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Hartland International School, Dubai



In their own words

Message from the Principal

Welcome to Hartland International School.


We care passionately – about excellent learning and teaching, about learning for life, about education – but most of all we care passionately about the children in our care. Hartland is a unique and vibrant place filled with the energy of inquisitive minds and the dynamics of individual characters. We know that children have an array of differing needs, both educational and emotional, but they also have an exciting assortment of dreams, hopes and aspirations. Your children and their successes are at the heart of all that I and my staff commit to.


Working with the skilled Hartland staff of today and the future, I am confident that we will realise and further develop the vision and philosophy that was the founding bedrock of the school. We strive for academic excellence in a well-disciplined, friendly and supportive community of 106 nationalities which encourages all to succeed. We believe that if children feel happy and secure they will flourish and grow as individuals, whether through academic and pastoral engagement in the enriched curriculum during and after school, or through our focus on shared values and the Hartland Way. When you walk through our corridors, I am certain that you will feel and see that sense of delight and diligence but also awe and wonder on the faces of our children. Our students enjoy their education and have positive attitudes to learning. They are confident, friendly, happy, well-motivated and lively in their outlook and in their approach to all that they do. They also display a strong sense of pride in their school, from the very youngest in Foundation Stage to those in the growing secondary section of the school.


There is without doubt a palpable feeling of community spirit and co-operation between staff, students, parents and our wider community. At Hartland, we understand that education is about guiding and supporting young people on a pathway of success: my staff and I are confident that each child in our care will unlock and realise that potential and indeed, aspire beyond with our support. We also recognise that education is a shared responsibility between family and school and we truly value the partnership that we forge with our parents. Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family makes and we hope that the information on our website will help you and your child make an informed choice.


Mrs Fiona Cottam 



Entrance is assessed via CAT4 cognitive assessment, from GL.


CAT4 is one of, if not the most unique school assessment in circulation. Most children will not have encountered either the CAT4 question types or the format, previously. The good news is that the very specific nature of the exam, means that with effort and perseverance it is possible to achieve confident preparation for your CAT4 entrance exam.


CAT4 is broken into 4 broad categories:


  • Quantitative Reasoning

  • Verbal Reasoning

  • Non-Verbal Reasoning

  • Spatial Reasoning


We have partnered with the test experts at Ready Steady Pass, to bring you the most accurate and best value CAT4 practise material for children between 6 and 13 years of age. The tests are prepared by specialist CAT4 writers and audited by AQA and EdExcel exam markers, and ISI independent school inspectors. Tests are taken online, include unlimited resits and emailed results including answer sheets to share with tutors and parents.



Click below to access our CAT4 page for more information



What questions can I expect?


Each of the 4 questions categories in CAT4 (which GL call "batteries") has two different question types, creating 8 mini exams.


Quantitative Reasoning assess numerical questions, with a focus on patterns and relationships:

  • Number Series questions involve identifying the missing number in a sequence.

  • Number Analogies questions are to do with spotting the relationships between pairs of numbers.


Verbal Reasoning asses the relationship between words:


  • The Verbal Classification battery focuses on word classes and word types.

  • Verbal Analogies questions identify the relationship between pairs of words.


Non-Verbal Reasoning looks at the relationship between shapes:


  • Figure Classification asks you to spot the relationship between a series of images and select the image that matches them.

  • Figure Matrices shows a pattern of shapes presented in a square, challenging us to choose the missing shape.


Spatial Reasoning is a particular kind of non-verbal reasoning:


  • Figure Recognition questions challenge us to find a hidden shape within an image.

  • Figure Analysis questions, sometimes called Folding questions, present the challenges of recognising unfolded paper that has been hole punched at a certain fold.



Click below to browse our CAT4 collection







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