Dubai has 210 private schools following 17 different curricula and Abu Dhabi has 205 private schools, which means the task of selecting the right one
is not always easy, especially during these challenging times. But there is help at hand.
Here s everything parents need to know about choosing the right schools and navigating the tricky admissions process.
Things to consider when choosing a school
Rachael Wilding, principal of Smart Vision School in Al Barsha, Dubai, said parents should begin by making inquiries and asking lots of questions.
Do they want a school with a structured environment or one that offers flexible programmes? Does their child require one-on-one learning or larger groups to encourage social skills?
Alex George is used to being the youngest pupil in his mathematics class.
When he takes time to survey the classroom, in between solving tough equations, his classmates are all four to five years older than him.
Alex, 11, is a year seven pupil at Hartland International School.
When comes to maths, however, he’s a full-fledged prodigy, enrolled in an accelerated learning programme at his school that helps nurture his undoubted arithmetic talent.
I have been teaching for 15 years and I have never met a year seven pupil who scored a nine in IGCSE Maths
Gareth Brown, head of mathematics at Hartland International
Thinking of teaching your child more than one language? Here’s why it’s a great idea
1 of 11 IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT: While it may seem like learning overload to expect a non-verbal baby to learn not just one, but two or more languages, the timing couldn’t be better. “Between the ages of 0-3, the brains of young children are uniquely suited to learn a second language as the brain is in its most flexible stage,” according to researchers at Michigan State University. In fact, they add, bilingually exposed infants excelled in detecting a switch in language as early as 6 months old. “They can learn a second language as easy as they learned to walk and learn their primary language.”