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FAQs

GENERAL REACH BRITISH SCHOOL QUESTIONS

The building started in September 2012, and the doors to the school first opened in September 2014 to over 200 children, which quickly grew to 686 by the end of the first term.

Reach British School is in the south of Abu Dhabi, teaching the National Curriculum for England to ages 3 to 17. The school now has over 1650 students from over 60 different nationalities. We currently teach FS1 to Year 12 (Pre-KG to Grade 11), with Year 13 (Grade 12) opening in September 2020.

We were acquired by International Schools Partnership (ISP) in February 2016.

What is your age range and fees?

Students are aged between 3 and 17 years old.

Sibling discounts apply for 2+ children – 5% for the older child, and 10% for the younger.

2019-20 fees are approved by ADEK. Historically a 1-2% increase.

Visit our Fees and Age Placement Guide for more information.

What is the staff/student ratio?

1:25 in Nursery, FS2 and Year 1

1:30 in Year 2 – Year 12

Who are the teachers at Reach?

All teachers are native English speakers, working alongside our specialist teachers who deliver the Ministry of Education’s Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies curriculum.

Which other languages are taught?

In addition to Arabic, we offer French in Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9.

How do you give parents feedback?

  • Termly parent teacher meetings and written reports.
  • Daily correspondence through email and parent applications such as Class Dojo.
  • Parents are welcome to meet us whenever they wish to discuss progress in more detail.
  • PTC Meetings – Parent Teacher Conferences

Visit our Student Progress page for more information.

Is Arabic taught as a first language and second language?

We follow the Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies for native Arabic speakers. Non-Arabs are taught separately, and they learn Arabic and Islamic Studies from Nursery, and Social Studies from Year 2.

Visit Arabic, Islamic Studies & Social Studies for more information.

How is tuition payable?

Fees can be paid by term or year. Payment is by cheque, credit card or online bank transfer only.

Visit our Fees page for more information.

Is there a school uniform? Where can parents buy it?

The school uniform is purchased from the uniform shop at school. This is normally 500-600 AED per child depending on the number of tops, bottoms, sports kit, socks and shoes you buy.

Visit our Uniform page for more information.

Where is your school?

We are in Baniyas East 2 . Access is very easy from the E11 street.

We are opposite Mafraq Hospital from the E11 street.

The school day

  • Regular day (all students): Starts 7:45am. finishes 2:30 pm.
  • Extra-curricular activities: For school clubs 14:45 – 15:45

Visit our School Day page for more information.

Can you accommodate SEN students?

In line with ADEK policy, Reach is an inclusive school which celebrates and embraces diversity. We meet all students before they join the school to ensure that we have the right support team in place to help the student progress as much as they can. We appreciate parents giving us as much information as possible in these cases.

Visit our Achievement Team page for more information.

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

Yes, the school has EAL Learning Support Specialist.

Visit our English as an Additional Language page for more information.


GENERAL FACILITIES-RELATED QUESTIONS

Do you have a pool?

Yes, we have a 25m heated indoor swimming pool.

Do you have a football pitch?

We have an outdoor football pitch, and we also use our indoor multi-purpose hall for when it is too hot outside.

Do you have a theatre?

No.

Do you have Art rooms?

Yes.

Do you have Music rooms?

Yes.

Do you have cafeteria facilities?

Yes, we contracted with a catering company that will provide a range of healthy food choices available from 5-20 AED.

Children from Year 1 onwards are allowed to use this service should they choose to.

Visit our Campus & Facilities page for more information.

Extra-curricular Activities

Examples of paid extra-curricular activities include: Drawing & Arts | Athletics | Book Club | Extra Maths | Science Club | Football | Swimming | Gymnastics| Extra English | Photography Club | Karate | Basketball | Arabic Stories| Qu’ran Studies

Visit our Enrichment & ECAs page for more information.

Parents Council

Our Parents Council meet monthly to discuss school progress and share ideas for improvement. Parents are involved in big school events, and we are starting to increase involvement in school activities.

Do you assess new students?

We conduct admissions meetings with a very brief meeting of students from Nursery to FS2, and children in Year 1 – Year 13 do assessments in Maths, Science and English, and submit a writing sample. It is imperative that the parent informs us of any special needs or learning support the student may have so that we can support the child. Further testing may be required but as long as we can support the child, we will accept them.

How do we come and see the school?

Visit our School Tours page to book your visit.

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

Each new academic year we offer Inductions days. If you want to learn more before then we will invite you to an upcoming parent coffee morning, or we can book time for you with the Principal/SLT.

What accreditations do you have?

  • ADEK – Reach improved significantly in many areas across teaching and learning, student support and curriculum development in our last Irtiqa’a inspection.
  • Edexcel – we are accredited by Pearson Edexcel International GCSEs.
  • International Schools Partnership – Reach now benefits from the educational development opportunities from more than 40 sister schools in 10 countries in this global group. ISP is spending millions on learning resources, facilities and training over the next few years to transform Reach into a world-class school.

What other ISP schools are there in the UAE?

Aspen Heights British School, Al Bahya, Abu Dhabi – ISP opened Aspen in September 2017 in Al Bahya, Abu Dhabi, also led by a Principal from an Outstanding school. Fees from 35,000 AED.

The Aquila School, Dubailand, Dubai – ISP opened Aquila in September 2018.British curriculum led by a principal from an Outstanding school. Fees from 40,000 AED.

Nibras International School, Dubai Investment Park, Dubai – Acquired by ISP in March 2017. American curriculum school. Fees from 23,000.

Do you have any job vacancies?

We are always looking for highly qualified teachers from Nursery to Secondary School. Preference is given to native English speakers for British curriculum subjects.

Visit our Career Opportunities page for more information.

GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL QUESTIONS

How does the curriculum differentiate between primary and secondary?

In the secondary school, lessons are taught by subject specialists and the KS3 and KS4 English National Curriculum is followed. There is some crossover in terms of the content taught in Year 6 and Year 7 but the level gets progressively higher.

What happens if my child struggles with the change from Y6 to Y7?

We hold a transition day in Year 6 to help with the change-over, this is followed up in Year 7 with an induction week.

What pastoral care do you provide for the children?

We have a pastoral lead who helps to take care of children as well as the school social worker. Every teacher has a duty of care towards the children and they complete a course on safeguarding before the school year begins.

How will your school structure my child’s day?

Assembly 07:45
Registration 08:00
Block 1 08:10
Block 2 09:30
Break 11:00
Block 3 11:15
Start of Block 4 12:45
Lunch 13:30
End of Block 4 14:00
End of Day 14:30

Do the year groups divide into ‘forms’?

With a maximum class size of 30 as per ADEK regulations.

What subjects do you offer?

In KS3 pupils follow the English National Curriculum studying English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, French, PE, ICT and Art, alongside Arabic, Islamic, UAE Social Studies and Morals.

What is the minimum number of subjects to be taken in the years where IGCSE is offered?

Maths, English, ESL, Science Double award, Geography, French, PE, History, ICT, Art. Students take a minimum of 5 IGCSE subjects (generally 7) plus Arabic and Islamic Studies.

How will you make secondary school different if my child is coming from Year 6?

Specialist teachers, different classrooms, science labs and a full PE program.

What is the difference between IB and A Levels?

IB is specialist study and is more internationally recognised and cross curricular. A Levels are for specific subjects, A-Level is a more in-depth study in to those specific, 3 to 4 subjects.

IB students study 7 subjects 6 different categories as well as completing an Extended Essay on a subject of their choice.

What are AS Levels and A Level?

AS means Advanced Subsidiary and is a precursor to A-Levels, although the qualification also stands alone.

A-Level is advanced level.

Is it easy to sign up for ECAs?

Yes there is a termly sign-up sheet.

Do you plan on having sports teams?

Yes, we arrange fixtures amongst many other schools.

Do students take books home? And why?

Where possible students are given access to an online book.

Do you have student lockers? Is there a safe place for students to keep their books in school?

As there are only four classes per day students can keep their books in their bag.

How does the school manage bullying?

There is a clear behavior policy that manages bullying.

Do we as a family need to provide my child with technology support such as Chromebooks/tablets and/or laptops?

No, the school will provide everything the children need.

Is stationery included?

No, there are extra costs for these.

Does secondary go on any field trips? If yes, how often?

Yes – we aim to send classes at least twice per year.

Will secondary have homework? How often?

Yes – when required. As there are only 4 blocks per day the maximum pieces of homework per night would be 4.

What is the block scheduling?

Block scheduling allows students to have more quality teaching time with their teachers. By minimising time spent transitioning from lesson to lesson we can maximise learning. It gives students the opportunity to develop their studies in more depth than is available otherwise, more quality written work is produced, and more complex group work can be performed. In lessons like PE and Art, this is even more essential to give students time to explore their creativity and passions.

It is a system used by the top schools in the UK and is increasingly being used in the UAE, with the Emirates National Schools recently switching to it. Since the switch students and teachers alike have commented how successful they think it has become. (It also means students do not bring such heavy bags with them to school – as they only need to bring 4 books – not 8!)

What modern languages do you offer?

French.

How will you prepare my child for their IGCSE exams?

Children will have sessions to support them with their study skills.

Do you have an inclusion manager?

Yes.

How will my child’s progress be communicated to me? How regular?

You will receive written reports three times a year. There will also a number of students, parent, teacher consultation evenings.

Does secondary have a separate area for break-time and lunch?

No, but the breaks run at separate times.

Do girls have a separate area for break-time?

Yes, but it is not compulsory.

Do you have mixed classes?

We aim to in 2019-2020.

What is your policy on mobile phones in school?

If they are seen using one, it will be confiscated.

If my child did not pass the IGCSE exams, will he/she repeat the year at Reach or even at any other school?

Students must pass 5 subjects from IGCSE that do not include Arabic language and Islamic education. If the student has failed in one or more of the 5 IGCSE subjects, he /she will be promoted to the next grade (internal school system) and he /she will repeat the exams in October or November.

If the student would like to move from our school to any other curriculum at the beginning of September and the student has failed, he/she will repeat the grade (i.e. will not be promoted to the next level).

When is the IGCSE examination? And when should we expect results?

May and June, the results are released in August.

Why is French offered in the secondary school only and not in Primary?

We currently only have one full-time French teacher.