The Abu Dhabi school intertwining history with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) is a British Embassy sponsored school and is the emirate’s first British school with full UAE royal approval and visitations by the British royal family, namely Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1968, the UAE’s founding father, the late President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, donated a plot of land in Amiri Decree No. 5 of 1971, on which to build the school, then known as Al Khubairat Community School. The mission of the school was to provide an education for the children of foreign engineers who were working on oil projects at that time.
The school’s connection to royalty did not stop there.
Anybody who has had the pleasure of visiting the BSAK campus at its present location in Al Mushrif will have noticed that, not only are old photos of Sheikh Zayed with the first class of 1968 on display, but also images of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she graced the school with her presence in 1979.
Greeted by students and teachers alike, Her Majesty was given a detailed tour of the school’s facilities. The royal visit saw an estimated 2,000 well-wishers turn out to greet her in the grounds of the school when it was located on Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Her Majesty was escorted around the premises by the then school principal, Alan Hatter. Both Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip were presented with an exhibition honouring the International Year of the Child, a United Nations initiative designed to raise awareness of the issues affecting the least advantaged young people in society.
As one can imagine, the occasion was colourful with the student population encouraged to turn out in national dress to reflect the multi-cultural community of BSAK, along with stalls that served international cuisine.
Her Majesty, once again, visited the UAE in 2010. On this occasion, unveiled a plaque marking the start of construction on the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island while BSAK students performed a music recital.
Other than visits by Her Majesty, the school is also synonymous with visits by other members of the British Royal Family throughout the decades. Princess Anne visited the school in 1987 and in 2007, The Prince of Wales visited BSAK to view a Climate Change Exhibition, and spent time chatting to primary and secondary pupils at the school.
In February early this year, six BSAK secondary pupils met His Royal Highness Prince William at Jubail Mangrove Park to hear his views on environmental issues and to share their passion on the subject.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II recently celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, becoming the first British Monarch in history to do so. A plethora of celebratory events took place across the UK and, indeed, around the world, not least here in the UAE.
The school is also honouring this landmark occasion, and the many British royal visits, by holding its own special celebrations in the last week of term.
For more information about The British School Al Khubairat, visit britishschool.sch.ae
