Moving to AD schools and housing | ExpatWoman.com
 

Moving to AD schools and housing

7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 December 2014 - 09:51

Hello everyone,

I really need some of your valuable direction please.
We are moving to Abu dhabi beginning of January after 4years in Dubai, and would love to have your advice on where to live and which school? We have a 4 years old child and would prefer a British curriculum.
I have done a search on here and on Google for best schools, and it seems that Bsak and Cambridge high school are on the list. How easy is it to get a place for FS2 in these schools?

And in terms of housing what would you say is a family friendly area please?

TIA

7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2014 - 22:26
hmmmm 150k you will need to look at 2 beds in town perhaps but if not out at al reef and hydra etc. unfortunately with the rent cap not in place anymore, rents are stupidly high again. have a look at first gulf properties al nayhan is a nice area they have 1,2 and 3 bed in low rises thinking that around that figure for a 2 bedder... if not then look at reem island as well. Thank you very much!!!
4747
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 December 2014 - 18:11
hmmmm 150k you will need to look at 2 beds in town perhaps but if not out at al reef and hydra etc. unfortunately with the rent cap not in place anymore, rents are stupidly high again. have a look at first gulf properties al nayhan is a nice area they have 1,2 and 3 bed in low rises thinking that around that figure for a 2 bedder... if not then look at reem island as well.
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2014 - 11:03
u need to apply to all of the curriculum schs, its very hit and miss depending on year groups... a lot of people have had no choice but to apply to the newer ones which are very expensive because you cannot be out of school for very long, or you homeschool if you want to at some point go back into the uae education system you can only use k12 Thank you very much Busybee. Any advice on housing and best areas for families please? I have had a look at Reem Island and thought it wasn't too bad, but I am not too keen on high rise building. Perhaps some of you ladies can give me some directions? Thank you there are more houses than schs you want to try to get one closer because of the traffic... it also depends on budget. Sorry I should have been more specific: Budget is not huge (about 150K) hence why we looked at affordable two bedroom apartments. I guess we need to take into consideration schools location but since we can't get into any of the schools, the task is even more complex here :( I would love to hear your thoughts on Reem Island, it seems affordable, and quite central. TIA
4747
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 22:34
u need to apply to all of the curriculum schs, its very hit and miss depending on year groups... a lot of people have had no choice but to apply to the newer ones which are very expensive because you cannot be out of school for very long, or you homeschool if you want to at some point go back into the uae education system you can only use k12 Thank you very much Busybee. Any advice on housing and best areas for families please? I have had a look at Reem Island and thought it wasn't too bad, but I am not too keen on high rise building. Perhaps some of you ladies can give me some directions? Thank you there are more houses than schs you want to try to get one closer because of the traffic... it also depends on budget.
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 16:22
u need to apply to all of the curriculum schs, its very hit and miss depending on year groups... a lot of people have had no choice but to apply to the newer ones which are very expensive because you cannot be out of school for very long, or you homeschool if you want to at some point go back into the uae education system you can only use k12 Thank you very much Busybee. Any advice on housing and best areas for families please? I have had a look at Reem Island and thought it wasn't too bad, but I am not too keen on high rise building. Perhaps some of you ladies can give me some directions? Thank you
4747
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 14:04
u need to apply to all of the curriculum schs, its very hit and miss depending on year groups... a lot of people have had no choice but to apply to the newer ones which are very expensive because you cannot be out of school for very long, or you homeschool if you want to at some point go back into the uae education system you can only use k12
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 December 2014 - 16:52
BSAK and Brighton College are probably at the top of the list for British schools. People also like the Aldar schools (Pearl, Yasmina, Al Muna). And Cranleigh is a brand new one - tbd - but there are some promising things about it. Cambridge I wouldn't put in the same group at all. I don't know anyone who has kids there and have heard mixed things. The only positive I've heard is that the tuition is low. As for getting places - your timing is right as schools are accepting applications now so I would move fast to get them in! Thank you so much for your help! I have contacted all of the above schools today except the Aldar schools ( I couldn't get through to them), I was told there are no spaces for January, but I can register for September 2015. As for Cranleigh they are way too expensive :-( I have contacted some nurseries as well to see if I can get a space at least for the two remaining terms, and most of the nurseries don't have FS2 This is very stressful :cry: