Victor Meldrew

There is a TA in our school moving to Abu Dhabi. Children moving to Years 1 and 3.

Does anybody know which are the best schools to apply to.

She is looking for something similar to JESS, DESS, Jebel Ali.

Thanks

busybee2

oooooh she is going to struggle, long waiting lists for the lower years. for primary schools then you have bsak (which is the same as jess/dess etc), yasmina, muna, pearl, mushrif all aldar schools, bisad run by nord, cambridge high school run by gems, a new gems cambridge international school (may have spaces) and a new one again called Reach British School (may have spaces) and then you have brighton college (entrance test) and a new repton school is due to open (entrance test).

archie159

If she is looking for a job (I'm assuming TA means Teaching Assistant), then Brighton College has just advertised for people wanting to be TAs. Not sure if that would also help her to get a place for her children...

VenExpat

Friends, what about the kids who doesn't speak English as mother tongue? what is the typical process to get a school spot?

I supposed that they should study English first and then apply in the school, but I have read in some others forum, that it is not strictly necessary because the kids can enrols to the school without have a English proficiency and they will be learning the language meanwhile they study their respective grade… is that true?.

Regards!

busybee2

if you are going to a british curriculum school it is taught in english, so english is a requirement, the same will be with the american curriculum etc. you can apply to the local schools now as an expat but again its taught in arabic so arabic must be proficient.

busybee2

usually working as a ta doesnt get you any preference with admissions only if a teacher etc.

VenExpat

Hi Busybee.

That sounds obvious and that's why I'm confused. Some Latin-American and Spanish expats states that they enrolled their children in the school without be English proficient, specially if they are small kids. I have to research which those schools are and what curriculum they have.

busybee2

german school here is in german, french school here is in french and so on

al dente

American International School (AIS) takes people whose English isn't necessarily as good, or the Canadian School.

Victor,

Places are tough to get. Where will she be living?

(in a very subjective order)
Off Island schools are:
Al Yasmina, BISAD, Gems, Canadian School

On island
Brighton College, Pearl, Al Khubairat (BSAK), Al Muna.

I believe Repton is opening on Reem Island and is only starting with upto Year 1 or something, which could take the pressure off earlier years?

VenExpat

So far, I haven't contacted any school, but once I receive my offer and the visa process starts, I will get in touch with some school, specially those located near Khalifa City A, in order to get information about de admission process and the language proficiency.

I read that GEMS Cambridge School provide English course for kids and maybe that would help the get a spot in the same school after the kids finish the course.