Brighton College Abu Dhabi

What the school is

Ownership and the wider school group

The Abu Dhabi campus was the first in an international network that later expanded to Al Ain, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore and Hanoi. The March 2024 inspection identifies Brighton College UK and Bloom Education as the school’s proprietors.

Brighton College’s UK charity accounts disclose income from overseas schools, supporting work in the UK and across the school family. The Abu Dhabi campus is owned jointly with Bloom Education, so the UK college’s charitable status does not describe its finances.

In October 2025, the group announced a partnership with the University of Buckingham for an Arabic-medium PGCE teacher-training programme. This was a group announcement rather than a campus-specific one.

Academics in practice

Exam results and inspection findings

The school’s 2025 GCSE announcement reports 30% of entries at grade 9, 54% at grades 9–8, 72% at 9–7, 87% at 9–6 and 96% at 9–5, with a 98% pass rate. Two pupils achieved ten grade 9s. SchoolsCompared reports 2025 A-level results of 17% A*, 44% A*–A and 68% A*–B, alongside more than 149 Russell Group university offers. Offers are not a count of pupils or confirmed university places; ask for cohort sizes and final destinations when comparing schools.

ADEK’s Very Good judgement and the March 2024 BSO report offer different views of the school. Overall ratings and exam results measure different things, too. The reasons for the difference lie in each report’s detailed findings and recommendations, not in the overall grades.

The March 2024 BSO report names Scott Carnochan as headteacher; the school’s 2025 results announcement names Barney Durrant as Head Master, so leadership has changed since that inspection.

Admissions and cost

Admissions and the cost of a place

The college’s own 2026–27 fee table lists annual tuition of AED 50,830 for Nursery (FS1), AED 52,880 for FS2, AED 62,610 for Years 1–5, AED 68,560 for Years 6–9 and AED 80,780 for Years 10–13, split across three terms with 40% due in the autumn. These match the range in the March 2024 BSO report.

A secondary admissions guide describes a playdate for Pre-Prep applicants (FS1–Year 2), academic assessments for Prep and Senior entry, and a Sixth Form interview. It also reports registration and re-enrolment payments of 5% of annual tuition, credited against fees.

ADEK’s published fee framework links permitted increases to inspection ratings and the Education Cost Index; each year’s increase is set under that framework. Request the current approved fees and a written list of extras, including transport, uniforms, meals and exam entries. Keep payments credited against tuition separate from additional charges when calculating the total.

The family experience

Khalifa Park, the Brighton ethos and daily life

The campus is near Khalifa Park in the Bloom Gardens area.