Schools in Dubai

[eunjeongcho]

If you do not require school fees in your contract (no kids) is it a usual bargaining chip for a salary increase?

[treh]

Just in the process of the transition to Dubai myself. I would be interested in your educational consultant helping us out.

Originally Posted by tdzankl

dbg - We are in the process of moving to Dubai as well. I have 2 daughters, 7th and 4th Grade. I also wanted US/IB curriculum.
It looks like we will have a spot at the Dubai American Academy - I chose this over the American School of Dubai because of the IB diploma option because that was very important to me. If you are not concerned about the IB program, I believe ASD has a great reputation amongst the US curriculum schools, I have a friend with a younger child there that has been very happy.

Because it was really hard to wade through all the information about the schools and had concerns about getting 2 children placed in the same school, we ended up hiring the services of great educational consultant. She is a former teacher herself and has lived in Dubai for a number of years. She really has a good handle on the current issues going on with most of the schools and has personal relationships with the registrars. She has an extensive interview with you and looks over your child's school records to help you narrow down your options and then she does all the work from there - she filled out all the applications, "presented" our family to the schools of our choice...and she seemed to get us spots in waitlisted years. She really works on what is in the best interests for your child - I really was aprehensive about paying for this service...but I researched her and her references, and everyone I have come across has been more than satisfied with her services.

If you get to 5 posts and want to send me a message, I'd be happy to pass along her contact details if you are finding it difficult to get this done on your own.

Good luck! I should be arriving around the same time as you, and I have a 10 year old daughter as well! Maybe we can compare notes!

[bruncher]

We got our daughter into Wellington Silicon Oasis (WSO) after a very stressful time trying to find a place in FS2. She is very happy there, its settling down into what feels like a good school. We were lucky to get in before the waiting lists started, my understanding is that there are waiting lists for certain years.

There are plenty of children of Emirates pilots at the school, but I dont know if they have debenture places for Emirates kids, the company should be able to help you with that. Its certainly a good location for many of the Emirates pilots living in Silicon Oasis. Arabian Ranches is only 10 minutes away (there are Emirates pilots there too). Good luck.

Originally Posted by napo

Hi!
Anyone know if the new GEMS School in Silicon Oasis (Wellington Academy), has waiting list?
I will move to Dubai next summer, so my 3 kids will start school in sep 2012. My husband get a job with emirates. Do you know if the schools give priority to the children of emirates pilots?
Thank you!

[mstraxs]

Originally Posted by Tricktrack

Hello, I am new to this site and I am moving to Dubai next year.
Thanks for all the info on here regarding schools, I have a few questions if anyone is able to offer any advice!?
We wanted to look at villas in Arabian ranches, as to start with we would feel better as a family (of 5) in what looks like a nice ex pat community like this, and with the Jess school close. However we are unable to even be put on the waiting list for Jess School Arabian ranches so we think we need to rethink!
Can anyone point me in the direction of nice expat communities near other schools please as I don't want to be driving my kids around for school all day so I'm thinking to look for accommodation near to good schools whose waiting lists for sept 2012 my kids can hopefully get on!
Any advice appreciated!
Thanks in advance x

Hi

We have just arrived recently in Dubai and have our kids in the GEMS World Academy. We have lived in 5 different countries with our kids now and on viewing this school I can hand on heart say it has the best facilities and educational setup we have ever experienced or heard of in any of our previous postings overseas. Our kids have been to some fantastic schools around the world but this place blows them out the water in terms of the facilities on offer including a series of state of the art music rooms, multimedia rooms (A green room in a school??), a planetarium, skate park and tennis courts on the roof and an olympic size 50m swimming pool (one of only a couple in all Dubai I believe). We felt comfortable with the teaching standards on offer and the whole place was very friendly on visiting.

We are also now in the process of looking for a house and on first impressions I have to say I was pleasantly surprised on what was on offer around the town and on how compact Dubai is in relation to other cities around the world. We have managed to get all over the city to our present base in the Marina in an average of 20 minutes, 30 from the furthest flung areas. For instance Arabian Ranches to Marina today was 20 minutes. Arabian ranches/Sports city to the GEMS school- 10 minutes which I don't have an issue with at all. We have driven various routes at different times of day and have yet to experience the 'horror' traffic we had been warned about. It certainly is no worse than most cities I have been to and better than any we have lived in. What is taking a bit of getting used to is the sheer scale of building going on still and the amount fo half finished projects scattered everywhere, lots of roads to nowhere.

On the housing front I think if you are not fussy about the ususal haunts of the meadows/Springs/JBR then try looking for a home a little further out where you get more for your money it seems. Arabian Ranches is nice but pricey I thought. If you don't mind another 10 minutes further out of town try The villas or Falcon City.

[Tricktrack]

Thankyou so much for your reply and info, it really helps to get perspective from someone who is there already!x

[weis]

Hi everyone,

moving to Dubai with kids of 9 and 13 yo with little to very little English. We may not be the first ones doing this and I would very much appreciate if any of you would share your experience what it takes to find a school (IB, British or American) with these conditions. Any little help would make us happy as it seems to be a mission impossible given most schools only provide language support only up to 9-11 yr.

[MZB]

Hi all,

Any one here send their kids to Repton in Nad al Sheba and live in ranches? Would love to hear from you...

We have just moved to Dubai from the UK with our 6 year old son and have secured a place in AR.. Would like to here your experiences and how life is here

Thanks
Zuned

[samanbengali]

My son has been offered a place in Dubai in grade 3 in DAA. He is 9 yrs 7 months ( may born) and in grade 4 in my home country and still one of the eldest in class ( British system). I am worried as I don't want him to lag behind. We have applied to Wellington, kings, and star international umme sheif. We have only heard from star where he has been accepted in yr 4 but it's a very new school and DAA had a wonderful feel to it. Does anyone hav any info regarding this?

[lenamatilda]

quick question: what is the difference between KG1 and KG2?

[samanbengali]

Originally Posted by lenamatilda

quick question: what is the difference between KG1 and KG2?

Just 2 yrs of kindergarten , I assume.