We are moving to Dubai - please help with secondary schooling and areas to live.

[hotnuncake]

we are moving for sept 26 so my kids can start a new secondary school year 7. Can i have personal feedback on the schools, good and bad and any tips please?

They are currently in an academic school and I know it’s different there.
I am looking for schools with small class sizes and all round good schools. Budget is wide.
once we choose the school, we can then focus on area and look to find a house.

Look at schools compared and which school advisor websites to identify UK curriculum schools in your budget range. It's a very multicultural community and 80+ nationalities in one school is common so don't expect to find your kids in a school with mostly British kids (and lots of the ones that are British are born in the UAE and have spent little time in the UK).

School first, area second is exactly the right order in Dubai. Start your shortlist with the government's inspection ratings and then visit in person if you can, as the feel varies hugely even between highly rated schools. Year 7 places at the popular British-curriculum schools fill up months ahead, so get applications in as early as you can.