Welcome to the Emirates International School Jumeirah official Q and A page. Here we ask the questions, and the school answers directly. It is its chance to have its say on specific areas you have told us you want to know about. If you think there are additional questions we should be asking you may contact us here.

Does your school have a waiting list? In which years?

We have a large campus with big capacity and therefore we have no waiting list.

What are qualities and characteristics that define your school and its students?

Emirates International School provides a broad, international education in English, designed for expatriate and local students, that promotes excellence in academics. It is our mission to enhance the educational, social and physical development of our students, encouraging them to think creatively and critically in preparation for university education.

EIS provides a safe yet challenging environment that develops in students inter-cultural sensitivity, tolerance and responsibility towards the people and environment of our local and global community.

How many nationalities are represented in your school? How international would you say your school is?

A total of 80 nationalities are represented at the school.

Are there high proportions of a particular nationality?

It is mixed.

What is the teacher: student ratio in your school?

1:12

If external examinations and assessments are part of your curriculum, which ones do you offer?

IB MYP e-assessments at the end of Year11.

IB DP examinations at the end of Year 13.

What percentage of your sixth form that take exams at 18 go to university, and where, in general, do they go?

Every student that graduates from the school finds placement at university. In general students go to USA, UK, Canada. Some continue their tertiary education in the UAE others return to their home countries.

Describe your school's approach to education and teaching?

We believe that every child deserves to make progress from their own starting point. To this end teachers plan differentiated lessons catering to the individual needs of students in their class by adapting their approaches to ensure that all students make excellent progress. Teachers provide a range of learning activities to help students develop skills, such as collaboration and independence. Time, resources and technology are used creatively to make the lessons more interesting and challenging. A positive learning environment is created where students feel relaxed and are able to focus on their work. Teachers purposefully develop students' critical thinking, problem solving, innovation skills, thus enabling all groups of learners to be very successful learners.

Do you develop independent learning through homework and, if so, what are your recommendations regarding this, particularly time spent on homework?

Independent learning is a key part of the School's vision for teaching and learning. At EIS there is a heavy emphasis on student agency - student voice, choice and ownership of their learning - and our Visible and Personalised learning has been notably commended by Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau in our recent KHDA report. Home learning is personal to each student, reflecting the school's desire and intention to meet an individual's needs.

Physical education and sport is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. How does your school ensure children engage in physical activity?

PE lessons are scheduled in the timetable. We have an extensive After School Activities programme that offers a variety of sports that are covered by teachers and outside providers. There are annual Sports Days for every year level at the school in which all students participate in house competitions. We are a part of the DASSA league and our students participate in a number of team sporting competitions with other schools in Dubai. The campus is very large with dedicate grass fields for primary and high school students, we also have a swimming pool. A unique feature of the school is a massive fully air-conditioned Sports Hall where a variety of sports can be played through the year. on a daily basis during breaks students are encouraged to go and play outdoors under staff supervision. Annually, the school participates in the government led 30X30 Fitness Challenge when students are encouraged to do 30 minutes of exercise every day of the challenge month. The sports played at the school are: basketball, football, cricket, rounders, volleyball, hockey, netball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, athletics and swimming. Students have the opportunity to learn Karate as part of the After School Activities programme. As a result of the vast offering every student is engaged in some form of sport during their time at the school.

How does your school promote healthy lifestyles?

Physical and Health education is a compulsory part of our academic curriculum. We have a pastoral team of teachers who monitor this aspect at class and year level. On a regular basis the school holds special events when parents are invited to listen to presentations by experts on a variety of health related topics. We have a full time doctor on campus who counsels students on health related matters.

How do you promote healthy eating?

As a health promoting School, EIS is committed to encouraging and developing positive attitudes towards food and a healthy diet. Promoting a healthy life style is integral to our curriculum and we recognise the importance of offering children the opportunity to make informed choices about what, when, where and why they eat. As a school we know that food is fundamental to the quality of a child’s life, not just in providing essential nutrition but in communicating and sharing positive values, attitudes and experiences with each other. We believe that adults (staff, parents and carers) should be good role models and should support the children in understanding how balanced nutrition contributes to a person’s health, happiness and general well-being. We have a Healthy Eating Policy in Primary School, which is shared with parents. We believe that the foundation for good habits is laid in the younger years.

We ensure that students are served the highest quality of food in the school cafeteria, catered by a top-notch caterer. The senior leaders at the school regularly monitor the cafeteria menus so that only healthy items are served to students with a wide variety of choices for hot meals as well as snacks so students have access to only healthy food.

Does the school have cafeteria facilities for the students? How does it promote a balanced diet?

Yes, the school has cafeteria facilities with three units operating across the school. The main cafeteria is in the High School, one in the Primary School and a smaller serving station in the Annex which is designated for senior students.

What is the approximate average cost of a lunchtime meal?

A full hot meal consisting of main course, side of vegetables and salad costs AED 21.

Snacks are available from AED 5 onwards. Drinks cost AED 4.

What is the starting and finishing time of your school day?

School starts each day at 7.45 am and finishes at 2.50 pm. After School Activities are from 2.50 to 4 pm.

Is there a school uniform?

Yes, there is a school uniform.

Please advise on your discipline policy?

The school has a positive and inclusive approach to managing behaviour. We believe in encouraging good behaviour through a range of positive behaviour management strategies. Through this positive approach we aim to pre-empt inappropriate behaviour, thus enabling us to focus on good behaviour. We believe strongly in the importance of promoting and praising good behaviour.

We put great emphasis on the importance of interacting with others in respectful ways through speech, actions and relationships. We aim to provide care and support for our children and support them to learn how to manage their behaviour appropriately. We give children choices and make it clear as to the consequences of the choices they make. We believe children have rights and responsibilities

Students have the right to be safe, treated politely and to learn without disruption. Children have the responsibility to care for themselves, other people and their school.

We expect all adults and children to:

● Treat each other with courtesy and consideration, by treating others as we wish to be treated ourselves.

● Talk and listen to one another in order to understand and respect each other, making sure we hear all sides and do not jump to conclusions. ● Be fair and consistent to each other. However we recognise by treating people fairly we may not treat everyone the same.

● Value, take pride in and care for the school by looking after school property and equipment.

Staff will use their professional judgment on how a student’s behaviour will be sanctioned or rewarded. This judgement should be based on the severity of the behaviour and the behaviour history of the student.

How do you feedback progress and attainment to students and parents?

Over and above formal reports and Parent/Teacher meetings, parents get regular feedback from teachers based on ongoing formative assessments. We have an open door policy and parents are able to seek feedback at any time during the year via an appointment with the concerned teacher.

How often is the more formal feedback such as reports and parent/teacher meetings?

The attainment and progress of students is communicated to parents via 2 written reports and 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences each year.

Which languages are taught at your school - please detail any as a first as well as second language?

Apart from English and Arabic, our students study French or Spanish from Year 3 to Year 13. Students in Years 12 - 13 have the option of studying their mother tongue as part of the diploma programme as a self-taught language.

In the academic year 2019 - 2020 the school will start a Mother Tongue programme for students in Years 3 to 10.

Do you offer EAL or TEFL support for those students where English is not their first language?

Yes, we offer EAL support to students where English is not their first language, at an additional cost.

Do you offer a dedicated prayer room/s for students? For which faiths?

Yes, there are dedicated prayer rooms on the campus, there is also a small mosque on the campus.

How do you support gifted, able and talented students?

EIS-J sets out the ambition that every student, including G&T, should have the right personalized support to reach the limits of their capability.

At EIS-J G&T identification is done in two ways. First, we use internationally recognized diagnostic assessments, like CAT4 to do a broad scan of potential candidates; then, as a part of our ethos of collaboration, the G&T coordinator works along side with teachers who, through summative and formative assessments, evaluate their students and submit the candidates to us.

Once identified, we develop specific programs in the subjects and areas where they excel, such as math, sciences, music, English or sports. These consist of extra-curriculum activities on those subjects scheduled on or off-campus contests, home assignments, etc.

The G&T roster is reviewed continuously to not only maintain an updated list, but also to continue to identify students, keep them engaged and foster an atmosphere that will allow them to expand their horizons in the area where they show not only an aptitude, but a keen interest.

Do you have a learning support team in your school?

Yes, we have a separate SEND Coordinator and Learning Support Team in Primary School and in High School.

Not all schools are staffed or resourced to offer learning support to those children with either moderate or significant learning needs. To what level can you offer support for those with learning differences?

We are able to provide support for those with mild, moderate and significant learning needs. We do not have support in place for those with extreme needs.

Does your school have particular expertise in dealing with a specific learning need such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, aspergers syndrome and so forth?

The Learning Support Department at EIS-J strives to ensure that students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) achieve positive outcomes and make academic progress. Learning Support students are assisted on areas of specific learning difficulties in all academic subjects, as well as life/social skills in order for them to reach their potential.

Learning Support Students will have an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or Personalised Education Plan (PEP) created, based on the shared goals and aspirations of themselves, their parents and their teachers, under the guidance of the Inclusion Teachers. SMART targets are tracked and evaluated a minimum of three times each academic year, using the Assess-Plan-Do-Review model. Learners with reports from external providers, have IEP goals based around recommendations by these professionals. Liaisons with external providers now allows them to offer school based therapy where possible. Where a student is attending individual therapy such as Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), or Occupational Therapy (OT), termly progress reports must be submitted to the SENDCo to ensure we also support these goals in school. Students with difficulties accessing the mainstream curriculum, receive inclusive support from the Inclusion Team. This kind of support works alongside the classroom teacher but allows for extra instructional support and explanation that classroom teachers cannot always provide 1:1. The Learning Support department also supports students who find specific areas challenging, but may not have Special Educational Needs. In these cases, Learning Support Teachers plan, deliver and assess effective booster interventions, which are evidence based and work to close gaps in peer attainment. These programs also support children with SEND who require such intervention. Learning Support Teachers assess the impact of these and report on progress to parents, teachers, the SENCO and the School Heads.

Does your school have an educational psychologist or access to one to assess and support those youngsters with more challenging learning and emotional needs?

We have a qualified counselor in Primary School and in High School.

Do you have a parents’ group supporting the school?

Yes, we have a Parent Support Group that supports the school mangement.

Are there opportunities for parents to support the learning, activities and events within the school or on trips other than through the parent group?

Yes, there are a few opportunities for volunteer parents.

Is there an opportunity for parental representation on your school Board of Governors?

Yes, we have 4 parent members in our School Advisory Council, 2 from Primary and 2 from High School.

Do you offer specific activities, events or information sessions for those parents new to the school and/or area?

At the start of the year and in mid-year we offer information sessions for new parents. Through out the year we offer curriculum related sessions and activities to familiarise parents with curriculum requirements as they transition through the school and move from Primary Years Programme to Middle Years Programme to the Diploma Programme and Career related Programme.