Jumeirah College Review
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Once again, and for the eleventh time, following the DSIB inspection round of 2022-23, Jumeirah College has received an Outstanding rating. A copy of the report can be found under the 'Inspection reports' tab. This report will be updated in due course.
The story so far...
GEMS Jumeirah College (JC) was first established in September 1999 and has occupied, renovated and extended its original premises considerably over the years. In 2013, GEMS proposed to relocate JC to a site now occupied by three other GEMS schools in order that the College could expand not only its buildings but, particularly, its still limited grounds for sports.
GEMS Education rethought that decision "due to the overwhelmingly negative feedback they received from parents regarding the move". Today, the college has been able to make arrangements to ensure that JC students are active participants in a range of competitive sports in which they perform extremely effectively - skip to here for further information.
The College's Vision is "to create a vibrant learning community that nurtures happy, confident and accomplished students who, through a commitment to academic and personal excellence, progress beyond limits".
Word on the street and feedback to WhichSchoolAdvisor.com has been consistently strong and positive until our most recent survey results, where there have been some notable differences in feedback. Reservations related to the communication and support of students during the Distance Learning processes implemented as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic form part of this. In fact, communication was the one area that inspectors felt should be improved during the Distance Learning Evaluation carried out in 2020 - you can read the report here.
For further parent feedback, check out The Buzz.
The College provides a Secondary and Sixth Form education based on the English National Curriculum to approximately 1120 students from almost 60 nationalities (with the largest demographic being Indian). There are also some 88 students of Determination identified with additional learning needs, and a small number of Emirati students (30).
Supporting the students are 100 teaching staff including the Principal and senior leaders, and 15 additional teachers or teaching assistants, providing a teacher to student ratio of 1:13. This ratio and the student numbers have remained consistent for well over 5 years, although, inevitably, teaching staff themselves have changed significantly in this time.
Find out more about our impressions and the facilities at JC by reading our Jumeirah College School Experience
Historically, teacher turnover at JC had been on the high side reaching 30% at the end of the 2016 academic year. More recently, greater stability has also been achieved in even this area, with the staff turnover for 2017 down to 14% and the figure for 2018 19%. This is around the average of 20-22% in Dubai among a fairly transient teaching population, most of whom have two year fixed contracts. For the 2022 academic year, turnover was 10%. One of the key factors in the retention of staff had been former , who joined the college in 2013.
In May 2020, it was announced that, having led the college for seven years and ensuring its retention of the KHDA's Outstanding rating throughout his tenure, Principal, Simon O'Connor, would be leaving the school in July 2020 to join Deira International School.
In June 2020, GEMS Education announced that Mr. O'Connor would be replaced by Marc Morris at the start of the 2020-21 academic year. In early 2022, Mr. Morris announced his intention to depart and left the school at the end of the year. During his tenure, feedback from parents to WhichSchoolAdvisor.com was not nearly as positive as in the years under Mr. O'Connor's leadership.
GEMS has evidently taken the opportunity of Mr. Morris' departure to strengthen the links between the College and its sister and neighbouring school, Jumeirah Primary School (JPS), from whom 95% of Year 7 entrants to the College come.
Whilst Mr. Morris has been replaced by Rob Kesterton as Acting Principal, Rachel Higgins, Principal and CEO of JPS, has been appointed Head of Jumeirah Schools, the rebranded "Street 19" schools, as the two schools had previously been referred to.
And, in April 2023, the announcement of the details of the incoming Principal was made.
The role will be taken by Nick Brain, currently Executive Head of the private Sherfield School in Hampshire, England. A day and boarding school with around 600 students, Mr. Brain has been Headmaster since 2018. Prior to this position, Mr. Brain was Headteacher at Bryntirion School in Wales, following his roles as Deputy Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher at two other schools in the Principality.
Mr. Brain graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Physical Education and History, followed by a Post-graduate Teaching qualification from Loughborough University. He also has a Masters' in Education, together with his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQT) from Cardiff University. Jumeirah College will be his first international headship.
Positive change continues at JC in 2023.
JC will expand from its current site to a neighbouring one, with the first phase completed in time for the start of this, the 2023-24 academic year. After years of trying to find a means to provide an expanded and upgraded campus (including plans to move to Al Khail ten years ago), a site adjacent to the current campus will house a new sixth form centre and specialist sports facilities.
At the same time enhancements and modernisation of the existing school building will take place.
The first phase construction will focus on the sixth form building, which will include a new café and common room, a research library, upgraded administration spaces and facilities, as well as bespoke teaching spaces. Phase 2 will see specialist sports facilities added to the site.
Completion of Phases 1 and 2 will free up capacity within the current campus, which in turn will allow for a redesign of the existing space by September 2024.
The main focus of this will be on enhancing existing facilities, including the creation of an auditorium with retractable seating and black box drama classrooms, new music suites, a larger canteen space, a food technology lab, a new multi-purpose sports hall, enhancement of the swimming pool and surrounds, an upgraded administration and reception area, and additional classrooms.
The expectation is that these increased facilities will combine with teacher recruitment to allow the school to reduce class sizes. In addition, the school will be able to invest in additional Key Stage 3 curriculum areas including, by September 2024, Robotics, AI, VR and Food Technology, with a view to adding qualifications in these subjects in the future. Additional teaching and administrative staff will also be recruited to augment curriculum provision, including specialist sports coaches, a full-time US admissions counsellor, and a research librarian for the new sixth form library.
JC claims to be non-selective, and in terms of entry to Year 7, this is largely true. Students who join the school from primary schools other than JPS do, however, participate in an entry testing process, and there is no doubt that students joining the school after Year 7 are carefully selected. There has also been some controversy over Year 11 students from JC, who have not been permitted to enter the Sixth Form, having failed to meet its strict entry criteria.
Following its last pre-Covid inspection in November 2018, Jumeirah College again received the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspection rating of Outstanding - a rating it has held for the ten of the past eleven years with one Good rating (back in 2009-10) in between.
In line with the KHDA's announcement in September 2019, Outstanding and Very Good rated schools were not to participate in a full inspection in 2019-20, instead being subject to a one-day review. However, all schools have been inspected in the 2022-23 academic year.
What about the curriculum?
The school prepares students for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams at the end of year 11, before moving on to GCE AS and A2 levels in order to qualify for both local and international universities. The school has so far bucked the trend of introducing IB into its curriculum offering and has no plans to do so.
Subjects studied in Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) include English, Mathematics, Science, French, Spanish, Arabic (for all), Islamic Studies (for Muslim students), Design Technology, Drama, ICT, Geography, History, Music, Art, Physical Education, PSHCE, and Cultural Studies. Core subjects at accelerated GCSE level are studied in term 3 of Year 9.
For GCSE, students select four subjects from the core of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, PSHCE, and Core Physical Education and generally select up to a further four including Arabic, Art & Design, Business Studies, Computing, Design Technology – Product Design, Design Technology – Resistant Materials, Drama, Economics, French, Spanish, Geography, History, ICT, Music, GCSE Physical Education, Psychology, and Religious Studies - Islam.
At A Level, Jumeirah College claims to offer one of, if not the most extensive range of A Level subject choices in the UAE.
In 2017, the College implemented a two year programme aimed at ensuring continuous improvement - it was felt that without such specific recognition of the risk, the College might plateau.
This programme was designed to provide a platform for teaching and learning practice, questioning selectivity, enabling students to recognise the key attributes required for success and "teaching children how to be bright". Work by a leading Educationalist - Professor Deborah Eyre - on High Performance Learning was used as the basis for the programme and the college, together with JPS, received full accreditation for the programme at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
The college is also developing its curriculum in recognition of the broader skill-set required for students to go on to academic and professional success. In common with a number of leading school groups, increasing emphasis is being placed on soft skills, such as presentation and "people" skills.
This emphasis has been complemented by the strengthening of the focus on Performing Arts, through the college's collaboration with ArtsEd (a long-established 100 year old UK-based College under the Chairmanship of Sir Andrew Lloyd- Webber). Jumeirah College, and its "Street 29" neighbour, GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, are among the first Dubai schools who have linked with ArtsEd's UAE-based organisation (set up on the QE2), to provide support for, and greater emphasis on, the Arts and Performing Arts for students in Dubai.
The college offers a wide range of extra curricular activities from creative to sports for individuals and teams, including the Duke of Edinburgh International Award scheme. Students are also encouraged to propose new activities and often to run them! And although probably not appreciated by many outside of the school, the college consistently achieves sporting success; it is known as a competitive player across a range of sports in the DASSA leagues.
What about Academic achievement?
Academically, this is a school that delivers.
With a return to examinations after the Covid 19 pandemic, in 2022, JC entered 145 students in 446 examinations. 21% of entries achieved A*, whilst 55% were awarded a A and 86% achieved A*-B.
A round up of UAE-wide A Level results for 2022 can be found here.
2022 I/GCSE examinations saw 159 students entered for 1,445 sessions. 30% of results were awarded at Grade 9 (A*), whilst 55% of awards were awarded Grades 9-8 (A*-A).
With second year of cancellation of exams as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, 2021 A Level results were based on Centre Assessed Grades, whereby teachers and the school leadership based outcomes on assessed work and predicted grades.
A total of 128 students were entered for 400 examinations. 30.3% of all entries achieved an A* grade, whilst 70.8% were awarded A*-A. Almost 95% of entries were awarded A*-C grades. The College did not confirm A*-E awards, nor the total pass rate.
2021 I/GCSE entries totalled 1,459 from a cohort of 160 students. Of these entries, 24.4% were awarded the top Grade 9 for GCSE, whilst 55.9% of awards were at A* (grades 9-8), 81.2% of entries were awarded A*-A (grades 9-7), 97.1% achieved A*-B (grades 9-6) and 99.4% achieved A*-C (grades 9 to 4).
In 2020, 144 students were entered for 442 A Level examinations, which were based on Centre Assessed Grades. Of the entries from JC, 17.6% were awarded A*, 47.5% achieved A*-A and 94.9% achieved A*-C with a pass rate of 100%
The 2020 IGCSE results were also based on Centre Assessed Grades. A total of 1,148 entries were made on behalf of a cohort of 158 students. 47.5% of entries were awarded A* grades, 73.3% A*-A grades, 90.6% achieved A*-B grades and 99.9% were awarded A*-C grades.
A Level results for 2019 were characteristically impressive. A cohort of 140 students entered 437 examinations. 15.3% of all entries achieved an A*, 46.5% were awarded A*-A, 94.5% achieved A*-C and 99.8% were awarded A*-E.
IGCSE results for 2019 were awarded to 1,457 entries from a cohort of 153 students. 38% of entries achieved an A* (grades 9-8), whilst 64% of entries were awarded A*-A 83% achieved A*-B, and 99% of entries were awarded A-C. The highest grades achieved by an individual student were 9 passes at Grade 9, 1A*, and one pass at Grade 8.
In 2018, A level results at Jumeirah College were outstanding. Students sat over 400 examinations and of these entries, 11% were graded A*, with 41% at either A* or A grade. 77% of grades were A*- B. Two students achieved straight A* grades with just under 20% of the cohort achieving all A*/A grades. 55% of the students achieved no lower than a B grade.
For 2018 GCSEs, 163 students took 1568 exams. 66% of examination papers were graded A*/A or equivalent and 93% of results were A*- B or equivalent. From the cohort, 33 students (20%) achieved all A*/A grades or equivalent, 69% of students achieved 5 or more A*/A grades or equivalent, and 117 students (72%) achieved nothing below a B grade or equivalent. In the new specifications the school achieved 203 ‘9’ grades (18%) and 283 ‘8’ grades (25%), meaning 43% of grades in the new specifications were the equivalent of an A*.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, given the very clear academic focus of the college, the college has consistently achieved exceptional results in Art. GCSE results in 2018 included 21 A*s out of 34 exams taken, with 76% rated A*-A and 100% of results at A*-B. At A Level, the relatively small contingent of students achieved 4 A* and 4 A results - with almost 90% graded A*-A.
JC has consistently performed above the UK average since 2010, the earliest figures we have had access to. You can find the school's latest examination results here [external link].
For the past several years, JC had been among the top 1% of schools contributing to Alps analysis. In 2016-17, Jumeirah College was found to be the top performing A Level school globally. The College was also short-listed for the Times Educational Supplement (TES) Award for the International School of the Year in 2018.
In 2016-17, JC won an award from Alps - a UK-based data analysis and training organisation which collects Value-Added data from over 3,000 top-performing UK curriculum schools globally for GCSE and A Level results. All UK state schools data is submitted by the UK Department of Education, whilst private schools globally can opt in to receive analysis of their results and comparisons with other schools' performance. The analysis considers exam performance not only across subjects, but across departments, enabling the leadership to determine not only how its pupils have performed, but also the achievements at departmental level.
What about the facilities?
Facilities at Jumeirah College are good. Each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and a digital projector and is connected to a wireless network with high speed broadband access. The school is also equipped with a number of facilities including a video conferencing room for distance learning courses, a communication and resource centre, a design and technology suite (for graphic design, wood work, metal work and plastics), a drama studio, music suites with en-suite practice rooms, an art room, science laboratories, and indoor and outdoor eating areas.
The KHDA inspectors noted that "the premises, including specialist facilities for science, sport, art, music and drama, provide an excellent learning environment. Resources are plentiful, including an excellent library and high specification IT equipment."
Sporting facilities are also available including a multi-purpose gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, netball courts, grass and recreational areas. However, a lack of outdoor sports fields directly at the school (not surprising given its very urban environment) means that competitive sports training and competitions usually take place at JC's adopted home of Dubai Sports City. Just in case there are any injuries during sporting or other activities, the school also has an inbuilt medical centre with two full time nurses and a part time doctor.
With the announcement of the expansion of the College to the neighbouring site, the development of the Sixth Form Centre and additional specialist sports facilities, the College presumably hopes that the days of travelling to Dubai Sports City will finally be over.
Facilities are rated highly by students and parents, and are, in general, available to students to explore their own talents at their own pace. GEMS Education has also acknowledged the need to ensure that facilities are maintained and improved to support the students' study environment, having recently upgraded the Sixth Form Common room and undertaken refurbishment and "beautification" of common and teaching areas. Further plans are in place to upgrade the Performing Arts, Music and Art facilities in line with the new emphasis on these curriculum areas.
What the inspectors say - to be updated
The most recent KHDA inspection report once again rates the majority of key indicators at Jumeirah College as Outstanding.
In line with the decision of the KHDA in September 2019 that all schools rated Very Good or Outstanding would no longer undergo an annual inspection, but instead only a one day review visit, no report has been issued since 2019.
In common with all UAE schools, as a result of the implementation of Distance Learning due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Jumeirah College was subject to a Distance Learning Evaluation for which it received the highest rating of Developed. You may read the report here.
In terms of the 2018-19 full inspection report, DSIB inspectors defined what the school does best as:
- High levels of attainment in external examinations;
- The mature, self-reliant and responsible learners, who are supported by effective systems of care;
- The rich range of subject options and the broad variety of extra-curricular activities, which include opportunities for student leadership;
- The high quality of teaching that has a strong focus on challenge and success;
- Teachers' collaborative work for the benefit of all students.
In terms of Students' achievement, not only are all measures for attainment and progress for English, Mathematics and Science rated Outstanding, but Arabic and Islamic education, although faring less well, are rated Good for progress across all sections of the school, with only attainment in Islamic Education, and Arabic as a first language in the Secondary section, being rated Acceptable. The provision of the Arabic-based subjects is a perennial problem in international schools in Dubai, and JC does rather better than most.
In common with its neighbour and feeder school, Jumeirah Primary, almost all other key indicators are rated Outstanding. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the measures for the protection, care, guidance and support of students has been downgraded to Very Good in this report. Without being specific, inspectors noted that a number of health and safety issues needed to be addressed without delay. In addition, concerns about the identification of and support for students of Determination, "ensuring that they are sharply focused on each student's learning needs and targets" were noted. Protocols for identifying students with Gifts and Talents were found to be focused on academic competence rather than on all types of natural ability.
Around 7% of Jumeirah College students have some form of special educational need (SEN) requirement. Following an upgrade to Very Good in the 2017-18 report, the provision and outcomes for students with SEND has been downgraded to Good in the latest inspection. Several issues were found, including a lack of comparative stringency of reporting to senior leaders and governors, a lack of rigorous use of assessment information, and improvement planning that is not securely based on robust evaluation of the department's work. In addition, quality of communication with parents and students varies considerably. Inspectors proposed a range of actions for development to address these concerns.
Despite this slip in SEN provision, overall ratings for Leadership and Management are also Outstanding. The report summary notes that "Senior leaders provide a clear vision for the school and set high standards. They develop leadership qualities in teachers, who in turn promote consistently high quality learning throughout the school. There is a well-designed school improvement process leading to continuous development, such as the recent improvement in teaching in Islamic Education and Arabic". No doubt these skills will be brought to bear in order to influence the provision and outcomes for students of Determination.
As far as recommendations for improvement go, there are two areas in which the KHDA inspection team feels JC needs to make more progress - that of the perennial issue of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and support for students with SEN requirements.
This report's recommendations are that JC should:
- Increase the consistency of Islamic Education and Arabic lessons by sharing recent improvements throughout the department;
- Improve the provision for students of Determination by ensuring that barriers to their learning are clearly identified; consistently identifying both specific strategies to address these barriers and success criteria to track how they are being overcome; [and] engaging students and parents fully in the planning process.
If you would like to read the full inspection report - and we strongly recommend that you do in order to understand the reasons behind the rating - click here.
The Buzz
Historically, we would have said that it is hard to see how much more Jumeirah College can do to improve the quality of the education being offered at least for the vast majority of students, but feedback to the WhichSchoolAdvisor.com Parent Survey is not as positive currently as it has been in the past.
Some 50 parents have provided their feedback, giving the College an overall rating of 2.9/5 or a positivity rating of 58%. This is considerably lower than we would anticipate for a school with such a strong reputation.
62% of parents are satisfied with the level of academic performance at JC, whilst the 23% are partially satisfied, but more concerningly, 15% of respondents were dissatisfied with academic performance, almost double the UAE average. 42% of respondents compared to a UAE average of 29% now believe that it is necessary to arrange external tuition for their children. And compared with the 84% of parents who would recommend JC to another parent previously, this figure has fallen to 69%, and a notable 23% would not recommend the school.
Perhaps most striking is that 42% of respondents have considered moving their child to another school compared with a UAE average of 26%. When of the major drivers does appear to be dissatisfaction with communication - with only 54% of respondents being fully satisfied, 25% partially satisfied and 21% dissatisfied.
When almost half of the parents have concerns about communication, there is clearly a gap in expectations and delivery.
The dissatisfaction expressed by parents seems also to be feeding through to parents' views of the value for money represented by the school's fees. Whilst today 31% of parents agree that the college offers value for money, and the change in number who are in partial agreement is minor (at 46%, compared with 48% previously), almost a quarter of parents (23%) do not believe they are receiving value for money, compared with a UAE average of 12%.
We recognise that parents often revert to completing surveys when they feel their opinions are not being heard. If you are a parent, student or teacher at Jumeirah College, please share your opinions and experience with other potential members of your community and complete our surveys here.
Our View
Whilst there appear to be some issues in the eyes of at least some parents currently, there is no question that Jumeirah College is one of the most academically successful schools in Dubai and it is unlikely that demand will decrease for places.
As the College has repeatedly advised, if you would like your child to attend Jumeirah College, this is far more likely to be possible in the short term if he or she joins the college from Jumeirah Primary School. Entry to Year 7 is highly sought after, with the vast majority of places going to JPS students. Competition for the limited number of additional places is fierce and competitive, although the planned expansion of the school will potentially address this in part.
For students seeking to join the school at a later stage, and for Sixth Form, this is also by competitive entry. The most likely way to obtain a place is to seek entry at short notice in Years 8 and 9 - though this is, of course, wholly dependent on students leaving and the waiting list not being too long.
What about school fees?
As would be expected, fees are top end - no surprise as this is an outstanding school. Fees range from AED 72,988 for Year 7 to 9 students, rising to AED 82,112 for Years 10 and 11, and to AED 91,235 for Years 12 and 13. There is a non-refundable registration fee of AED 500 + VAT due at the time of application. If your child receives an offer, an admission fee of 10% of the tuition fees is needed to secure the seat. This admission fee is non-refundable, but adjustable against the first term fees.
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