About Us

Discover what makes UIS a unique educational experience for our learners.

Welcome message from the principal

They understand that engaging and motivating students in their own learning is essential and that instilling self-belief is the first step to success in examinations and life.

“The driving force of every successful school is the teaching staff. At Uptown, our teachers are dedicated to helping our students discover and shape their dreams. They understand that engaging and motivating students in their own learning is essential and that instilling self-belief is the first step to success in examinations and life.”

Colin Gerrie
Principal

Facilities

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Science Laboratory

Seven fully equipped laboratories to support Inquiry-based learning.

Libraries

Provide a focused area for reading, inquiry, and research within the school.

ICT

Full wireless connectivity across the campus and ICT-integrated classrooms to support learning.

PHE, Swimming and Athletics

State-of-the-art gym, pool, 6 sports pitches, and 4 courts for school sports programs.

School Cafeteria

On-campus catering offers hot and cold healthy lunches with indoor and outdoor seating.

School Leadership

Our cross-disciplinary team, from school leaders and teachers to our administrative staff, share common values and goals that underpin our approach to education.

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Colin Gerrie

Principal

Colin Gerrie

Principal

Colin joined UIS as Principal in August 2023 after enjoying 2 years as Vice Principal and Head of Secondary at Taaleem’s Greenfield International School. He was integral to the elevation in the school’s KHDA overall evaluation and in registering amongst the best IB DP results in Taaleem’s history.

Originally from Scotland, Colin has led schools (as Principal or Head of Secondary) for the last 13 years and has been instrumental in delivering school improvement, particularly with respect to exam results and student outcomes. The upshot has been record attainment in each of the schools that he has worked within. A real trademark of his career.

Colin began his teaching career as a teacher of History and Humanities at the Trinity Academy in Scotland. He then moved to Lasswade School in Scotland where he received his first promotion to become Head of the Humanities Department for the next 6 years. His department had the top performing student in the entire country for two years in a row. Thereafter, he became a Deputy Head at the same school with the responsibility for curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment.

During this time, he also worked with the BBC to produce educational programmes and was a scout for a professional football team. From 2007 to 2011 Colin moved to be the Deputy Head of Ross School and overseen Inclusion, Safeguarding, Child Protection and Wellbeing.

Most significantly in 2011, Colin received his first Headship when he took over the leadership of Dalkeith School (Principal) which is a 900 student coeducational school on the outskirts of Edinburgh. After 4 very successful years at Dalkeith, Colin was promoted to lead one of Scotland’s oldest schools with the 1,300 student Musselburgh Grammar School, where he served 6 years as Principal. During these 10 years of Secondary school Headship Colin received many awards and was most notably recognised with his appointment as an Ofsted inspector (HMIe). This is the equivalent of our Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) in the KHDA Dubai system.

In terms of his educational background, Colin graduated from the University of Glasgow with a M.A (Honours degree) in History. He achieved his PGCE (Secondary teaching qualification in History & Humanities) from the University of Strathclyde. Finally, he was awarded his Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH/NPQH) and Postgraduate Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Edinburgh.

Carrie Hoza

Head of Primary

Paul Rowe

Head of Secondary

Mission & Values

Our Mission

Aligned purposefully to the International Baccalaureate, we use education to make the world a better place to be, at the level of:

The individual, through the achievement of outstanding qualifications, cultivating the learner profile, promoting wellbeing, and nurturing leadership, for all.

The community, through service, a commitment to continuous development and by embracing the UAE National Agenda.

The planet, through cultural empathy, international mindedness and environmental awareness.

Our Vision

A school for the whole of our international community, that delivers a world-class education and achieves excellent student outcomes, by all measures, for all our students, in line with the UAE National Agenda.

Our Values

Excellence: Fostering a foundation for future success through high standards in education and personal growth.

Creativity: Encouraging expression and innovation in a safe, modern environment.

Inclusion: Celebrating diversity, fostering respect, and building a united community.

Partnership: Collaborating with parents to enhance children’s learning and development.

Engagement: Delivering an interactive curriculum that sparks curiosity and active learning.

Wellbeing: Prioritizing emotional health for building confidence and social skills.

Future-Ready: Preparing children with the skills and knowledge for tomorrow’s challenges.

Taaleem School

Welcome to Uptown International School (UIS), a Taaleem school, and one of the best IB schools in the country. We have a wonderful school community with students present from across all quarters of the globe. Understandably, we appreciate that your son/daughter’s education is of paramount importance and coupled with our high expectations, we are confident that they will become happy, knowledgeable, inquisitive and high attaining learners at UIS. After all we strive to achieve excellence, whilst caring for all.

Located in the heart of the Mirdif community in Dubai, UIS is a place for students to learn how to think critically, challenge assumptions, excel, build character, make lifelong friendships and become multilingual global citizens – ready for the 21st century.