Anyone going to Brighton College?

hey threadbear, i got few samples online, can u suggest me with packs (names) & any bookstore if possible, that will be really helpful !!!! thanks again....

thanks dear, i m sure it will be a grt help !!!!

Hi there - it is an online assessment with a series of verbal and non- verbal questions - you can buy packs of these types of questions from good book stores - you might even get samples on-line. They are used to assess cognitive ability. I did some prep with my son before hand and he said the test was straightforward. Good luck!

Hi everyone, i m new to this forum & have read yr discussions abt Brighton college. it is really helpful & would like to take inputs abt the assessment process in BC.i have applied for my son for grade 6 & he has his assessment next week. they have informed us that it will be a verbal and non verbal (computer based) assessment. could someone pls help me as in what type of q's will be asked ?????

Just came back from meeting with the Head of Pre prep- and am really happy that we're going to be brighton 'parents' We were spoken to very very well and made to feel welcome. A very happy parent here- like someone stated earlier that even if they deliver 80% of promises, it would be very good.

Boy? Where are you currently living? Does he have facebook? maybe they could chat?

I have read this whole thread with real interest, we are moving back to the UAE from Bahrain (previously had two years in Al Ain); our son will be joining year 7 at BC in September and I would love to hear from anyone who also has a son joining year 7.

carolwags, am I right in saying that your oldest child is starting Year 10 (GCSEs) next year, so wouldnt be able to attend BC in any case, as at the moment they are only going to be going up to Year 9 in the beginning. Yes you are correct busybee2 but she is the oldest in her class as she was put up 2 classes when we came to abudhabi as the school felt she was too mature for the lower class. We had a lot of catching up to do as she went from 3 months schooling in total back in Australia to year 1 here so effectively skipping Nursery and Reception into year 1. I did discuss this with the staff at BSAK at the time pointing out she could not read nor write yet but they were more concerned with the fact that she was a really tall 6 year old and would not fit in with the littlies in Reception. hence she started in Year 1 - with lots of help at home she caught up pretty quickly within that first year. We discussed the idea of repeating Year 9 with her (though we felt going back a year was not a good thing but we had received the ok from BC) She was open to the idea and liked what the school had to offer but her decision was to stay where she was because she is settled there and has many friends. Her decision was fine with us, as I have said BSAK is still a good school. Yes thats right if you are coming from the aussie or us curriculum you are usually the oldest in the year group as they put you up because of the different gradings/years etc.

carolwags, am I right in saying that your oldest child is starting Year 10 (GCSEs) next year, so wouldnt be able to attend BC in any case, as at the moment they are only going to be going up to Year 9 in the beginning. Yes you are correct busybee2 but she is the oldest in her class as she was put up 2 classes when we came to abudhabi as the school felt she was too mature for the lower class. We had a lot of catching up to do as she went from 3 months schooling in total back in Australia to year 1 here so effectively skipping Nursery and Reception into year 1. I did discuss this with the staff at BSAK at the time pointing out she could not read nor write yet but they were more concerned with the fact that she was a really tall 6 year old and would not fit in with the littlies in Reception. hence she started in Year 1 - with lots of help at home she caught up pretty quickly within that first year. We discussed the idea of repeating Year 9 with her (though we felt going back a year was not a good thing but we had received the ok from BC) She was open to the idea and liked what the school had to offer but her decision was to stay where she was because she is settled there and has many friends. Her decision was fine with us, as I have said BSAK is still a good school.

carolwags, am I right in saying that your oldest child is starting Year 10 (GCSEs) next year, so wouldnt be able to attend BC in any case, as at the moment they are only going to be going up to Year 9 in the beginning.

Carolwags and Reddirtgrrl, Thanks so much for your support- yes- I sure hope all will be well for my bright sunny lil one!

In all the abu dhabi forums, its a thread about schooling- more specifically about BC/BSAK/Yasmina which gets the maximum views- goes to show how worried/curious everyone is about BC. Carolwags, thanks for the reassurance. It is good to know that BSAKers are moving!! Next thing on my agenda to worry about - racism :) Oh well! Hopefully their kindness policy will deal with any issues which may arise. And she has to learn( my daughter I mean) ETA- thread aside of the current affairs I mean.. edited by Smita on 04/05/2011 Thank you for bringing this up. Racism is a very serious issue here. We are white westerners and are appalled by the well established racism. Really it has kept me up at night worrying about what kind of environment are we supporting. Best of luck to you, I tell my daughter that good people are royal from the inside, are gracious, and are kinder than they have to be. I always reiterate that because she has much privilege and many opportunities here, that I have higher expectations regarding her grace and charitable deeds. We have been here a very long time and now have a bit less tolerance for racism, and will only associate with like minded people. So I suppose I am racist against racists. Tell your children to hold their heads high and enjoy their school. This is their home.

one from primary. a few are going from the aldar schools and bisad too. ninap do you mean Mrs Cumming - I had heard she was moving to BC as well

In all the abu dhabi forums, its a thread about schooling- more specifically about BC/BSAK/Yasmina which gets the maximum views- goes to show how worried/curious everyone is about BC. Carolwags, thanks for the reassurance. It is good to know that BSAKers are moving!! Next thing on my agenda to worry about - racism :) Oh well! Hopefully their kindness policy will deal with any issues which may arise. And she has to learn( my daughter I mean) ETA- thread aside of the current affairs I mean.. edited by Smita on 04/05/2011 Smita It upsets me to know that your daughter has borne the brunt of racism so early. I am always proud of the fact that my kids do not notice color or race and they have friends that prove the point. Perhaps because they have all grown up here since they were babies that they do consider it normal to have friends of different nationalities. At the moment , in my living room I have a child from Africa, South America and France (colored) all playing on the Wii together:) Your daughter will be fine, from the things I have read from those that are moving their kids to BC, their heads and hearts are in the right place

I had a choice. As I have said in a previous post I was offered a place at BSAK and have turned it down. In fact I know of 3 other people who were offered places at BSAK and who have since turned their places down in favour of BC. I have been in AD for a few years now and I know the reputation of BSAK and therein lies the problem. I think it relies alot on its reputation. I toured BSAK earlier this year and was horrified at the facilities for FS1 and FS2. Now I know they are trying to remedy that but it will be too late for my child. The lady doing the tour was also quite bored by the whole thing and we were nothing but an inconvenience and god help us if we asked a question. Honestly though that wouldnt put me off going to BSAK and I still submitted my application along with many others. Then along came BC with an offer and a subsequent meeting with the head of year and the headmaster. I was pretty much sold after that and then last Tuesday sealed it. At first I wondered if the head of BC London and the new head here were in the wrong jobs, surely they should be in sales but after some thought I realised they were passionate about their school and what they wanted to achieve and our children to achieve. I don't care where the teachers come from, it doesn't impress me that they have poached staff from other schools here. I will be happy if these teachers share half the passion of their headmaster then we will really be getting someone worthwhile. I didn't agree with the comparison of results between BC London and the other schools. Not only is BC selective but how can you compare the results of a truely private school with schools following the curriculum of state schools in the UK which is what BSAK and Yasmina do - its incomparable before you even start. I fully expect there to be teething problems but as long as they are out of the classroom I am not at all worried. I know some of my friends think I'm mad for even thinking/believing there is an alternative to BSAK and given it is a very good school they may be right but am I wrong for wanting something a bit better for my child? - no not at all. Am I wrong for taking the risk on something that sounds wonderful but may become a nightmare? - maybe, and certainly I wouldn't risk it if it were a gcse year for example but regardless of anything else it is my choice and Brighton College Abu Dhabi is my choice and I'm sticking with it! Oh and the luxury of school dinners everyday is also something I'm looking forward to, no more packed lunches :-) yeh the facilties for the nursery/reception are long overdue to be knocked down, but they are making them nice and new, and when its all finished it will be such an improvement, as they will have more sporting things too ibelieve. i am thinking i know what you mean with the touring, but thats that person! yes if i had kids that were in nursery or so i would defo look at bc, although my kids are seniors now been all the way through, but they dont do year 10 so its a no go for me anyway. well thats always been a sore point with bsak, school dinners and the standard of arabic teaching, but the arabic teaching is down to the moe but they decided not to build the canteen which was planned in the very first lot of building work. <em>edited by busybee2 on 04/05/2011</em>

I had a choice. As I have said in a previous post I was offered a place at BSAK and have turned it down. In fact I know of 3 other people who were offered places at BSAK and who have since turned their places down in favour of BC. I have been in AD for a few years now and I know the reputation of BSAK and therein lies the problem. I think it relies alot on its reputation. I toured BSAK earlier this year and was horrified at the facilities for FS1 and FS2. Now I know they are trying to remedy that but it will be too late for my child. The lady doing the tour was also quite bored by the whole thing and we were nothing but an inconvenience and god help us if we asked a question. Honestly though that wouldnt put me off going to BSAK and I still submitted my application along with many others. Then along came BC with an offer and a subsequent meeting with the head of year and the headmaster. I was pretty much sold after that and then last Tuesday sealed it. At first I wondered if the head of BC London and the new head here were in the wrong jobs, surely they should be in sales but after some thought I realised they were passionate about their school and what they wanted to achieve and our children to achieve. I don't care where the teachers come from, it doesn't impress me that they have poached staff from other schools here. I will be happy if these teachers share half the passion of their headmaster then we will really be getting someone worthwhile. I didn't agree with the comparison of results between BC London and the other schools. Not only is BC selective but how can you compare the results of a truely private school with schools following the curriculum of state schools in the UK which is what BSAK and Yasmina do - its incomparable before you even start. I fully expect there to be teething problems but as long as they are out of the classroom I am not at all worried. I know some of my friends think I'm mad for even thinking/believing there is an alternative to BSAK and given it is a very good school they may be right but am I wrong for wanting something a bit better for my child? - no not at all. Am I wrong for taking the risk on something that sounds wonderful but may become a nightmare? - maybe, and certainly I wouldn't risk it if it were a gcse year for example but regardless of anything else it is my choice and Brighton College Abu Dhabi is my choice and I'm sticking with it! Oh and the luxury of school dinners everyday is also something I'm looking forward to, no more packed lunches :-)

In all the abu dhabi forums, its a thread about schooling- more specifically about BC/BSAK/Yasmina which gets the maximum views- goes to show how worried/curious everyone is about BC. Carolwags, thanks for the reassurance. It is good to know that BSAKers are moving!! Next thing on my agenda to worry about - racism :) Oh well! Hopefully their kindness policy will deal with any issues which may arise. And she has to learn( my daughter I mean) ETA- thread aside of the current affairs I mean.. <em>edited by Smita on 04/05/2011</em>

Heard of this new school this morning when a slightly odd I thought advert came on the radio. What struck me was the motto -has this come from the UK school or new for AD? It is very similar to Dubai College's. I think Repton have suffered from being greedy. If BC can stick to their 4 classes and 18 students I'm sure they'll build a great school.

I feel it was unfair of BC to compare the academic results of BSAK to Brighton College - BC is selective, BSAK is not. I went to the presentation with an open mind - felt that the head is very professional and a really good communicator . However, many of the things he said are already done by good schools [a decent kindness/bullying policy for example'> so the only things new are: mandarin/latin; separate science for gcse. How will subjects like latin and mandarin work with the very transient school population here when there is only one teacher - ie kids coming in with no knowledge of these langs? Also, "hoping" to cap class sizes at 18 is not the same as saying classes will not be over 18. Don't get me wrong - I very much hope BC will succeed - it will make the other schools take notice and may encourage them to make changes - I have already heard, for example, that BSAK are thinking about offering separate science gcse s in the future [only hearsay mind!'> in bsak they do all sciences but only do double award presently, this may well change but then thats all the same for yasmina etc. bc or repton are selective schools so as you say they cannot really be compared to a private selective school also bsak has children with special needs and EAL, will bc have those?. bsak do a mandarin after school club but really who wants to choose latin as an option you only get 4 choices as it is. carolwags has your oldest child already started the gcse's course? and has come from a uk background? i am sure that bc will be a good school but it will take a little bit of time and its quite different building a new school from scratch with all the space that you will need to compare it to bsak which was a primary school and wanted to move to a bigger plot of land, but was refused by the moe, so has had to adapt with the space that is available, at the moment they have lost their swimming pool, and the senior kids only had 6 weeks of swimming as it was, the primary school is busing them across the road to the health and fitness club, which i hear the kids like the bus trip. Hi busybee My daughter is starting her GCSE's in September and has spent her entire school life at BSAK. She considered it but in the end she wants to stay with her friends. She is doing well so i see no need to go against her wishes. The younger two want a change, something fresh. One has been at BSAK for nine years and the other for 7. they are not concerned at leaving their friends as they are looking forward to what BCAD has to offer. The final decision was made by them. We, as parents obviously wanted the move but if they had seriously desisted we probably would not have forced the issue. in the end they are very good students and would have done well at BSAK as well. so she is year 9 now then, as i believe that bc will only go upto year 9 in the first instance, same as yasmina but at the last minute they added another year group on. no i understand that they are not concerned about friends, this place is fairly small (still) and they will add and make new friends. although now as the amount of different schools have opened over the years abu dhabi is not as small as it used to be!

I feel it was unfair of BC to compare the academic results of BSAK to Brighton College - BC is selective, BSAK is not. I went to the presentation with an open mind - felt that the head is very professional and a really good communicator . However, many of the things he said are already done by good schools [a decent kindness/bullying policy for example'> so the only things new are: mandarin/latin; separate science for gcse. How will subjects like latin and mandarin work with the very transient school population here when there is only one teacher - ie kids coming in with no knowledge of these langs? Also, "hoping" to cap class sizes at 18 is not the same as saying classes will not be over 18. Don't get me wrong - I very much hope BC will succeed - it will make the other schools take notice and may encourage them to make changes - I have already heard, for example, that BSAK are thinking about offering separate science gcse s in the future [only hearsay mind!'> in bsak they do all sciences but only do double award presently, this may well change but then thats all the same for yasmina etc. bc or repton are selective schools so as you say they cannot really be compared to a private selective school also bsak has children with special needs and EAL, will bc have those?. bsak do a mandarin after school club but really who wants to choose latin as an option you only get 4 choices as it is. carolwags has your oldest child already started the gcse's course? and has come from a uk background? i am sure that bc will be a good school but it will take a little bit of time and its quite different building a new school from scratch with all the space that you will need to compare it to bsak which was a primary school and wanted to move to a bigger plot of land, but was refused by the moe, so has had to adapt with the space that is available, at the moment they have lost their swimming pool, and the senior kids only had 6 weeks of swimming as it was, the primary school is busing them across the road to the health and fitness club, which i hear the kids like the bus trip. Hi busybee My daughter is starting her GCSE's in September and has spent her entire school life at BSAK. She considered it but in the end she wants to stay with her friends. She is doing well so i see no need to go against her wishes. The younger two want a change, something fresh. One has been at BSAK for nine years and the other for 7. they are not concerned at leaving their friends as they are looking forward to what BCAD has to offer. The final decision was made by them. We, as parents obviously wanted the move but if they had seriously desisted we probably would not have forced the issue. in the end they are very good students and would have done well at BSAK as well.

one from primary. a few are going from the aldar schools and bisad too. oh well i am not involved in the primary any more, but did speak to the french teacher and she only knew of head of science (seniors) going. anyways it shows that bsak do recruit very good teachers, and yes they do come and go, but hopefully they recruit more. i would say that bsak is a very good employer and thats why really the teachers do not move very often, as there are now more british schools in abu dhabi of course they do now move around, but its usually because they get a promotion, more so the teachers leave the uae altogether, or perhaps because a lot of them are female they have to leave when hubs goes etc.

one from primary. a few are going from the aldar schools and bisad too.

It feels good to hear that so many of you are taking the leap- it worries me about the fees and the school not shaping up, but if there are people who have turned down places in BSAK for BC, I feel less nervous.. Smita - my kids have been at BSAK for 9 years and we are making the change to BC if that makes you feel any better. I have met with the staff of BC several times now and feel confident. While I appreciate that things like music clubs and sporting events will take time, the teaching staff that are moving to BC from BSAK and other area schools are very motivated and I am sure are out to prove all the sceptics wrong. I hope they do but I fully support the school as it is. so how many teachers from bsak jumping ship then? know of science, as its on the website for all to see, know of music, but he is just a teacher not HOD, this happened when the aldar schools started, and most of the teachers who did leave left to gain promotion usually but then it shows that bsak do take care in which teachers they recruit if everyone says how good these teachers are when they move to another school, hopefully bsak will still continue to employ good teachers.

I feel it was unfair of BC to compare the academic results of BSAK to Brighton College - BC is selective, BSAK is not. I went to the presentation with an open mind - felt that the head is very professional and a really good communicator . However, many of the things he said are already done by good schools [a decent kindness/bullying policy for example'> so the only things new are: mandarin/latin; separate science for gcse. How will subjects like latin and mandarin work with the very transient school population here when there is only one teacher - ie kids coming in with no knowledge of these langs? Also, "hoping" to cap class sizes at 18 is not the same as saying classes will not be over 18. Don't get me wrong - I very much hope BC will succeed - it will make the other schools take notice and may encourage them to make changes - I have already heard, for example, that BSAK are thinking about offering separate science gcse s in the future [only hearsay mind!'> in bsak they do all sciences but only do double award presently, this may well change but then thats all the same for yasmina etc. bc or repton are selective schools so as you say they cannot really be compared to a private selective school also bsak has children with special needs and EAL, will bc have those?. bsak do a mandarin after school club but really who wants to choose latin as an option you only get 4 choices as it is. carolwags has your oldest child already started the gcse's course? and has come from a uk background? i am sure that bc will be a good school but it will take a little bit of time and its quite different building a new school from scratch with all the space that you will need to compare it to bsak which was a primary school and wanted to move to a bigger plot of land, but was refused by the moe, so has had to adapt with the space that is available, at the moment they have lost their swimming pool, and the senior kids only had 6 weeks of swimming as it was, the primary school is busing them across the road to the health and fitness club, which i hear the kids like the bus trip.

I feel it was unfair of BC to compare the academic results of BSAK to Brighton College - BC is selective, BSAK is not. I went to the presentation with an open mind - felt that the head is very professional and a really good communicator . However, many of the things he said are already done by good schools [a decent kindness/bullying policy for example'> so the only things new are: mandarin/latin; separate science for gcse. How will subjects like latin and mandarin work with the very transient school population here when there is only one teacher - ie kids coming in with no knowledge of these langs? Also, "hoping" to cap class sizes at 18 is not the same as saying classes will not be over 18. Don't get me wrong - I very much hope BC will succeed - it will make the other schools take notice and may encourage them to make changes - I have already heard, for example, that BSAK are thinking about offering separate science gcse s in the future [only hearsay mind!'>

It feels good to hear that so many of you are taking the leap- it worries me about the fees and the school not shaping up, but if there are people who have turned down places in BSAK for BC, I feel less nervous.. Smita - my kids have been at BSAK for 9 years and we are making the change to BC if that makes you feel any better. I have met with the staff of BC several times now and feel confident. While I appreciate that things like music clubs and sporting events will take time, the teaching staff that are moving to BC from BSAK and other area schools are very motivated and I am sure are out to prove all the sceptics wrong. I hope they do but I fully support the school as it is. what years are your kids in now?

It feels good to hear that so many of you are taking the leap- it worries me about the fees and the school not shaping up, but if there are people who have turned down places in BSAK for BC, I feel less nervous.. Smita - my kids have been at BSAK for 9 years and we are making the change to BC if that makes you feel any better. I have met with the staff of BC several times now and feel confident. While I appreciate that things like music clubs and sporting events will take time, the teaching staff that are moving to BC from BSAK and other area schools are very motivated and I am sure are out to prove all the sceptics wrong. I hope they do but I fully support the school as it is. I know of at least a handful of parents (along with us) that are choosing to remove their children from established schools to go to BCAD - and not due to not having spaces at other schools. Also, I actually found it very interesting at the presentation last week when they compared the result of BC UK, BSAK, Repton, ACS and Brighton UK was streaks ahead on quite a few of the markers - a good sign if BCAD is going to follow along the same lines academically. Whilst I understand that you are comparing a UK schools results with UAE based results, I personally believe that is fine to do so as if you were to give compensation to the facts the schools are UAE based then you are just accepting that your child can have a second rate education as an expat. I hope we are buying into an education at BCAD that is transferable and applicable to the outside world.

I spoke to someone yesterday who said that they would never send their kid to Brighton as it is a school that "doesn't exist yet". As a parent who is willing to take a gamble and have a degree of faith, I can't wait for the school to show all the doomsdayers how good it is going to be. I agree - I appreciate that I am an exception to the rule (secondary school child turning down place at BSAK), I also have been in the Emirates 20 years, and have watched the Reptons, the BSAK's and the Aldar schools evolve.... at the end of the day it is what works for you and your child. My DD will so benefit from maximum of 4 small classes per year, and the expansive curriculum. I can't wait!!!! Hear hear!!!! Glad to see there are other excceptions to the rule on this site. I look forward to catching up with the senior school mums on day 1!!!!!

It feels good to hear that so many of you are taking the leap- it worries me about the fees and the school not shaping up, but if there are people who have turned down places in BSAK for BC, I feel less nervous.. Smita - my kids have been at BSAK for 9 years and we are making the change to BC if that makes you feel any better. I have met with the staff of BC several times now and feel confident. While I appreciate that things like music clubs and sporting events will take time, the teaching staff that are moving to BC from BSAK and other area schools are very motivated and I am sure are out to prove all the sceptics wrong. I hope they do but I fully support the school as it is.