Stage one: initial enquiry

Most families begin with a phone call, an email, or an online enquiry. Tell us your child’s age, the grade they are currently in, and anything about them that you want us to know from the start. Someone from the admissions team will respond within two working days.

This is not a formal application. It is the beginning of a conversation. If we have questions about your child’s needs, we will ask them. If you have questions about the school, we will answer them.

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Stage two: the school visit

We strongly recommend visiting the school before applying. A visit is the single best way to know whether Alia is the right place for your child.

During your visit, you will meet a member of the admissions team, see the classrooms, and where possible spend time with the phase leader for your child’s age group. If your child is coming with you, we may arrange for them to spend a short time in a class of their own age group. This is not part of the assessment. It is a chance for them to see the school for themselves.

Plan for the visit to take about an hour. Come with questions.

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Stage three: the application

Once you are ready to apply, we will send you the application form and a list of the documents we need. These typically include:

• A completed application form.
• A copy of your child’s passport or ID.
• Recent school reports from your child’s current or previous school.
• Any diagnostic reports, educational psychology assessments, or medical reports relevant to your child’s learning or wellbeing.
• Immunization records.
• A recent photograph.

Our admissions platform allows you to submit these documents online. If you need help with any part of the application, the admissions team will guide you through it.

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Stage four: assessment

Every child completes an entry assessment before joining Alia. This is not a test to pass or fail. It helps us understand your child’s current level in the core subjects, and helps us plan the right support and challenge from their first day.

The assessment is age-appropriate. For younger children, it is a short, friendly session with a teacher, often involving conversation, drawing, and simple games. For older students, it includes short written tasks in English, mathematics, and (where relevant) Arabic. The whole process is designed to feel like a school morning, not an exam.

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Stage five: the offer

Once the assessment is complete and the application is reviewed, the admissions team will contact you with an outcome. In most cases, this takes one to two weeks.

If a place is offered, you will receive a formal offer letter setting out the year, class, fees, and next steps. You will have a defined period to accept the offer and complete enrollment.

If a place cannot be offered immediately, we will explain why. Sometimes this means a place is not available in the year group at that moment, in which case your child may be placed on a waiting list. Sometimes it means we do not believe Alia is the right school for your child. In either case, we will be honest with you about the reason.

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Stage six: enrollment

Once you accept the offer, the enrollment process begins. This includes signing the enrollment contract, paying the enrollment fee, arranging uniform and any other practical steps, and receiving your child’s start-of-term information pack.

Before term begins, we invite you to a welcome session. This is a chance to meet your child’s class teacher, see the classroom, and settle any last practical questions.

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Families seeking learning support

If your child has diagnosed learning needs, or if you suspect they might, the process is slightly different. Please indicate this at the initial enquiry stage so the first conversation is with our Learning Support team, who understand what you are asking and can guide you through the specialist route.

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Timing

We accept applications year-round, and we admit students throughout the year where places are available. However, most families apply between January and April for the following academic year, and popular year groups fill early. Applying in good time is always sensible.