The Beginnings

The school opened in 1963 in the upstairs room of a villa where expatriate workers were housed. There was one class which was taught by parents and a British Officer called Flight Lieutenant F. Loughman.

The school was soon housed in a 'Nissan Hut' in the area where the Dry Docks now are.

In 1964 Mr. Harry Atkinson was employed as the teacher. He was to stay for two years before returning to the U. K. to pursue a career in teaching.

Miss Dorothy Miles was appointed Headteacher when Mr. Atkinson left. By now the school had two or three classes with twelve children in each class.

 Relocation

In 1967 the school was moved to its present site as the land where it was situated was needed for building the Dry Docks. Sheikh Rashid had allotted a large area of land in the Oud Metha area for schools and the Dubai English Speaking school was given a site on this land. A charter was granted by Sheikh Rashid in 1969 by which a number of subscriber companies were give the right to elect a board of governors.

The 1970s

The school continued to develop in the 1970s as Dubai itself expanded. As the school grew in numbers, so more classrooms and other facilities were added. By 1974 there were four classes in each year group from Reception to Year 5. The school also began to have productions involving the children, although the first one, held in the central area, was rained off! The first productions were held outside but continued in the Gymnasium until Latifa Hall was built in the late 1980s. The first Christmas concerts were candlelit evenings.

The Reception classrooms were built c. 1974 

The Staff apartments c. 1974

In 1977 Miss Miles left the school and was replaced as Headmistress by Miss Bernadette McCarthy.

Swimming had become an important part of the curriculum but until this time the children had to go to the British Forces pool in Sharjah, and later to the house of Madi Tajer on the Beach Road, in order to swim and so it was decided to build a swimming pool on the school grounds.

The swimming pool was opened in 1977

The aims of the school from 1977 were to prepare children for the Common Entrance Examination and for transfer to primary or secondary education in the U. K. It was not only the children of expatriates who were educated. The children of the Royal Family of Dubai were also pupils in the school.

The school working days were changed from Saturday - Thursday (8.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.) to Saturday - Wednesday (8.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.). Afternoon activities were also introduced which included football and archery - the first time this sport was practised in the U.A.E. A further development in the 1970s was the introduction of the House system in 1978.

Sports Day in the 1970s 

The Central Play Area in the 1970s

The 1980s

An important development was the introduction of uniform in 1984.

Pre Uniform

Children modeling the new uniform in 1984

In the 1980s a new Administration building which housed the Computer Room and Staff Room was built after donations were received from the Palace and from fund raising events. The Administration building was opened in 1987 by Her Royal Highness Princes Anne.

Aerial view showing the new Administration building. 

Princess Anne opens the Computer Room
and the Administration building in 1987.

In 1988 a Year 6 class was added and the school population was now approximately 525 children with 30 full time teaching staff teaching children from age 4 to 11.

Central Area in the 1980s	First Year 6 classroom -the door on the right-

The 1990s

The present Year 6 classrooms were added in the early 1990s along with the P.E. office and storeroom. A further significant development was the grassing of the playing field which is now one of the best school fields in Dubai.

The school field after it was grassed. Compare
this to the earlier view when it was sand.

The school in 1994

In 1997 Miss McCarthy retired and Mrs. Margaret Bell was appointed Headteacher.

Between 1997 and 2001 many of the original buildings which had been erected in the 1960s and 1970s were replaced.

The view towards the front of the school	Looking from Latifa Hall towards the gymnasium

The Reception classrooms	The Year 5 classrooms

The Central area and the gym	The Year 1 and Year 2 buildings. In the above photo the church can just be seen in the background

Mr. Ken Battye became Headteacher in 2002 followed by Mr. David Hammond, the current Head, in 2005.

The original Administration building, built in 1987, was modernised in 2003.

From its humble origins in 1963, the school now boasts modern facilities and classrooms of the highest standards. There are now 800 children with 5 classes in each year group. The Primary School covers the National Curriculum for England and Wales for children from age 4 to 11.

In 2006, building on over 40 years of tradition and reputation for academic excellence, DESS opened its own Secondary school, Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) in impressive modern buildings in Academic City. We now look to the future, providing quality British education for children up to the age of 18 and preparing our students for university entry and adulthood.

Updated 20/01/2007