Curriculum Overview

An Advanced Curricular Approach

Using the exciting and creative IB programmes our aim is to unlock the potential of all students. We provide learners with a hyper-personalised and future-proofed education that is fully inclusive and which delivers high performance for all.

We offer a bespoke, truly unique and aspirational curriculum for all learners – one that combines the powerful, broad and abstract IB concepts with the content of the Early Years Foundation Stage, National Curriculum for England, and the power of High Performance Learning (HPL). Together, these provide opportunities for depth and mastery through student agency, creativity, international-mindedness and action taking.

Our curriculum is a specifically tailored learning model arranged through a mixture of transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and concept driven inquiry learning as well as standalone teaching covering the following subjects and learning areas:


  • Design
  • Technology
  • Visual and Performing Arts
  • Physical Education
  • English Language and Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Socials
  • Innovation and Digital Learning
  • Computing
  • History
  • Geography
  • UAE Social, Moral and Cultural Studies
  • Personal, Social and Health Education
  • Student Wellbeing
  • Arabic and Islamic French
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
  • Community and Environment
  • Empathy and Charity

What is an IB Education?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education—developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. IB programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership of their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills.

IB learners are:

  • encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems
  • drive their own learning
  • a core part in educational programmes that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world
  • more culturally aware through the development of a second language able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.

PYP Curriculum Model

The Primary School sets out to meet the diverse needs of the students through the Primary Years Programme, by ensuring that learning is engaging, relevant, challenging and significant. The school follows a transdisciplinary model, whereby themes of global significance frame the learning throughout the primary years. This means that students are encouraged to make connections between subject areas, and traditional curriculum areas are used as lenses to help students inquire into big ideas. The PYP is both a curriculum framework and a philosophy that facilitates structured inquiry. Through inquiry, the students are encouraged to question, wonder, doubt, speculate and generalize as part of their learning journey to construct meaning about the world around them. Students have the opportunity to explore significant local and global issues and are also encouraged to consider situations critically from multiple viewpoints.

Learner Profile Attributes/International Mindedness

The IB learner profile represents ten attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities. We believe that developing internationally minded learners will help create a better and more peaceful world.

Explore Our Curriculum

  • Primary Years Programme

    In the Early Years at GEMS World Academy, our EYFS and IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) ensure a child-centred learning environment and a rich curriculum where all children are valued and championed.

  • The Middle Years Programme

    The Middle Years Programme (MYP) encourages learners aged 11 to 16 to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for significant success in further study and in life.

  • Student Support

    We are an inclusive Academy that takes great pride in providing support to students based on their individual needs.

Next Steps