On Wednesday, Ash Mount School received official notification from the International Baccalaureate confirming approval as a candidate school for both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP).
“Ash Mount School is a candidate school for the PYP and MYP. This school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy, a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that we believe is important for our students.”
For the Ash Mount team, this marks an important and exciting stage in the creation of a school intentionally designed around inquiry, wellbeing, international mindedness and community.
Set in the heart of Mudon, Ash Mount School has already generated significant interest from families across Dubai seeking an education rooted in both academic ambition and childhood itself, one that values curiosity, belonging, creativity, compassion and meaningful learning experiences.
Campus Development Progresses Ahead of Opening
Alongside the school’s educational planning, the physical site has also progressed rapidly in recent months, with scaffolding now being removed, landscaping beginning and sports pitches and playground areas entering installation phases.
Abi Fishbourne, Principal of Ash Mount School, described the milestone as “an incredibly proud moment for the founding team and wider community already forming around the school.”
“This milestone represents far more than a status or accreditation process. It reflects the type of school we are intentionally designing together; a school where children learn with purpose, live with compassion, and lead with courage. As we build the school, every conversation, every policy, every learning space, and every appointment is being shaped around the experience we want children to have each day.”
Building an Internationally Minded School Community
Tom Nelson, Head of Secondary, said the school’s curriculum planning has centred on preparing young people for an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.
“As we design the secondary experience at Ash Mount, we are thinking carefully about the kind of young people the world needs next. For us, international education is about developing thoughtful, reflective, globally minded young people who can collaborate, question, innovate, and contribute positively to society. The candidate phase allows us to continue refining that vision with the support and guidance of the IB.”
A Child-Centred Approach to Learning
Aamna Thomas, Head of Primary and part of the founding leadership team, reflected on the importance of creating a school experience that feels connected, nurturing and deliberately child-centred from the very beginning.
“One of the things families consistently tell us is that they want childhood to feel meaningful and joyful again. As we design the school, we have thought very carefully about how children will feel in the spaces, how they will move, interact, play, create, and belong within the community.”
Supporting Dubai’s Educational Vision
Mahbouba Mohamed, Head of MOE Subjects, also highlighted the significance of opening a school at a time when Dubai continues to position itself as a global centre for educational innovation and excellence.
“It is incredibly exciting to be creating a new school in Dubai at this moment in time. There is a real energy around education in the Emirate and a clear vision for the future. Ash Mount is proud to be part of that wider story.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
Over the coming months, Ash Mount School will continue working closely with the International Baccalaureate throughout the candidacy and authorisation process whilst also progressing towards the completion of the campus ahead of opening in August 2026.
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Further Reading:
- Exclusive Interview with Founding Principal Abigail Fishbourne on the Vision for Ash Mount School
- Insider’s Guide to the UAE Education Boom: 10 New Schools Opening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 2025–2026