Question 1

What services does Atlantic Ivy offer?

Accepted Answer

Atlantic Ivy runs five program areas from its Dubai academy: competitive debate training (World Schools, British Parliamentary, Public Forum, and Lincoln-Douglas formats), public speaking classes for ages 5-18, academic and competition writing programs (John Locke Institute essay prep, Harvard International Review, The Concord Review), boarding school and university admissions consulting, and international tournament trips to competitions such as the Harvard Invitational and Oxford Schools. Classes run in 10-week semesters at our Barsha Heights training centre in Dubai, with the same programs taught live online over Zoom for students worldwide. We also offer summer intensives, tournament support covering registration, preparation, and travel, and executive communication coaching for adults and professionals. Every program is taught by coaches with international competitive experience, and new families can start with a free trial class.

Question 2

Who are your instructors?

Accepted Answer

Atlantic Ivy was co-founded by Ricky Huang, former Director of Training at the Oxford Union — one of the world's oldest debating societies — and Peregrine Beckett, former Head Coach of the Columbia Debate Society and Best Speaker at the Harvard Invitational. The wider coaching team includes debaters from Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cambridge, Columbia, and the London School of Economics — among them a European Universities Debating Champion, top-10 and top-16 speakers at the World Universities Debating Championship, an NSDA Nationals 4th-place finisher, and coaches of national teams. Coaches specialise by format — World Schools, British Parliamentary, Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, and Model United Nations — so students train with someone who has competed or judged at the highest level of the format they are learning. Full profiles are on our Meet the Coaches page.

Question 3

Do you offer online classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every core program — debate, public speaking, and academic writing — runs as live online classes over Zoom as well as in person in Dubai. Online classes are capped at 8-10 students, meet weekly through the 10-week semester, and are recorded so students can review sessions. The curriculum, coaches, and practice structure are the same as our in-person Dubai classes, and online students compete in the same tournaments — including the Harvard Invitational, where Atlantic Ivy achieved a 50% break rate in 2026. We schedule sessions across multiple time zones for families in the UAE, UK, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and currently teach students in over 15 countries. All a student needs is a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection.

Question 4

What age groups do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We teach students from age 5 through 18, grouped into age bands of 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, and 15-18 so every class is age-appropriate. The youngest students start in our Public Speaking track, which builds confidence through games, storytelling, and short presentations. Formal debate training typically begins around age 10-11, when students can work with argumentation and rebuttal, and progresses through our Foundation, Academy, and Scholars levels into fully competitive formats such as World Schools and Public Forum. Teenagers can join tournament teams, essay-competition programs like John Locke prep, and university admissions consulting. Beyond the student programs, we provide executive presentation coaching and corporate communication training for adults and professionals. If you're unsure where your child fits, a free trial class or our online skills assessment will place them at the right level.

Question 5

Where are you located in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Our training centre is at 12AC12 I-Rise Tower, Barsha Heights, Dubai — a short drive from Dubai Marina, JLT, Media City, and Internet City. We're open Saturday through Thursday, 9:00am to 8:00pm, with classes running on weekday evenings and weekends to fit around school schedules. In-person classes for public speaking, debate, and writing all run at this location in small groups of 8-10 students. Families outside Dubai — or those who prefer to learn from home — can join the same programs through our live online classes over Zoom, which follow the identical curriculum with the same coaches. You can reach us by WhatsApp, by email at info@atlanticivy.com, or by booking a free online consultation through the website.

Question 6

Can I try a class before enrolling?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every new family can book a free two-hour trial class with no payment and no commitment. Your child joins a real class at their age level, works with our coaches, and experiences the actual teaching style, class size (8-10 students), and practice structure they would get as an enrolled student. After the trial, the coach shares feedback on your child's current level and recommends the right starting point across our Public Speaking, Debate Academy, or Scholars tracks. If you'd rather start with a conversation, you can book a free consultation instead, or have your child take our online skills assessment, which produces a personalised four-week learning plan and a course recommendation. Trials are available for both in-person classes in Barsha Heights and live online classes.

Question 7

What results have your students achieved?

Accepted Answer

At the Harvard Invitational 2026 — a tournament with over 4,000 competitors from 15+ countries — Atlantic Ivy achieved a 50% break rate, with 5 of our 10 teams advancing to elimination rounds, a Junior Varsity quarterfinalist, and multiple Top Speaker awards. In writing competitions, 93% of our John Locke Essay Competition 2026 students were shortlisted (38 of 41 — roughly five times the global average), and 80% of our Harvard International Review contest students earned Silver or above. Across the academy our students have recorded 500+ tournament wins, with regular placements at Stanford, Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge competitions. On the admissions side, our consulting families have secured offers from leading UK and US boarding schools including Eton, Harrow, and Winchester.

Question 8

How do I choose the right program?

Accepted Answer

Start with your child's goal. If they need confidence and clear delivery, begin with Public Speaking (from age 5). If they enjoy argument and current affairs, Debate Academy is the natural home from around age 10-11, leading to competitive formats like World Schools and Public Forum. Strong writers aiming for credentials should look at the Writing Scholars competition programs — John Locke, Harvard International Review, and The Concord Review. Families targeting UK or US boarding schools can book an admissions consulting consultation. Two free tools make the decision easier: our online skills assessment (45 questions, producing a level recommendation and a four-week plan) and a free trial class where a coach evaluates your child directly. You can also book a free consultation to talk through the options with our team.

Dubai's Premier Educational Academy

From Oxford to Dubai

Meet Our Founders

Ricky Huang

Peregrine Beckett

Comprehensive Educational Programs

Debate Training

Public Speaking

High School Consulting

Writing Scholars

Tournaments

Summer Programs

Why Choose Atlantic Ivy

World-Class Coaches

Proven Results

Comprehensive Programs

All Ages Welcome

Dubai & Online

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2024-2025 Season Highlights

Harvard Invitational 2025

Oxford Schools

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The Atlantic Ivy Experience

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