Help...Repton school or Victory Heights?

Thank you all for your opinions. Ive now visted both schools and I feel that Victory Heights is where she'll be happiest. She has come from a small enough school in Ireland and Victory Heights just seems to fit her personality, she was most excited when she seen it and thats good enough for me. Your points have really helped me and I now feel massively reassured that we are getting this decision right. Thanks again Well done.

Good luck with the move. Which year group will she be joining?

I love Repton. My child started in nursery and is now in year 3, and my other child is in nursery. Yes feels are high and yes we pay them ourselves but to be honest, we are exremely happy with the quality of education they receive. [b'> I've compared them to other children in their year group at home and they are far ahead. Over the years, we've had numerous friends repatriate to their home countries or other western countries and their children have been heaps and bounds ahead. [/b'> The only way to really be able to compare schools is to have real life experience of two different schools. Its a bit of a sweeping statement to say Repton teach ahead of children in the UK. I know for a fact that they dont as I have had children in Repton and in UK schools. The UK schools have gone totally bonkers, my DS just sat the 11+ some questions were GCSE level he is only 10 his school teaches so far ahead I cant keep up. Even in state schools year 5 and 6 children are doing Level 6 SATs papers. A friend of mine has recently left Repton and is now back in the UK, she is having to get Tutors for her children because they are behind in Maths and English!! OP If you want a good rounded education and a happy nurtured child I would choose Victory Heights.

I love Repton. My child started in nursery and is now in year 3, and my other child is in nursery. Yes feels are high and yes we pay them ourselves but to be honest, we are exremely happy with the quality of education they receive. I've compared them to other children in their year group at home and they are far ahead. Over the years, we've had numerous friends repatriate to their home countries or other western countries and their children have been heaps and bounds ahead. Yes, the uniforms are costly, and yes the quality isn't ideal - in fact, some parents take them to the tailors and pick their own fabric etc. The trips are expensive but again, no one is forcing you to send your children. In the first few years, there were some challenges in the Senior school but those seem to have resolved itself and friends in senior school now say they are very pleased with the education. Yes the arabic is not outstanding but to be honest, their other academics is whats crucial to me - the information they'll need when they re-enter a similar curriculum and sad as it may be, Arabic won't be one of them. It is a big junior school but my youngest who is very timid is blossoming there. The teachers are so encouraging and she has become so confident. My oldest has always confident and thats encouraged as well. I would also be wary of what you read on expatwomen. From the day Repton opened, there have been heaps of horrible posts often based on hearsay. I went to an ECA recently where all the mums sat around bashing Repton, so I spoke up and asked if anyone of their children went there...no one did but they were basing on what they heard from other mums, whose children didn't go there. There seems to be a lot of pointing fingers about the kind of parents that go there....yes some are very rich, yes there are a lot of professional families, but also a lot of parents whose companies pay the education where they may not have afforded it otherwise. Yes, in the parking lot you may see a rolls royce but you will also see a tido.... We've had two issues there, and in each case, once we spoke to the pastoral care, followed by the headmaster, it was resolved immediately. I can't offer any input on VH but its a new school, so even if you do attend there, be prepared for some hiccups. All schools, go through them in the early days. I would go and see how you and your child feel and you're gut will help you decide. Not all schools are right for everyone. Good luck in your decision! Many people have been to this school and posted their thoughts and experiences first hand on many forums. You never hear negative reviews on certain other schools, VH being one of them. My friends in Senior school are all employing tutors. I remember that you also said you took your DD to a tutor facility, why was that? The OP also needs to be aware that the curriculum in Junior is changing from an Independent schools one to National curriculum, the same as every other school in Dubai. <em>edited by Lolacat on 16/02/2014</em>

Well our dd did attend R, so I can comment based on experience. If I could turn back time I would, it was not a good experience. I am not going to go into detail, but I can say that the majority of comments you will find here are accurate. Last year was enough and we were finally able to move her, and we opted for Victory Heights. It has made a huge difference, her confidence has increased, she is not made to feel small, the teachers encourage and build confidence. Her first comment was that she couldn't believe how friendly the teachers were and they all SMILE. It is a small school, it is nurturing, it is about the whole child, the Principal is very involved. We are relieved and so happy for our dd to love going to school. Yes it is for profit, but not in the way R is. I can say hand on heart there is absolutely no contest for us. I think it will come down to what your expectations are.

I love Repton. My child started in nursery and is now in year 3, and my other child is in nursery. Yes feels are high and yes we pay them ourselves but to be honest, we are exremely happy with the quality of education they receive. I've compared them to other children in their year group at home and they are far ahead. Over the years, we've had numerous friends repatriate to their home countries or other western countries and their children have been heaps and bounds ahead. Yes, the uniforms are costly, and yes the quality isn't ideal - in fact, some parents take them to the tailors and pick their own fabric etc. The trips are expensive but again, no one is forcing you to send your children. In the first few years, there were some challenges in the Senior school but those seem to have resolved itself and friends in senior school now say they are very pleased with the education. Yes the arabic is not outstanding but to be honest, their other academics is whats crucial to me - the information they'll need when they re-enter a similar curriculum and sad as it may be, Arabic won't be one of them. It is a big junior school but my youngest who is very timid is blossoming there. The teachers are so encouraging and she has become so confident. My oldest has always confident and thats encouraged as well. I would also be wary of what you read on expatwomen. From the day Repton opened, there have been heaps of horrible posts often based on hearsay. I went to an ECA recently where all the mums sat around bashing Repton, so I spoke up and asked if anyone of their children went there...no one did but they were basing on what they heard from other mums, whose children didn't go there. There seems to be a lot of pointing fingers about the kind of parents that go there....yes some are very rich, yes there are a lot of professional families, but also a lot of parents whose companies pay the education where they may not have afforded it otherwise. Yes, in the parking lot you may see a rolls royce but you will also see a tido.... We've had two issues there, and in each case, once we spoke to the pastoral care, followed by the headmaster, it was resolved immediately. I can't offer any input on VH but its a new school, so even if you do attend there, be prepared for some hiccups. All schools, go through them in the early days. I would go and see how you and your child feel and you're gut will help you decide. Not all schools are right for everyone. Good luck in your decision!

Cannot comment on VH but Repton has been getting a lot of bad rep. Pls search on this forum before deciding. I must admit though that I find their infant/early years really good academically and otherwise. Academically I suspect you may not be much better off at VH. Hoever bear in mind that everything about Repton is expensive...class pics, overnight outings, trips, EVERYTHING includes a mark up over what price the vendors give them.One would expect economies of scale for a large school but its quite the opposite. Most parents are rich enough to ignore these.....the ones who feel the pinch are in the minority so very difficult to build a case with small numbers and take up to authorities. Who by the way are not easily accessible anyway. School lunch quality has really gone down and uniforms are expensive than other schools but of lower quality....esp the white shirts. Arabic curriculum/staff is really below standard. HTH. <em>edited by Phool_Bibi on 12/02/2014</em>

Definitely Victory Heights. Havent heard anything bad about them. Just good. Repton on the other hand...lets just say bullies rule the $chool and the $chool looks the other way...and thats just one reason to avoid it. Do a search for Repton and you will find countless threads naming plenty more reasons.

Hi there L36, I don't have a child in school but I've been doing a lot of research on this and other fora in the past year in preparation for our school applications; I would advise you to use the search function and search both for Victory Heights and Repton, a lot of opinions will come up (and that is what they are, opinions). From my research I got the impression Repton does not have a stellar reputation here, perhaps you are thinking of the UK Repton? Of course Victory Heights is new so there isn't much history behind it. Have you visited both? I went to visit a couple of very highly ranked schools that I later "rejected" because I didn't like the feel of the place, especially for the younger years. Good luck in your decision. <em>edited by Big blue on 12/02/2014</em>

Depends how ambitious you are. If you go to Repton, your children will be at least a year or two ahead of their age group but you will pay a price. You'll have heaps of homework and will be competing with parents who send their kids to many hours of tutoring in addition to school. All the most ambitious people I know send their kids here. In Victory Heights, your children will get a perfectly adequate education and a nice community feel. It has good facilities and your child will probably be the big fish in a small pond - good for self esteem.