Cities / Dubai / Oaktree Primary School
Oaktree Primary School
Located in Al Quoz, Oaktree Primary School follows the British National Curriculum of England across Foundation Stage through primary years with small class sizes that enable personalized attention. The school has received an Outstanding rating from KHDA, suggesting strong academic delivery within its intimate school environment.
In brief
Oaktree Primary School has taught the British curriculum in Al Quoz since 2016, taking around 700 pupils from FS1 to Year 6. Fees sit at the lower end of Dubai's British-curriculum market, roughly AED 18,500 in FS1 to just over AED 31,000 in Year 6 for 2025–26.
Parents describe a community-school feel, with staff who know children by name and a visible head. Foundation Stage is the strongest phase, with the most consistent English and maths progress. The school positions itself as inclusive of students of determination and EAL learners, and families with mild additional needs say they feel listened to.
KHDA has rated it Acceptable, the floor the regulator requires, through repeated inspection cycles including January 2024. Teaching quality varies markedly between classrooms, lower primary is the soft spot, and stretch for stronger pupils is limited. Parents say reports tell them less than they want about their child's progress, and Arabic as a first language is the weakest primary area. Inspectors flagged self-evaluation and governance; Olivia Rumah is the new principal, and the next inspection is the real test.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | AED 16,225 |
| FS2 | 4 | AED 17,305 |
| Year 1 | 5 | AED 18,929 |
| Year 2 | 6 | AED 20,551 |
| Year 3 | 7 | AED 22,173 |
| Year 4 | 8 | AED 23,795 |
| Year 5 | 9 | AED 25,418 |
| Year 6 | 10 | AED 27,041 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | AED 525 |
Reviews
A small British primary at the cheaper end of Dubai's market, sitting at KHDA Acceptable through repeated inspection cycles. The pitch families respond to is the homely feel and inclusive intent; the drag is uneven teaching across the primary years, thin academic stretch, and reporting that parents say tells them less than they want about how their child is doing. New leadership under Olivia Rumah is the variable to watch.
Positives
- Small, homely feel. Parents describe a community-school atmosphere where staff know the children by name and the head is visible. The scale is part of the appeal.
- Foundation Stage. Early years is the strongest phase. Progress in English and maths in FS comes through as the most consistent part of the school.
- Inclusive ethos. The school positions itself as welcoming to students of determination and EAL learners, with individual plans where needs are identified. Families with mild additional needs talk about feeling listened to.
- Affordable for British curriculum. Fees sit at the lower end of the British curriculum market in Dubai, roughly AED 18,500 in FS1 to just over AED 31,000 in Year 6 for 2025-26.
Considerations
- KHDA rating. Acceptable for multiple inspection cycles, including January 2024. Acceptable is the floor KHDA requires.
- Teaching consistency. Quality varies markedly between classrooms, with lower Primary the soft spot. Differentiation and stretch for stronger pupils come up as limits in both inspection findings and parent talk.
- Communication on progress. A meaningful share of parents say they don't get enough detail on how their child is doing. Reporting clarity is a recurring complaint.
- Self-evaluation and governance. KHDA flagged self-evaluation and improvement planning as weak, with governance oversight needing sharpening. A change at the top in 2025 means the next inspection is the real test.
- Arabic in Primary. Arabic as a first language remains the weakest area in the primary years.
Leadership
Olivia Rumah
Olivia Rumah is the current Principal of Oaktree Primary School in Dubai, appointed after the January 2024 DSIB inspection during which Shirley Atkar held the role. She leads the senior leadership team including Vice Principal and Heads of various departments, overseeing a British curriculum primary school rated Acceptable by regulators.
Accreditations
- KHDA 01
- ADEK 02
Academic results
- Result As a primary-only school (FS1 to Year 6), Oaktree Primary School does not publish external exam results (like IGCSE or IB DP). KHDA inspection reports for 2023-24 note 'Acceptable' attainment in Engli