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Help! No Year 1 spaces

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 11:23

I hope someone can help.

We are soon to be moving to Dubai and looking for school spaces for our two sons, Year 1 and Year 2 for this September 2012 and nowhere seems to be accepting applications for Year 1, even for the waiting list.

Does anyone know of any school with spaces for Year 1 AND Year 2? I would appreciate any help and advice. We preferably would like a British curriculum school.

We have called a few schools and they all say no, but would it make a difference if we went in person to the school. Maybe seeing us face to face they might have a change of heart??

Thank you in advance.
Sam

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1029

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 09:33

Star in Umm al shief is full but how about trying Star Mirdiff? I've heard it is easier to get in there. Also the new American Collegiate school in Umm Sequim and Braedeten prep or whatever it is called I believe also has spaces. Good luck Yes true, but CAS is 65,000 from year 1 onwards!!!!

64

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 08:55

Star in Umm al shief is full but how about trying Star Mirdiff? I've heard it is easier to get in there. Also the new American Collegiate school in Umm Sequim and Braedeten prep or whatever it is called I believe also has spaces. Good luck

391

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 08:50

I agree - we knew that we would have some hope with a January start as it was mid-year. but we just had to wait until a spot came out. You might find that the first week of school sees some places come available. A friend at the same school as us had to get kids into Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 and sweated it to the last minute. They eventually got all 3 in by the end of the second week of term!

2043

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 08:45

We were in a pickle as all the schools just said 'full'. we ended up at a school on the 'Outstanding' list if that helps. Don't raise your hopes too high, finding a school place mid year is easier than at the start of a school year (Dubai will not allow transfers between schools after a cut off date so that does open up a few places in schools where pupils have left the country mid school year).

391

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 08:41

fmcoutts at gmail dot com Fiona is an education consultant. She will work with you to find a place in a school that will work for your child. You pay her a fixed amount and then she does her work and helps you find a school. She will be realistic with you about the prospects of different schools, but essentially she has a network of contacts that you or I just don't have. We were in a pickle as all the schools just said 'full'. we ended up at a school on the 'Outstanding' list if that helps.

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 07:52

We are going to drive to Dubai today (we are in Abu Dhabi currently) and just turn up at schools and ask them in person. Perhaps seeing us face to face may help our quest! Safa seems to be our best bet. But will also try Regent, GEMS & Mirdiff. Our company will pay for school fees but they are capped. australiajudy who is Fiona Coutts? do you have her contact details please. Thanks. I appreciate all your advice ladies, thank you. I'll let you know how i get on! We want to get a school before we look at where to live. Sam

506

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 19:11

My DD has just got a place at Safa School too. They are expanding, but places are going quickly. Star closed their Year 1 list last year and have already closed their waiting list for 2013-2014. They have a one day enrolment day, which was the 8th May. The best bet with most schools, it to call around them early September as movement in waiting lists will change. Schools like JESS, Jebel Ali will be very oversubscribed and almost nil chance of getting a place for this year I'm afraid. My DD has been on waiting list for JAPS for two years, still no chance. A lot depends on your budget. Is your employer paying school fees? Ours doesn't, so although some schools said they had places, their fees we far higher than most. Raffles maybe an option, also Greenfield the Green Community. Regent School in the Greens maybe a good one to try too.

51

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 18:15

Also try Wellington at Silicon Oasis

100

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 17:56

Royal Dubai School in Mirdif ?

19

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 16:15

GWPS is expanding - it's worth a try.

391

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 16:11

I would contact Fiona Coutts ASAP! She is fantastic and helped us find a school for our YEar 1 when we arrived in January earlier this year. I think I would have had a nervous breakdown without her.

180

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 15:40

We were also looking for Year 1 places and have luckily found a place at Safa. But in the rounds of school tours, the following said they are full for this September: Horizon, Star International in Um al Sheif, Emirates International in Um Sequiem, English College. Have you looked at the school page on this site? In the top paragraph in red print is Dubai schools list & fees which has a pretty good list of the schools but not all of them. A few friends have their kids at Raffles South campus and are happy with the school. Their web site says they are open for admissions. Repton could also have places since its so expensive. Try schools in Mirdiff, Silicon Oasis and Green Community. It never hurts to call all of them, you never know if a place will pop up since a lot of people register at 5 different schools and also people leave permanently after summer. Good luck, it's very stressful!

56

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 14:42

I have been told to register at least 1 year in advance for FS1. If you don't have a place in a school you like you might apply directly for FS2 and keep your child in the nursery for 1 more year. I heard lot of people do that.

1234

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 14:18

We have called a few schools (DBS, Regent) and they all say no, but would it make a difference if we went in person to the school. Oh, I would suggest to look for the less famous school cause the above ones will be full or have waiting list. May be try Star International or Emirates International.

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 12:05

thank you so much, I hadn't heard of this school so will definitely take a look.

911

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 11:47

Safa is relocating to a larger building so capacity will grow from 300 students at the moment to about 1000. They're growing slowly so not sure if there will be spaces but worth having a look.

446

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 11:29

Have you tried Safa, I think theyre opening a new school. Sue62 will know.

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