Citizens
In March 2022, Blenheim Schools helped launch Citizens School, a visionary school at the heart of a new education hub encompassing a teacher training foundation, excellence centre and K-12 school conceived, designed and developed in the UAE by Al Zarooni Emirates Investments. Designed to present learning through a new lens, the Citizens schooling experience focuses on the whole growth of a learner and is built around each child’s unique requirements, empowering them with choices to explore themes, expand interests and determine the routes that they want to go on to reach their full potential. This is all while equipping them with a rich, connected bank of knowledge and skills relevant for the 21st-century.
In March 2022 – Blenheim Schools helped launch Citizens School, a visionary school at the heart of a new education hub encompassing a teacher training foundation, excellence centre and K-12 school conceived, designed and developed in the UAE by Al Zarooni Emirates Investments. Designed to present learning through a new lens, the Citizens schooling experience focuses on the whole growth of a learner and is built around each child’s unique requirements, empowering them with choices to explore themes, expand interests and determine the routes that they want to go on to reach their full potential. This is all while equipping them with a rich, connected bank of knowledge and skills relevant for the 21st-century.
Citizens School partnered with Blenheim Schools to provide an experience-based, inclusive curriculum bespoke to each child’s strengths and approach to learning unique to Citizens School pupils named the Citizens’ Tapestry.
Using the UK National Curriculum as its standard, the Citizens’ Tapestry is a first-of-its-kind, custom-built curriculum that builds upon the blueprint with six key threads – Mindset; Entrepreneur; Health & Wellbeing; Sustainable Leadership; Global; and Digital Literacy – forming the pattern of its comprehensive, holistic, inclusive, and fun education system.
The curriculum has been co-developed and influenced by some of the world’s leading researchers on education, motivation and mindsets, as well as cognitive scientists including Dr Carol Dweck, Matthew Syed, John Hattie, Guy Claxton, and Graham Powell.
The Citizens’ 43,000-square-meter school campus, program and approach have been thoughtfully curated to re-shape learning, enabling students to thrive as citizens of the future, by focusing on wellbeing, imagination, and enabling outstanding outcomes for all young people. The groundbreaking Citizens School site is double the size of other schools in the same catchment area, has a capacity for 2,600 children between ages 3-18; a 2,900-square-meter open playing and recreation area; ample parking; a 1,250-square-meter multi-purpose performing arts and activity hall; six lane semi-covered swimming pool and learning pool, football and rugby pitches adhering to FIFA and World Rugby standards; as well as a dedicated dining area for primary school students.
Dr. Adil Alzarooni, Founder of Citizens School, said; “At Citizens School, we are striving to empower our students to craft their own futures by celebrating and nurturing what makes them unique and providing them with choices alongside the right set of life skills to thrive in the communities of tomorrow. We believe in learning rather than educating, because learning is a lifelong pursuit that creates limitless possibilities. As a school born out of Dubai and based in the heart of the city, we share its innate spirit, energy, and optimism for what is possible today and tomorrow, as we play our part in positioning Dubai as a global hub of learning excellence in a diversified knowledge economy.”
Hisham Hodroge, CEO of Citizens School said, “Dubai is a catalyst for innovation and from Dubai we aim to disrupt the way education is provided in the region by capitalising on a unique offering that centres around the child. Through engagement with our partners, regulators and key stakeholders, we aim to achieve an ambitious school for the benefit of our future generations”.
Anita Gleave, Founder and CEO of Blenheim Schools said; “Blenheim Schools is delighted to be partnering with Al Zarooni Emirates Investments to support the launch of the groundbreaking Citizens Education Hub project. The Blenheim Schools team have a proven track record of outstanding educational leadership with real integrity, a passion for schools as learning communities and a commitment to excellence. Citizens School will nurture and promote the learning and welfare of all students and enable outstanding futures for the children of today and tomorrow.”
Citizens School successfully launched in August 2022 and Blenheim Schools is very proud of the part we played in designing the educational model and launch plan for this groundbreaking new school in the heart of Dubai.
We work with investors on either short-term management contracts like Citizens or full operator agreements like Beech Hall School Riyadh. For more information on our international services contact Andrew Elias – marketing@chatsworthschools.com.
