If you are new to Dubai, you may find the following summary useful.  If you are not new to Dubai, you may still find it useful to dispel those coffee shop rumours!!
 

How long has JESS been in Dubai?
The first JESS school in Jumeirah was established in 1975 and grew steadily over a thirty year period establishing itself as a premiere school serving the needs of the English speaking community of Dubai. Responding to growing demand, the school opened a new primary school and secondary school in September 2005 and a new Sixth Form opened in September 2009.

What curriculum is offered and what are your entry requirements?
 

JESS follows the national curriculum of England & Wales from foundation 1 (for 3 year olds) up to age 16, i.e. students take GCSEs in year 11. In the JESS Sixth Form (year 12 & 13) the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is offered. Pupils must be able to access all areas of the curriculum through the medium of English. Further details and a guide to our Sixth Form entry criteria can be found on our website at Entry Criteria
 

As a private school, is JESS a business like many of the other schools in Dubai?
No, JESS is a fee-paying, not for profit organisation that is administered by a Board of Governors. We operate a ‘debenture’ system which means that if no employer (corporate) debenture is in place, parents pay a personal debenture of Dhs10,000 for JESS Jumeirah or Dhs20,000 for JESS Arabian Ranches. These debentures help boost the school’s capital base, and once a child leaves, the personal debenture is repaid. More information on debentures can be found at FAQs JESS Debentures
 

Is JESS only for British passport holders?
No, but as the name suggests, pupils must be able to speak and learn in English. Children are placed on the waiting list according to date of application and priority is given to families who have access to a corporate debenture.
 

Does JESS have long waiting lists in all year groups?
No, not in all year groups. Although most of our Primary year groups are closed we currently have shorter waiting lists in some Secondary years and we currently have limited places in the Sixth Form (Year 12) for September 2011. You can check the status of our waiting lists at JESS Waiting Lists and these are monitored and updated on a monthly basis.
 

What are the fees?
As a non-profit making school, fees at JESS are very competitive. For the 2010/2011 academic year, they are  AED9,597 for Foundation 1, AED12,029 for the rest of Primary (to Year 6), AED20,648 for Year 7 to year 11 and AED23,582 for Sixth Form, per term, payable termly.
 

What facilities does JESS have?
Physical facilities at both sites are state of the art reflecting the aims of JESS in providing a broad and balanced education for our pupils. Both sites have large, well-established campuses with shaded, well-equipped playground areas, interactive whiteboards in every classroom, temperature-controlled swimming pools, air-conditioned sports halls, multi-purpose PE studios, netball courts, large sports fields, fully equipped ICT & Music departments and extremely well-resourced libraries.

The nine acre site at Arabian Ranches also has tennis courts, a purpose-built music centre with digital recording studio, excellent science, art & DT facilities, a 500-seater Auditorium with outside amphitheatre and drama studios.
 

By far the greatest resource at JESS, however are the students and staff. We continue to recruit and retain staff of the highest calibre and this is reflected in recent inspection reports and our successful accreditation as an IB World school in 2009.
 

What extra-curricular activities are available at JESS?
JESS students are able to take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, encompassing many arts and sports as well as numerous music and performing arts opportunities. These change on a termly basis but will typically include the usual clubs you would expect such as swimming, drama and gymnastics as well as more unusual things such as rock-climbing, steel pans, Model United Nations and ‘BUZZ’ – the infamous JESS TV and radio show which keeps all pupils and staff entertained! A normal year at JESS will include many student performances and this year’s shows have included dance, drama & poetry performances at the Festival of Literature, productions of ‘Grease!’ and ‘Cinderella’, the first ever JESS Music Festival, Young Performers and Chamber Concerts, many, many assemblies and even the production of a Sixth Form album at a local studio!




Sport also plays a very important part at JESS. We have very active, competitive swimming, rugby, football, netball, rounders, cricket and basketball teams and all students are involved in the numerous swimming galas, sports days and athletics festivals that take place.

 

Do JESS students do the Duke of Edinburgh or the International Award scheme?
Secondary students have the opportunity to take part in the globally recognised 'International Award' schemes (Bronze, Silver & Gold) which this year has given Sixth Form students the unique experience of a 10-day trip to Vietnam whilst younger students ‘enjoyed’ camping and trekking in the local desert.

 

All JESS students are expected to have an understanding of the privileges they enjoy and are encouraged to help those less fortunate than themselves. Many JESS students are actively involved with the JESS Vietnam Project (www.thejvp.org), which is a whole school initiative directed by the Sixth Form that raises money for the refurbishment of  Medical Centres in Northern Vietnam and the Thien Phuoc centre for the disadvantaged. Many other charitable events take place throughout the school year at JESS, many of which are also organised by the students themselves and they work closely with the JESS Parents’ Group (the JPG) to help local charities. See local press highlights JESS charity work for a typical example of JESS students helping a local cause.
 

How can I apply to JESS and/or visit the school?
If you are able to apply (i.e. if the waiting list you would like to apply to is open or you are able to use a corporate debenture) please complete & sign an application form which can be found on our website page How to apply  or collected from any of the JESS schools. Please then return it to JESS with the relevant documents (as stated on the form) and the registration fee of AED300. If you are unsure of your eligibility to apply or the waiting list status, please complete an online expression of interest form and we will be happy to advise. For those who can apply, we offer school tours as follows:
 

Arabian Ranches Secondary  Sundays & Thursdays   9.00am
Arabian Ranches Primary  Thursdays   8.30am
Jumeirah    Mondays & Wednesdays 8.45am

Please book in advance on +971 4 3619019 (Arabian Ranches) +971 4 3945515 (Jumeirah) or email registrations@jess.sch.ae

We are holding an informal Sixth Form Information Evening which is open to the public on January 30, 2011 at 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Auditorium at JESS Arabian Ranches. (Click here for location map). This will give you a brief overview of the IB in JESS Sixth Form, and will give you a chance to ask any questions that you may have. This evening is open to all families, so whether your son/daughter attends JESS or another school in Dubai, if you are interested in learning more about life in the JESS Sixth Form, please come along.  Hope to see you there!Flyer attached . Please direct all enquiries to email ib@jess.sch.ae

 
JESS summed up……
‘I believe passionately in the importance of the individual. Within our schools every student is valued for their own sake, encouraged to develop their talents to the full in a happy, respectful and supportive environment’.    Rob Stokoe, Director.
 

Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Arabian Ranches +971 4 3619019  
Jumeirah +971 4 3945515 
www.jess.sch.ae