School of Modern Skills
Acceptable Academic City, Dubai · British (NCfE)
- KHDA rating
- Acceptable
Meets minimum standards; may be on an improvement plan. Read the full report before enrolling. Ratings are from the last full inspection cycle (2023–24).
- Annual fees
- AED 24,000 to 46,000 a year
Varies by year group; confirm current fees with the school. 2026–27 fees are frozen by KHDA directive.
- Curriculum
- British (NCfE)
- Established
- Founded 2008
- School transport
- Bus service available
- Location
- Academic City, Dubai
District-level pin for Academic City — use the Google Maps link for the exact gate.
Link verified against a live domain, July 2026.
Check travel time from your location
Opens live directions in Google Maps — real traffic from your own address beats any published estimate. School-run traffic peaks roughly 7–8am; test your route at drop-off time.
In context
Its mid-range fee is about 36 per cent below the median for British (NCfE) schools in this guide (AED 54,632). It is one of 27 schools in this guide currently rated Acceptable.
Worth comparing: Global Indian International School (AED 13,000 to 26,000 a year) — a lower-fee option in the same area.
These comparisons are computed from the verified data in this register, not editorial opinion.
What the inspectors said
Paraphrased from the last full DSIB inspection (2023–24 cycle) and its published record — read the complete report on the official KHDA directory.
Strengths the inspectors named:
- Achievement is strongest in Islamic Education, where attainment and progress are Good across Elementary, Middle and High school.
- English and mathematics are Good in Kindergarten, with Good progress in both at High School, and Good science progress in High School.
- A broad, well-sequenced curriculum following California State Standards with cross-curricular links, fully aligned to Ministry of Education and KHDA requirements, and NEASC accreditation.
- A wide co-curricular offer — STEAM, arts, sports, languages, creative clubs, community initiatives and local and international trips.
What they asked the school to improve:
- Acceptable overall in 2023–24 — English and mathematics Acceptable in Elementary and Middle, and science Acceptable in all phases.
- This matters more here than at some schools: the student body is heavily Emirati, and KHDA has actively encouraged Emirati families to move from Acceptable-rated schools to Good-rated alternatives.
- Ask leaders directly which phases are targeted for improvement before the 2026–27 inspection cycle, and what evidence they can show you now.
Inclusion (students of determination): Good — above the school’s Acceptable overall rating, and the most important line on this page for a family whose child needs support. 84 students of determination at the last inspection, plus students identified with gifts, talents and English language needs, supported by a qualified inclusion team including an inclusion champion, with modified curricula, targeted interventions, learning laboratories and a sensory room. Needs are identified early, the curriculum is modified to give access to meaningful learning, students of determination generally made good progress from their starting points, and parents reported satisfaction with communication and involvement. The published caveat: tracking systems are improving but require further development to fully inform personalised planning. See the special educational needs guide for the questions to ask on a visit.
Inspector summaries are being added school by school as each report is read — 169 of 169 so far, dated per cycle, never invented. A school without a summary yet is unread, not unjudged.
Visit kit
Questions worth asking on a tour — tuned to this school’s rating and curriculum:
- What did the last KHDA report ask you to improve, and what has changed since?
- Who leads inclusion here — and may we meet them before enrolling?
- How much staff turnover did you have last year, and why?
- What are actual class sizes this term — not the maximum?
- How and how often will I hear about my child’s progress?
Saved only on this device — never uploaded, never shared.
Special educational needs? Read the inclusion guide before you visit.
Other schools in Academic City
- Global Indian International School — Good, AED 13,000 to 26,000 a year
- Amity School Dubai — Good, AED 13,000 to 26,000 a year
- DESS Primary Academic City — Not yet rated, Fees not listed — confirm with the school
Work at this school? Correct or update this record — verified corrections are made promptly and logged publicly.