The Smart Parent’s Guide to Choosing the Right School in Dubai and Beyond - Part 1

Sometime it feels like the education system in the UAE and beyond is more complicated than ever.

Parents are constantly asking themselves: Am I choosing the right school? Is the curriculum right for my child? When do we need to start thinking about secondary, sixth form and university? Should we stay local or think international?

Even when your child is settled in a school, the questions never seem to stop. Here, we ask Fiona Hughes D’Aeth, Head of Content Strategy at the Independent Schools Show which is coming to Dubai on 14 March, for some top tips when considering our options.

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Q: Dubai offers so many education options (British, IB, American etc) but that choice can feel overwhelming. What do you see parents here struggling with most? 

A: With over 17 different curriculums on offer in Dubai, the choices can feel quite daunting and, in many cases, schools offer a hybrid of different systems which can add to the confusion.

For many families the key questions are around how well the curriculum will suit their child and their learning style? Will the curriculum open doors to good universities around the world? And will the curriculum travel if the family have to relocate?

The choices families make will depend on the age and stage of their child. With younger children the choice of curriculum is less mission critical, most Early Years experiences are about play based learning with a focus on language and social development. However, as the child gets older and the curriculum becomes more exam driven then it is important to work out whether they will thrive in a more structured academic environment or one that allows more academic flexibility.

The most popular curriculums in Dubai are the British, IB and US curriculum. They all offer globally recognised qualifications and can lead to excellent University outcomes, and they also offer great transferability for families who may be moving onto another country in the future.

The most important thing to remember is that the curriculum is just a framework for delivering an education. The ethos of the school, the quality of the teachers, the pastoral care alongside the academics are equally important - if the values ‘fit’ and your child goes into school with a smile each day then you have made the right choice of school and curriculum!

Q: We often hear phrases like “Top 100 IB school”. But what really defines a strong

school beyond league tables and labels?

A: League tables are a mixed blessing, whilst it may highlight a school’s academic achievements it is never the whole picture. A top 100 IB school will feature in the rankings based on their latest sets of exam results – this can vary from year to year depending on the cohort of children passing through, so while it is a useful metric, it is only one of the factors that parents should be looking at.

Top schools are based on so much more than exam data, they are built on culture and shared values, they are vibrant and dynamic communities of young people on an exciting education journey.

To use a well-known quote “Education is not the filling of the pail but the lighting of a fire”. What are the values the school is built on? How do staff and pupils communicate with one another, how does the school encourage curiosity and creativity, how do they celebrate success?

A strong school will have a clear academic vision of what their school’s education journey looks like from the most junior pupils all the way through to the most senior year groups, so children move through the school well prepared for each stage.

Another hallmark of a strong school is consistently good teaching across all years groups with experienced teachers who understand how children learn rather than just delivering the curriculum. There will also be a well-developed pastoral system where the children are really known, and staff are proactive in ensuring the wellbeing and safety of the children in their care.

If you can ‘feel’ the school when you visit and it feels ‘right’ then you are on course to pick the strongest school for your child where they will be in a great position to achieve those ‘top’ grades.

Q: In a transient country like the UAE, many families move countries or change education systems mid-journey. What should mums keep in mind when planning for future transitions?

A: Families in Dubai are often highly mobile and whilst they may plan to be here for 5 years, they can end up moving after two or being here for 15! Given this uncertainty it helps to do some forward thinking about a potential school move to avoid stress later.

There are several things to consider:

Firstly, the transferability of the curriculum. By picking a widely recognised curriculum it is more likely that the same system will be on offer in a new location. The British, US and IB curriculums all offer maximum portability as there are schools teaching these curriculums in most countries.

The second most important aspect is transition points; the younger the child, the easier it is to move them around the world educationally. Once they start getting into the exam years it becomes more complicated. For many education systems Year 7 (Grade 6) is a transition point between Primary and Secondary education so this is a good time to move.

Moving later requires more strategic planning, for example key times to avoid, particularly in the British system are moving in between Year 10 and 11, mid-way through the GCSE programme and the final two years of school for both the British and IB curriculums’ as this is midway through the 2 years A Level or IB Diploma programme. Planning ahead can really help to alleviate significant disruption to a child’s schooling, particularly if there are other siblings at different stages.

Boring as it sounds, keeping all the relevant paperwork such as school reports and exam certificates in one easily accessible place can really lower the stress levels when it comes to making applications for new schools.

One of the biggest concerns that parents have about uprooting a child mid-way through their education is the emotional challenges of leaving a familiar environment, close friends and teachers who know them. Encouraging emotional resilience in your child at an early stage will help and being aware that some children will need lots of support as they go through this change.

Building strong learning foundations, wherever your children are learning is as much about skills acquisition as it is about knowledge. If they are adaptable learners and know ‘how to’ learn then they will make the transition much more easily and a curious and confident learner will make the jump smoothly even into a new curriculum

Each move resets the education equation – be mindful of what each child needs at this stage of their education – each school must be the right one for now!

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The Independent Schools Show is taking place on Saturday 14 March at The Sheraton Hotel MOE, Dubai.