A British Curriculum School in Dubai Where Learning Connects with the Natural World

PERFORMANCE AND STANDARDS | THE ARBOR SCHOOL

Learning at Arbor

In this Section

At Arbor School, high academic expectations sit alongside a broader understanding of what it means for a student to flourish.

Our Secondary curriculum provides the knowledge, skills and qualifications students need for their next steps. Specialist teaching, responsive assessment and personalised support help students make strong progress, achieve ambitious outcomes and develop confidence in their own capabilities.

Academic success is important, but it is not the only measure of achievement at Arbor. Students are also encouraged to pursue their interests, contribute to their communities and develop the character, independence and sense of purpose needed beyond school.

GCSE and IGCSE results

Arbor students achieve strong outcomes across GCSE, IGCSE and vocational qualifications.

In our most recent results:

97% of students achieved a pass including English and mathematics
40% of grades across all subjects were awarded at grades 7–9
Arbor’s grades 7–9 result exceeded the referenced UK average of 22%

These outcomes reflect the commitment of our students, the expertise of their teachers and the individual academic and pastoral support available throughout Secondary School.

Students arrive at Arbor with different strengths, experiences and aspirations. Our role is to understand each learner’s starting point and help them make meaningful progress from it.

Teachers use assessment evidence and professional judgement to:

Identify strengths and gaps in understanding
Adapt teaching and provide appropriate support
Introduce further challenge
Monitor progress over time
Help students set clear and achievable goals
Prepare students for internal and external assessments

Challenge does not simply mean giving students more work. It means helping them think with greater depth, apply their knowledge in unfamiliar situations and become increasingly independent.

Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning.

Teachers draw upon evidence from classwork, discussion, practical activities, home learning, projects, presentations, formal assessments and examinations. This helps them understand what students know, identify misconceptions and plan appropriate next steps.

Students receive feedback designed to help them recognise what they are doing well and how they can improve.

Families receive a report each term:

Term 1: Progress information and SMART targets
Term 2: A data-focused progress update
Term 3: A written narrative reflecting progress across the year

Reports include information about attainment, attitude to learning, attendance and punctuality. Parent-Teacher Conferences provide further opportunities to discuss academic progress, wellbeing and future priorities.

All students access a broad and ambitious curriculum, with additional support or extension provided where appropriate.

The Thrive Team works alongside teachers, students and families to support:

Students of Determination
Accomplished Learners
English Language Learners
Students requiring targeted academic intervention
Students requiring additional developmental or wellbeing support

Provision may include classroom adaptations, individual strategies, targeted intervention, curriculum extension and personalised learning plans.

This collaborative approach helps students access suitable challenge, develop independence and make progress from their individual starting points.

As students progress through Secondary, they make increasingly individual choices about their education.

At Key Stage 4, students follow a combination of GCSE, IGCSE and vocational qualifications. In Sixth Form, students can select from A Level and vocational pathways, with opportunities for wider independent study through the Extended Project Qualification and Arbor’s Global Impact Certificate.

Teachers, pastoral leaders and the Futures Counselling team help students make informed choices based upon:

Their academic strengths
Their interests and motivations
Qualification requirements
Potential university or career pathways
The balance and demands of their overall programme

This enables students to pursue appropriately ambitious pathways without being restricted to a single definition of success.

An Arbor education prepares students for more than public examinations.

Through enrichment, leadership, service learning, competitions, creative work, sport and independent projects, students develop achievements that reflect their individual strengths and interests.

These experiences help students build capabilities valued by universities and employers, including:

Critical thinking
Communication
Collaboration
Research
Leadership
Creativity
Project management
Initiative
Resilience
Social and environmental responsibility

Students leave Arbor with academic qualifications and a broader portfolio of experiences demonstrating how they have applied their learning.

These three commitments express the qualities we seek to develop through an Arbor education.

Think deeply

Students develop secure knowledge, ask thoughtful questions, evaluate evidence and approach complex issues from different perspectives.

Embody kindness

Students learn to act with empathy, integrity and respect, recognising their responsibilities towards others and contributing positively to their communities.