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Walking/cycling to school?

Topsy77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 04:03

Hello.
We have just found out that we will be moving to Dubai around Christmas time. We have a fairly large family and I don't drive. From what I can gather having no car is going to be a problem and I'm getting really worried about how we'll manage both in terns of school and just getting about in general.

Three of the children are primary school age and we are looking at:

DBSJP
Nord Anglia
Kings Al Barsha
Safa Community (I just put that one in though feels different from the others. I liked the sound of the ethos as far as you can tell from a webpage!)

(my understanding is there's no point applying to the JESS schools as all full)

My question is, is there anywhere we could live in the vicinity of any of these schools which would be walkable or cyclable? I was drawn to DBSJP as it appears on the map that, if we're lucky, we might be able to get a villa near. Can the same be said from the others? Nord Anglia, for instance, seems to be in the middle of nowehere.

I know some have school buses - and we may need to go down that route - but living nearby is my preference.

Linked to this - do shuttle buses run to the malls/other destinations from any of the residential communities?

Many thanks. Am rather swamped in research and feeling overwhelmed.

Topsy77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 September 2016 - 18:57

Thank you. It's great to see that there are a few options out there. Feeling a little more positive now. I need to look into school transport cost vs.hiring a driver and then make a final decision on whether to try and find a villa near a school (with places!) or to knock it all on the head and get the school bus. Thanks again.

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sourskittleashnut

984

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 18 September 2016 - 08:54

My daughter is at Wellington Academy in Silicon Oasis and many of the kids ride a bike or walk to school, as do many parents. It's located right in the centre of the villa community, they are called Semmer and Cedra Villas. [url= https://goo.gl/maps/yNQrDHBXMzD2'> https://goo.gl/maps/yNQrDHBXMzD2[/url'>

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sammaz

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 September 2016 - 00:32

You can also check GEMS Metropolitan school which is very close to Arabian Ranches and Motor City. DBSJP has a lovely campus and there are villas all around it. So DBSJP fits your requirement the best. It's a new school so there might be places for all your kids. DBS springs is an old well established school, so you will definitely not find places for all your kids. Also check Victory Heights Primary. Heard good reviews about that school plus the location of the school meets your requirement.

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Topsy77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 20:12

Thank you. You've been very helpful.

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Buddha

553

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 19:34

Ps Springs 2 is walkable to DBS but not always easy to get school places

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Buddha

553

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 19:23

I think it is called ranches primary. Only issue might be your housing allowance as I think villas are large and therefore probably expensive. You may be correct re DBSJP - I don't actually know where it is. DBS is in Springs and depending where you got a villa it MAY be walkable albeit very sweaty. You can take driving lessons in Dubai. Your other alternative may be to sponsor a driver. Most after school activities not in schools require driving. Just ensure with school buses that they DO service the area that you live in, ie school my kids went to ran buses but not to my compound. Also, I don't know age of your kids but some won't let the very young kids use school buses

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Topsy77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 15:42

Sorry Buddha - do you know the name of the new school in Arabian Ranches please?

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Topsy77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 15:41

Thank you very much sarahlou and Buddha. I had hoped that cycling within a residential complex would be ok, but sounds like it might not be such a good plan. Unfortunately we don't live in the UK and I don't think an intensive driving course is an option, though I will look into it. THis is worrying. I have no choice about this posting so will have to come up with a solution. Perhaps I can learn to drive whilst we're there? Meanwhile, I had thought that DBSJP looked to be in the actual residential area. It's so hard to tell when you've not visiited and relying on google maps ;) Regarding school buses - am happy to use them, but, as you say buddha, the after school clubs would be an issue. In Dubai are most extra-curricular activities centred around school or do they run things in the communities too? Thanks.

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Buddha

553

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 10:44

There is a new primary school in the new part of Arabian ranches so perhaps if you got a villa there the kids could walk or cycle. It is only a primary school so you will have issues for secondary. I was a bit of a nutter re running etc the entire time in Dubai but in summer, even for me it is pretty much too hot to walk more than a few hundred metres to and fro school. DBS is in Springs and there are one or two areas of springs where the villas are almost within cycling distance. The schools you suggest tend to be middle of nowhere and will almost certainly require car or taxis or buses. School buses may be a solution but if kids want to do after school clubs then you might have issues. To be honest, if I were you I would book myself on a week long intensive driving course in UK and attempt to get tour licence. I lived in other countries without a car and got by but I would not like being in Dubai with kids and no car. Taxis are plentiful and cheap but again depending where you live and where you want to go it isn't always easy to get them.

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sarahlou123

8965

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 07:39

Taxis are plentiful and cheap here plus most areas have bus routes. I don't know of any shuttle buses that go from residential areas though Personally I wouldn't cycle anywhere here as it is pretty scary on the roads during rush hour

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