Ash Mount School is not simply another new school opening in Dubai. Following Education UAE’s second visit to the site, what continues to stand out is the level of thought that has gone into every part of the campus before the first students have even arrived.
From the outdoor learning areas to the layout of the corridors, classrooms and shared spaces, there is a clear purpose behind the design. This feels like a school, and a founding leadership team, that has been given the time to think carefully about how children will learn, how they will move through the campus and how they will feel as part of the wider school community.
A School Designed With Purpose
Throughout the visit, the attention to detail was impossible to miss. Some details are small, such as the careful thinking behind the school uniform. Others are built into the fabric of the campus itself.
Even practical decisions, including features designed to support safeguarding, have been carefully considered. It is clear that creating a safe, calm and welcoming environment has been a priority from the very beginning.
Despite the intense summer heat, Abigail Fishbourne, Founding Principal of Ash Mount School, shared the latest updates with real enthusiasm and care. Seeing the progress made since Education UAE’s previous visit was impressive, and it was easy to see how quickly the school’s vision is becoming a reality.
Building Belonging Before Day One
What is perhaps even more notable than the physical progress is the sense of community already developing.
Before officially opening its doors, Ash Mount School has already held Board of Governors meetings and hosted several events bringing together children, parents and families. There is already a clear sense that the Ash Mount community exists, even before the first day of term.
The school has also attracted strong partnerships, including a newly signed agreement with the BARÇA Academy. However, what stood out most was not simply the partnership itself, but the wider thinking behind the school’s long-term purpose.
From curriculum choices and wellbeing initiatives to the design of specialist learning spaces, there is a clear focus on creating an environment where children can thrive. The purpose-built wet learning area for younger students is a particular highlight, offering a practical and imaginative space for hands-on discovery.
Facilities Built Around Belonging
The facilities are impressive and varied, but they are not there simply to impress. Each space appears to have a clear role in supporting learning, connection and school life.
The site is so spacious that, even at capacity, all students can be timetabled for break times together. This matters because it reflects the school’s wider vision of building a whole-school community.
From libraries already stocked with books selected by founding staff, to sports halls, exhibition spaces and collaborative learning rooms, the campus has been designed to support both academic growth and everyday school life.
One area that deserves particular mention is the central amphitheatre, which is already taking shape as the heart of the school. It is easy to imagine the space during Flag Day, performances or early-morning drop-offs, filled with parents, staff and children coming together.
Wellbeing Woven Through the Campus
Wellbeing is woven throughout Ash Mount School. Parent cafés, quiet-thinking herb gardens, communal spaces, a forest school area and zones for reflection all suggest a school that understands the important role environment plays in supporting children, families and staff.
As we walked through the classrooms, corridors and wider campus, one theme kept emerging. Belonging.
There was a genuine sense that the school had been designed around the child’s experience. Small details that change as children move through the year groups show a long-term approach to helping students feel comfortable, confident and supported throughout their learning journey.
On the day of our visit, around 40 members of the founding staff team were returning to the site to see the latest progress and spend time together as colleagues. That commitment to building relationships and culture before the start of the academic year says a great deal about the school’s approach.
Local Heart, Global Mind
The school motto, “Local Heart, Global Mind”, is already visible in many aspects of Ash Mount School, from the curriculum and resources to the partnerships being formed.
While there is still work to be completed before opening, there is a strong sense that Ash Mount School knows exactly what it wants to be. The building is on track, but more importantly, the community is already beginning to thrive.
Education UAE looks forward to returning in July to share further updates ahead of the school’s opening in August 2026.
For families exploring Pre-K to Grade 8 options for the 2026 and 2027 academic year, Ash Mount School is certainly one to watch.
Take a look around Ash Mount school:
The Education UAE team gets an up-close look at the Ashmount School site in Mudon, where construction is well underway ahead of the September 2026 opening. 
Principal Abigail Fishbourne leads the group around the pool terrace, one of several completed facilities that will be ready and in use from the first day of term 
One of the school’s nearly-finished classrooms, where warm tones, built-in wooden storage and carpet integrated into the floor already feel considered and calm. 
One of the school’s nearly-finished classrooms, where warm tones, built-in wooden storage and carpet integrated into the floor already feel considered and calm. 
The Education UAE team gets an up-close look at the Ashmount School site in Mudon, where construction is well underway ahead of the September 2026 opening. 
Floor-to-ceiling glazing connects the interior learning spaces to the campus beyond, a design choice that keeps children oriented to the wider world around them. 
The Quantum Media team documenting the visit as Mr Kothari addresses the group on site, with the wider Mudon community visible in the background.
Families interested in learning more about Ash Mount School or exploring admissions for the 2026 and 2027 academic year can contact Brooke McDonald, Admissions Lead, at ad********@******nt.ae or +971 52 3054989
Further Reading:
- Education UAE Returns to Ash Mount School and One Thing Is Certain, It Will Be Ready
- Exclusive Interview with Founding Principal Abigail Fishbourne on the Vision for Ash Mount School
- Inside Ash Mount School’s Family First Approach to Education