Sharjah English School (SES)

For more than four decades Sharjah English School has been the school of choice for families seeking an excellent and challenging UK education for their children. Our school site near University City is readily accessible to students from Sharjah, Ajman, Mirdiff and most of Dubai.

As a not-for-profit school, SES is dedicated to providing an outstanding education comparable to the best schools in the Gulf region and internationally. Our educational ethos will always remain focused on quality teaching and learning, rather than any commercial imperative; this, we claim, has a profound impact on both our students and teachers.

As the smallest not-for-profit school in the UAE, SES can claim to combine strong educational values with an intimate, community atmosphere.

Since the establishment of the secondary section of the school in 2005, we have catered for students aged 3 to 19, with classes now running from Foundation through to A-level, following a broad, challenging and balanced curriculum based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales.

In addition to academic success, the school offers a varied and enviable range of extracurricular opportunities and has established a proud reputation for music, arts and success in sport. The Sports Hall, swimming pool and extensive grassed playing areas are amongst the most impressive school sporting facilities in the country. The Performing Arts Building, opened by The Ruler of Sharjah in 2012, has greatly enhanced our facilities by providing us with an outstanding auditorium, whole-school library, a new ICT Suite, Learning Support Rooms, Music Rooms etc. Our latest project was the addition of Acorn Building, an exciting new block designed with the learning experiences of KG and infant children in mind.

A developing school, fully staffed by UK qualified teachers, SES prides itself on a friendly and inclusive atmosphere, and enjoys close links with both parents and the community. Growth in our student numbers is gradual and controlled; the school is determined to retain the feel and characteristics of a small and intimate institution, where the needs of every student are catered for.

Enrolment now stands at 850 children. SES students represent over fifty nationalities, and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

It is our claim as a school that we provide children with an excellent education in a caring and enriching environment. People familiar with the school would point to its inclusive, community ethos and its happy working atmosphere as its chief characteristics.

Having built on the success of our long-established Primary School, and successfully developed our Secondary School and new site, the school stands at the threshold of an exciting new phase which has seen us add a new primary block in 2017, and expand towards a three-form intake throughout the school. With the support of our Board of Governors, we strive to improve our provision and facilities continually.

But buildings and sports fields do not of themselves make a wonderful school. It is the willingness to confront challenges confidently and to set high goals for themselves that makes our students exceptional; the commitment of our teachers to enable, support and challenge the students is what our graduates comment on and will remember throughout their lives.

A website can only give you a glimpse of our school. To experience the true atmosphere of our unique school, prospective parents, teachers and students are encouraged to visit us during term time and to meet the staff and children.

Our Teachers: All our teachers are experienced UK trained specialists. At the heart of our school’s success is our ability to recruit and retain hard-working, committed staff who can deliver imaginative and inspiring lessons. Teachers all undertake continuous professional development while at SES, and indeed lead other schools in raising standards and keeping abreast of educational developments.

Our Ethos: The distinction of being a not-for-profit school has a profound impact on the schooling experience of children, staff and parents. Our focus is on teaching and learning – not on bowing to any commercial pressures from owners or sponsors.

Our Sense of Community: One cannot think of SES without the word ‘community’ suggesting itself. Because of the size of the ex-patriate community in Sharjah, the school is more central to the local community than is possible in a larger more anonymous urban setting. Our families and students regard the school as having a pivotal place in community life. Parents are heavily involved in the school, an engagement that is supportive and enriching.

Our Size: With only three form intake up to Year 8 and two form intake in the remainder of secondary, our school remains small by UAE standards. This permits staff to have an acute knowledge of every student, and permits the secure and supportive relationships needed to permit children to embrace challenges. Our commitment is to remain small enough to preserve our palpable community and family feel.

Our Success: Ultimately, however pleasant or supportive the learning experience, parents expect a school to deliver excellent results and to enable children to move on successfully to their next phase of education, whether in the UK or internationally. Most importantly, senior students expect and deserve the opportunity to access the top universities and colleges in the world. SES has established an enviable record of examination success; nearly all our graduating students find places at their first choice university, including the most renowned institutions worldwide.

Our Site and Sports Facilities: at just under 100,000 square metres, our school site (generously donated by HH The Ruler of Sharjah) is amongst the largest of any UAE school. This permits us to maintain playing fields which few schools in the region can match, and which host numerous Sharjah and Dubai inter-school events. Plenty of space remains on our site for all future building and facility needs.

Our Music and Drama: For a comparatively small school, SES enjoys huge success and a magnificent reputation at national and Gulf level for the quality of its performing arts. Music and drama opportunities exist from Foundation level, through to examination classes in secondary. The majority of SES students will experience the rush and confidence that being on stage can bring. Students will remember their experiences in these areas long after they have left school.