Reflecting on School Memories: The Starting Point for Choosing a School in Dubai

At the end of this week, schools across Dubai will close for the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

For some students, this will mark the conclusion of their school journey. They’ll be looking ahead to the next chapter—whether that’s higher education, the world of work, or perhaps a gap year.

They’ll also be looking back, reflecting on the friendships they’ve made, the challenges they’ve overcome, the teachers who inspired them, and the moments—both big and small—that have led to graduation.

These memories will stay with them, accompanying them into adulthood. They’ll influence how they approach future opportunities, how they build relationships, and one day, how they choose schools for their own children.

Whether we realize it or not, our school memories play a powerful role in shaping our educational expectations. When parents start to explore school options for their children, they often find themselves drawing from their own school experiences—both the positive and the not-so-positive. It’s a natural starting point for the school choice process.

I always recommend beginning this journey by reflecting on your own schooling:

                  •               What was valued (by you, your parents, and the school)?

                  •               What did you enjoy? What did you not enjoy?

                  •               What opportunities did you wish you had?

Through this process, many couples discover that their own experiences were quite different—and with those differences often come distinct expectations for what they want in a school for their child. Taking time to understand the background of these hopes, concerns, and assumptions can help parents find greater alignment and clarity in their decision-making.

As Dubai continues to grow as a global hub, home to families from all over the world, expectations of what makes a ‘good’ or ‘typical’ schooling experience vary enormously. The city’s 200+ private schools reflect this diversity of aspiration and educational philosophy.

At Navigate.Ed, we specialize in helping families find schools that align with their unique expectations, values, and goals. We firmly believe there is no single ‘best school’—only the best school for you and your child.

Introducing: Memories Monday

Because school memories can have such a profound impact on school preferences, we’re launching a new series: Memories Monday.

Each week, I’ll be sharing school stories—some of my own, some from the families I’ve worked with, and others from people I meet on the way —exploring how these experiences shape what we look for in schools today.

I’ll start the series by sharing some of my own memories.

Recently, I dug out some of the documents I’ve kept from my school days. I went to school in New Zealand and was part of one of the last cohorts to complete the Bursaries and Higher School Certificate system. I chose five subjects: English, Mathematics with Statistics, Classical Studies, Biology, and Agriculture & Horticulture.

Looking back, these choices reflected not only my broad interests and a desire to keep my university options open but also my preference for (or avoidance of) specific teachers and the limited subject offerings at my small rural school.

I was a diligent student and earned enough points not only to graduate and secure university entrance but also to receive an ‘A’ Bursary, along with a small scholarship.

My final school report lists a wide range of extracurricular activities—hockey, orchestra, choir, debating, fund raising—demonstrating the varied opportunities I took advantage of and the balanced school life I valued. It also confirms that I spent five years at the same school and describes me as ‘conscientious,’ ‘capable,’ and ‘enthusiastic.’ It summarizes what was, for me, a successful and stable time of life.

Your own story may be similar in some ways and very different in others. And that’s exactly why we don’t make sweeping statements about schools at Navigate.Ed. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Our role is not to tell you which school is ‘the best’—our role is to help you find the right school for your child, based on your family’s unique story, values, and vision.

I’d love to hear from you

What memories stand out from your school days?

How have they shaped what you’re looking for in a school for your child?

Join the conversation on our socials, and you could feature in a future Memories Monday.