The Dubai Schools

Jumeirah English Speaking School
 “ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE TOGETHER”

Overview
Few things are of greater importance to parents than the education of their children. For over thirty years JESS, as a non-profit making school, has provided children in Dubai with a high quality education in a challenging environment for learning. The first JESS school was founded in September 1975 and the school has built a reputation as one of the finest British curriculum primary schools.

In response to the growing need for further quality educational provision, the Board of Governors has fully supported the development of an additional Primary and Secondary providing opportunity for a greater number of children within the community to be part of the JESS experience. From September 2005 at the Arabian Ranches development, JESS opened an additional three form entry primary school from Foundation through to Year 6, together with a six form entry secondary school, initially for Years 7, 8 and 9.  The secondary school will then offer a complete Key Stage 3 phase (Years 7 to 9) in September 2006 and commence Year 10 in September 2007.

All children who can demonstrate a proficiency to successfully access the curriculum through the medium of English may be considered for entry. A debenture system offering advantaged admission will operate to support the establishment of the schools, details of which may be found in the registration section of the prospectus.

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Philosophy
The school’s total energy is directed at:
• The provision and enhancement of high quality teaching and learning.
• Positive and supportive relationships between students, parents, staff and the wider community.

This is achieved through educational processes and structures which we identify and develop in our students:

Critical Intelligence
This involves the development of the skills of language, mathematics, verbal reasoning, logic, memory and the processing of information. These are developed through a structured and focused academic curriculum which supports and challenges all students.

Creative Intelligence
This involves the ability to think and act with fluency, innovation, flexibility and originality. These qualities are developed through a broad and balanced curriculum which recognises each student’s strengths and abilities wherever their talents may lie. 

Emotional Intelligence
This involves the ability to translate a set of common values into attitudes and behaviour where students act and think with moral insight and a sense of understanding of the needs of others.

• The JESS experience is enriched by the cultural diversity of the city of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
• The JESS experience develops an understanding of the responsibilities of global citizenship.
• The JESS experience requires a commitment from everyone involved to work together in an atmosphere of ease, dignity and mutual respect.
 
Quality Assurance
The Assurance of Quality is at the heart of an effective school. To provide the very best possible JESS experience we strive for excellence in all aspects of our activity and to rank highest in earned reputation for educating students in a way that enables each individual to fulfil their potential.  In pursuit of excellence JESS recognises the necessity for continued advancement in quality in all our activities. Bearing this in mind we accept that:

        “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit.”

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Educational Structure
The JESS experience follows a continuum of six phases each corresponding to key developmental stages in a student’s life.
             
Foundation, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, GCSE, IB

The medium of teaching is English as a first language. The school ensures that class sizes are appropriate and facilities are of the highest quality, assuring the provision of the personal attention necessary to deliver a high quality educational programme.  The JESS experience aims to provide a safe, caring, multi-cultural environment, stimulating students to grow into life long learners.

The Foundation Stage
The early childhood years are recognised as those where rapid learning occurs. This is a critical stage for academic and personal success where the child’s sense of self as a successful person and as a confident learner are formed. The Foundation Stage will offer your child the best possible start to their school life, providing them with a chance to grow and develop in a carefully structured play environment. The Foundation Stage is about developing learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence and learning to work together and co-operate with others. We recognise the importance of developing your child’s social and emotional needs and through a positive environment children are encouraged to explore and develop associated skills alongside each other. Through an integrated approach children learn about the world around them developing the skills of early communication, literacy and numeracy skills that will underpin future learning as they enter Key Stage 1.

Key Stage 1
Years 1 to 2 build upon the experiences of the Foundation as we encourage the children to become more confident, independent learners. Through a wide ranging and balanced curriculum we give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential through a hands on approach to learning. We support and encourage our children to have an inquiring approach to their learning while giving them the basic language and numeracy skills that will provide them with the essential building blocks for their future learning. Through careful planning and on-going assessment and evaluation of the curriculum that we offer, we ensure that each child feels valued and respected for their talents and that each child is treated as an individual.

Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 further develops the skills, knowledge and independence acquired in Key Stage 1 through a lively, imaginative and broad curriculum. It is during this time that the student’s access greater responsibility through a range of planned experiences that we view as stepping stones towards the subject specialism of Key Stage 3. Areas of academic, aesthetic, creative and physical development continue to be the focus. However, in preparation for life in the modern world an emphasis is also placed on technology, increasing a student’s knowledge and understanding of information and communication systems. Underpinning the curriculum experience is the value placed upon the continued development of self-esteem so that each student may view the prospect of secondary school positively and confidently.  

Key Stage 3
The emergence of adolescence is a crucial developmental stage in a student’s life and for some it begins as early as 11 years of age. In addition to the academic provision for Years 7 to 9 we address the social and emotional needs of our students through a teaching and learning approach that focuses upon the standards, welfare and well being of each student. This includes facilitating a comfortable transition from Key Stage 2 where the curriculum model employed is further developed with the introduction of more specialist teaching areas. Students are given support to successfully manage the structure of the Key Stage 3 curriculum during which the process of increasing their independent learning skills is continued in order to provide a thorough preparation for the rigours of the curriculum at GCSE.

Key Stage 4
At this vital stage of a student’s development our programme is designed to respond to the demands of the prescriptive nature of the courses offered at GCSE. The aim is to provide an environment where each student has a clear sense of purpose and direction, to enable him or her to achieve the very best set of public examination results. To optimise our students’ chances of success at GCSE and beyond, the focus is upon teaching and learning strategies that enhance a student’s skills and responsibilities for independent learning. A sense of balance is achieved through a programme that offers a range of opportunities beyond the academic curriculum. 

Sixth Form
Post 16 Education. This will be founded in the International Baccalaureate and is perhaps the most intensive and demanding period of education that any individual undergoes and in a highly competitive world we recognise that our students need strong academic results to increase their opportunities and choices for the future. We also recognise that to make the most of those opportunities and choices our students will require maturity, confidence and a repertoire of learning skills.   

Learning Support
All students are assessed formally and informally to identify those who are individually gifted in specific areas or those who may require support in areas of their learning.  The identification of a student’s individual needs is a key feature of the JESS experience.

Extra-Curricular Activities
A comprehensive and broad range of activities and experiences strengthens our commitment to developing each student’s interests and special abilities. The encouragement to participate that is given to all students in the early years, slowly evolves into an expectation that all students will grow to understand the value of making a contribution beyond the academic curriculum.

Pastoral Care
Pastoral care exists in all aspects of the JESS experience. Knowing and caring for our students is central to our teaching and learning and the educational structure provides a framework where the school’s pastoral responsibilities are fulfilled and where every teacher is expected to play a significant role in this aspect of school life.

Parent Partnerships
Part of the JESS experience is about building and protecting a sense of community. We believe that bringing together the separate domains of home and school will enrich this process. Building a partnership between students, teachers and parents is an essential ingredient for the success of our students. 

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Website: The school website is currently under construction. We shall publish further details as they become available.

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FEES INFORMATION

2007/2008 ACADEMIC YEAR

REGISTRATION (non refundable)- DHS.300- One payment
  
ENTRANCE FEE (non refundable) - DHS.500 - One payment
  
FOUNDATION 1 - DHS. 7,385 / TERM, DHS. 22,155, ANNUALLY
  
FOUNDATION 2, KS 1 & KS 2 - DHS. 9,255 / TERM, DHS. 27,765 / ANNUALLY
  
SECONDARY (Arabian Ranches)- DHS. 15,890 / TERM, DHS. 47,670 / ANNUALLY
Jumeirah Debentures  
  
PERSONAL (per child) - DHS.10,000 
  
  
Arabian Ranches Debentures  
  
PERSONAL (per child) - DHS.20,000

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Contact Information:

Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
P O Box: 24942
Dubai
UAE
Tel:  00971 4 3619019
Fax: 00971 4 3615339
registrations@jess.sch.ae

Information current as of 10 September 2007, submitted by Brenda Warburton