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St Joseph’s School Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees AED 6,650 - 11,460
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 1308
Type Co-educational
Opened 1967
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum CBSE Curriculum
Taught languages English, Hindi, Arabic, French
Typical class size 30
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

St. Joseph's School, Abu Dhabi is a girls' higher secondary school established in 1967. It is administered by the Apostolic Vicariate of the Roman Catholic Church to Arabia and led on a day‑to‑day basis by the Carmelite Sisters of St. Theresa, with Sister Suranjana as principal. Located in the Al Mushrif area, the school follows the CBSE curriculum for Grades 1–12, with English as the medium of instruction for core subjects. Arabic is a mandatory non‑native language; Hindi is offered as a CBSE‑aligned language and French is an optional third language in Grades 9–10. ADEK standards and Future‑Ready Skills guide the program, with aims to develop multilingual proficiency and UAE values. The campus features an on‑site clinic, two libraries, three science laboratories, three computer laboratories, a music room, and interactive smartboards. A range of clubs, environmental initiatives and partnerships reinforce inquiry, creativity and service, preparing students for university and learning.

St. Joseph's School, P.O. Box 3361, 17th Street, Al Mushrif Area, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Essentials

St Joseph’s School Abu Dhabi has 1,308 pupils, typical class sizes of 30, instruction in English.

Location

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Located on 17th Street in the Al Mushrif area. Postal address is P.O. Box 3361, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Stages

Primary, middle and high school (grades 1–12).

Type

Girls' school.

Additional learning support

Inclusion policy aligned with ADEK Inclusion Policy. The school has a Head of Inclusion (maximum 10% workload), an Inclusion teacher, Inclusion Assistants, and provides 1:1 support. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) pathway is used with progress tracked in ESIS, and accommodations may be provided to support learning, with parental involvement.

Country affiliation

CBSE, India

Religious affiliation

Catholic

School day structure

School Hours: 07:20–14:30 (Classes 1–12, Monday to Thursday) and 07:20–11:20 (Friday). Office Hours: 07:20–14:30 (Mon–Thu) and 07:20–11:20 (Fri).
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

Uniform is mandatory. Girls wear a grey pinafore and white short-sleeved blouse, with white socks, and hair braided with a red ribbon; boys wear grey half pants (full pants for standards V–VI) with a white short-sleeved shirt. The PE uniform is worn on designated days, and uniforms are bought from Al Falah Plaza—Lulu.

Food Options

St. Joseph's School runs a canteen and follows a Healthy Eating and Food Safety Policy aligned with ADEK. The policy promotes healthy food choices, provides nutrition education, ensures access to a meal every day (unless fasting), prohibits external food deliveries during school hours, and addresses allergies and labeling.

House System

Students are divided into four houses: Bluebell (Blue), Rose (Red), Shamrock (Green), and Sunflower (Yellow). Each house has a motto; House Points contribute to the Best House of the Year Trophy.

Governance and Ownership

Saint Joseph Private School is a Limited Liability Company (Saint Joseph Private School - LLC). It is owned by Mohamed Saeed Ali Khalfan Alkindi and Paul Fridolin Hinder.
Fees

Annual tuition at St Joseph’s School Abu Dhabi ranges from AED 6,650 to AED 11,460 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration Fees
- Registration / re-registration fee: charged when a student is enrolled and is deductible from the annual tuition. The school follows the Abu Dhabi ADEK rule that registration/re-registration fees must not exceed 5% of the annual tuition.

Tuition fees by year group (term amounts and annual total) — Academic Year 2026/2027
- Grade 1: Term 1 (Apr–Aug) AED 1,995; Book fees AED 374; Term 2 (Sept–Dec) AED 2,660; Term 3 (Jan–Mar) AED 1,995. Annual tuition total (sum of three term fees): AED 6,650. Book fees charged separately: AED 374.
- Grade 2: Term 1 AED 1,995; Book fees AED 401; Term 2 AED 2,660; Term 3 AED 1,995. Annual tuition total: AED 6,650. Book fees AED 401.
- Grade 3: Term 1 AED 1,995; Book fees AED 418; Term 2 AED 2,660; Term 3 AED 1,995. Annual tuition total: AED 6,650. Book fees AED 418.
- Grade 4: Term 1 AED 1,995; Book fees AED 429; Term 2 AED 2,660; Term 3 AED 1,995. Annual tuition total: AED 6,650. Book fees AED 429.
- Grade 5: Term 1 AED 1,995; Book fees AED 429; Term 2 AED 2,660; Term 3 AED 1,995. Annual tuition total: AED 6,650. Book fees AED 429.
- Grade 6: Term 1 AED 2,238; Book fees AED 462; Term 2 AED 2,984; Term 3 AED 2,238. Annual tuition total: AED 7,460. Book fees AED 462.
- Grade 7: Term 1 AED 2,238; Book fees AED 468; Term 2 AED 2,984; Term 3 AED 2,238. Annual tuition total: AED 7,460. Book fees AED 468.
- Grade 8: Term 1 AED 2,238; Book fees AED 495; Term 2 AED 2,984; Term 3 AED 2,238. Annual tuition total: AED 7,460. Book fees AED 495.
- Grade 9: Term 1 AED 2,715; Book fees AED 484; Term 2 AED 3,620; Term 3 AED 2,715. Annual tuition total: AED 9,050. Book fees AED 484.
- Grade 10: Term 1 AED 2,715; Book fees AED 484; Term 2 AED 3,620; Term 3 AED 2,715. Annual tuition total: AED 9,050. Book fees AED 484.
- Grade 11 (Science): Term 1 AED 3,438; Book fees AED 470; Term 2 AED 4,584; Term 3 AED 3,438. Annual tuition total: AED 11,460. Book fees AED 470.
- Grade 11 (Commerce): Term 1 AED 3,027; Book fees AED 451; Term 2 AED 4,036; Term 3 AED 3,027. Annual tuition total: AED 10,090. Book fees AED 451.
- Grade 12 (Science): Term 1 AED 3,438; Book fees AED 451; Term 2 AED 4,584; Term 3 AED 3,438. Annual tuition total: AED 11,460. Book fees AED 451.
- Grade 12 (Commerce): Term 1 AED 3,027; Book fees AED 358; Term 2 AED 4,036; Term 3 AED 3,027. Annual tuition total: AED 10,090. Book fees AED 358.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed in three instalments each academic year. Payment schedule for the 2026/2027 year: 1st instalment (covers April–June) — payable in the first week of March; 2nd instalment (covers Sept–Dec) — payable at the end of August; 3rd instalment (covers Jan–Mar) — payable at the end of December. Term fees are charged as shown in the term columns above. A late fee of AED 5 per day is applied after the specified due date. Cheque/online bank transfer are accepted; cash is not accepted. Cheques should be made payable to SAINT JOSEPH PRIVATE SCHOOL LLC. The school publishes bank transfer details for fee payments.

Boarding / Hostel
- Boarding is not offered. St. Joseph's School operates as a day school (no boarding/hostel fees apply).

Other costs and regularly charged items
- Book fees: charged per grade as listed above (these are charged in addition to term tuition).
- Uniform: a separate uniform charge appears in the ADEK-approved fee schedule; a uniform fee of AED 3,150 is shown in the ADEK-approved schedule. Uniforms are charged separately from tuition.
- Transport: transport (school bus) is charged separately; tuition figures above exclude transport. Transport is treated as an additional charge. (Tuition is exclusive of transport, textbooks, uniforms and school magazines.)
- Field trips, after-school clubs, and additional extracurricular activities are charged separately and are not included in the tuition figures above.
- CBSE registration and board-exam fees (charged for relevant grades): Grade 9 — AED 150 (total); Grade 10 — AED 700 (total); Grade 11 — AED 150 (total); Grade 12 — AED 800 (total). These CBSE registration/exam charges are additional to tuition and are billed as applicable.

Refund and withdrawal terms
- Refunds on tuition are processed according to attendance in the term: if a student attends any part of week one of the term or fails to show up without prior written notice, the school retains the registration / re-registration fee. If a student attends between one week and three weeks in a term, the school retains the value of one full month of tuition. If a student attends over three weeks and up to six weeks in a term, the school retains two months' tuition. If a student attends over six weeks in a term, the school retains the full-term fee. Transfer Certificates are issued only after all outstanding payments are settled and one month's written notice is required.

Fee-payment methods and bank details
- Accepted methods: cheque, bank transfer (online transfer). The school's accounts counter accepts cheque/online transfer for term fees; cash is not accepted. Cheques must be made payable to SAINT JOSEPH PRIVATE SCHOOL LLC. Bank transfer details provided by the school: Bank of Baroda, Abu Dhabi; Account Number: 90020200009506; IBAN: AE840110090020200009506. The accounts counter operating hours for fee collection are published by the school.
Academics

St Joseph’s School Abu Dhabi teaches CBSE Curriculum.

Curriculum

The school covers Grades 1–12 and follows the CBSE curriculum with English as the medium of instruction for core subjects. Arabic is a mandatory non-native language per ADEK requirements; Hindi is offered as a CBSE-aligned language; an optional third language, French, is offered in Grades 9–10. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Languages. Moral Education & Life Skills, Creative Arts, and Physical Education & Health are part of the program, with ICT, Digital Fluency and AI integrated across grades. The curriculum aims to develop multilingual proficiency and UAE values, and aligns with ADEK standards and Future-Ready Skills.

Student Teacher Ratio

The school reports a teacher-section ratio of 30:1.

Exam Results

CBSE examination patterns are followed. For Classes I–VIII, the year is divided into two terms with PT-1, half-yearly, PT-2 and yearly examinations, plus note-book submission and Subject Enrichment Activities. For Classes IX–X, the end-of-year examination is 80% written with 20% from periodic tests (10 marks), notebook submission (5 marks) and Subject Enrichment Activity (5 marks). Pass marks range from 50% (Arabic, Islamic Studies, Moral & Cultural Studies I–VIII) to 60% (Arabic & Islamic Studies for IX–XII); promotion depends on aggregate marks and at least 75% attendance; a Full Attendance certificate is awarded to perfect attenders, and General Proficiency is awarded to the top scorer in core subjects.

Higher Education Progression

Career & University (CU) Guidance provides structured guidance for postsecondary education, including higher education and TVET. It covers Cycle 2 (Grades 5–8) and Cycle 3 (Grades 9–12), with exploration of university options, subject choices and admissions processes, including information on UCAS, OUAC, CAO and the Common App. Guidance includes university visits, scholarships, CVs and personal statements, and fosters partnerships with higher education institutions to support university applications.

Gifted and Talented

Inclusion and Support provides equitable CU guidance to all students, including those with Additional Learning Needs or exceptional abilities; enrichment programs are offered for gifted students.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The school maintains a Wellbeing Strategy aligned with ADEK wellbeing policies across psychological, physical, social, intellectual, digital, and environmental aspects. The SENCO department offers individual counselling, small-group interventions, classroom support, and whole-school wellbeing education to support students with additional learning needs. Student voice is promoted through structures such as the Student Council and regular School Parliament meetings, with parental involvement through open-door policy and meetings. Wellbeing is fostered through a positive, inclusive ethos and relationships, aiming to boost engagement, achievement, and belonging. The Wellbeing framework includes monthly evaluations by the Wellbeing Committee and an annual wellbeing survey, with access to a school counsellor for further support and opportunities for leadership and reflection through clubs and assemblies.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

The school provides support for diverse learners through Inclusion & Differentiation, including English learners, non-native Arabic learners, and students with additional learning needs (ALN). Small-group instruction, scaffolding, remedial support, and enrichment are offered, with teachers trained in inclusive and differentiated pedagogy. The SENCO collaborates with families and relevant stakeholders to coordinate support for ALN and students requiring accommodation. The inclusion framework ensures ongoing monitoring and tailored interventions to promote progress. The school also integrates wellbeing education to reinforce support for ALN and related needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English is the medium of instruction for all core subjects. Arabic is non-native and mandatory per ADEK requirements. Hindi is CBSE-aligned. An optional third language, French, is offered in Grades 9 and 10. The curriculum aims for multilingual proficiency while maintaining home-language skills and UAE cultural awareness.

Mental Wellbeing

The wellbeing framework prioritizes physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development and self-empowerment as part of wellbeing and values. There is a strong emphasis on emotional health, positive relationships, and resilience. Students have access to a school counsellor for additional support. Leadership opportunities and reflection are encouraged through student parliament, clubs, and pastoral programs. The Wellbeing Committee meets monthly to review activities and plan new initiatives, with ongoing monitoring via attendance, feedback, and annual surveys.

Safeguarding

The school has a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy that recognises safeguarding as a core responsibility and aims to provide a safe, trusting environment. Designated safeguarding leads include Sr. Carmen as the Designated Person and Sr. Shelja as the Second Designated Person, with a designated Governor for Safeguarding (Teacher Swati). All staff and governors have a duty to safeguard, and staff receive regular safeguarding training (every two years). Clear procedures exist for reporting safeguarding concerns, coordinated by the Designated Person and involving parents and the appropriate authorities as needed. Recruitment checks are required for all adults with access to children, and confidentiality is maintained; the policy covers handling disclosures and recording appropriately.
Parent Experience

History

St. Joseph's School is a higher secondary school in Abu Dhabi established in 1967. It is managed by the Apostolic Vicariate of the Roman Catholic Church to Arabia. The day-to-day work of the school is led by the Carmelite Sisters of St. Theresa, with Sister Suranjana as principal. The foundation for church and school buildings was laid on March 19, 1981, and the site was dedicated to St. Joseph. The aim of the school is to promote a cosmopolitan atmosphere and to prepare students for university and lifelong learning.

Community

The community is active with a News & Events section that publishes regular updates under the SJS Soundwaves banner. Campus life includes clubs such as the Verte Club, an ALUMNI network, and a School Parliament to foster student leadership and community involvement. An Events calendar and notice board keep families informed of upcoming programs and activities.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

PTA stands for Parent Teacher Association, a school-based organization with a mission to make the school a better place for children to learn. Parents work with teachers to support the school's efforts and to provide closer links between home and school. St. Joseph's School supports an ongoing partnership between the school, parents and management. A newly formed PTA for the 2025-26 academic year is intended to facilitate parental participation in the school. Parents can email suggestions to the PTA representative and cc to info@stjosephsschool.ae; the authorities and PTA will review and follow up within 1-2 working days. WhatsApp groups that promote ill-talk about students or staff are not encouraged.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

The school has an on-site clinic, two libraries, three computer laboratories, a music room, and three science laboratories. The clinic is modern and fully equipped to handle medical emergencies, officially approved by the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, and staffed by a full-time nurse who coordinates with the Ministry of Health. There are two libraries, one on the first floor for primary students and another on the Jubilee block's third floor for the high school, with a broad collection of educational materials. The computer facilities include a primary lab with 30 laptops and two Jubilee labs with 30 desktops each, all supported by interactive smartboards and programming/animation resources. The music room is acoustically equipped with pianos, keyboards, and percussion, while the science program features three fully equipped, purpose-built laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology.

Academic Facilities

The school has three science laboratories—Chemistry, Physics, and Biology—fully equipped for experimentation and aligned with CBSE standards. The Chemistry laboratory is stocked with beakers, test tubes, bunsen burners, and analytical instruments. The Physics laboratory provides hands-on experiences with pendulums, lenses, and electrical circuits. The Biology laboratory features digital microscopes and a dedicated museum of specimens. The Primary computer laboratory contains 30 laptops; the Jubilee buildings host two high school labs with 30 desktops each, both equipped with interactive smartboards, and programming languages and animation programs are offered. The library system comprises two libraries with a broad range of books, reference materials, newspapers, periodicals, audio-visual resources, and journals, and the library hours are 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM on school days.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Clubs are organized into four zones to provide enriching experiences. Zone 1 is the Literature Club, which includes age-appropriate reading for grades 2–12, Model United Nations, research-paper support for grades 11–12, Gavel Club, and the school newspaper The Premier. Zone 2 covers Cultural Club Activities, including Dance Club, Music Club, and Art Club. Zone 3 is the Sports Club, with outdoor activities such as Kho-Kho, Badminton, and Athletics; Football basics; Throw ball; and indoor activities like Table Tennis and Chess. Zone 4 is Robotics & GK Club, featuring K teams, robotics workshops, and AI-related activities. Every student is encouraged to join at least one club, and club activities are held during the zero period (one hour) on Thursdays, with no activities during regular classroom hours.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

St. Joseph's School offers a broad set of extracurricular activities focused on academics, debate, and inquiry. The Literature Club includes reading for Grades 2–12, Model United Nations, and guidance on writing research papers for Grades 11–12, plus a student newspaper. The Cultural Club covers Dance, Music, and Art, with performances at school events, and the Robotics & GK Club runs K-Teams, weekly puzzles, and robotics workshops. Verte, Roots and Shoots and a Twinning Programme connect students with environmental campaigns and UAE/UK partner schools.

Arts & Creative

Dance Club teaches various dance styles and participates in school events. Music Club trains students in singing and instruments, and a school band is formed to showcase talents at events. Art Club provides higher-level art training and supports decorations for school events, with notable artworks showcased on the school website.

Cultural & Language

My Identity Program focuses on UAE heritage and includes the theme My Language Is My Identity to celebrate language and identity. The six core themes cover values, language, community, culture, citizenship, and history. English is the medium of instruction for core subjects; Arabic is mandatory as a second language; Hindi is CBSE-aligned, with French offered as an optional third language in Grades 9–10.

Social & Hobbies

Clubs are organized in four zones: Zone 1 Literature (MUN, reading, school newspaper), Zone 2 Cultural (Dance, Music, Art), Zone 3 Sports (Kho-Kho, Badminton, Athletics, Football, Throw Ball, Table Tennis, Chess), and Zone 4 Robotics & GK Club. All students are encouraged to join at least one club, and club activities are held during the zero period (one hour) on Thursdays. There are additional after-school activities and extended sports provisions.

Community & Service

Environmental campaigns include Earth Day, Environment Day, E-Waste Campaign, and World Food Day. Verte, the eco-club, leads sustainability efforts and other service activities include Hair Donation, Operation Smile, Organic Garden, and the Student Solar Ambassador Workshop. The Twinning Programme and Roots and Shoots provide cross-cultural and environmental engagement with partner schools in the UAE and the UK.

Leadership & Professional

Student leadership is exercised through the Student Council and regular School Parliament meetings. Verte and roles such as Head Girl, Club Secretaries, and House Captains offer additional leadership opportunities. These structures support governance, student voice, and development of leadership skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

The school runs two weekly PE sessions and offers after-school sports with a nominal fee. The SENCO and school counsellor provide counselling and wellbeing support, including individual and small-group support. Wellbeing is guided by a policy emphasizing pupil voice through Student Council and regular Wellbeing Committee meetings.
Languages

Language Provision

Languages include Arabic (non-native, mandatory per ADEK), English (medium of instruction for all core subjects), Hindi (CBSE-aligned), and French (optional in Grades 9–10). The program aims for multilingual proficiency while maintaining home-language skills and UAE cultural awareness. Arabic proficiency is assessed as part of the curriculum. The curriculum is CBSE-based for Grades 1–12 with English as the primary instructional language.

Bilingual Teaching

The school uses English as the medium of instruction for all core subjects. Arabic is non-native and mandatory per ADEK. Hindi is CBSE-aligned. An optional third language, French, is offered in Grades 9 and 10.
Reputation

Awards

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Accreditations

CBSE affiliated (Affiliation No. 6630012; CBSE School Code 90082); Recognised and licensed by ADEK (Esis No. 9115).
Admissions

Admissions

1. Open Campus visit. Prospective parents and students may visit the school campus through Open days and scheduled appointments. The visit enables families to become familiar with the school environment. Appointments are arranged to suit families' calendars. This is the first step in the admissions process.

2. Admissions for students with additional learning needs. Students with additional learning needs shall not be denied admission if capacity is available. Priority is given to students with additional learning needs and their siblings in the same school. Parents must submit original clinical assessment reports from specialists.

3. Admission decision and accommodations. If the school cannot accommodate the student, the admission decision will be issued within seven days. The school will make reasonable adjustments to enable admission for all students with additional learning needs. Targeted transition support will be provided as students transfer from alternative education settings. Assessments used in admissions are intended to inform learning support and not to deny admission.

4. Inclusion staffing and ongoing support. The school has a Head of Inclusion with a maximum 10% workload and appoints one Inclusion Teacher per cycle with a maximum 10% workload. Inclusion Assistants provide additional support to teachers for students with additional learning needs, including whole-class support, targeted pull-out and push-in support, and 1:1 assistance. The school develops Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Personal Learning Plans (PLP) and tracks progress in ESIS and PASS, with reviews conducted twice a year.

5. Additional fees for specialized intervention. If a student requires intervention beyond standard inclusive provision, the school may charge additional fees for an individual assistant. Additional charges will not exceed 50% of the tuition fee. The school is working towards in-school specialists and ensures that fees do not exceed 10% of the cost. Termly financial statements are provided to parents detailing the allocation of these funds.
School Events
The school has not added events