programme which includes sporting, artistic, academic and musical opportunities.

Sports

A comprehensive programme of sporting activities will be available to all pupils starting from the very youngest children and continuing right through the school. The school will run a number of sports teams in the major sports and Durham pupils will compete against other schools in Dubai and the Middle East.

There will be internal sports competitions through the House system allowing all pupils to represent their House in competitive events.

In addition to competitive sport, recreational sport will also be available for those pupils who wish to participate simply for the enjoyment and pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Our skilled and experience PE staff will be supported by a number of coaches to help us achieve our aim of providing a comprehensive range of sporting opportunity for all of our pupils.

Music

Music is taught as a part of the Durham curriculum but we believe it is also very important to give all pupils the opportunity to further develop their musical interests and talent. Throughout the school, we strongly encourage every pupil to learn an instrument and participate in musical events.


The school provides outstanding facilities for music and an array of peripatetic music teachers will be available to work with pupils to develop their skills. Lessons will be available for pupils who wish to pursue studies of piano, woodwind instruments, brass instruments, voice and drums. In addition, opportunities will be available for pupils who wish to study musical production and recording techniques.

Art & Drama

Art and drama, alongside other creative subjects, are an important part of a Durham education. We strongly believe that encouraging pupil creativity is an essential component in the provision of a broad and balanced education. Art opportunities include drawing and painting, sculpture and art appreciation whilst all pupils will be encouraged to participate in drama as part of the curriculum as well as in school performances and shows – this will start from as young as Early Years where children will perform in assemblies and parents will have the pleasure of coming to watch. In addition, public speaking and oration are important skills for promoting pupil confidence and confident persuasive speaking is an essential element in leadership.

Swimming

Alongside a variety of sporting activities such as football, rugby, netball, basketball, athletics and volleyball, swimming as a recreational activity and competitive sport is available to all pupils here at Durham. The school benefits from an excellent 25m indoor swimming pool that is used year round by all the pupils with a weekly swimming lesson timetabled for all age groups. In addition, an after school swimming club develops the fitness and technique of those who wish to compete in local interschool and Gulf wide swimming competitions.

Cricket

Cricket is a very popular and successful game at Durham UK with the school setting many of its pupils on the road to careers as successful professional cricketers. We fully intend that this is repeated here in Dubai and are fortunate that we have exclusive use of an outstanding, all grass cricket pitch on which to develop our young players. The pitch, just 5 minutes from the school, is complimented by superb indoor and outdoor facilities based at the school where we host regular practice sessions for pupils of all ages.

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Sports

A comprehensive programme of sporting activities will be available to all pupils starting from the very youngest children and continuing right through the school. The school will run a number of sports teams in the major sports and Durham pupils will compete against other schools in Dubai and the Middle East.

There will be internal sports competitions through the House system allowing all pupils to represent their House in competitive events.

In addition to competitive sport, recreational sport will also be available for those pupils who wish to participate simply for the enjoyment and pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Our skilled and experience PE staff will be supported by a number of coaches to help us achieve our aim of providing a comprehensive range of sporting opportunity for all of our pupils.

Music

Music is taught as a part of the Durham curriculum but we believe it is also very important to give all pupils the opportunity to further develop their musical interests and talent. Throughout the school, we strongly encourage every pupil to learn an instrument and participate in musical events.


The school provides outstanding facilities for music and an array of peripatetic music teachers will be available to work with pupils to develop their skills. Lessons will be available for pupils who wish to pursue studies of piano, woodwind instruments, brass instruments, voice and drums. In addition, opportunities will be available for pupils who wish to study musical production and recording techniques.

Art & Drama

Art and drama, alongside other creative subjects, are an important part of a Durham education. We strongly believe that encouraging pupil creativity is an essential component in the provision of a broad and balanced education. Art opportunities include drawing and painting, sculpture and art appreciation whilst all pupils will be encouraged to participate in drama as part of the curriculum as well as in school performances and shows – this will start from as young as Early Years where children will perform in assemblies and parents will have the pleasure of coming to watch. In addition, public speaking and oration are important skills for promoting pupil confidence and confident persuasive speaking is an essential element in leadership.

Swimming

Alongside a variety of sporting activities such as football, rugby, netball, basketball, athletics and volleyball, swimming as a recreational activity and competitive sport is available to all pupils here at Durham. The school benefits from an excellent 25m indoor swimming pool that is used year round by all the pupils with a weekly swimming lesson timetabled for all age groups. In addition, an after school swimming club develops the fitness and technique of those who wish to compete in local interschool and Gulf wide swimming competitions.

Cricket

Cricket is a very popular and successful game at Durham UK with the school setting many of its pupils on the road to careers as successful professional cricketers. We fully intend that this is repeated here in Dubai and are fortunate that we have exclusive use of an outstanding, all grass cricket pitch on which to develop our young players. The pitch, just 5 minutes from the school, is complimented by superb indoor and outdoor facilities based at the school where we host regular practice sessions for pupils of all ages.

What Parents
Say?

Mr. & Mrs. Faulkner

After making the difficult decision to change our daughters’ school after year two, we are absolutely thrilled that Durham School Dubai has exceeded our expectations and our daughter has settled in perfectly. The school offers a kind and nurturing environment that allows children to be themselves and gives them the security they need to learn and thrive.

Mr. & Mrs. Goodman

Our 3 children have settled in well at Durham since joining in August 2023. The staff and all the teachers have made the children and the parents feel comfortable, they have created a lovely atmosphere and provide regular communication.

The Fatykhnova Family

Our son Elai is very lucky to have such amazing people and teachers who support him daily and we have seen his confidence and communication skills grow. He has also made many new friends and we are so proud of him and thankful to the school and all its support. He goes to school every day with so much excitement and returns with lots of amazing stories.

The Mathews Family

We are so very happy we moved our girls to Durham School Dubai, the improvement I have seen in them is significant and their academic skills have improved in just one term!! It is so different to all the other schools in Dubai with small class sizes and its calm, caring and welcoming environment, professional and friendly staff.

In the respects that perhaps matter most, dedicated and experienced teachers, happy and engaged pupils, invested and satisfied parents, Durham School Dubai appears to have gotten off to a good start. Its traditional approach and quintessential British feel gives it its USP, and, for those seeking this style of education, it does stand out.

As Principal Mark Atkins previously told WhichSchooladvisor.com,

“the biggest, single most important thing that we have at Durham is quality teachers. That to me is everything.” 

Durham’s strength is definitely in its people, with an exceptionally strong founding team in place. The warmth, traditional focus, and very human strength of this school shines through. 

Which School Advisor

Which School Advisor

What Parents Say?

In the respects that perhaps matter most, dedicated and experienced teachers, happy and engaged pupils, invested and satisfied parents, Durham School Dubai appears to have gotten off to a good start. Its traditional approach and quintessential British feel gives it its USP, and, for those seeking this style of education, it does stand out.

As Principal Mark Atkins previously told WhichSchooladvisor.com,

“the biggest, single most important thing that we have at Durham is quality teachers. That to me is everything.” 

Durham’s strength is definitely in its people, with an exceptionally strong founding team in place. The warmth, traditional focus, and very human strength of this school shines through. 

Which School Advisor

Book a Tour

Book a Tour

To find out more, come and experience the Durham difference.

Book a Tour

Book a Tour

To find out more, come and experience the Durham difference.

Convenient Location

Durham School, Green Community
Village, DIP, Dubai

Convenient Location

Durham School, Green Community Village, DIP, Dubai

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