Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

I am trying to get my kids into schools for the new academic year 2014. They are aged 3 and 6 years old. Ideally British Curriculum - I am open to put them on any curriculum, all the schools I have tried this week are saying they are full and have closed the waiting list!

Any advice?

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

yep you will have issues.... big waiting lists.

the younger years are the worst for places

have you tried reach british school or ajyal school

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Cheers will try those two, at this rate we will be ending up in Al Ain.

Such a pain trying to find a place for the kids, guys at work suggested The International School of Choueifat, they are "flexible" with the student numbers - but I hear its very regimented.

Has anyone on this board got there kids into that school?

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

I had both at Raha, then they moved back to Australia till June 2012. On their return to Abu Dhabi 18 months later, one was at Raha, the other was at GEMS American. I would not send either of my children to Choueifat.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

choueifat is a very rigid school, rote learning, gets good results, but they test them too much each week, no interaction with parents and teachers, teachers arent necessarily "qualified to degree level in subject areas" as the curriculum is their own. and if they are flexible with the numbers they will have too many in the classrooms, and its just the way it works in that sch

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Suggest you list all the schools you have tried, and then we can see which ones you have missed (if any...).

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

I have managed to get my kids secured at Diyafah in MBZ :)

Now on a hunt for a property!

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

that one and british reach and ajyal are really the only ones with places as they are new!

as i said get a sch sorted first and then a property there are more properties than schools.. look at mbz as that will be right on the doorstep

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Hi does anyone have any information on Reach British school and its status at present? Near finished? In good shape? Teachers in place? Gossip?

Thanks

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

its nearly finished, i can see it they have painted the outside! if you have little kids and thats the only sch that is open to you then so be it... it will be fine, you can always move at a later date if a space becomes available "more suitable".

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Yes only space at present so may have to run with it. My son is at FS2 stage so should be ok. On waiting lists for numerous others so another option may present itself. Thanks for the update.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Just got a place at repton reem island after exhausting all other options.... It's not cheap but couldn't find any other FS 2 availability

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Not in AB at present so need to sit an assessment for repton when we arrive if we think its a better option for the money (No doubt it is) Also being on Reem is an issue as we plan to live down in Al Raha/Al Reef and I work in Mussafah.

FS2 spaces at Reach for sure, if your not stuck on repton?

What are your thoughts on Repton? worth the money? where are you living?

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Just over the road from it on reem island... So location is good.... Fees of 55,000 sting a bit... Especially for a 4 year old... Didnt know reach had availability.... Thanks, I'm looking into that now.

I think the school looks amazing, I know she would love it there. All the classes and facilities are 5 star... The swimming pool is great too. I'd love to send her there as I know she would do really well but if Reach impress me too and they are cheaper I'm going to have to make a decision ...... Could be worse though... 2 weeks ago I thought she'd never get a place anywhere

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

keep in touch and let me know how things go?

Is Repton worth a look despite the price? I have an option on an assessment for when I arrive

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Id have a look if I was you..... problem is now I don't want her to go anywhere else now.... :(

Good thing is you don't have to pay any registration fees or anything until after your child has been accepted, so it wont cost you anything to go........ and the coffees alright too :thumbsup:

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

if you are looking at raha reef mussafah then its yasmina bisad reach british sch diyfah international and ayjal.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

they will be cheaper much cheaper repton cranleigh and bcad "really" expensive... all bling etc

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

be aware that profit schools have asked for security deposit to paid now for next term..... non profit schools are not asking you to cough up

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Calling it "bling" is fatuous, at least for BCAD, and probably Cranleigh also (especially as its still a building site, so you'll have no clue whether it will be blingy or not). Unless by "bling" you mean better quality teachers and more facilities...

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Whether you call it bling or not the arms race in private school sport facilities has been used to justify above-inflation fees rises for decades.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

exactly. Mrs Millhouse is a TA at our school. We have a newly refitted marble reception... no PVA glue for the kids to stick things together.

I love seeing how the money is allocated.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

BCAD and Cranleigh are our choices. Cranleigh has absorbed a lot of the senior staff from the best schools in AD..... So everything is wobbling at the moment...

Repton is a solid LAST position. Repton is a greedy and not very kid friendly business/company (I don't consider them a school at all) - Our Abu Dhabi experience is equal to our fiends Dubai experiences.

Repton bought the nursery where we had our son - and within 2 weeks the place was plastered in advertising for 3rd party companies in child height and had lot of new "compulsory" fee's for "extras" (Cheap Made In China Uniforms for 2 years and above???)

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Any views on the British international school Abu Dhabi and belvedere?

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

I'm interested in finding out more about the British International School Abu Dhabi too.

A friend who previously lived in Dubai also warned me off Repton in Dubai (not sure about AD) as she said they'd gone downhill.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Got my son into BISAD in the end and am very happy with our choice having done a tour and met staff. It was a choice in the end as we had a few offers which wasn't the case until I arrived in AD. Visited Repton out of curiosity and to form my own opinion. It can be summed up fairly easily as a good school facility, but pretty soulless. Poor outdoor play options too due to tight space on the island. My tour was poor and was really centred around getting my reg fee. Very little actual info about the school was passed on!

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Thanks Yam Yam. If we move it'll be very last minute so I'm going to have to cross my fingers that we can get into BISAD (even though we've never seen it!). Expat life is just bonkers sometimes!

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

For a 3 year old, you should try Kids Academy..British curriculum..one located in Khalifa A and one in Al Bateem. FS1 is now 4.5 years old. Al Yasmina has a good reputation as well as Raha Int.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

Hi all my son got place in British International and Reton for FS2. Would appraise if some one can help me choose.

Re: Private Schools Abu Dhabi
 

I am hearing really good things about BISAD. One friend had one son there, who now has two at Cranleigh, and said they were really happy with it but they moved to Sadiyaat, so it was untenable.