Safa Community School (SCS)
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$15K – US$24K
Curriculum: British
Age Range: 3–18
Students: ~2,400
Location: Al Barsha, Dubai
Updated February 2026
In Brief
Safa Community School is a well-regarded British curriculum school in Al Barsha South that has earned recognition as the 2019 Best New School in the UAE. Teacher discussions reveal consistently positive feedback about working conditions, salary scales, and school culture, while parent experiences highlight satisfaction with the primary education experience and the school's not-for-profit status.
Operating as part of the Safa education group alongside Safa British School, SCS follows the British National Curriculum with NACE membership for gifted and talented programming. The school serves students from early years through secondary levels in Al Barsha South, maintaining what teachers describe as one of the few institutions in the Middle East where they would genuinely want to work. Recent recognition includes the SchoolsCompared.com 2019 Award for Best New School in the United Arab Emirates, reflecting the institution's rapid establishment of educational quality.
Teacher discussions consistently highlight SCS as having better-than-average salary scales for Dubai, good location accessibility, and what multiple educators describe as amazing colleagues and supportive working conditions. Parent feedback reveals particular satisfaction with the primary education experience, with families appreciating the school's not-for-profit status and community-focused approach. The school generates positive but moderate discussion levels compared to Dubai's tier-one British institutions, suggesting it serves families seeking quality British education without the premium positioning of established schools like Dubai College or JESS.
What parents value
- –2019 Best New School in the UAE recognition
- –Consistently positive teacher feedback about working conditions and colleagues
- –Better-than-average salary scales for teaching staff
- –Strong parent satisfaction with primary education experience
- –Not-for-profit status providing community focus
- –Good location accessibility in Al Barsha South
- –NACE membership for gifted and talented programming
Points of consideration
- –Limited detailed discussion compared to established Dubai British schools
- –Newer institution still building long-term track record
- –Moderate visibility in expatriate education forums
- –Limited publicly available information about facilities and specific outcomes
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS1 | 3 | 14,823 |
| FS2 | 4 | 14,823 |
| Year 1 | 5 | 15,454 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 15,454 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 15,454 |
| Year 4 | 8 | 16,084 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 16,715 |
| Year 6 | 10 | 17,346 |
| Year 7 | 11 | 20,500 |
| Year 8 | 12 | 20,500 |
| Year 9 | 13 | 21,761 |
| Year 10 | 14 | 21,918 |
| Year 11 | 15 | 22,527 |
| Year 12 | 16 | 23,136 |
| Year 13 | 17 | 24,354 |
Fees converted from AED. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | 136 |
| Security Deposit | 1,089 |
Photos
Academic Results
Rated 'Outstanding' by KHDA (2023) and 'Outstanding' by British Schools Overseas (2022). 2025 A-Level Results (Year 13) recorded 57% of grades at A -A, 84% at A -B, and 96% at A -C. 2025 GCSE Results showed a 100% pass rate, with 23% of entries at Grade 9, 66% at Grades 9-7, and 99% at Grades 9-4.
Extra Curriculars
The school offers over 300 free extra-curricular activities (ECAs). Sports include football, rugby union, basketball, swimming, netball, volleyball, athletics, cross country, aquathlon, cricket, and more. There are over 200 competitive teams competing weekly.
The campus comprises four main buildings (Endeavour, Discovery, Challenger, and the Global Learning Centre). Facilities include two 25m swimming pools (including the 8-lane Hope Pool), a learner pool, two indoor sports halls, two 4G rugby/football pitches (one floodlit), four netball courts, and a Strength & Conditioning Performance Centre. The school features a 550-capacity auditorium, 14 science labs, 8 art rooms, 4 libraries, 2 STEAM labs, 6 design technology rooms, and a Music Technology suite with Logic Pro X software.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
- KHDA Outstanding 2023-2024, inspection Oct 2023
Accreditations
- BSO Outstanding Jan 2025
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
The school has an enrolment of 2,645 students as of 2025. The student body is a global family from 94 different nationalities, with British (33.8%) being the largest demographic, followed by Egyptian (10%) and Jordanian (6%). The age range is 3 to 18 years (FS1 to Year 13).
Leadership
Leanne Fridd - Principal
Leanne Fridd is the Principal of Safa Community School in Dubai, a position she has held since August 2021 after previously serving as Vice Principal and Headteacher since joining the school in 2016.