Gems Wellington and the New Kings?? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Gems Wellington and the New Kings??

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2014 - 13:05

Hi Moms-
Would be forever grateful for some quick input-- we're moving to Dubai in January and need to find a school for my 4 year old and 2 year old. We've learned that Gems Wellington Al Khail and Kings Nad al Sheba have space in FS1 and FS2 for both Jan and the Fall. Any advice/feedback on either of those schools? We don't know where we're living yet, and don't really have a preference as to UK vs IB vs US. For my 2 year old we're on the wait list at Seashells but not sure how/if the lists move?

Also, anyone have experience with corporate debentures? My husband is working for a large international bank but strangely enough they don't have debentures in Dubai, which I'm guessing would help at some of the more 'in demand' schools (JESS, Kings, Dubai Am Academy, etc) . His company claims debentures are expensive and don't always work, and do not always guarantee a secured seat (due to sibling priority and high demand). Do people find this true? We may be able to convince them to secure since our situation for January is so dire but not sure it's worth it?

THANK YOU THANK YOU LADIES!!

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2018 - 17:40
Please can somone help us by shedding light onto how the primary and secondary schools are in Kings Barsha. I know Kings by Burj al Arab always did well but not heard anything regards Barsha. In particular the uk national mix, results, discipline, are they running like a new school or do they know what they're doing, socially ACtive, sports. How does it compare to Jumeirah College? Please help as don't want to make a mistake
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2016 - 14:00
Hi ladies New to the forum (and Dubai). Been doing some research of american curriculum schools for my 4 and 5 year old and am completely overwhelmed! Any help on schools we should look into would be appreciated.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2016 - 01:24
Going through this myself but will be choosing an American School (I am from NY). I did look at some UK curriculum schools and I liked JPS if that is helpful. I do not think you will have an issue getting into any of the newer schools though. ValGal
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 February 2016 - 11:58
I agree re the Dubai mums FB page it's a great place and people can't hide behind a fake ID which means it's even more useful so you can see who works in advertising :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2016 - 15:00
??? How's that job search going lovingthesun? Amusing and all as your stab at wit is, it doesn't distract from the fact that posting the information about schools that you have and regularly do is misleading and inaccurate which yes equates to dishonesty. OP you should try the British Mums in Dubai FB page , you'll get more solid and transparent advice there. Save your fingers sun, I won't be reading this further. I should know better by now.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 February 2016 - 22:12
Now, now lovingthesun, that is very naughty and very misleading lumping Nord Anglia in with Desc, Jess and DC. Apart from NAS, the other schools are LONG established in Dubai and have very good or outstanding ratings from the KHDA. They are also not for profit schools. Nord Anglia is up and running for 17 months, yes , months not years and has no KHDA rating. If the keyboard warriors cannot give impartial, honest opinions then please resist replying. It's unfair, to say the least on newbies . OP, can I suggest you apply to JESS....it's a 40+ year old school, not for profit and delivers the BC in its true form. We'll have to agree to disagree then won't be Silk regarding my honesty. I do hope my manners though are at least as my parents raised me. Clearly we have different standards in regards to both these qualities. You do seem to share a penchant for CAPITALS with the other person on here who works for the construction site? You also share a penchant for many other qualities, perhaps you are one and the same? Strange things do happen on the internet after all. Personally i prefer to talk from my own experience and to be honest about it from my point of view. I do agree JESS is a very good school It has much to recommend it. So do the others on my list. None of them, including JESS, teach crane driving. I feel that crane driving detracts from the NC it's not really BC but there you go, I do care about accuracy too. How about yours? Have a lovely day and i hope to hear from you and your TWIN soon :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2016 - 23:19
Now, now lovingthesun, that is very naughty and very misleading lumping Nord Anglia in with Desc, Jess and DC. Apart from NAS, the other schools are LONG established in Dubai and have very good or outstanding ratings from the KHDA. They are also not for profit schools. Nord Anglia is up and running for 17 months, yes , months not years and has no KHDA rating. If the keyboard warriors cannot give impartial, honest opinions then please resist replying. It's unfair, to say the least on newbies . OP, can I suggest you apply to JESS....it's a 40+ year old school, not for profit and delivers the BC in its true form.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 February 2016 - 21:30
lovingthesun - you mentioned that the post did not list any of the good british schools. so was are the top british schools in your opinion thanks! Hard to list but; Dubai College DESC Nord Anglia JESS Ranches Spring to mind.... To a degree it depends what you mean and at which age group. My children go to Nord Anglia and it's a great school but it's not the only very good school in Dubai. There are however some that are not at all good... And some that are STILL not finished after years of being open which is shocking and speaks to the nature of some of the places here. But I get angry about that kind of thing.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 February 2016 - 13:35
lovingthesun - you mentioned that the post did not list any of the good british schools. so was are the top british schools in your opinion thanks!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 November 2014 - 12:55
Hi, We were in a similar position, are moving in January and have an 8 y/o and 5y/o. We struggled to get spots for the younger one at some of the schools we had been recommended but found spots at Gems Wellington Academy, Kings Al Barsha and Foremark. My husband moved earlier and ruled out Kings because it is still under construction, Foremark was twice the price so we accepted a spot at Gems. It was a tough decision and we only had a week to accept it so I hope we've made the right one!! I got told that all the Gems have a good reputation and they are all good schools. Everyone has different opinions I guess. I was there at Gems last week, and was a little surprised as there was a lot of construction going on around the school, but I was happy with the school itself. We will be living in Arabian Ranches so the drive is not too bad. Its hard to know without seeing them, but I guess time will tell. Not a lot of help, but good luck!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 11:03
You really won't need a debenture at Kings... The indemand schools will be full by now but you can get on the waiting list. The American schools have a strict priority systems which may (or may not) work in your favour but worth a try. The better British schools (you haven't listed them all by a long shot) do have waiting lists but worth joining a few if that's what you want. I would urge you to visit both of the schools you've mentioned...you might be very surprised at the state of them and the location. Sorry don't mean to be negative but it's important that you don't apply blind.
 
 

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