Welcome to the The English College Dubai 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?

2022/23 Admissions

FS1: Admissions Open

FS2: Admissions Open

Year 1: Admissions Open

Year 2: Admissions Open

Year 3: Admissions Open

Year 4: Waiting list

Year 5: Admissions Open

Year 6: Admissions Open

Year 7: Limited availability (overseas student only)

Year 8: Waiting list

Year 9: Waiting list

Year 10: Closed

Year 11: Closed

Year 12: Closed

Year 13: Closed

2023/24 Admissions

FS1: Admissions Open

FS2: Admissions Open

Year 1: Admissions Open

Year 2: Admissions Open

Year 3: Admissions Open

Year 4: Admissions Open

Year 5: Limited availability

Year 6: Admissions Open

Year 7: Admissions Open

Year 8: Waiting list

Year 9: Waiting list

Year 10: Waiting list

Year 11: Closed

Year 12: Waiting list

Year 13: Closed

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

Gratitude, Aspiration, Integrity, Respect and Resilience

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

At present, there are 79 nationalities represented within our student body

Are there high proportions of a particular nationality?

There are high proportions of British students

What is the teacher: student ratio in your school?

The teacher: student ratio is a maximum of 1:22 per class and 1069 students on roll in total

Does your school measure Value Added data? Please provide details of how you measure, and current Value Added benchmark scores.

N/A

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

Students study for GCSE, IGCSE, AS Level, BTEC and A Level qualifications for the UK National Curriculum.

Please provide details of how well your school did in its previous external exams for students at 16 and at 18 years of age? Please provide sufficient detail to allow parents to have a view on how academic your school is?

In 2022, 14% of our awarded A Level grades were A*. 34% of our A Level cohort achieved straight A*-A grades.

The cohort of our 75 students entering for the A Level qualification achieved the following results, with a pass rate of 98%

A*: 14%

A*A: 34%

A*B: 64%

A*C: 83%

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

97% on average with all students who wanted to attend University gaining a place. Students mainly go to the UK, but we facilitate successful applications every year to the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand t o name a few.

Describe your school's approach to education and teaching?

Our approach to teaching is one of innovation, collaboration and mutual support. There is an open-door policy on observation and teachers regularly share good practice. We are a fully inclusive school and enable all students to achieve and to exceed their academic ability through excellent relationships between all stakeholders and our teachers have a genuine interest in seeing all students thrive academically and socially.

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

Students should receive 10 homework tasks a week. Each task should take around 20 minutes to complete, but as students approach GCSE and A Levels, the amount of time taken will increase.

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

Sport is an extremely important part of our school and we pride ourselves on the opportunities and provision offered to our students in a vast range of activities. We are competitive in the Dubai Affiliated School Sport Association (DASSA) and regularly compete in a range of leagues, competitions and events. We are fully inclusive and encourage all students to come along and train to develop their skills, knowledge and experience in at least one of our many sports offered. There is an emphasis on participation, not on winning and the House Sports and Activities that run every other week encourage students to try new sports for fun and not to attain a place on a squad or team. We love sport, but we love participation more than outstanding results.

How does your school promote healthy lifestyles?

As part of our PSHCE programme and our Character Counts initiative, students are asked to think of ways that they can be healthier within school and outside. They are educated about wise and safe choices of behaviour, food and drinks, social media and emotional well-being through a series of lessons and guest speakers.

How do you promote healthy eating?

We do have a 'no fast food' policy. We encourage our parents to either provide their children with healthy lunch boxes or to order healthy lunch from our catering provider.

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

We do have a modern, fully-equipped cafeteria. Our catering company provides healthy, balanced and nutritious meals throughout the week, including country-based themes, which change every week. We also consider any dietary requirements children and staff may have.

What is the approximate average cost of a lunchtime meal?

Most students bring their own snacks and lunch with them. However, the maximum spend would be around 25dhs. We offer termly and monthly meal plans.

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

FS1 and FS2 children will start their day at 8am and should arrive at school from 7.45am to 7.55am. They will finish at 13.00pm, Monday to Thursday and finish at 12noon on Friday.

Year 1 to Year 6 will start their day at 8am and should arrive at school from 7.45am to 7.55am. They will finish at 15.10pm from Monday to Thursday and at 12noon on Friday.

Secondary students (Year 7 to 13):

07:45 – 15:20 Monday to Thursday

07:45 – 12noon Friday

Is there a school uniform?

Yes and we believe that our school uniform and dress code should reflect our standards and ethos. We have clear uniform and dress code guidelines, to which all students are required to conform. Students should be aware of our expectations and we would ask parents to insist that their child meets these when wearing their uniform, both at school and outside of school.

Our uniform has been designed to be both comfortable and practical and is worn by all students, from FS 1 upwards. There are variances with regards to key stages.

Our school uniform is available at the Zaks Store, Jumeirah Beach Centre, 1st floor, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. Tel: +971 (0)4 344 5637. Email: [email protected]

Please advise on your discipline policy?

The school discipline policy is one of reflection and reparation. Students are asked to consider what behaviour they have engaged in and how it has made the other students or the teacher feel. We ask all students to look in the mirror and think of ways to improve. Although detentions and suspensions are sometimes used, community engagement and reparations are explored as a first option and students are always given a chance to improve of their own volition before sanctions are considered.

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

There are progress checks at the end of each module studied by students. The results of these are sent home via a Progress Check for the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Arabic A and Islamic Studies.

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

Interim reports are issued to parents each term, stating end of year target grades and whether a student is above target, on target or below target. In the front of all exercise books, students keep a record of their academic progress and attainment. Each student also receives an end of year report, two parents’ evenings, one in the first term and one in the second term, and one Academic Review Day, where targets and progress are discussed.

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

English, Arabic, French and Spanish

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

There is a learning support department called Enhanced Studies. They will assist students in this regard where they can.

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

Yes, for our Muslim students.

How do you support gifted, able and talented students?

All of our students from FS to Year 13 who exhibit special talents or perform above and beyond in particular areas are catered for through our More able and talented (MAT) programme. These students are identified through their CAT scores and referrals from their teachers. The students may display a talent or excel in a specific area which goes beyond the realms of being more able. To support these students we provide quality first teaching, enrichment opportunities and additional activities designed to stretch and challenge students beyond their curricula. This provision is overseen and regularly evaluated by the More Able and Talented Coordinator and the Inclusion Leader.

Do you have a learning support team in your school?

We are very proud of our learning support, or Enhanced Studies, department. They are highly qualified and enthusiastic. There is significant investment in to this department being planned so that we can expand to offer enhanced provision for those with barriers to learning.

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?

At present, the building is not modified sufficiently for wheelchair users, although we have had students in the past with physical difficulties and disabilities. The same can be said for those with hearing or visual impairments. The school does not decline applications on this basis, but we do hope to develop in the future so that the school site is further accessible to those with moderate or significant learning needs.

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

We are fully inclusive and have a whole range of expertise in dealing with specific learning difficulties. There are current student with dyslexia, dyscalculia, Autism and Asperger’s syndrome who are fully integrated in to all classes and who complete their learning journey without difficulties. The school has a comprehensive support plan for all such students and those who need, for instance, to work with a laptop or who need 1:1 support are given this.

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

The school has a number of external educational psychologists with whom we work to ensure support and guidance is offered to all students and parents where needed.

Do you have a parents’ group supporting the school?

We do have the ECPC (Parent Council), who help us to shape the school direction.

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

Parents are invited in for different events throughout the year, such as presentations by the Headteacher, Enterprise Day, Health Gala, National Day and our International Day event. There are also drama and musical showcases, which all parents are invited to attend. We also encourage parents to offer activities as part of the Extra Curricular Activity programme.

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

The Board has a parent representative.

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

Each year group has a Parent Information Evening at the start of the year to meet the team who will support their child. There are meetings for parents with external agencies about university applications as well as coffee mornings and the chance to get to know other parents from the school community. We also have an alumni association.