Schools in DUBAI.

[MacaYoniandCheese]

We're moving in the New Year (from Canada). Recon trip in late September. Children will be 12, 9 and 7. I've no idea where to begin with regards to schools! I've been reading horror stories of endless waitlists and corporate debentures...obviously want to get school sorted before we decide on somewhere to live. We're coming from a fabulous public school system where everyone is pretty much guaranteed a place in their local school (and we walk five minutes) so this is all very daunting. Any advice or reccomendations? What happens if you arrive in the middle of the school year? HELP!

Sorry...just to clarify. 'Public' = State.

Bumping.

Hi - try expatwoman.com for more advice. Sorry very short response but we are just off out - will try to come back tomorrow and give you some more details. D

Thank you! I'd love any more details and will check out EW in the meantime.

There are lots of schools here, but have heard of lots of very long waiting lists. Think it's easier if you're applying from abroad...we got our ds in straight away applying from UK, but many here wait for 1 year or so until they get a place. My ds is at GEMS Wellington Primary which we are extremely happy with. He started part way through reception which wash't a problem. Which curriculum would you want?

I'm thinking that the American curriculum would be the easiest transition, coming from Canadian schools, but I like the idea of a British curriculum school because I think it's a little more rigorous (I lived in the UK until I was 12).

There are multiple GEMS locations, right? I had a look at the website for the main one (I think); gorgeous facilities! I suppose my main concern would be finding a school that could take all three of them, rather than having to go to two different schools. DD will be 12 in January so I think in a British school she'd be in a separate Secondary school? In Ontario they combine primary/middle school and don't have to go to Secondary until age 14. I love the sound of JESS but understand that they have waiting lists until something like 2024 .

The whole work/commute/school/live thing is a bit of a puzzle. We like the look of Arabian Ranches to live but would we be able to find school(s) nearby?!? Where we live now, you don't have to think about schools. You buy a house you like that's commutable to work and children go to the good local school...no applications, entry testing, wait lists, year-long lead times...I'm feeling VERY panicky about it all. I might lose the plot if I have to home-school them .

Hi Maca I sympathise I left Dubai 2 years ago so bit out the loop now but I still remember the sleepless nights and stress from the Dubai School saga (and I only wanted 2 places not 3!). My advise is as dubaipieeye says check out expatwoman . They have a full list of schools on their website. Go through them and once you have your preferred ring up and check with the registrar what the waiting list is like. Don't even bother with JESS I was on the waiting list over 3 years and not a wiff of a place. I know ASD was very popular with the US expats but very expensive so ok if you have a good package . We arrived mid year there are still places coming up but not as much as start of year obviously. Look at new schools just opening they tend to have spare places then you can always move to your preferred school later if you are not happy Might be worth considering UK schools as a lot of the Australian/new Zealand paternity choose british schools when in Dubai . However back in australia their school year starts feb -Dec so xmas is a natural time for them to leave and school places come available . Once you have your preferred school be persistent with the registrar most my friends have been successful by just hounding the registrar so they know you are serious. Lots of people come to Dubai and register with loads of schools so its hard for the registrar to know the serious applicants (especially as once people have places they don't remove their names off waiting lists I am sure my kids are still sat on a few waiting lists even though we are not even in the country now!). Would your company consider holding places for a term untill you arrive if places come available in August/September I have known companies do this although less likely these days.
Anyway good luck remember the key word for Dubai schools is persistence

Thank you Dragon . That's great info. Found the schools list on Expat Woman; that should keep me busy for a bit.

Does anyone have any thoughts on Lakes/Springs/Meadows or other communities that have good access to schools? As mentioned above, we like the look of Arabian Ranches but it seems like JESS is the only school option there...would it be too out of the way to get to other schools? Bit concerned about the traffic factor too.

Thanks for all your info. thus far. I'm making notes as I go along.

Hi I lived in Jumeirah when in Dubai and my children also went to a Jumeirah school so not much commuting for us but my dc had lots of friends at school who lived all over Dubai including the meadows, Arabian ranches etc and commuted and I don't think it was an issue. The only problem is you may spend a lot of time waiting around if one child has an after school activity and the others don't as not worth going all the way home and back again. In saying that I wouldn't recommend living in the Meadows and going to school in Mirdiff for example that would be too much but certainly meadows to Jumeirah is doable. I had lots of friends who lived in the meadows, Arabian ranches etc and all seemed happy with the community

There's a GEMS school called Silicon Oasis out past Arabian Ranches. A friends son goes there - it's primary through to secondary so could take all 3. As it's relatively new (3/4years old?) the waiting lists aren't really a problem there. Our friends dc was at a very good American school here but it was SO expensive they decided to change to British GEMS at Silicon Oasis and they're very happy with it. The facilities are fab at the GEMS, my ds primary has 2 swimming pools, access to a computer each, an ipad each, 16 dc to a class with 1 teacher and 2 assistants, they learn arabic, french, have 2 weekly music lessons plus so much more...LOTS of extra curricular activities (ds is only just 5!!) Also school buses are very popular here and many of the kids use them.

Also I would not waste the money applying to JESS...I know of 1 person who has just managed to get a place after 7 years on the waiting list!! The Arabian Ranches is definitely nicer IMO than the springs/meadows etc. We commute to school, we live on the Palm and the school is 25 min drive - past the Dubai Mall, but it's really not a problem for us, we loved the school but fell in love with the view from the apartment so decided to give the commute a go. Wouldn't change it!

Thanks again, Dragon. Just the sort of logistical info. I need.

Thanks, Makingmama. Gems in Silicon Oasis is 'Gems Wellington', I think? Love the look of that one and that they progress towards the IBD. Definitely going on the list!

Yes MacaYoni that's the one Good luck!

Thanks! .

Hi,

We moved to Dubai at Easter with a reception aged DS and another starting FS1 (Pre-school) in Sept and were given all the horrendous waitlist talk - in reality as an international midyear transfer we got 5 out of 6 offers at good schools so I would say don't panic!

GEMs are a great group of schools - some offer British curriculum, some IB so it'd be up to you which system you'd prefer them to go into.

In terms of living areas Arabian Ranches is nicer looking than Springs/Meadows but it is a little further out so depends on schools really. My DCs are at GEMS JPS so for us Arabian Ranches wasn't a great commute so we went with Springs instead. Both have a great community though and we're really happy here. Its about a 20 minute drive which coming from a small village and a 2 minute walk to school was a bit of an adjustment but now I don't even notice it.

JPS where mine go is a primary school but they have their secondary, Jumeirah College, on the same road. I found all the registrars really helpful so just give them a call and explain your situation and they can let you know all the schools they offer.

ExpatWoman is good too - they have a list of all the schools, what curriculum they follow and the fees!

Thanks JoandMax. 5 out of 6 schools! Wow...that's great, and very encouraging .