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Secondary School advice please!!

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2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 02 January 2018 - 07:19

Hi All We are moving to Dubai this summer, we found out just over a week ago so it has become painfully obvious that we are late applying for schools. My children will enter Yr7 (Gr6), Yr9 (Gr8) and Yr12 (Gr11). Most schools are full already / waiting list, but we have managed to find places for all 3 at Repton and possibly for my younger 2 at Nord Anglia - I am unable to come visit the schools due to personal reasons so we are relying on feedback and research. Anybody that have children or have had children at these schools? I've noticed from reviews that there has been a lot of movement from Repton and I am wondering why? Any advice / feedback greatly appreciated! Hi n2016 I know this is an old thread, but we are in pretty much your situation now and recently turned down a great expat opportunity due to our daughter going into her last two years. Not sure it was right to do this - for her possibly but as a family we have to look at everybody. The UAE may be on the cards again and we can't keep going backwards career wise if there is a solution to her schooling and the use had much better schools than the last country we were in (which made is gun shy going again hence the turning down of what was probably a great ousting and remorse now!) ... We have narrowed Nord as one of the only schools that would suit her as they offer Chinese. Did you take a place there and how have things worked out? This would be our daughter's seventh school over a few countries but she has been on Australian curriculum last two years. We understands he would effectively find sh six months later than if she stays in oz, and she has never done IB but a academic so we think it could suit her. Thanks for anything you can share - so much more complicated at this age!

snickers01112158

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 April 2016 - 21:40

Agree with the comments above re tutoring but it's not just confined to Dubai . I have found the same parents who tutor their already academically brilliant children in both the UK and Malaysia. For them it is not about passing but being the best. When we were tutoring my struggling DD for maths last year both children either side of her slot were at the best academic fee paying school in our own town . When I asked my tutor about it he said it wasn't enough for these parents to get good results they were chasing the A*

117

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2016 - 14:34

If children are working ahead and are academically strong, why are they in tutoring? If results are being gained from outside tutors, then how can that be an accurate reflection? Why tutor a child who is academically strong and ahead? If academically rigorous work is being given out and yet tutoring is still taking place, how does that help a student? What does a year ahead mean if in order to achieve that, you have to seek tutoring from outside the school? countess, i think you need to get a better handle on why parents send their kids to tutoring in this country and why there is such a culture of tutoring here: not every child who goes to tutoring goes because they are struggling. It's true! Parents in Dubai send their kids to tutors because they feel insecure about what they themselves managed to accomplish and are living through their children. Plus, it keeps kids busy when parents are hung over from the night before. LOL !

sheikhandbake108829

409

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 April 2016 - 14:21

If children are working ahead and are academically strong, why are they in tutoring? If results are being gained from outside tutors, then how can that be an accurate reflection? Why tutor a child who is academically strong and ahead? If academically rigorous work is being given out and yet tutoring is still taking place, how does that help a student? What does a year ahead mean if in order to achieve that, you have to seek tutoring from outside the school? countess, i think you need to get a better handle on why parents send their kids to tutoring in this country and why there is such a culture of tutoring here: not every child who goes to tutoring goes because they are struggling. It's true! Parents in Dubai send their kids to tutors because they feel insecure about what they themselves managed to accomplish and are living through their children. Plus, it keeps kids busy when parents are hung over from the night before.

117

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 April 2016 - 13:47

If children are working ahead and are academically strong, why are they in tutoring? If results are being gained from outside tutors, then how can that be an accurate reflection? Why tutor a child who is academically strong and ahead? If academically rigorous work is being given out and yet tutoring is still taking place, how does that help a student? What does a year ahead mean if in order to achieve that, you have to seek tutoring from outside the school? countess, i think you need to get a better handle on why parents send their kids to tutoring in this country and why there is such a culture of tutoring here: not every child who goes to tutoring goes because they are struggling.

11

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 April 2016 - 22:30

OP- welcome to Dubai ! It is certainly a harrowing decision to be made, even more so from afar. Props to you! Nord Anglia has gotten so many fabulous reviews from many parents. I personally tutor many children that go there, and they are unequivocally bright eyed, bushy-tailed and excited to learn. they are also writing things down on pen and paper, which is refreshing since alot of schools have kids just doing things on laptops and ipads. I also personally tutor alot of children from Repton. They are less bright-eyed and bushy tailed than the students i teach from Nord, but it could just be because my Repton students are much older, and my students from Nord are younger. Regardless, the students from Repton are doing work that is also quite academically rigorous - i was impressed/surprised. i would say they are definitely ahead of their year. they are also not heavily focused on technology, and writing and learning and note taking "the old fashioned way" is still quite emphasized. aside from that - if you're thinking of putting your younger 2 at Nord and the older one at Repton, keep in mind that they are on the opposite ends of town (pretty much) and that school runs would be disastrous. as someone else mentioned, traffic is an absolute nightmare. if you can keep them all in one place, or at least very close to each other, it would DEFINITELY be a huge help for you. good luck! Thanks @beeniedubai! It certainly is a process thats for sure. We have now applied at Nord Anglia, just in the process of completing recommendation forms and organising the assessments so I really hope my boys get a place. My main concern is my daughter entering Yr 12, preferably to do IB but choices are limited from what I see and not many with places available - and like you said the ideal situation would be to have the 2 schools close together. I was considering the bus service for one of them but I just read in another thread that the drivers are pretty bad! Thanks for your feedback, very useful.

1848

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 12 April 2016 - 15:12

We've moved this thread to our schools and nurseries forum as it's more appropriate. Thank you for your understanding!

117

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 April 2016 - 13:22

OP- welcome to Dubai ! It is certainly a harrowing decision to be made, even more so from afar. Props to you! Nord Anglia has gotten so many fabulous reviews from many parents. I personally tutor many children that go there, and they are unequivocally bright eyed, bushy-tailed and excited to learn. they are also writing things down on pen and paper, which is refreshing since alot of schools have kids just doing things on laptops and ipads. I also personally tutor alot of children from Repton. They are less bright-eyed and bushy tailed than the students i teach from Nord, but it could just be because my Repton students are much older, and my students from Nord are younger. Regardless, the students from Repton are doing work that is also quite academically rigorous - i was impressed/surprised. i would say they are definitely ahead of their year. they are also not heavily focused on technology, and writing and learning and note taking "the old fashioned way" is still quite emphasized. aside from that - if you're thinking of putting your younger 2 at Nord and the older one at Repton, keep in mind that they are on the opposite ends of town (pretty much) and that school runs would be disastrous. as someone else mentioned, traffic is an absolute nightmare. if you can keep them all in one place, or at least very close to each other, it would DEFINITELY be a huge help for you. good luck!

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 April 2016 - 11:55

is boarding school an option in the UK? I'm sure you will find spaces will come up over the summer in schools in Dubai as many people return to their home countries for senior school. I have only ever heard good things about NAS, everyone I know there is extremely happy.Good luck!

snickers01112158

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 18:32

Oh and also gems World Academy

snickers01112158

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 18:29

If you are particularly looking at IB try Wellington International school they do IB for year 12

11

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 18:11

If you are doing a call around for places in August, include DESC Dubai English Speaking College - it has an excellent all round reputation and its a not-for-profit. It will have all places booked just now probably but people's circumstances change. I suspect the places will still be available in Repton if you postpone your decision until end August/early Sept. There are a couple of other options too - new schools with links to other schools - Kent College for example and possibly Arcadia. English College too has made some new links with a UK prep - did you try that already? Thanks @SugarMama, I did not come across Kent College and Arcadia - will look them up. I visited the site of DESC, but will need to look at it again, I saw they had very good ranking too.

11

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 18:04

Sorry forgot to say traffic in Dubai is a nightmare so if you end up sending your children to different schools make sure you have buttoned down the logistics of school runs. In relation to Repton don't know a lot about it to be honest . When I left Dubai the first time around the secondary was just setting up but the prep had a good reputation the main concern is the size of the school as it is huge . The deputy head in my school in KL had worked in Repton and when discussing our previous experiences in Dubai expressed concerns on wether the pace of growth is the school was sustainable in terms of maintaining standards but this was 4 years ago and I am sure the school will have evolved a management team which can cope with the size of the school and it is certainly visually an impressive school. . Other schools to consider for your year 12 would be DBS a school which tend not to get a lot of publicity but is fairly solid on delivery of standards ( A level syllabus) . JESS Arabian ranches (IB syllabus) , old school with great reputation and if she is academic DC which has the reputation of being the most academic school in Dubai and has superb results . Also there is a lot of movement in year 12 as acceptance is dependent on GCSEs results so even if you do not get your first choices a phone call in August is definatley worth it as places may come up in this year Thank you @snickers01 for this information, very useful. I have applied to JESS but have heard there is very little chance of getting in as waiting list is long. DC are not accepting applications at this point unfortunately. I will have a look at DBS and JC, thanks for that. I heard traffic is bad which is why I would like to have the 3 at the same school but I dont think I have that luxury of choice. Nord Anglia definitely looks like a great option for my younger 2....I have more concern for my Yr12 right now as it is her final 2yrs, ideally she goes to an IB curriculum which will be very difficult to change schools once she starts.

31

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 16:41

If you are doing a call around for places in August, include DESC Dubai English Speaking College - it has an excellent all round reputation and its a not-for-profit. It will have all places booked just now probably but people's circumstances change. I suspect the places will still be available in Repton if you postpone your decision until end August/early Sept. There are a couple of other options too - new schools with links to other schools - Kent College for example and possibly Arcadia. English College too has made some new links with a UK prep - did you try that already?

458

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 11:48

Another big thumbs up for Nord Anglia from me too.

snickers01112158

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 00:51

Sorry forgot to say traffic in Dubai is a nightmare so if you end up sending your children to different schools make sure you have buttoned down the logistics of school runs. In relation to Repton don't know a lot about it to be honest . When I left Dubai the first time around the secondary was just setting up but the prep had a good reputation the main concern is the size of the school as it is huge . The deputy head in my school in KL had worked in Repton and when discussing our previous experiences in Dubai expressed concerns on wether the pace of growth is the school was sustainable in terms of maintaining standards but this was 4 years ago and I am sure the school will have evolved a management team which can cope with the size of the school and it is certainly visually an impressive school. . Other schools to consider for your year 12 would be DBS a school which tend not to get a lot of publicity but is fairly solid on delivery of standards ( A level syllabus) . JESS Arabian ranches (IB syllabus) , old school with great reputation and if she is academic DC which has the reputation of being the most academic school in Dubai and has superb results . Also there is a lot of movement in year 12 as acceptance is dependent on GCSEs results so even if you do not get your first choices a phone call in August is definatley worth it as places may come up in this year

snickers01112158

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 April 2016 - 00:17

Hi n2016 I have a year 9 in Nord at the moment and she loves it . We are serial school movers (not through choice) due to DH' s job and we have had a fair exposure to different schools including Dubai as this is our second placement here . I can also recommend JC as my eldest DD went there. . No hesitation in recommending Nord for your two youngest. though my DD has thrived there and it's been a delight to watch her really enjoy going to school (and looking at her school work actually learning stuff)

11

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 08 April 2016 - 19:38

Hi All We are moving to Dubai this summer, we found out just over a week ago so it has become painfully obvious that we are late applying for schools. My children will enter Yr7 (Gr6), Yr9 (Gr8) and Yr12 (Gr11). Most schools are full already / waiting list, but we have managed to find places for all 3 at Repton and possibly for my younger 2 at Nord Anglia - I am unable to come visit the schools due to personal reasons so we are relying on feedback and research. Anybody that have children or have had children at these schools? I've noticed from reviews that there has been a lot of movement from Repton and I am wondering why? Any advice / feedback greatly appreciated!

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