Vernus International School, Dubai Silicon Oasis – The Review 2020

Vernus International School Dubai – Background and Location

Vernus International School is a new American curriculum primary school currently under construction that will educate children from Pre K to Grade 5. School capacity is limited to 765 children and the school is set to pen in September 2020.

The school is located on the north-eastern side of Dubai Silicon Oasis, adjacent to City Oasis 1 and City Oasis 2, and near to the Al Habtoor building. The school  serves neighbouring families in Dubai Academic City, The Villa, Nad Al Sheba and Dubai International City. Vernus International School provides transportation to and from the school for all children in the Greater Dubai area.

Detailed map follows:

Unique Features of the School and Confirmed Facilities

Vernus International School aims to be the first vocational school in the UAE with a curriculum founded on project based learning. The school will offer a tri-lingual curriculum offering students French, English and Arabic as core subjects from joining the school.

Confirmed academic facilities will include:

• Hydroponics Centre
• Astronomy Lab
• Music Centre
• Dance Studio
• Media & Drama Suite
• IT Labs
• Technology Lab
• Science Labs
• Art Studio
• Media and Drama Lab

• Tennis Courts
• Sports Courts
• Basketball Courts
• “Kids City” Play Area
• Gymnasium

Core sports at Vernus International School will include football/soccer, basketball and gymnastics.

Leadership

Heath L. Bailey, Founding Principal of Vernus International School is described as having “a phenomenal ability to connect with students” built over three decade’s experience as an educator in Dubai and the United States. Known for his passionate defence of inclusion and the ability of all children to excel, Mr Bailey has written widely on the impact of disadvantage in its many forms on children and the critical role of education in empowering students to reach their goals through academic achievement and whole child development. Mr Bailey comes to Venus International from American International School Dubai as Head of High School where, over a 12-month period, he increased the effectiveness of school provision to Good school status in seven key indicators measured by the KHDA, Dubai’s regulator of schools.  Prior to this, Mr Bailey was employed by ADEK, the Abu Dhabi schools regulator where he worked as Vice Principal across schools leading a cluster of 88 teachers and 21 Teaching Assistants to increase student attainment and the quality of professional development across education in the capital. Prior to moving to the UAE, Mr Bailey held leadership positions across schools in Pennsylvania, where he secured a reputation for his skills in turning around schools. A graduate of Robert Morris, Mr Bailey secured both his BSc and MSc in Management with a specialism in bridging achievement gaps in students. Mr Bailey went on to study at Point Park for a Masters in Educational Administration and K12 Management and Duquesne in PELA (Process Excellence in Leadership). Mr Bridges has a keen interest in Sport with particular expertise in Basketball and athletics. and is an expert in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in American history.

https://www.facebook.com/visdubai/videos/853689971794475/

Hard Hat Tour – Construction Progress May 2020 

Photographs of the construction as of May 2020 highlighting the low-level design. We will update the photographs as construction proceeds.

Bottom Line? The SchoolsCompared.com Verdict 2020

Vernus International School stands out for its promise of a unique, American project-based curriculum and the strength of reputation of its founding Principal. Fees have yet to be published and the eventual quality and breadth of subject and facility provision will become clearer as the school completes its construction. The increasing call by industry for innovation to be placed centre stage within the curriculum – and for schools to be more responsive to the vocational needs of business and industry, suggests that the approach adopted by Vernus International School is meeting a demand. It is also one designed to offer an inclusive education in which every child can excel. Founding Principal Heath Bailey has a proven history in ensuring that no child is left behind and the apparent care in developing the new curriculum to reflect this fundamental ambition is suggestive of a strongly aspirational school for children from launch.

Watch this space.

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