When people hear that a school belongs to a larger group, they can sometimes picture something distant or impersonal. Cognita is quite the opposite.

Being part of a wider family of schools gives us something incredibly valuable: people to learn from, experience to draw on and colleagues around the world who are asking many of the same questions we are. For Horizon Town Square, that matters. We may be opening a new school, but we are certainly not starting from a blank page.

The Horizon family within Cognita

Closer to home, we are also part of the Horizon family.

Horizon English School has been part of Dubai’s education story since 1989. I have had the privilege of serving as Principal there for the past three years, so I know first-hand what makes it such a special school.

It is not one programme, one building or one way of teaching. It is the culture. It is the way children are known as individuals. The relationships between teachers and families. The sense that everyone has something to contribute. The belief that academic success and personal growth should go hand in hand. That is the DNA we are bringing to Horizon Town Square. Across our Horizon schools, we share an organising idea: flourishing. We express that through three simple commitments: Everyone Counts. Everyone Contributes. Everyone Succeeds.

That does not mean creating two identical schools. Horizon Town Square will develop its own character, shaped by the students, families and community around it. But the two schools will learn from one another, challenge one another and share what works.

For me, that is one of the most exciting things about what we are building.

Why this matters when choosing a school

I understand that choosing a new school can feel like a leap of faith. There are not yet years of examination results or generations of alumni from Horizon Town Square. Those things take time to build. But what we do have is a strong track record behind us.

We have the heritage of Horizon English School in Jumeirah, with more than 35 years of experience in Dubai and an Outstanding KHDA rating. We also have the strength of the wider Cognita community, giving our team access to experienced educators, established quality assurance and opportunities to learn from schools across different age groups, curricula and countries.

So while Horizon Town Square will be new, the thinking, experience and expertise behind it are not. We can take what we already know works, draw on the experience of colleagues across the Horizon and Cognita families, and then ask an equally important question: what is right for the families of Town Square? Because ultimately, we are not simply opening another campus. We are building a school that belongs to its community from the very beginning.

Come and continue the conversation

Horizon Town Square opens in August 2027, and there is already a great deal happening as we prepare to welcome our founding families. I would love to welcome you to our Parent Experience Centre in Town Square. Come and meet the team, ask us the questions that matter to your family and discover more about the education, community and opportunities your child can expect at Horizon Town Square.

You will also hear more about what it means to be part of the Horizon family, and how the experience, expertise and connections across Cognita are helping us build an exceptional school from day one.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Hart
Founding Principal
Horizon Town Square