Cranleigh Abu Dhabi school to open on Saadiyat Island

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi school

More than 1,600 pupils are expected to join Cranleigh Abu Dhabi School, which is set to open in 2014 on Saadiyat Island, the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) announced on Tuesday.

Cranleigh will become one of the largest school campuses in Abu Dhabi with open green spaces and extensive landscaping stretching over seven hectares of land.

The fourth quarter of this year will witness the construction of the school’s superstructure.

“This is a milestone in the island’s transformation into a premier destination to support the development of high-quality education in Abu Dhabi,” said Ali Al Hammadi, deputy manager director at TDIC.

“Once launched in 2014, Cranleigh School will provide educational benefits not only for the island’s residents and members of Abu Dhabi’s community, but for the region as well,” he added.

Additionally, Cranleigh will host co-educational facilities for more than 1,600 pupils aged from 3 to 18, comprising separate junior and senior schools with each housing its own classrooms, faculty and administration offices, dining hall and library.

The school, which is located next to Manarat Al Saadiyat and the UAE Pavilion in the Saadiyat Cultural District, will also offer a broad academic curriculum with an emphasis on the individual besides a wide array of opportunities allowing pupils to explore their talents in arts, sports, and culture.

New high-tech facilities will also be provided for pupils in order to enhance the education process, including electronic tables inside classrooms.

The school was designed by Godwin Austen Johnson Architects, a UK-based award-winning architectural firm.

Registrations will be taken from November; however, admissions enquiries are welcome at this stage.

“The educational projects currently being developed on Saadiyat, including New York University and Cranleigh Abu Dhabi School, will be available on Saadiyat by 2014,” said Ahmad Al Fahim, executive director of marketing, communication, sales and leasing at TDIC.

Additionally, the first nursery school is set to open on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island to provide pre-school education.

“The Redwood Saadiyat Nursery will open in the third quarter of 2013 to accommodate up to 140 children to offer a curriculum based fundamentally on a model of human development,” he added.

“The curriculum will include English, French and Arabic sessions besides an extra curricular programme offering a range of activities such as cooking, ballet, music and other classes,” said Al Fahim.