Belvedere British School

• BBS location
• Years offered
• BBS curriculum
• ADEK rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• BBS scholarships
• BBS transportation
• PTA and contact information

Belvedere British School (BBS) opened its gates to students in 2012. It is a British curriculum school in Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City offering quality education to students aged 4 to 18 years. It is linked to the Belvedere Preparatory School in Liverpool with an experience of over 130 years. Belvedere British School is also associated with Belvedere Nursery and Liverpool Nurseries in MBZ City and Khalifa City A.

It is a private and co-educational school catering to the educational needs of students from FS2 to Year 12. Boys and Girls study together until Grade 6. Afterwards, they are taught in separate classrooms. Around 800 students are part of the student force. Most students at this school, i.e. 27%, are Emirati nationals. They are followed by 14% Egyptian, 9% Pakistani and 7% Jordanian students. The teaching staff has 73 full-time teachers and 14 teaching assistants, resulting in a low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:11. Most teachers are from the UK, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand.

The educational programme appears to be robust and academically rigorous. Students also have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities. The school has limited facilities used smartly for educational and non-educational programmes. Read this guide by Bayut to learn more about the school.

Belvedere British School is located in one of the popular residential spots in Abu Dhabi – Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City. Mohammed Bin Zayed City is a peaceful and quiet residential community located near the edge of Abu Dhabi. Here, one can find spacious apartments and luxurious villas. The communities located close to the BBS are:

• Zone 17, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Zone 8, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Zone 6, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Mussafah

Zone 17 of the Mohammed Bin Zayed City is the nearest residential community to Belvedere British School. This zone of the MBZ City has both apartments and villas for residence. All the amenities, including schools, shopping malls, supermarkets, etc., are available; and the sub-community is connected with the rest of the city via excellent transport infrastructure. Those living far from the school can opt for Zone 17, Zone 8, Zone 6 and other sub-communities of MBZ City. They can also opt for Mussafah 5 km away from the school.

• Apartments for rent near Belvedere British School
• Villas for rent near Belvedere British School
• Villas for sale near Belvedere British School

The facilities available at the campus are somewhat limited. However, the school smartly uses them to meet the needs of students. Classrooms have comfortable and age-appropriate furniture. There is an ICT suite for students with updated computers and a high-speed internet connection. The multi-purpose hall at the campus is used for non-academic activities, Physical Education (PE) sessions and sports activities. Other noteworthy facilities at Belvedere British School MBZ City are:

• Library
• Multi-purpose hall
• Music Room
• Art and Design Studio
• Fully equipped computer labs

Belvedere British School is close to Mapple Wood International Canadian School on Al Hasib Street in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Those interested in visiting the school can access the Dubai-Al Ain Truck Road or Dubai-Al Ain Road connected with the school through 63rd Street.

Belvedere British School shares a rich history of the educational experience. It is a part of the Belvedere Preparatory School in the United Kingdom offering quality education to students. This experience is translated into Belvedere British School in Abu Dhabi, where students have access to a quality educational programme built on internationally acclaimed frameworks. Thus, the school prepares internationally minded students to combat modern-day challenges.

It follows the educational programme based on the National Curriculum of England. It is an internationally recognised curriculum that offers updated education based on a global context. Students work their way to attain the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) certificate in the secondary stage and A-levels in the sixth form stage. Top colleges and universities accept students from schools with the A-Level certification. British Schools of Middle East (BSME) and British School Overseas (BSO) accredit the school. Furthermore, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) rated the performance as good.

Diversity is another feature of this school. It accepts admission applications from all backgrounds. It is evident from the fact that the school has students from over 40 nationalities. The school environment is positive that helps students learn to accept differences and embrace people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Another attractive feature of this educational institute is its experienced teaching staff. All the teachers at Belvedere British School are experienced and have relevant qualifications. The adequate teaching resources ensure a low teacher to student ratio, allowing teachers to offer individual attention to students. Such a school is ideal for parents looking for an institution offering individual attention and care.

ADEK has issued a revised set of guidelines and protocols for the safe reopening of schools for the academic year 2021-2022. Most COVID-19 protocols remain the same; however, some changes are made to facilitate the learning process. The revised protocols are as follows:

• At the start of the academic year, ADEK was offering flexible learning modes to students. However, from January 2022, all schools in the UAE  are discontinuing distance learning.
• All students, faculty members and administrative staff, irrespective of their age or vaccination status, have to produce a negative nasal PCR or Saliva test 14 days before returning to school. The same applies to third-party contractors.
• ADEK has issued new vaccination guidelines for the academic year 2021-2022. Students aged 3 to 15 years old do not need to get vaccinated to physically return to schools. However, students above 16 years of age need to get two doses of vaccine and must complete 28 days of the second dose before returning to school. Vaccination certificates must be verified on the Al Hosn App.
• Parents can now pick up and drop off their children from the classroom if the school allows. However, schools should ensure that parents do not have access to other facilities on campus.
• Moreover, ADEK has reduced the minimum physical distance to 1 metre. However, schools should continue to take precautions by maintaining a safe distance. Staff members and students above six years old should wear a mask at all times.
• Schools are now allowed to conduct swimming and sports lessons, holiday camps, extracurricular activities, after-school clubs and catering services under strict health and safety measures. Schools must clean and sanitise the changing and sports areas after each group of children.
• Students are asked to enter the specific gates wearing facemasks. The school has to check their temperatures at the entry points. Students with body temperatures over 37.5-degree centigrade are not allowed to enter. They will be sent home with their parents.

Belvedere private school educates students from the FS2 to Year 12. The following phases of education are at this school:

The school follows the National Curriculum of England for its educational programme. The educational programme is broad and academically rigorous. It covers a wide range of subjects that makes education interesting for all. Belvedere British School uses technology to its benefit to aid in students’ learning. Belvedere private school educates students from the FS2 to Year 12.

Foundation Stage Curriculum

The school follows the Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in the foundation stage. It uses this curricular framework for educating children in FS2. EYFS is famous throughout the world for its non-conventional teaching methods. It follows informal teaching strategies to develop students’ understanding of fundamental concepts. Teachers use playing activities to help students understand English, Arabic, Mathematics and other core subjects. EYFS targets students’ development by focusing on the following key areas of learning:

By the end of the FS2, young learners are ready for their next academic endeavour i.e. primary education.

Primary Curriculum

In the primary stage, Belvedere British School follows the formal teaching methods of the National Curriculum of England. Teachers adopt formal teaching strategies involving regular classroom lectures. The primary stage educational programme is split into two stages: KS1 and KS2.

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 (KS1) is the legal term for Year 1 and 2 education. In KS1, the school helps students adapt to the formal learning style. Thus, the school gradually introduces children to formal teaching methodologies in the first two years of the primary stage. Belvedere British School aims to develop students to their full potential. It uses inquiry-based programmes to encourage learning KS1 covers the following aspects of education:

The school uses a stimulating environment to build the literacy and communication building skills of students. For mathematics and Science, it attempts to link the concept with practical life. This helps the students to understand the fundamental principles of mathematics and science with ease. Additionally, Art, Drama and Music are taught to students for extended periods. The progress made by children is annually monitored using different assessment methods. Students completing Year 2 are ready to enter the second stage of primary education.

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 (KS2) is the legal term for the Year 3 to Year 6 education in the British curriculum. In this stage, the school adopts the National Curriculum of England to its true sense. The school fully adopts formal learning strategies to teach core subjects.

Belvedere British School ensures a happy, friendly, stimulating and creative environment for students in KS2. This environment results in effective learning and building self-discipline. Students in KS2 are aware of their surroundings, understand the environment and respect others. The inquisitive nature of children is used to ignite their interest in learning. In the KS2, the school focuses on English spelling, grammar and punctuation, English reading and mental mathematics.

Once students clear Year 6, they enter the middle school phase.

Middle School Curriculum

Key Stage 3

In the middle school stage, Belvedere British School continues to follow Key Stage 3 (KS3) of the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The KS3 curriculum is for students in Year 7 and Year 8. Through the academically rigorous KS3 curriculum, the school prepares students for the subsequent phase of education. From Year 7, lessons are taught in a series of specialist subjects. The class tutor plays the role of a pastoral for students, equipping them with skills and expertise to complete middle school education. The subjects taught to students are:

Secondary Curriculum

Students entering Year 9 study the Key Stage 4 (KS4) dedicated for the secondary stage. It is a part of the British national curriculum that prepares students for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) certification. Students start their GCSE studies with the following core subjects in Year 9:

Belvedere British School has an effective pastoral care system. The tutor, assistant head of upper school and head of upper school, gives pastoral care to the secondary students. The school counsellors and inclusion team, whenever required, support them. In the last year of the KS4, students sit the external GCSE examinations. Successful students are awarded the GCSE certificate.

Sixth Form Curriculum

The sixth form stage is the last phase of education at Belvedere British School. In the sixth form stage, students prepare for A-Levels. With recent changes, A-levels is separated from the AS programme meaning that A-Levels is now a freestanding qualification. However, the sixth form is still for two years. By the end of Year 13, students are assessed for all the subjects for A-Levels. The subjects taught in Year 12 and Year 13 are:

Usually, students study four subjects in Year 12 and three subjects in Year 13. However, the number of subjects may vary. To be eligible for A-Levels, a student must have Grade 5 (equivalent to B and C Grade) in all subjects and at least Grade 4 (equivalent to C grade) in Mathematics and English. For more information, view the requirements for sixth form education at Belvedere British School.

Distance Learning

As per the instructions of The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), all schools across the UAE will discontinue distance learning from January 2022.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a governmental entity for regulating the education sector of Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra and the Al Ain region. Established in 2005, it aims to improve the quality of education offered by the public and private schools in the aforementioned regions. Through its Irtiqaa programme, ADEK inspects the performances of schools every 18 to 24 months. It measures the performance of schools in terms of the following six performance standards:

• Students’ achievement
• Teaching and assessment
• Leadership and management
• Students’ social and personal development and their innovation skills
• Curriculum
• Protection, care, guidance and support to students

They rate the performance of the school based on the specifically designed six-point scale. The scale ranges from outstanding (best) to very weak (worst) rating. A brief explanation of the ADEK’s six-point rating scale is as follows:

In the latest inspection for the Belvedere British School, ADEK rated its performance as good. It is the third-best rating by ADEK, indicating that the school meets the minimum expectations. In the previous inspection, the school’s performance was rated acceptable**.**

There is an improvement in every performance standard for the Belvedere British School. The rating for each performance standard is as follows:

• Students’ achievement – Good
• Teaching and assessment – Good
• Leadership and management – Very Good
• Students’ social and personal development and their innovation skills – Very Good
• Curriculum – Good
• Protection, care, guidance and support to students – Very Good

ADEK noted the following strengths of Belvedere British School:

• The role of the principal, supported by the governors, resulted in the development of an open and inclusive environment that is aligned with the UAE’s aspirations and values.
• The morale and ethos have improved throughout the school
• Students have shown improved achievements in science in the high school phase and Arabic, mathematics and English throughout the school.
• Students demonstrated improved behaviour and attitude to learn due to the effective care, guidance and support offered to them.
• Teachers at Belvedere British School have positive interactions and good relationships with students.

Nevertheless, Belvedere British School can do the following to improve their rating:

• The school needs to improve their achievement in Islamic education throughout the school. Teachers need to improve the quality of teaching by raising expectations. They can also use open-ended questioning to instil critical thinking skills. They can also make better use of technology to aid in students’ learning.
• The school needs to ensure that the current systems for assessing students’ achievement result in improved challenges for students, including Arabic-medium subjects. For this purpose, they should implement new assessment policies; ensure challenging lessons for more-able students and teachers using assessment data to plan. Teachers can also adapt the curriculum to develop the use of technology for these subjects.
• It needs to improve the attendance and punctuality of students by educating parents about the importance of regular attendance. They should develop and implement a reward and sanction based system to improve attendance.
• ADEK also advised the school to increase the students’ and parents’ awareness regarding healthy eating.

The academic year at Belvedere British School starts in August and ends in July. There are three terms in the academic calendar of this school. The important dates of each of these terms are as follows:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. The midterm break for the first term is expected in the third week of October. The winter break starts right after the end of the first term.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. This is followed by a spring break that ends in the first week of April. Mid-term break is expected in the third week of February.
• The third term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of June. There is no planned mid-term break for this term as there will Eid-Al-Fitr Holidays.

Besides the aforementioned, the school observes holidays on numerous religious, national and international events. The exact dates of these events are subjected to moon sightings or announcements by the government. For more information, view the ADEK approved academic calendar of Belvedere British School.

The admission process at Belvedere British School is similar to most schools in the UAE. To apply, download and submit the completed admission form available on the website. The documents required with the admission form are:

• Birth Certificate of the candidate
• Passport of the candidate
• Latest school report
• Passport of the parents or guardians

Please ensure all the information in the completed admission form is authentic. Failure to provide authentic information may lead to the cancellation of admission requests.

The school understands that picking a school for your child is a daunting task. Therefore, after receiving your admission request, the school will contact you to book a school tour. This is an opportunity for you to ask your questions and see the school facilities.

Afterwards, the school will contact you to bring your child for an assessment. In the first stage, candidates are assessed through formal assessment. They then contact the successful candidates for the interview sessions. Candidates facing both the formal assessment and interview session, and who have an outstanding academic record, are given admission offers. The school will ask you to sign the acceptance form and terms and conditions form. You also need to pay a required deposit to secure the seat for your child. Once your child is accepted at Belvedere British School, the school will ask for the following original documents:

• Birth certificate
• Student’s passport with residence visa
• Student’s Emirates ID
• Four recent coloured passport-size photographs of the students
• Guardian’s or parents’ passport with residence visa
• School report for the last academic year
• Transfer letter
• Electricity bill or tenancy agreements

If any of the aforementioned documents are not in English and Arabic, get them translated by the official translators in the UAE. Furthermore, ask the admission team for the requirements for the transfer certificate. Below is the age-grade guideline set by the ADEK:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Once all the documents are submitted, the school contacts parents to bring their child for an assessment. Students clearing the assessment test are invited for an interview. Afterwards, the admission committee decided to grant admission. Parents accepting the admission offer will have to sign an agreement and fill out consent forms as per the requirements of ADEK.

For more information, read the admission process at Belvedere British School.

The Belvedere British School fee is as follows:

The school accepts payment in cash, card and cheques (current-dated). For more information, view the fees structure of Belvedere British School.

Currently, the school does not have any scholarship programmes for its students.

Belvedere British School has a canteen where students can buy fresh snacks and lunch items during breaks. The school has outsourced its canteen-related operations to Raptors Catering. It is a reputable food and beverage business in UAE providing catering services to corporates, educational institutes and restaurants. Raptors ensure that all the food items for the Belvedere British School are prepared in a hygienic environment. The food items available to students include:

• Snacks (available at AED 4.50)
• Hot meals (available at AED 13.50)
• Sandwiches (Available at AED 6.00)
• Fruits and Salads (Ranges from AED 7.50 to AED 9.00)

The canteen menu is available on the school’s website.

Those living far from the school need not worry as Belvedere British School offers a safe and efficient transport service to its students. It owns a fleet of buses equipped with modern safety and security features, including video surveillance and GPS tracking service. They regularly perform the maintenance of their buses to ensure that all the features are operational at all times. Please note that the school bus picks and drops children at designated points.

It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure students reach the designated points on time to use the school bus. The transportation staff, including bus drivers and conductors, are well trained and handle children with care. The transportation charges are AED 5,000 per year. The fee needs to be paid with the tuition fee for the first term of the academic year.

The routes at which the Belvedere British School transportation service is available are:

• Route 1 – Al Bateen, Khalidiya
• Route 2 – Al Khalidiya
• Route 3 – Mina Street, Tourist Club
• Route 4 – Corniche, Al Hamdan, Electra Street
• Route 5 – Al Reem, Al Nahyan
• Route 6 – Al Muroor, Bin Al Jeserain
• Route 7 – Al Shahama, Hydra Village
• Route 8 – Al Falah, Al Reef
• Route 9 – Baniyas East
• Route 10 – Khalifa City A
• Route 11 – Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City (Zone 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21 and 20)
• Route 12 – Mussafah 12, Al Dafrah, Mussafah Garden
• Route 13 – Mussafah 9, 10 and 11
• Route 14 -MBZ (Mazyed region: Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
• Route 15 – MBZ (Mahawl region: Zone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
• Route 16 – Airport Route, Al Karamah

For more information, read the transport service policy for Belvedere British School.

Belvedere British School is a day-only school that does not offer boarding facilities to students. Those finding it difficult to reach school on time can opt for the school transport service. Those living far from the school can relocate to communities close to the school. If interested, read the residential communities near Belvedere British School section at the beginning of the guide.

Currently, the school does not offer holiday camps to students. To keep them busy, parents can contact the external holiday camp providers in Abu Dhabi.

Unfortunately, the school has limited sports and outdoor facilities for students. There is an outdoor play area at the campus used extensively for sports such as tennis and football.  Other than that, the school has a playground equipped with slides and other playing equipment for students in the foundation and primary stages.

Besides limited school facilities, the school offers a broad extra-curricular programme to its students. Students can take part in numerous activities ranging from creative arts to visual arts and from academic to life skills. The clubs managed by teachers offer most extra-curricular activities. Some noteworthy activities and clubs at Belvedere British School are:

Please note that the tuition fee is exclusive of extracurricular activities. Parents need to pay separately for these activities.

Field Trips are an important part of the extra-curricular activity at this school. Belvedere British School believes that excursion activities allow students to understand the world around them. For students, it serves as an opportunity to relax and have a good time. The school is planning to begin an international excursion for students.

One of the popular field trips arranged by the school was the visit to the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. It is a leading sports and entertainment centre in the capital city where people can keep themselves fit by engaging in several sports facilities. Students in Year 3 to Year 5 visited Zayed Sports City, where they tried ice skating and other recreational activities.

The after-school care offered to students includes pastoral care to students in the secondary phase and extra-curricular activities.

There is a school clinic that provides medical assistance to students and staff in emergencies. The medical staff is trained to handle minor to moderate injuries and illnesses.

Several modes of communication are available at Belvedere British School including parent-teacher meetings, official school website and social media platforms. There is an official Facebook Group for parents where they can communicate with other parents and school staff. The school also has WhatsApp groups where teachers and parents of students in the same years are added. It is an excellent source for urgent enquiries.

• Address: Street 31, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, ME-9, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Telephone Number

• For general information: +971 2 5090000

Email Address

• For general information: enquiries@belvederebritishschool.com

Official Website and Social Media

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to Belvedere British School