How long (generally!) does it take to get into a Dubai school?

TimTam

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EW GURU

Latest post on 05 November 2014 - 22:12

No, no, no. Wait lists *used* to be long. Now you can generally expect to get a spot right away. Many new schools have been built and you'll have no trouble at all finding your daughter a place. If she is about to turn five, you will need to place her in a school as the nurseries don't cater for kids over 4. You'll be looking for an FS2 spot if you are coming this year. You should probably check with the Gems central registration office first - as they've built the most schools. But you can also check Kings, Safa, Nord Anglia and Ta'aleem has built a new Foundation school in the Meadows which is super convenient if you live in the Springs/Meadows area: http://www.taaleem.ae/new-british-foundation-school Sorry, have to disagree. There is no way to generalise about how long it takes without referring to specific schools, curriculum, budget, school performance etc. In Dubai, there have always been schools with very long waitlists and those without.....there's a reason for that. Guiness2 is correct that many good schools have built new branches so that has eased things a bit...but only if you can pay whatever fees they ask and are willing to let availability drive your decision instead of looking for what is best for your child (some of the new schools she mentioned have fees I cannot even imagine paying). If you are selective about schools and are also fee sensitive there might very well be waitlists to find a suitable place. Sorry to be negative.....but unless your education budget is unlimited, it is not so easy. Actually, the overall availability of seats in Dubai has dramatically increased in recent years. That has taken the pressure off even the most selective of schools. Foremarke and Nord Anglia have taken a lot of the kids that would have gone to Repton for example. The new Kings have taken the kids that would have applied to the old Kings. People are applying to Safa or Victory Heights Primary because it is convenient which is opening places at Jebel Ali Primary School. And all the new Wellingtons are making it easier to get into the old ones. The new school at Motor City has space for 3000 students while actually less than a thousand are currently attending. So actually, Catawba, you are wrong. As new seats far out pace the number of new students, it will make it easier to get into the school of your choice. But I'm not saying she will get into her number one choice, she'll need to pick three or four and I can then assure her that one of those will certainly have a spot. Sorry, I don't think on any level I'm wrong. More places, yes. Still difficult if you are selective, yes. We will agree to disagree. I don't disagree at all that there are more places available. If all anyone needs is a bum on a seat then great. But if one is concerned with more than a bum on a seat, eg curricumlum, fees, school size, staff, student population, reputation, ethos, etc....it is not so easy. You mention Foremarke, Nord Anglia and Repton......some of the highest fees in Dubai prohibitive to so many. New school in Motor City with 3000 places? If I just need a place great but if I want a school with a track record and actually think for a 5 year old a 3000 pupil school isn't my preference? My kids are at a school with less than 500 in the primary years and I would never ever put them in a school with 1000 and aiming for 3000. Yes, there are more school places available in Dubai than before but all you are doing is listing all the new schools without acknowledging that rather than just needing a place parents' have hopes and aspirations for the school to which they will send their children. It is still not an easy place to find ideal places for school children;you suggest that these days someone can get a spot right away but that belies the fact that to find the right spot, as opposed to any spot, can be very difficult indeed.

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