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DESS v The English College

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 10:52

We're in the lucky position of being offered places at both schools for my 2 boys, we just don't know which one we prefer.

DESS has a great reputation but the abruptness of the admin staff and the location of the school are kind of putting me off.

The English College staff couldn't have been more helpful, the school looks great and i like that it's smaller. I just don't know whether it's the best choice academically. I can't find any exam results and we were given the seat on the back of school reports and work samples rather than an assessment.

Anyone with personal experience of either that could offer advice.

Thanks

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141

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 21:20

We had offers for DESS, EC and Kings for my DD for FS2 this academic year. We chose DESS for a number of reasons and have not looked back. Two reasons we didn't go with EC were that they have a reputation of not being as academically strong (I don't know the ins and outs of this but have heard it enough times to think it could be true). Secondly, the fact that they don't do assessments before offers, put me off. I am aware of someone who accepted an offer at EC, only to be told after three months that their child had some kind of learning difficulty and the school wasn't able to support it, so they needed to find a new school. This could possibly be avoided by doing assessments. DESS assessed my DD and I felt more comfortable knowing that they were comfortable with her and knew what they were getting. The admin at DESS changed this academic year and the current person is super helpful and lovely. Good luck with your decision.

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 20:23

Thanks for all your advice ladies.

485

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 17:55

Like others have said I have found the admin staff at DESS this year incredibly helpful and friendly. My kids were lucky enough to be awarded places at DESS and DESC commencing Sept 2012. They are miles happier at school than they were in UK and the standard of their work is much better. More is expected of them but it never seens done in such a way that the kids feel pressurised. The sporting opportunities at DESS are fab and my youngest is thriving on that. On the flip side if I had known about English College when I was applying then I would have tried to get my kids place there but PURELY for financial reasons. EC is much cheaper. (DESS fees may be rising 10% in Sept which further adds to our pain..they've just applied to the KDHA for approval). The fact the primary and secondary at EC are on the same campus is another consideration if you expect to be out here a while as I drive MANY kms back and forwards between the 2 schools.(the primary and secondary for DESS are about 20/25mins apart) The idea of both being at same campus seems very appealing at times DESS and EC are both non-profit schools which I personally think makes all the difference. I have investigated EC as due to financial reasons we may need to look at moving ours (if we can get them in to EC). It seems to me that the quality of teaching is very similar at both. If finances were not a consideration I would not even contemplate moving them as they're both so happy and doing so well at DESS. I think your decision would also depend to a certain extent to where your husband will be working and where you may be living. You are in a very fortunate position as I would say you can't really go wrong with either school. EC is not a non-profit school.

1370

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 17:31

Like others have said I have found the admin staff at DESS this year incredibly helpful and friendly. My kids were lucky enough to be awarded places at DESS and DESC commencing Sept 2012. They are miles happier at school than they were in UK and the standard of their work is much better. More is expected of them but it never seens done in such a way that the kids feel pressurised. The sporting opportunities at DESS are fab and my youngest is thriving on that. On the flip side if I had known about English College when I was applying then I would have tried to get my kids place there but PURELY for financial reasons. EC is much cheaper. (DESS fees may be rising 10% in Sept which further adds to our pain..they've just applied to the KDHA for approval). The fact the primary and secondary at EC are on the same campus is another consideration if you expect to be out here a while as I drive MANY kms back and forwards between the 2 schools.(the primary and secondary for DESS are about 20/25mins apart) The idea of both being at same campus seems very appealing at times DESS and EC are both non-profit schools which I personally think makes all the difference. I have investigated EC as due to financial reasons we may need to look at moving ours (if we can get them in to EC). It seems to me that the quality of teaching is very similar at both. If finances were not a consideration I would not even contemplate moving them as they're both so happy and doing so well at DESS. I think your decision would also depend to a certain extent to where your husband will be working and where you may be living. You are in a very fortunate position as I would say you can't really go wrong with either school.

1692

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 12:37

Thank you Kerri ... it makes all the difference if you ask me... the years offered are the toughest ones to get in to here...glad you could make it... Our wait continues :( Ours too.... I feel your pain...

165

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 12:29

Thank you Kerri ... it makes all the difference if you ask me... the years offered are the toughest ones to get in to here...glad you could make it... Our wait continues :(

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 12:19

No i don't mind - a Year 1 place in april and FS2 for september. We don't actually live in Dubai yet though, so i believe this makes a little difference in the waiting list game.

165

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 11:55

Kerri ... If you dont mind , for which year were they offered places? We are in their waiting list

9

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 11:31

I have children at DESS and it is a great school. Best places to park are over the footbridge or in the hospital grounds at the back and walk....Have never had any issues with admin staff - the only admin to come in contact with is the receptionist who is lovely and there is no great need to be in contact with admin staff anyway. I have no experience of EC primary but have a child in the secondary who is also very happy and the parents that I know whose children attended the primary seem as pleased with it as I have been with DESS. You are in a fortunate position choosing between the two! Think about which secondary you might want them to attend later as of course it will be easier for them to feed into EC secondary or DESC if they attend the respective primaries. Cost is vastly different as well with EC fees being much lower. Overall academic results seem to be very similar at GCSE and A-level.

1618

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 11:18

DESS is a fantastic school. I don't know what admin staff you're referring to as the current admin are lovely. As Asti says you don't have any dealing with admin. The teachers that I've come in contact with are very dedicated and caring. Your child is not just another bum on a seat but a person who is cared for, pushed and nourished to be the best person they can be. When we first moved to DESS I was worried about the class size being at 24 when our old school had 16 and to be honest the teachers my son has had at DESS know him a lot better than the teachers at his old school he also gets far more one on one time with the teacher compared to his previous school. My son has gone from being clever but average academically, (his teacher at his old school said to me that I thought he was smarter than what he really is!) to being given assessments from the year above because he can't go any further in his current year. Even though children are pushed I feel that they're not put under unnecessary pressure. The teachers know how far each child can go. My son loves every minute he's at school. <em>edited by starsouthern on 13/03/2013</em>

1848

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 11:03

I was in the same position as you were two years ago. I had to choose between DESS and another school that was very helpful and I quite liked. Everyone told me DESS is best,but I was really put off by the surly admin staff at the school. They are not warm and welcoming at all. However I spoke to several parents that told me you rarely have any contact with the admin staff and the teachers at the school are really good and love their jobs. I went ahead and chose DESS. I cant be happier. My DS is absolutely thriving and doing so well academically. They really push a child to go further than you could ever imagine and it's true,you dont have any contact with the admin staff. Also the school has a real family feel to it. They are also really fantastic in the sport department if you have a sporty child ;) . Thats my experience so far. Just to add,the grumpy admin person I was referring to is not at the school anymore. Current admin I have found to be lovely (the little contact I have had with them). <em>edited by Asti on 13/03/2013</em>

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