Quick summary of key school information
School details
Number of students |
1218 |
Number of nationalities represented in the school |
23 |
Most common nationality |
Emirati |
Ratio of local students to international students |
75% local : 25% international |
Native English and Arabic speaking teachers |
Yes |
Language support for students not fluent in English and Arabic |
For children who need extra support in English there is the Learning Support Centre (LSC) where they have the opportunity to develop the skills of speaking, reading and writing at a rate that is more appropriate for their understanding. |
Additional language classes offered by the school |
Arabic |
Max. number of students per class |
24 |
Average number of students per class |
22 |
Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
Use of technology in the classroom |
At Dar Al Marefa, we use online learning platforms as part of everyday teaching and learning, this has allowed us to shift seamlessly to our Distance Learning Programme and to continue to deliver our world-class IB Curriculum without interruption. |
Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Since the start of our Distance Learning Programme, Dar Al Marefa has introduced 25 new and different learning methods to make the engagement as stimulating as possible. Through a well-designed system of tasks and activities, your child’s remote learning is interactive, impactful and continually monitored. |
External examinations or assessments available |
IB Diploma |
Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes |
Approximate hours of homework given |
1 Week |
Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Dar Al Marefa provides additional support to children with special needs. The purpose of this support is to ensure that learners that are having difficulties with basic literacy are identified and provided with the support that they require to confidently meet the challenges of a bilingual curriculum. |
Learning support offered |
The PYP Learning Support Centre provides this support through the use of in-class and withdrawal-based programs and in collaboration with parents, class teachers, Learning Support Assistants and outside agencies. |
School start time |
7:45 am |
School finish time |
1:00 pm for KG students and 2:50 pm for PYP, MYP and DP students |
Supervised care before/after school |
Yes |
School bus service available |
Yes |
School provided lunches |
A healthy lifestyle starts with basics like making the right food choices. Dar Al Marefa cafeteria offers the students a healthy menu with local, sustainable ingredients and dishes that are tasty and affordable. |
Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes |
Uniform required |
Yes |
Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Cooking club, math club, drama, football, taekwondo, silk painting, science club, guitar, ballet, drums, gymnastics, basketball, tennis, puzzles and board games, scouting, accessories designs, Jiu-Jitsu, swimming |
Sports activities included |
Physical education |
Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
Sports facilities at the school |
Outdoor playgrounds, multi-purpose indoor gymnasium, outdoor sports fields, swimming pool, climbing wall, basketball court, tennis court |
Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Dar Al Marefa offers a bilingual education in Arabic and English with a strong emphasis on the respect of local culture and values. The school's highly qualified teaching staff challenges its students to be active learners, while the educational programs and classroom practices involve team-working collaboratively and inquiry-based learning in order to fully engage our students and help them reach their full potential. Dar Al Marefa is an IB Diploma school. |
Teaching approach of the school |
All students participate in stimulating and challenging curriculum programs in the major areas of study, including Languages, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social and Environmental Studies, Physical Education and Health as well as the Arts. The fundamental concepts that lead the education are holistic learning—representing the notion that all knowledge is interrelated and that the curriculum should cater to the development of the whole person. Cultural awareness and a focus on our Islamic values go hand in hand with intercultural understanding—representing the notion that school communities should encourage and promote international-mindedness by respecting the school's own culture before engaging with, and exploring other cultures. Dar Al Marefa Curriculum is based on encouraging thinking skills, independent researching and learning like searching in the libraries and through the web. Also, scientific experiments are done in laboratories. Educational activities are organized frequently, where students can learn from their own experience and improve their research and communication skills. |