Dubai Gem School, or DGS, is one of Dubai’s oldest and most prestigious schools. In the year 1973, it was established. It began as a private nursery with a capacity of 20 students. It gradually developed a positive reputation among both the KHDA inspection team and parents. Exam results and inspection reports show a similar pattern, with the majority of students exceeding curriculum expectations. Dubai Gem School is located in Bur Dubai and accepts children from the ages of three to eighteen. The Dubai Gem Private School is one of the city’s oldest institutions, located in Al Hubaiba. It includes students in the lower and higher nursery grades. The majority of these kids wind up at DGS.
The school currently has a total of 1200 pupils enrolled. A total of 126 teachers and 24 teaching assistants are on hand to meet the requirements of these pupils. According to KHDA data, the majority of the pupils enrolled there are of Indian descent. Overall, the student-teacher ratio at the school is 1:25. Secondary school courses are smaller, allowing pupils to get adequate amounts of academic and social support. Teachers appear to be content with their jobs at the school; staff turnover was 11 percent two years ago and has now dropped to zero in 2019-20, far below the Dubai norm of 20-22 percent.
The Curriculum:
The school follows the English National Curriculum, which includes IGCSE (Year 11), ‘AS’ (Year 12), and ‘A’ levels (in Year 13). English is the language of instruction and correspondence. From FS2 to Year 9, Arabic is required, and from Year 10 onwards, it is optional. Islamic students must study Islamic Studies and the Quran, whereas non-Islamic students must study Social Studies. The school provides minimal information regarding the range of extracurricular activities available, stating only that English, Mathematics, and Science are at the centre of the Primary school’s teaching curriculum. Mathematics, English, Science (Bio/Chem/Physics), History, Geography, Art and Design, Information Technology, Arabic, Islamic Studies/PSHE, and Physical Education are among the subjects studied at secondary school. Students can choose between Hindi, French, or Urdu as additional language options.
IGCSEs are unusually concentrated over a period of more than three years, rather to the usual two. English Language and Literature, as well as Mathematics, are required disciplines. Accounting, Arabic, Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Management, French, Geography, History, Islamiyat, Physics, and Urdu are among the five electives available to students. Despite being heavily focused on Commerce and Science (as is common in UK educational programme schools with a majority of pupils from Asian families), more unusual disciplines include Child Development, Sociology, and Travel & Tourism. Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Physical Education are disciplines that are not studied but are required.
The school has a liberal approach to topic selection for AS and A Level students, allowing them to browse a surprisingly versatile menu of courses and select the best appropriate options. Unlike many other schools, DGS does not begin with a predetermined list of options, but rather plans the programme each year to meet the needs of students. Most students do four AS Level subjects before moving on to three A Level subjects. The Dubai Gem Scout Group focuses on pupils in order to help them reach their maximum physical, intellectual, social, and extra-terrestrial potential. Scouting gives children the tools they need to become more organised, dependable, and proactive members of their communities.
Accounting, AICT, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, English, Environmental Management (AS only), History, ICT, Mathematics, and Physics are among the options. Nonetheless, the school recognized that not all options may be available, according to student numbers, it appears. Only a small number of co-curricular activities are available at Dubai Gem. These include educational and field trips, which are offered each term to aid students’ study. The Dubai Municipality and the Emirates Environmental Group collaborate on the Environmental Awareness Program. Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities, such as the Can Collection Campaign, Newspaper and Magazine Recycling, and Clean-Up Campaigns. From class 9 onwards, students, including young men and young women, are offered the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program, which prepares them for the Bronze and Silver Awards. Campaigns, travelling, and establishing camp projects are all coordinated to foster camaraderie, brotherhood, independence, and a sense of what others expect.
Facilities:
The school has a diverse range of facilities, including four computer labs, an E-learning centre for both primary and secondary school students, three physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories, three art rooms, two well-stocked libraries, and a Multi-Purpose Hall for gatherings, music exercises, indoor sports, and assessments. Students also go to a Sports Centre – the school uses the ‘Iranian Club,’ which is adjacent to the school – to use the pools, sports oval, and courts. There are also two Medical Centres, each with two attendants and a specialist on staff. Over the years, the school has invested in the IT foundation.
Academic Results:
Dubai Gem Schools is one of the rare schools who have made their exam results public. While we do not believe a school should be assessed exclusively on its academic achievements. We agree that exam results are a critical indicator for parents. As a result, Dubai Gem School is eager to display its kids’ achievements for all to see. Results were centre-assessed (given by the school itself through a submission process to the examining boards) for the 2019-20 academic year, and its students achieved the following:
A Level – 100% pass rate, with 78% of exam entries scoring A*-B. A*-A passes were earned by 39 percent of pupils, while A*-B passes were earned by 59 percent. The school does not disclose the number of students who took the examinations, nor the number of exams that were taken – both of which are crucial in terms of school size in comparison to others. We’d also like to see a more detailed breakdown of the grades given to entries – most schools report at least A*-A, A*-C, and A*-E. Having said that, this was certainly a high-achieving cohort, with nearly three-quarters of entries receiving an A*-B grade.AS Level Has a 97% pass rate, with 84 percent of entries receiving an A-B grade. Sixty-three percent of pupils received an A-B mark, while 28 students received an A rating.
However, it’s worth noting that neither the number of tests taken nor the overall number of students are mentioned. IGCSE – 100% pass rate, with 60% of exam entries at A*-A and 81 percent at A*-B, with 64% of pupils receiving at least one A*-B grade.” The number of students or tests taken is not disclosed by the school. We’d like to know the number of A*- C passes in English and Maths, which is the most popular comparison measure used by UK curriculum schools.
University destinations for Dubai Gem School pupils include one of the top rated universities and graduation programmes in the world. Heriot Watt University in Scotland, King’s College in London, Loughborough and Warwick in Australia are among the institutions offering these programmes.
Fees:
In terms of school costs, it is fairly inexpensive when compared to other UK curriculum schools. However, for a school that caters to the needs of the Indian population, the school cost is on the higher end of the scale. The school price for new students in FS1 is AED 16,885 and for current students in Year 13 is AED 27,355. The price for new pupils starting at the institution is roughly AED 3,500. For new admissions, there is also an additional registration cost of AED 735. Finally, students in Years 9, 10 and 11 must pay an additional ‘equipment charge’ of AED 500 for each additional IGCSE subject chosen, while students in Years 12 and 13 must pay an additional AED 500. Dubai Gem Private School is a good option if you can afford it.
