Horizon English School has announced the establishment of an all-through campus in the Town Square community of Dubai, signalling a strategic expansion of the institution’s British curriculum offering to ages 3-18. Under a joint venture between education group Cognita and developer Nshama, the new facility is scheduled to open in August 2027 and will begin with Foundation Stage 1 through Year 8, expanding to Year 13 in subsequent years.
The move follows more than 35 years of the school’s operation at its Jumeirah campus, which holds Outstanding ratings from Dubai’s regulator and British School Overseas accreditation, and was recognised as the UAE’s “Happiest School” for multiple years. Cognita Middle East chief executive David Baldwin described Town Square’s family-oriented community as “the perfect home” for this next chapter of the school’s journey. Nshama general manager Rashid Al Abbar affirmed the project aligns with their goal of integrating quality education into community living.
The new campus will adopt the same British curriculum framework that underpins the Jumeirah campus, emphasising participation, belonging and high-quality learning outcomes. Tuition fees are set to range from AED 49,000 for FS1 to AED 75,000 for Year 13. This positions the school competitively within Dubai’s premium private education market and reflects the founders’ confidence in sustained demand for UK-style education models.
Parents and community stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, citing Town Square’s growth as a family-centric residential hub. Analysts observe that the expansion reflects a broader trend among private British international schools in the region to scale and diversify their footprint in response to demographic growth and rising demand for alternative education pathways.
The timing of the project takes place amid a backdrop of increasing regulatory scrutiny and rising expectations in Dubai’s private school sector. The schools regulator has tightened inspection frameworks, and parent surveys indicate growing emphasis on holistic development, digital readiness and value for fees. In this environment, Horizon English School’s brand strength, heritage and accreditation pedigree offer a solid platform for expansion.
Operationally, the project will deliver a purpose-built campus with state-of-the-art facilities, designed from inception to cater for 3-18 year-olds. As the first phase opens with younger years, curriculum leads emphasise continuity of learning and seamless progression into senior years. This avoids the common challenge of campus-inherited transitions that sometimes lead to disruption or dilution of culture.
Critics note that expansion into new campuses carries risks, including brand dilution, resource strain and maintaining consistent teaching quality at scale. The initial cohort will set the tone, and attention will focus on recruitment of staff, alignment of pedagogical vision, and sustaining community engagement beyond the original site. Fees set at premium levels may also raise questions about accessibility and comparison with existing schools in the zone.
For families already served by the Jumeirah campus, the announcement offers enhanced choice and alignment with wider community lifestyle. For Town Square residents, the presence of a well-known British curriculum school enhances neighbourhood appeal and may contribute to broader service-ecosystem growth, including retail, housing and transportation networks.