Top 10 Questions to Ask on a Dubai School Tour

Why School Tours Are Your Best Research Tool

No website, inspection report, or parent forum can replace the experience of walking through a school while lessons are in progress and speaking directly with the people responsible for your child's education. A well-conducted school tour is where the authentic character of a school becomes visible — and where the gap between marketing and reality is most apparent.

This guide gives you the 10 most diagnostic questions to ask during a Dubai school visit, along with what good and poor answers look like.

Question 1: "What are your school's priorities for improvement this year?"

What a good answer looks like: Specific, honest and action-oriented. "We are focusing on improving our mathematics outcomes at Key Stage 3, and we have brought in a specialist mathematics coach to work with our Year 7–9 teachers this year." This shows self-awareness and proactive improvement culture.

What a poor answer looks like: Vague and defensive. "We're always striving to improve across all areas." This suggests the leadership doesn't know what needs improving, or doesn't want you to know.

Question 2: "How does the school communicate student progress to parents?"

Good answer: Regular formative feedback through an LMS (Google Classroom, ManageBac), mid-term reports, termly written reports with specific targets, parent-teacher consultations at least twice per year, and an open-door policy for concerns between formal consultations.

Poor answer: "We send a report at the end of each term." Minimal, reactive rather than proactive communication.

Question 3: "Can I observe a lesson in progress?"

Good answer: "Yes — we're happy for you to observe. We can take you to a Year [X] lesson while you're here today." Confident schools welcome observation.

Poor answer: "We can't do that today." A school that won't let prospective parents observe lessons has something to hide.

Question 4: "What is your teacher retention rate?"

Good answer: "Approximately 85% of our teaching staff return each year. Our average teacher tenure is four years, which is high for Dubai." High retention indicates positive culture and competitive remuneration.

Poor answer: Evasive or approximate. "It varies — we do have some turnover like all schools." High turnover (below 70% retention) is a significant red flag.

Question 5: "How does the school support a child who is struggling academically?"

Good answer: Describes a clear tiered system — universal classroom differentiation, small group intervention, individual support, and escalation to SENCO if concerns persist — with clear communication to parents at each stage.

Poor answer: "Parents are responsible for ensuring their child has private tutoring if needed." This externalises academic support entirely.

Question 6: "What is the class size in the year group my child would join?"

Good answer: A specific number: "We cap at 22 students per class in primary and 25 in secondary." Class size directly affects individual attention.

Poor answer: "It depends" without specifics, or "up to 30" without acknowledgement that this affects teaching quality.

Question 7: "How does the school handle incidents of bullying?"

Good answer: Describes a clear restorative or graduated behaviour management process, with a specific named pastoral lead for bullying concerns, and a commitment to communicating with parents throughout the process.

Poor answer: "We have a zero-tolerance policy." Zero-tolerance without detail is a policy title, not a policy. Ask for specifics on what happens when a report is made.

Question 8: "What IGCSE/IB Diploma/A-Level results did your students achieve last year?"

Good answer: Specific and readily available. "Our average IB Diploma score was 33.2; our IGCSE pass rate at A*–C was 87%; our A-Level results placed 78% of students in their first-choice university." Good schools publish this data proactively.

Poor answer: "We don't publish results publicly" or vague claims about "excellent results." Schools that are proud of their results share them; those that aren't, don't.

Question 9: "What is your process for admissions assessment, and what are you looking for?"

Good answer: Transparent and specific. "Our assessment for Year 7 is a 90-minute test covering English comprehension, creative writing and mathematics at expected Year 6 level. We are looking for students working at age-expected levels who will thrive in our academic environment." Clear and honest.

Poor answer: "We assess all-round potential." Without specifics, you don't know how to prepare your child or whether they are a realistic candidate.

Question 10: "May I speak to some current parents about their experience?"

Good answer: "Absolutely — we have an active Parents Council and I can give you contact details for some Year [X] parents who are happy to speak with prospective families." Confident and transparent.

Poor answer: "We can't share parent contact details, but you can read our reviews online." Unwillingness to connect you with current parents is an amber flag.

Final Thoughts

The tone and content of a school's responses to these questions tells you more than any brochure. Schools that answer specifically, honestly and with evident pride in their work are schools worth trusting with your child's education. Schools that deflect, generalise or become defensive deserve more scrutiny. Use your school visit as your final, decisive research step — and use Search Your School to identify and compare schools before you visit.