Gems Wellington silicon oasis | ExpatWoman.com
 

Gems Wellington silicon oasis

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2014 - 18:45

Hi, ladies. Can anyone tell me if their kids go to gems Wellington in silicon oasis? And what you think or know of the school, are there lots of European kids? My 14yr old daughter who is half Swedish/English might be moving there as she has not been able to make friends in her current school as the kids are from very different backgrounds. I would greatly appreciate any advice or information on this. Thank you so much

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EW GURU
Latest post on 29 May 2016 - 10:38
Hi Pippyroo There's 2 Wellington Academy's - one in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) which this forum thread is about, and the other is in Al Khail which is the one your children are going to attend. So the feedback here doesn't apply to your chosen school :) If you search Foremarke on here you'll find some feedback you might find helpful. Overall the best schools in UAE for your children's age group are also the ones that have long waiting lists - Nord Anglia, Kings, Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) and Jumeirah Primary School (JPS). Good luck!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2016 - 16:06
DSO? What is that an abbreviation for. I have my two boys (4 and 5) enrolled to start at GEMS Wellington Al Khail in August. I'm seeing an increasing number of negative reviews and the class sizes are a major concern to me. Both my kids are in a prep school here and he classes are between 12-15 on average. I really want them to stay in a house school environment or something as close to that as possible. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Does anyone know anything about Foremarkes School? I have a bad feeling my kids may only last a term at GEMS. We were in a rush to move and this was the only school we saw and my husband was won over by the facilities.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 December 2015 - 09:17
Hi Are there any more recent reviews/thoughts on Wellington DSO please? We went for a tour and quite liked it, it didn't feel too big or impersonal as I was expecting it would, we actually felt Wellington International seemed too big and disorganized, but the DSO one seemed calmer.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 June 2014 - 17:57
My son is at DESC, my daughter is at DESS. The class was made up of Indian or Arabic children.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 June 2014 - 12:35
Just to add my experience of WSO....my daughter was the only western child in her class. She was left out at break time because the other kids spoke their native language and so she couldn't join in with their games. She went from being a happy outgoing child to being withdrawn and hating school. The SLT couldn't see a problem and refused to move her to a different class. My older son was bored there. He is very bright but he wasn't pushed enough. He used to bring the same library books home as they didn't have enough for all the children. Unfortunately Gems are all about making money. I have friends who work in other gems schools and they are told to 'get bums on seats' . We have since left WSO and I have to say I will never use a gems school again. Having said that I have friends who are very happy with the school. You need to go and have a look and make up your own mind but don't be swayed by the facilities, it's the teachers and pupils that make a good school, not the facilities Oh no, poor thing. Where are you kids now? Can I ask how old your daughter is? What other nationality were the children?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 June 2014 - 10:51
Just to add my experience of WSO....my daughter was the only western child in her class. She was left out at break time because the other kids spoke their native language and so she couldn't join in with their games. She went from being a happy outgoing child to being withdrawn and hating school. The SLT couldn't see a problem and refused to move her to a different class. My older son was bored there. He is very bright but he wasn't pushed enough. He used to bring the same library books home as they didn't have enough for all the children. Unfortunately Gems are all about making money. I have friends who work in other gems schools and they are told to 'get bums on seats' . We have since left WSO and I have to say I will never use a gems school again. Having said that I have friends who are very happy with the school. You need to go and have a look and make up your own mind but don't be swayed by the facilities, it's the teachers and pupils that make a good school, not the facilities
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 June 2014 - 20:44
I agree with plain jane. Yes the facilities are amazing but due to the number of children and disorganisation the children rarely get to use them. I moved my children out of this school this year and am pleased I did as they were starting to fall behind. During assessments in other British schools my fears were confirmed. They were definitely not up to scratch, even though they were both in top sets at Gems. You need to ask yourself why the teachers at WSO don't often put their own children in the school....and why they have so many newly qualified young staff who have never actually taught anywhere else before who never stay more than the required 2 years contract. I know teachers from this school that forfeit their free child places and put them in non Gems schools, if the school is so amazing why would they do this? You're spot on Wondermum....teaching parents not taking up a place for their own children and a high turn over of staff is the single biggest indication that a school in not up to scratch. NQTs are cheap to hire and a school that doesn't value its children enough to pay for experienced staff is best avoided.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 June 2014 - 22:20
If you've got two bright athletic kids and can't get into DESS and DESC then definately go for Repton over WSO. Repton has amazing sporting facilities that the students get to use and fantastic coaching. They are academic and work their students hard.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 May 2014 - 13:41
I would definitely be looking at more established schools for a 14 yr old , its not easy being a 14 yr old girl trying to fit into a new school but the following schools have excellent reputations and have been running for enough years to know what they are doing , JC, DC,EC, DESC , JESS or Repton .
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 May 2014 - 01:25
I agree with plain jane. Yes the facilities are amazing but due to the number of children and disorganisation the children rarely get to use them. I moved my children out of this school this year and am pleased I did as they were starting to fall behind. During assessments in other British schools my fears were confirmed. They were definitely not up to scratch, even though they were both in top sets at Gems. You need to ask yourself why the teachers at WSO don't often put their own children in the school....and why they have so many newly qualified young staff who have never actually taught anywhere else before who never stay more than the required 2 years contract. I know teachers from this school that forfeit their free child places and put them in non Gems schools, if the school is so amazing why would they do this?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 21:12
Don't be fooled by the glitz and glamour of that amazing 5 star building ...... That isn't what makes a good school
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 18:23
WSO has approx 3,000 students. Yes the campus and facilities are impressive but that doesn't mean that your children will get a good education there. Give me a smaller, better managed school any day.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 16:32
Thank you ladies. I was hoping to keep them together in one campus if I could? How about Repton, any opinions? I do accept that these are individual opinions but it would be helpful to get both positive and negative feedback if possible. DESC and DESS do not have places in the relevant year groups, JESS are not accepting applications. Kings only in their new campus. I am a little reluctant to try a new school start up as I have seen the teething problems that go with this in their current school. Many thanks :-) That school can not be discussed. Kings will be fine, as will Safa, Nord Anglia. Some schools still have "teething problems" that are a few years old and some are still under construction or expanding.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 16:22
Thank you ladies. I was hoping to keep them together in one campus if I could? How about Repton, any opinions? I do accept that these are individual opinions but it would be helpful to get both positive and negative feedback if possible. DESC and DESS do not have places in the relevant year groups, JESS are not accepting applications. Kings only in their new campus. I am a little reluctant to try a new school start up as I have seen the teething problems that go with this in their current school. Many thanks :-)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 16:05
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received! I would still give GSO a go, my daughter just did the entrance exam today and will get the results next week the school is amazing. My daughter is now at JBS and GSO is three times the size and they seem much more organised already. Loads of extra school activities, all European teachers. But, lets see if she passed but for me its seems better than where we are now With respect how can you advise someone else to give it a go when you are not even in the school? Have you visited all the other schools in Dubai and looked at their proven results and gained feedback from their parent bodies? Being three times the size is not always a benefit! How many playgrounds and sports fields did you see and what is the school pupil size for example? Lol!! Lolacat, I never said they were the best school and I can express my opinion that's what this forum is for right?! If you read what I put I said for us it seem better an where we are....everyone is different and can make there own judgement.... Yes i read what you said.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 16:00
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received! I would still give GSO a go, my daughter just did the entrance exam today and will get the results next week the school is amazing. My daughter is now at JBS and GSO is three times the size and they seem much more organised already. Loads of extra school activities, all European teachers. But, lets see if she passed but for me its seems better than where we are now With respect how can you advise someone else to give it a go when you are not even in the school? Have you visited all the other schools in Dubai and looked at their proven results and gained feedback from their parent bodies? Being three times the size is not always a benefit! How many playgrounds and sports fields did you see and what is the school pupil size for example? Lol!! Lolacat, I never said they were the best school and I can express my opinion that's what this forum is for right?! If you read what I put I said for us it seem better an where we are....everyone is different and can make there own judgement....
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 15:48
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received! I would still give GSO a go, my daughter just did the entrance exam today and will get the results next week the school is amazing. My daughter is now at JBS and GSO is three times the size and they seem much more organised already. Loads of extra school activities, all European teachers. But, lets see if she passed but for me its seems better than where we are now With respect how can you advise someone else to give it a go when you are not even in the school? Have you visited all the other schools in Dubai and looked at their proven results and gained feedback from their parent bodies? Being three times the size is not always a benefit! How many playgrounds and sports fields did you see and what is the school pupil size for example?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 15:44
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received! Then you need to look at British curriculum schools, DESC, JC, DC, Nord Anglia, Kings, SAFA(?) for your year 7 and year three, DESS, JESS, Jebil Ali primary, Kings, SAFA, Horizon.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 15:11
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received! I would still give GSO a go, my daughter just did the entrance exam today and will get the results next week the school is amazing. My daughter is now at JBS and GSO is three times the size and they seem much more organised already. Loads of extra school activities, all European teachers. But, lets see if she passed but for me its seems better than where we are now
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 14:24
Hi DizzyDuck - can I ask where your son goes now? I am a newbie coming from British System and have 2 bright athletic kids Yrs 3 and 7 and am trying to get together a shortlist of schools for a September start. Was thinking of GWSO but your comments have made me think twice. Any advice gratefully received!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 13:26
He was 12 and had loads of friends there but was still unhappy enough with the school to want to leave. Also heard of lots of older kids moving. One friend took her children home - they were doing very well at DSO but found they were well behind their peers at home.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 13:02
He was 12 and had loads of friends there but was still unhappy enough with the school to want to leave.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 10:24
Dizzyduck, how old was yours?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 08:34
We had a terrible experience with WSO. Too big, impersonal, totally chaotic, bad communication, terrible management and the way they teach several subjects together and have 2 hour lessons just doesn't work in our opinion . My DS hated it and we got him out of there after 2 months and he is now much happier.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 27 May 2014 - 18:26
as I said contact DSO reception and go on the tour - you could ask to see the Assistant Principal for a chat but always best to make an appointment, as it's exam season so they're just not available at the drop of a hat. We're very happy, as I've said before - good luck to your daughter on her assessment. Her age can be a difficult one to forge relationships so you need to help and guide as much as you can and get her involved in extra activities either in school or outside.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 May 2014 - 11:42
Thank you, ladies. I will stick with Gems, we did have a look but went late on a Thursday. She is doing her assessment tomorrow but just always good to get another mums opinions. She is in JBS at the moment, a bit disorganized and nothing to encouraging them to be social with each other.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2014 - 12:53
DESC and JC have excellent performing arts departments! DESC should still have places for a Year 10/11 for the coming year. I know several people with children there and they love it. It's less than 10 minutes away from Wellington DSO. Definitely a good option for OP. It would certainly be my choice! DESC is becoming a very popular school for good reason.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 May 2014 - 10:22
DESC and JC have excellent performing arts departments! DESC should still have places for a Year 10/11 for the coming year. I know several people with children there and they love it. It's less than 10 minutes away from Wellington DSO. Definitely a good option for OP.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2014 - 08:54
DESC and JC have excellent performing arts departments!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 25 May 2014 - 17:20
Thanks, ladies. Would love to hear from anyone that has teenagers there. Hi as I said in my previous post my son is in year 11 (he's 16) - what would you like to know? He's going into to the IBCC course next year ....... been there 3 years now. Thanks, is just want to make sure there are plenty of kids similar to her. The kids in her other school are mostly Arab and she needs European kids. Do you know about the drama and art classes? After school activities? Where she is it's very limited. Thank you If I were you and you wanted to transfer your daughter I would call up WSO and go and have a look - they do tours. Lots of European kids, they do drama, art and media, they have the most awesome media/drama/dance facilities now with the new block finished (go take a look!) - they do a whole host of enrichment as part of the school day (most schools do these after school) additional after school activities are available (but these are with outside agencies normally) - go have a look I think you will be impressed - the school website is: http://www.gemswellingtonacademy-dso.com We think it's worth every penny. Choosing a school is such an important task, I would go myself and have a look only you can decide what's best for your child - you will get a better feel by your personal experience and from talking to the school and finding out the options for your child. Where is your child at the moment? Good luck! <em>edited by cymraes on 25/05/2014</em>
 
 

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