Dubai School Year Groups Explained
British, American and IB systems name and age their year groups differently. Here's how they line up so you can work out which year your child enters in Dubai.
How placement is decided
Age cut-offs depend on the academic calendar, intake year and whether the child is entering school for the first time or transferring. Do not rely on a blanket 31 July rule. Ask admissions to confirm the current KHDA placement requirements against your child’s date of birth and prior school records before paying an application fee.
British system
Foundation Stage (FS1 and FS2) in the early years, then Year 1 upward. GCSEs are usually sat around Year 11, with A-Levels in Years 12 and 13.
American system
Kindergarten, then Grade 1 upward, with High School covering Grades 9 to 12. Progress is tracked by GPA through high school.
IB system
The Primary Years Programme (early years to roughly Grade 5), the Middle Years Programme (about Grade 6 to 10), then the two-year Diploma Programme in the final years.
Moving between systems
If you transfer between curricula, the receiving school decides placement based on age and prior school records — it won't always be a direct year-for-year match.