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American School of Creative Science Al Barsha, Al Barsha South
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American School of Creative Science Al Barsha, Al Barsha South

by Jon WestleySeptember 7, 2016

Updated January 2019 – the American School of Creative Science Al Barsha 

The American School of Creative Science [ASCS] is a new Arabic-American dual curriculum school that has now  Phase 1 of its provision in Al Barsha South. Location information can be found here. Its position is almost immediately adjacent to GEMS World Academy on a very large 11 acre campus.

https://youtu.be/MiTAlrUYuNc

The first phase reached completion with 39 classrooms educating around 1100 students in Grades FS1 to Year 5 between the ages of 4 and 12 years. Eventually the school will offer a full FS all-through education to Year 12. ASCS is one of three new schools at various phases of launch in the Emirate, these building on the model first established by its owners, Bukhatir Education Advancement & Management (Beam), in its two established Sharjah Schools – American School of Creative Science (ASCS) and International School of Creative Science (ISCS).

All the Creative Science schools are targeted to Muslim families seeking an education for their children that balances the requirements of Arabic and Western educational approaches. The aim is that students should graduate as well-rounded young men and women with the Western qualifications necessary to continue to university study, whilst also being steeped-in, and appreciative of the richness of the broader Arabic and Muslim cultural and religious contexts integral to their heritage. It should be noted that the High School Diploma, in and of itself, is not sufficient to gain entry into top universities globally. It is pitched at a level for children of age 16 and in the UK system is benchmarked against GCSE, rather than A-level, only. 

For parents not seeking a US curriculum, BEAM offers parents the alternative choice of dual curriculum British schools also in launch: the School of Creative Science Nad Al Sheba (A Level/MOE) and the International School of Creative Science both offering an IGCSE/A Level founded curriculum. It is worth noting that a number of schools are launching also trying to better balance the meeting of East and West including the Next Generation School, also in Al Barsha. Our launch review can be found here.

It is far too early to early to provide a meaningful review of the Creative Science Schools. All schools in launch represent a risk, and it important that parents visit each school on their shortlist and really gain a feel for what is on offer – and the school’s potential. Like many schools in launch, significant discounts are on offer, and in this case generously these extend for the first three years at the school. But these ultimately should not we believe distract prospective parents from the the value proposition behind the fees.

Our advice with US schools is to read our American Curriculum Guide here. In summary we believe that any US school must satisfy four fundamental requirements. First it must be accredited (something that is now a requirement in Dubai). Second, the awarding of a High School Diploma needs underwriting by a recognised US school board – an internal High School Diploma has questionable value without this. Third, schools must provide Advanced Placement (or alternative provision of the International Baccalaureate Diploma or Career-related Programme) course options for students – for many universities the High School Diploma without these carries little value. Finally, schools need to follow both Common Core and Next Generation Science based curricular to ensure accountability.

GEMS_INARTICLE  

We understand that ASCS is currently seeking both accreditation and underwriting, but these are not yet in place. This is understandable given the early stage of the school’s life, but it is imperative that these are secured. Currently the school provides no detail on the exact subject provision at any phase, although it does commit to both Common Core and Next Generation Science standards. There is no clarification on AP course provision and IB provision is firmly discounted. Prospective parents do need to seek clarification in these areas.

The size of the campus, and the approach adopted at the founding schools in Sharjah, means it is likely that the school will, subject to its popularity, be one of the largest US curriculum based schools in the UAE. We would expect capacity to eventually top 4,000 students – and this is a conservative estimate. There is certainly significant room for expansion. There are benefits that come from a large campus, these direct and indirect.

Indirectly there is a significant and valuable potential for large schools to leverage their alumni. Networks are increasingly critical as students embark on their careers and schools of this scale offer a much broader base of potential contacts. Directly, there is an expectation that larger schools, given their income, will invest in very high quality infrastructure, outstanding teaching staff and significant breadth of resources. They are much better equipped to do this than smaller schools that simply do not have access to the core income that their larger counterparts can access. Expectations are high for the Creative Science schools to deliver here, but it is too early for us to do anything but steer parents to interrogating the school’s plans as it moves to future phases.

We plan to revisit our review as the school beds in provision. In the interim there is no doubt that there is very considerable demand for schools that can deliver a Western education, with all of the cultural integrity, flair and passion of our Arabic home. Finding the perfect meeting of East and West, and building the bridges needed between the two, is an ambitious and impressive trajectory for any school. It is not an easy task. We are certain, however, that this is the genuine intention of all the Creative Science schools – and words, in this case, have been backed by very serious, substantive brick and mortar investment in Dubai.

What is needed now, however, is detail to fill in the many gaps. Class sizes, inclusivity, teacher backgrounds and profiles, levels of SEND support, scholarship and bursary programmes, detailed curriculum information, ECA detail and firm accreditation. We need an absolute commitment to, at a minimum, extensive Advanced Placement course options. We need all this and more. In short we need a finished school.

Without this, many parents will still take up the opportunity of securing a High School Diploma given the East Meets West curriculum on offer. But we think that, without accreditation and developed internationally benchmarked, globally recognised post 16 qualifications, the offer will be weak. 

The intention and potential is all here, and the marketing ambition is very impressive – we wish the school well.

Prospective parents should note that, as a school in phased launch, scoring and assessment is projected, based on WhichSchoolAdvisor.com data. Hard Hat Tour inspections and comparative school metrics.

Are you looking for a place for your child, and want help from our school consultants? If so, click on the link below, and we will forward your request for information to the school or schools of the same type that we are confident have availability. This is a free service for our readers from our sister site WhichSchoolAdvisor.

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Details to consider
2017/18 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

Expected 2019

2016/17 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

NA

2015/16 Overall KHDA / ADEC Rating

NA

Rating FS

School in phased launch

Rating Primary / Elementary

School in phased launch

Rating Secondary / Middle

School in phased launch

Rating Post 16 / High

School in phased launch

Type of school

Private, for profit

Full WSA Review
Average Cost Per Year

FS1: 35,000 (+ books cost of 2300 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
FS2: 35,000 (+ books cost of 2300 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 1: 41,500 (+ books cost of 2600 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 2: 41,500 (+ books cost of 2600 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 3: 41,500 (+ books cost of 2900 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 4: 48,500 (+ books cost of 2900 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 5: 48,500 (+ books cost of 2900 AED + medical costs of 750AED)
YEAR 6: 43,875 discounted by 25%
YEAR 7: 43,875 discounted by 25%
YEAR 8: 43,875 discounted 25%
YEAR 9: Phased launch
YEAR 10: Phased launch
YEAR 11: Phased launch
YEAR 12: Phased launch
YEAR 13: NA

Curriculum

US/American and Muslim faith based dual curriculum
Notes
(1) High School Diploma. Currently this is internal only - the school is seeking a partner to provide independent external accreditation
(2) No advertised Advanced Placement

External Exam Boards

NEASC accreditation currently being applied for, not yet secured.

Selective

Yes
Notes
(1) Entrance tests and a CAT4 (Cognitive Ability Testing) test will be undertaken by all students

Waiting list

No

Value Added

Not published (school in launch)

Number of Students

All-through capacity: 4000+
Launch capacity: 1100

Teacher to Student Ratio

Not published

Largest nationality teachers

Not published

Teacher turnover

NA (school in phased launch)

Year opened

2016-17

Location

Al Barsha South, Dubai

Student composition

School in phased launch
Note:
(1) Target is Muslim students

Gender

Mixed, segregated at later phases

School canteen

Yes

Owner

Bukhatir Education Advancement and Management
Educational Investments International

Admissions Telephone

800 BEAM(2326)

Web Address
Attainment Nur SEM

School in phased launch

Attainment Pri SEM

School in phased launch

Attainment Sec SEM

School in phased launch

Attainment Post-16 SEM

School in phased launch

Progress Nur SEM

School in phased launch

Progress Pri SEM

School in phased launch

Progress Sec SEM

School in phased launch

Progress Post-16 SEM

School in phased launch

Arabic Native Primary Results (Native)

School in phased launch

Arabic Secondary Results (Native)

School in phased launch

Arabic Post-16 Results (Native)

School in phased launch

Arabic Primary Results (Add.)

School in phased launch

Arabic Secondary Results (Add.)

School in phased launch

Arabic Post-16 Results (Add.)

School in phased launch

Islamic St. Primary Results

School in phased launch

Islamic St. Secondary Results

School in phased launch

Islamic St. Post-16 Results

School in phased launch

Leadership

School in phased launch

Community

School in phased launch

Facilities

School in phased launch

Quality of teaching

School in phased launch

Student personal responsibility

School in phased launch

Quality of curriculum

School in phased launch

School Governance

School in phased launch

SEN Provision

School in phased launch

Strengths

• Ambitious and impressive school US-Arabic values
• One of a number of new schools seeking to bring together the best of East and West
Scale should allow significant levels of investment in capital build, quality, reduction of class sizes and investment in inclusion
• Serious and committed investment in Dubai

Weaknesses

• Inevitable teething problems of any launching school likely
• Lack of detail across a range of key areas including accreditation, curriculum and AP provision
• No advertised scholarship and bursary programmes

Rating
User Rating
Rate Here
Academic
B-
Value
C+
ExtraCurricula
C
Languages
B
Sports
B
Arts & Drama
B-
Teaching
C
Communications
B+
Warmth
B
Differentiation
C+
SEND Provision
C+
Scl Community
B-
Scl Facilities
B-
Opportunities

The Creative Science schools have the potential to re-define benchmarks for the effective delivery of the best of Arabic and Western education. Ambition is matched by investment. The test will be in the delivery - and that is still to come. We remain concerned, however at significant lack of information for post-16 provision - something parents need before shortlisting.

B-
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About The Author
Jon Westley
Jon Westley is the Editor of SchoolsCompared.com and WhichSchoolAdvisor.com UK. You can email him at jonathanwestley [at] schoolscompared.com

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