Brighton College AD or Al Raha International | ExpatWoman.com
 

Brighton College AD or Al Raha International

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 12:04

Hi! I know BCAD is yet to open up and offers the GCSE and that Al Raha offers the IB from the primary years itself, but what I am concerned about, is the teething issues at BC.
They had an admissions officer initially, was replaced with another one- who stayed on only for 2 weeks and now a new one is coming in. We were among the first few to apply- and not just in our year- but in the school itself and were informed so by the person taking in the applications at BC. Were called in for an assessment and put on a waitlist. Then offered the very same day!! Wondering if nationality counts there. We hold an Indian passport.
We have been offered at both schools.
The fees differ currently by about 18k aed at the FS2/Year 1 level and BC is the more expensive one. It will be tight, but we can afford BC also.

I know I'm going round in circles , but I what I would really want to know is someone who can give me an honest review on Al Raha- There isnt much on the internet about RIS and I would appreciate some feedback. Is the mix mainly local/arab? Are the children happy there? I would post this on the Schools sub forum, but all the discussions there seem to be on schools in Dubai.

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 17:47
I have no doubt you are totally right Busybee, if it reassures anyone the Head of BCAD is coming from an excellent school here, he is extremely well thought of. Not the school my son is at but in the same match playing circle if you see what i mean :) yeh as i said though its just the way it is run here, with the aldar schools jim harvey was an ex head of bsak and they still suffered with teething problems, its the set up of the schools, the newness of it all, the curriculum is different, the way of life is different here, setting up home and schools is just different so that causes its own unique problems.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:57
I have no doubt you are totally right Busybee, if it reassures anyone the Head of BCAD is coming from an excellent school here, he is extremely well thought of. Not the school my son is at but in the same match playing circle if you see what i mean :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:49
Would we have to deal with red tape at the level of my dd? She will be in year1!! The reason we have accepted is it offers the GCSE and if we do have to shift her to another school at some point in time, it would be easier.. There's so much money at stake, it worries me!! Looked up their website- the head of science from bsak has moved there- the founding head- prep from bisad has moved to head of pre prep here and few people from repton- it can't be bad me thinks- at least not at the primary levels.. Although, from I have read, Repton started well, but is now not doing too well.. yeh thats the problem repton was we are the best uk private school etc and its gone downhill. but whose to say how its going to be. i know the head of science from bsak is going, but i have been trying to find out if any others are going, and as yet dont appear to be. the science guy i think is moving because he wants to start from scratch whereby bsak is established, he hasnt been here long like 2 years or so, and his wife is also working at bsak in the admin staff but is pregnant so is leaving soon anyways. i do think it will be ok, but there is bound to be teething problems, as with all new schools. all the aldar schools have and they have experienced uae teachers at the helm. jim harvey who is running all the education side of aldar was at bsak for years and knows the red tape inside out but still the schools had problems.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:41
Would we have to deal with red tape at the level of my dd? She will be in year1!! The reason we have accepted is it offers the GCSE and if we do have to shift her to another school at some point in time, it would be easier.. There's so much money at stake, it worries me!! Looked up their website- the head of science from bsak has moved there- the founding head- prep from bisad has moved to head of pre prep here and few people from repton- it can't be bad me thinks- at least not at the primary levels.. Although, from I have read, Repton started well, but is now not doing too well..
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:11
thanks Busybee, after your break that would be a great help. i will try and get some for you, but they are on hols at the mo so people wont be back until 17th
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:07
thanks Busybee, after your break that would be a great help.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:43
We have decided to accept BCAD and I hope we dont regret it.. :) i think you will be fine, the only problem will be the teething problems being a new school the way the curriculum is different here the red tape dealing with the moe etc etc
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:41
We have decided to accept BCAD and I hope we dont regret it.. :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:41
Bsak said unlikely for year 6 but think i will put him in BCAD if/when he passes entrance test. BSAK is perfect for daughter and she doesn't want him near her :( She still VERY negative about leaving UK, it's not an easy time here. bc is only like 10 mins or so away so its easier to do both school runs
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:40
Bsak said unlikely for year 6 but think i will put him in BCAD if/when he passes entrance test. BSAK is perfect for daughter and she doesn't want him near her :( She still VERY negative about leaving UK, it's not an easy time here. ok do you want me to get some email addresses from some of the girls currently in the sixth form? we are on 2 weeks hols at the moment so it may take a couple of weeks
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 14:46
Bsak said unlikely for year 6 but think i will put him in BCAD if/when he passes entrance test. BSAK is perfect for daughter and she doesn't want him near her :( She still VERY negative about leaving UK, it's not an easy time here.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 14:19
Just to add this if it helps anyone :) BC have been very efficient in arranging my son's assessment test this week, just hope he passes now! these tests for the younger ones are just to be make sure english is up to scratch and that he will "fit" in. people with english as a second language obviously would fall behind if they cannot understand the curriculum.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 14:19
Shifting from IB to British Curriculum is extremely difficult in AD, if you want to keep your kids in their age group. For some reason, the education department here can only count, not assess, so they don't care if your kid is well able to do the work. So if your kid completes for example, year 2 in IB, and the following year you want to have him in British, he will have to do year 3 - even though the equivalent year group in British would be year 4. My advice is - if you are even thinking about swopping from IB to British, don't go to IB in the first place. Very very hard. yep as i said before going from american or ib if the numbers are out by 1 year which they are its very difficult to explain to the moe that its the same. year 3 has to go up to year 4 etc and not go up to year 5 which would really be the case for the next academic year. its always difficult also going from gcse year 9 too!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 14:17
My son has always done Britich Curric here so should be fine at BC, sure you are right re IB though Puppylove. you never know you may still get a spot at bsak siblings or have you been told defo no?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 14:07
My son has always done Britich Curric here so should be fine at BC, sure you are right re IB though Puppylove.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 13:35
Shifting from IB to British Curriculum is extremely difficult in AD, if you want to keep your kids in their age group. For some reason, the education department here can only count, not assess, so they don't care if your kid is well able to do the work. So if your kid completes for example, year 2 in IB, and the following year you want to have him in British, he will have to do year 3 - even though the equivalent year group in British would be year 4. My advice is - if you are even thinking about swopping from IB to British, don't go to IB in the first place. Very very hard.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 13:11
Just to add this if it helps anyone :) BC have been very efficient in arranging my son's assessment test this week, just hope he passes now!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 21:40
Yes, in our case, Raha has informed us that they are going to increase the fees by 10% subject to ADEC approval. The difference would be 14k then.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 10:08
The fees differ currently by about 18k aed at the FS2/Year 1 level and BC is the more expensive one. It will be tight, but we can afford BC also. just remember though that BC have told you what the fees are for the next academic year (and the new aldar bateen school), bsak havsnt informed parents of the fees next year. they have i believe up to middle of april to ask for a fee increase to ADEC so at bsak they havent been informed yet, but i do think that yasmina have informed their parents of an increase, so when you factor those in prob closer than you think.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 28 March 2011 - 13:12
yes it can be difficult switching from ib to brit curriculum, for eg a neighbour of mine goes to raha school her child is rising 14 but she cannot switch to the british curriculum without going back a year, this is because they have started to do their GCSEs coursework and if she moved she would have to move back a year to the beginning of year 9 instead of going into year 10. so it depends on what curriculum you will be wanting if you move back, the majority of schools in uk i believe are still GCSEs etc not IB.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 March 2011 - 13:06
Thanks Bard!! :) Next point of worry : shifting at a later stage from IB to British curriculum- I have heard it is difficult as IB is more laid back in elementary years while the British curriculum is more structured. In case I want to shift my child, will it be more difficult? As in, will she have to repeat a grade? Has any other parent had this issue? Feedback appreciated.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 23:46
Smita: Think about the kind of school you want your child to go to, and where you think she would fare best. Dil kya kehta hai, vo suno. It's the only way, once you've done your basic research.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 20:31
So BB, would you recommend waiting to see for a couple of years before committing to Brighton? I am very confused. BC looks really nice on the website. Raha has had good words in the elementary section where my daughter will go to as well.. Why is this such a tough decision?!!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 19:46
who knows how bc will fair, it will have teething problems, its so different here, the curriculum has to be different as you have to have arabic instead of re etc, they have to deal with lots of red tape nothing like the uk, so they will suffer in the first few years like any new school has. really it will be down to spaces and fees and more importantly the curriculum, whether you want GCSEs etc or IB, remember when you leave here which curriculum will you go back to.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 19:10
Thanks Bardophile. Appreciate your feedback.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 14:58
Sorry for the double post, but also, no one can really know much about Brighton College yet...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 14:57
Raha is mostly expat, some local. From what I've heard about Raha, the elementary school is excellent. For the senior school, reports have been a little mixed. Some are very happy, others less so. All the people I spoke to about the elementary school were very happy with it. Even the parents who weren't happy with the senior school. Don't really know much about Brighton College.