Creating future leaders who grow with confidence and adaptability.
Strong academics combined with real-world skills and confidence.
The Scholars School
The Scholars International Group was founded by Ms. Madhu Verma, a passionate educator, and her husband Mr. Yashpal Verma, a civil engineer and a philanthropist. Together, they contributed to developing the educational infrastructure of the country.
This legacy has been carried forward by their daughter Ms. Aparna Verma, who has been one of the key drivers in transforming education in the UAE.
Awards & Recognition
SIG Schools have educated thousands of students who are alumni at some of the top universities in the world.
The Scholars Signature Programmes are integrated into the weekly structure and designed to turn learning into action. Students have the opportunity to learn critical life skills like leadership and community development and technical skills like entrepreneurship and digital fluency through hands-on experience.
A performance sports pathway that develops physical skills, competitive confidence, and the habits of excellence through disciplined training, match play, and team responsibility.
An enterprise programme where learners build financial fluency and entrepreneurial thinking through practical projects that move ideas into real outcomes.
A digital innovation programme that develops technological confidence beyond coding through building, testing, and refining prototypes while strengthening responsible AI and digital decision-making.
A structured oracy and communication programme that develops articulate thinkers and confident communicators through coached practice in voice, presence, listening, reasoning, and purposeful speaking opportunities.
At the heart of The Scholars School is our vastly experienced team of leaders, who are personally committed to bringing our vision and mission to life for your family.
Kyle Knott is the Founding Principal of The Scholars School, bringing over a decade of international experience and deep expertise in academic improvement and school expansion across the UK and UAE. Prior to this role, he served as Director of Academic Improvement for Scholars International Group (SIG), where he played a pivotal role in driving academic performance, elevating teaching and learning standards, and shaping educational strategy across the group.
Kyle has held senior leadership positions, including successful tenures as Executive Principal in Dubai and founding leadership roles in the UK. He is also an accredited international school inspector, contributing extensive expertise in regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and teaching methodologies.
He holds a PGCE from the University of the West of England, a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Buckingham, and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).
Passionate about equity in education and relentless in the pursuit of excellence, Kyle's leadership is grounded in the belief that schools grow when teachers grow. He brings this to life through rigorous professional development and a codified teaching framework that supports high-performance learning alongside holistic student well-being. At The Scholars School, Kyle is committed to establishing a flagship institution that not only meets the highest standards of the UAE but also empowers every student to reach their full potential.
Alan D. Cohen is a globally recognized education leader with over 30 years of expertise in transformative school governance, academic innovation, and professional development. He serves as Co-Chair Emeritus of the Principals' Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is the CEO of ADC International, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping school leadership at an international scale.
Renowned for his innovative approaches to learning and institutional transformation, Alan has consistently championed forward-thinking educational models that prepare students for the complexities of our global society. His strategic vision emphasizes developing programs that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong curiosity among diverse learners.
Time Warner awarded Cohen the Principal of Excellence Award for his transformative work in urban education. He was honored with the Tribeca Film Festival Disruptive Innovation Award, which celebrates individuals who challenge conventional thinking and drive meaningful change across sectors. He has also been named Educator of the Year by Education Update.
His leadership has encompassed district-wide student support services and large-scale professional development programs, including oversight of the nation's largest teacher mentorship initiative in New York. Alan has successfully led school accreditations and governance transitions internationally and in the US. He holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and New York University. As Chair of Governors for SIG, Alan brings visionary leadership and deep dedication to transforming education through innovation, collaboration, and a holistic understanding of global trends.
Aparna Verma, the Chairperson of Scholars International Group, has committed her life to providing quality education for the youth of the UAE. Scholars International Group is the owner and operator of three schools in the UAE: Dubai Scholars, Scholars International Academy, and the newest school, The Scholars School.
Since taking over Dubai Scholars in 1984, Aparna has lived her life facing challenges, taking risks, and being an outlier. She has followed her passion for endowing younger generations with the skills of grit, perseverance, and confidence. This desire originates from her own personal experiences requiring strength and resilience to survive as a woman and succeed with the courage to make things happen, take on challenges, and beat the odds.
The organization began as a villa school originally opened by her mother in 1976, an educator herself. From those first 100 students to the over 4,000 current students across the three schools, SIG has grown into one of the UAE's most respected education groups. SIG schools have achieved High Performance Learning "World Class" status, and students have consistently outperformed UAE and international benchmarks, including TIMSS 2023 and PIRLS 2021.
Alumni have gone on to universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and Columbia, and are now building impactful careers at global organizations like Tesla, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Aparna Verma holds a BSc from Georgetown University and has continued her education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has received multiple awards, including Arabian Business CEO of the Year and the Gulf News Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our leadership team has a sense of responsibility for your child’s success and well-being. They focus their expertise every day on providing an education enriched with rewarding experiences that build confidence, character, and a love of learning.
They strive every day to create a warm, supportive, and inclusive environment where every child is known, valued, and empowered to excel.
While we ensure comprehensive subject coverage, our true focus is on building the skills that create lasting success. As the first and only founding High-Performance Learning school, we are proud to actively teach advanced thinking skills (like critical analysis and creativity) and essential learning behaviours (like resilience and collaboration).
For your child, this means they are empowered with the tools to think like top achievers. This method builds deep confidence and leads directly to significantly better academic outcomes.
Creating future leaders who grow with confidence and adaptability.
Strong academics combined with real-world skills and confidence.
The Scholars School
The Scholars International Group was founded by Ms. Madhu Verma, a passionate educator, and her husband Mr. Yashpal Verma, a civil engineer and a philanthropist. Together, they contributed to developing the educational infrastructure of the country.
This legacy has been carried forward by their daughter Ms. Aparna Verma, who has been one of the key drivers in transforming education in the UAE.
Awards & Recognition
SIG Schools have educated thousands of students who are alumni at some of the top universities in the world.
The Scholars Signature Programmes are integrated into the weekly structure and designed to turn learning into action. Students have the opportunity to learn critical life skills like leadership and community development and technical skills like entrepreneurship and digital fluency through hands-on experience.
A performance sports pathway that develops physical skills, competitive confidence, and the habits of excellence through disciplined training, match play, and team responsibility.
An enterprise programme where learners build financial fluency and entrepreneurial thinking through practical projects that move ideas into real outcomes.
A digital innovation programme that develops technological confidence beyond coding through building, testing, and refining prototypes while strengthening responsible AI and digital decision-making.
A structured oracy and communication programme that develops articulate thinkers and confident communicators through coached practice in voice, presence, listening, reasoning, and purposeful speaking opportunities.
At the heart of The Scholars School is our vastly experienced team of leaders, who are personally committed to bringing our vision and mission to life for your family.
Kyle Knott is the Founding Principal of The Scholars School, bringing over a decade of international experience and deep expertise in academic improvement and school expansion across the UK and UAE. Prior to this role, he served as Director of Academic Improvement for Scholars International Group (SIG), where he played a pivotal role in driving academic performance, elevating teaching and learning standards, and shaping educational strategy across the group.
Kyle has held senior leadership positions, including successful tenures as Executive Principal in Dubai and founding leadership roles in the UK. He is also an accredited international school inspector, contributing extensive expertise in regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and teaching methodologies.
He holds a PGCE from the University of the West of England, a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Buckingham, and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).
Passionate about equity in education and relentless in the pursuit of excellence, Kyle's leadership is grounded in the belief that schools grow when teachers grow. He brings this to life through rigorous professional development and a codified teaching framework that supports high-performance learning alongside holistic student well-being. At The Scholars School, Kyle is committed to establishing a flagship institution that not only meets the highest standards of the UAE but also empowers every student to reach their full potential.
Alan D. Cohen is a globally recognized education leader with over 30 years of expertise in transformative school governance, academic innovation, and professional development. He serves as Co-Chair Emeritus of the Principals' Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is the CEO of ADC International, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping school leadership at an international scale.
Renowned for his innovative approaches to learning and institutional transformation, Alan has consistently championed forward-thinking educational models that prepare students for the complexities of our global society. His strategic vision emphasizes developing programs that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong curiosity among diverse learners.
Time Warner awarded Cohen the Principal of Excellence Award for his transformative work in urban education. He was honored with the Tribeca Film Festival Disruptive Innovation Award, which celebrates individuals who challenge conventional thinking and drive meaningful change across sectors. He has also been named Educator of the Year by Education Update.
His leadership has encompassed district-wide student support services and large-scale professional development programs, including oversight of the nation's largest teacher mentorship initiative in New York. Alan has successfully led school accreditations and governance transitions internationally and in the US. He holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and New York University. As Chair of Governors for SIG, Alan brings visionary leadership and deep dedication to transforming education through innovation, collaboration, and a holistic understanding of global trends.
Aparna Verma, the Chairperson of Scholars International Group, has committed her life to providing quality education for the youth of the UAE. Scholars International Group is the owner and operator of three schools in the UAE: Dubai Scholars, Scholars International Academy, and the newest school, The Scholars School.
Since taking over Dubai Scholars in 1984, Aparna has lived her life facing challenges, taking risks, and being an outlier. She has followed her passion for endowing younger generations with the skills of grit, perseverance, and confidence. This desire originates from her own personal experiences requiring strength and resilience to survive as a woman and succeed with the courage to make things happen, take on challenges, and beat the odds.
The organization began as a villa school originally opened by her mother in 1976, an educator herself. From those first 100 students to the over 4,000 current students across the three schools, SIG has grown into one of the UAE's most respected education groups. SIG schools have achieved High Performance Learning "World Class" status, and students have consistently outperformed UAE and international benchmarks, including TIMSS 2023 and PIRLS 2021.
Alumni have gone on to universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and Columbia, and are now building impactful careers at global organizations like Tesla, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Aparna Verma holds a BSc from Georgetown University and has continued her education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has received multiple awards, including Arabian Business CEO of the Year and the Gulf News Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our leadership team has a sense of responsibility for your child’s success and well-being. They focus their expertise every day on providing an education enriched with rewarding experiences that build confidence, character, and a love of learning.
They strive every day to create a warm, supportive, and inclusive environment where every child is known, valued, and empowered to excel.
While we ensure comprehensive subject coverage, our true focus is on building the skills that create lasting success. As the first and only founding High-Performance Learning school, we are proud to actively teach advanced thinking skills (like critical analysis and creativity) and essential learning behaviours (like resilience and collaboration).
For your child, this means they are empowered with the tools to think like top achievers. This method builds deep confidence and leads directly to significantly better academic outcomes.