Feedback about Uptown School in Mirdif pls

Hi Heyjude and Sleepy, thank you for your feedback as well. I'm glad to hear both positive and negative feedback. I know everyone's experiences can't be the same. Actually would be kind of worried if I only got positive reviews because they may not be genuine (ie the school is actually the one responding under the guise of a username!). Does anyone have any experience with their Learning Support program? It is my understanding that if a child is starting to fall behind in a subject they can get help a couple times a week? To be honest, I am leaning towards Uptown. Although what SoCali says about them not appreciating their teachers is kind of a red flag. I believe teachers need the utmost respect from the administration in order to do their jobs well. AHHHHHH! I can't wait to make a decision and just stick with it! Sorry for the mini rant :D ahhh no I would not worry, I know what she means as 2 years back the lovely principal left and last year was slightly 'difficult' maybe for some teachers and we have had a little 'turnaround' of teachers with quite a few leaving last summer (and the previous one) and I also worried that they were not happy but I think it's settled and much better now. We also now have a new principal who is really visible and lovely, excellent actually and I am really happy since Sept and I think life is better for the teachers/admin now also - I hope so anyway ! That's probably what she was referring too. As I said they are moving campus so there is alot going on and I think they are dealing with it all really well. And re the learning support I am not sure exactly how it works but know they have a team, am sure you can just email/call for the exact details, they are all really helpful.

We moved our two from Star to Uptown, and have been amazed at the difference in our kids. They are much happier, they have both "blossomed" and are really enjoying the interactive teaching methods of the IB vs the British Curriculum at Star. We are really happy with uptown and have been impressed by the way it is run. One thing we do like about it is the focus on languages and music. Our 6 year old is loving learning french. I have also come across folks that have moved their kids out of Uptown to the British Curriculum and they have been really happy to leave as their kids were much more suited to the British version. I think you have to think about which curriculum with suit your kids, as they are all different, and will may thrive in one, but be listless in another.

Hi there, From my side I am a very happy Uptown parent and my eldest has been there for 5 years now and always loved it. They study French or German from Grade 1 which is brilliant (not many schools do a language at that age) do PE and swimming and don't get a lot of homework which I am pleased about. I don't mind them getting some homework of course they should but too much every day is not good, they should do most of it in school time in my opinion. They do ECA's once or twice a week till 3.30pm. I have one friend who was very unhappy with UAS as her kid got stressed as so much homework and made to feel bad sometimes when he did not remember things learnt by 'rote' learning and she felt they did not differentiate the kids, all kids should know the same etc which is not great when you have kids obviously at different levels in a class. Uptown differentiates really well and all kids are grouped accordingly in subjects and continually assessed. I've also a friend who just switched from UAS as her kid was very stressed with homework, also they have a later day so dont finish till after 3pm whereas Uptown in 2.30pm normally and 1.30pm on a Thursday. She also mentioned how she felt UAS was really becoming a 'local' school and most the kids were Arabic or Asian (especially Korean/Japanese) not such a mix as Uptown where we have many Europeans from all different countries, Aussies, Kiwi's and SA's, a real mix actually which is lovely - but that's just my opinion. So not to put UAS down but just wanted to say that I am really happy with Uptown, they are also moving to a new campus in Sept which I think will go up to Grade 12 ? so they are trying to improve and expand. I also know many parents who are also very happy there and would not move elsewhere so please don't worry about it. I guess all you can do is look around both schools and you should be able to get a 'feel' about them. Good luck, I know it's stressful, went through all that years ago !

I was happy with Uptown until my oldest finished the highest grade they went to and he had to change, we transferred him to Universal American School because it was IB and the easiest to transfer to because the British curriculum schools were creating a problem with the grade & year differences. From day one at Universal I was overly impressed, all homework is online in a parents portal for all ages and my oldest who is in secondary school and has multiple teachers of which I know them all even though I work full time and they email me if he even begins to fall behind on his work. My personal feeling is Uptown is focused on profit and not the kids or the teachers but again that is just my opinion.

My kids went there until this school year, I am very happy with their new school and glad we changed to a school where teachers are more appreciated and has a stronger approach on academics. I still know a bunch of people at Uptown who are happy with it mainly because of convenience. My DS did most of his primary school years at Uptown with outstanding marks, then when he transferred to Secondary school the first term was a struggle because he was behind academically, it came as a total surprise to all of us because he had done so well at Uptown.