Regents/Dubai British School/Dubai International Academy or Stars?! Need feedback from Parents/teachers please. | ExpatWoman.com
 

Regents/Dubai British School/Dubai International Academy or Stars?! Need feedback from Parents/teachers please.

181
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 23:10

Have read all the threads I can find on/or just mentioning the names of these schools.

Seems I have officially joined the masses of Dubai parents in the worry over which school is best to send my little one! My little guy is entering FS1 in September this year (age 3) + we have a decision to make. Have done all the tours + honestly I'm just mind boggled! So which would YOU chose between this list: Regents in The Greens/ Dubai British School/ Dubai International Academy or Stars in Umm Seqeim?

LO has been offered an assessment at each of these schools. Parents, teachers I would greatly appreciate your feedback :) Thanks!

18
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 March 2011 - 09:50
Tulipano- I can't believe you decide to rate a school because your daughter goes to ballet there after school hours, which is a completely different feel for it, and what do you mean by the water taps????, and the locking doors, that you might get stuck???? Wierd shape? When you are there after school, there is not much staff that can open doors for you. On the contrary, I see it as being very safe for the children. Hi yazli, I'm happy for you that you're happy about the school. As you remember I did not comment academically. I personally would not choose a school still under construction. (if you go back of a school you'll see what I mean!) Water taps are on some of the corridor walls, w/out sink etc. Really no meaning! Just weird! Strange that you did not notice them. Also I do not need to have more people just to open the door for me. I'd like to use basic handles, not the passwords!
60
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 18:22
Does anyone know if Star are accepting children for FS1 in 2013?
18
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2011 - 10:01
Hi, I don't know much about Star School teaching levels, but my daughter goes there for her ballet lessons. Weird building! Corridors with a water taps. With a strange locking systems on doors, that you can lock yourself inside! Really WEIRD!!! Who knows what else!?
181
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 February 2011 - 22:30
Jammiemonster this really helps A LOT! Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. Exactly the sort of information I wanted to know. I've found the whole schools search thing very confusing. Even though I parted with yet another 500AED to register my LO at Regents I've had niggling doubts. I was told by the lady giving me the tour that KG1 classes were a max. of 22 with 1 Teacher + 1 TA. So it goes up to a max. of 26 in FS2? I didn't get told this. When I went to tour I saw a whole bunch of ladies waiting outside the front door there for interviews. When your son was there did you notice a high turn over of staff? I asked the registrar if Regents had a high staff turnover she said we live in Dubai so it's normal, all schools have a high turnover. The other thing that got me about Regents was that they demand another 500AED (on top of the 500AED registration fee) to assess the child. So you part with 1,000AED before you even know if your son/daughter has a place.
25
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 February 2011 - 09:41
My son was at Regent for a term before moving to DBS and it is hugely different. One very noticeable difference is the class size, when he started in September there were 26 kids in the class at Regent and 7 FS2 classes! His class had one teacher and one filipina teaching assistant. The teaching assistant did not make herself known and was not involved in my son's education. She seemed to be there to tidy up, sort out bags/lunches/toileting etc. My son was lucky to have a very enthusiastic and lovely teacher, but maybe 26 kids on her own is a bit overwhelming?! Totally different situation at DBS, 19 kids, 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant. The teaching assistant has children at the school, is very involved and is really functioning as another teacher in the class. It makes a big difference. Also only 4 FS2 classes, so common areas not as chaotic. DBS just seem so much more organized, like they had been doing it for longer and have some sort of system in place. Regent are trying but maybe just not quite sure what they are trying to do? (if that makes sense?) I think Regent need to limited class size and intake for each year group, it's not a massive site so always seemed very crowded to me. HTH <em>edited by Jammiemonster on 13/02/2011</em>
181
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 09:41
So far I've read some negative things about DIA in secondary school, but that it is OK in primary - not very encouraging? DBS I've read that the primary + secondary are separated successfully so no need to worry about little ones getting trampled. That the teachers at Regents are young + enthusiastic but that parent communication aint great. Not much to go on. Please share parents of Regents/DIA/DBS! There are a lof of us Mums new to the schools thing that would appreciate current feedback on these schools. Thanks <em>edited by KT on 10/02/2011</em>
 
 

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