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Jumeira Baccalaureate School, Jumeirah 1 – THE REVIEW
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Review

Jumeira Baccalaureate School, Jumeirah 1 – THE REVIEW

by December 14, 2019

Children celebrating school life at Jumeira Baccalaureate School in Dubai

Updated December 2019 – Jumeira Baccalaureate School updated review, KHDA 2019 results, outstanding child progress, photography and new lower school fees

Spread over 8 acres of landscaped grounds, and in one of the best locations in Dubai, Taaleem’s Jumeira Baccalaureate School [JBS] is one of the flagship International Baccalaureate [IB] schools in the Emirates, with facilities and IB programmes competing with the best in Dubai.

The IB World school provides an inclusive, co-educational education to just 791 children between the ages of 3 and 18, through Pre-K to Year 12 grades, with complete IB provision across the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP), Diploma Programme (IB DP), and the IB Career-related Programme (IB CP).

https://vimeo.com/121449724

Jumeira Baccalaureate School provides a slipstream for all of the three Taaleem “The Children’s Garden” nurseries at Jumeirah 2, Al Barsha 2 and Green Community who receive priority places into Grade 1 at JBS.

All this tells you relatively little. The real story here, simplifying, is that this is a school that is absolutely outstanding in its own terms – and is a real showcase for the extraordinary achievement of its Principal, Richard Drew, and the investment of its owners, Taaleem, over the last three years.

We have not seen this sort of scale of progress and investment in children for a long time.

GEMS_INARTICLE  

By way of background, this is an extremely inclusive school, one deeply committed to welcoming children of all abilities – and providing them with an education that exceeds their projected international flightpaths. The majority of children are Arabic or Emirati, and many come to the school with English as a second language. 

What Jumeira Baccalaurate School has done over the last three years is extraordinary. They have very significantly reduced child numbers so that all children get much more attention. They have increased relative teacher numbers to support this too.Rather than cutting costs, they have dramatically invested in children. Richard Drew over three years has ratcheted up the progress children make, beyond expectation. Achievement in English is astonishing – absolutely outstanding. 

Taaleem in this school deserve so much credit. Richard Drew too, has brought Teacher turnover down to the lowest rate in the school’s history. A test of a Principal is to get the right teachers, the very best for children (and this often involves losing some that do not fit on the way) – and then keep the best through outstanding leadership and investment in them. Children need continuity. The impact on children of ever changing teachers cannot be underestimated – and Mr Drew has recognised this.

So if this is the structural background, so too the curriculum is broad and designed to meet the needs of all children. In an International Diploma school this would seem impossible – but there is heavy investment in the outstanding Career-related Programme (in this case in the Technology BTEC) so that children have a choice of programmes best suited to their aspirations, potential, gifts and abilities.

This is such a different school to that we looked at three years ago – and one absolutely, in our view, deserving of its current Very Good with Outstanding features rating from the KHDA, the Dubai Inspectorate of Schools.

 We would still like to see better transparency in the publication of results. An inclusive school will never achieve the sorts of results an a academically and SEND selective school one will. Many schools too limit their Emirati intake deliberately to avoid the challenges of second language learners showing up in their results Jumeira Baccalaureate School does none of this. Jumeira Baccalaureate School is one, in distinction, that is outstandingly inclusive – a very different proposition. On its own terms it compares more than favourably with these schools because of the added value it brings to the education of children. We would like to see full results published, including percentages of children who do and do not sit for the IB qualifications. These must then be read in the context of the outstanding progress children make at this exceptional school.  

 Again, we would like to see much more information about the academic programmes at the school. It is so much better today, but it could be even more so. 

We think that Jumeira Baccalaureate School could much better celebrate with parents its stand-out extensive IB provision which maps very closely onto the school’s genuine commitment to be inclusive.

We are exceptionally impressed by the school’s provision of the International Career-related Programme (IB CP). One of our issues with the IB historically has been its impact later on lower to mixed ability children in pushing them to its flagship IB Diploma programme – which whilst hugely impressive and academically stretching, clearly does not meet the needs of a significant number of less academically able, but equally otherwise talented students.

The IB CP programme resolves this, delivering an extraordinary, hugely inspirational programme of inclusive study that takes the best of the IB Core, adds moderated IB academic subject choices, and a more relaxed, kinder approach to language study, and then provides students with a vocational qualification (in this case BTEC technology) much better suited to the gifts of many children as its focus. This is an area of provision that JBS deserves significant acclaim for providing.

Prospective parents should also be aware that the Primary Years and Middle Years IB programmes at Jumeira Baccalaureate School are both intrinsically inclusive. There still remains a worry, unfounded, that IB schools are only for academic children. The IB Diploma excepted, this is resolutely not the case – both Primary and Middle Years IB programmes are inclusive at their core – and when delivered effectively, provide all children with the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents, whatever their ability.

As above, our core frustration is that not all IB schools are the same. Parents need to understand how, in detail, Jumeira Baccalaureate School delivers, how it innovates, how it makes each programme its own. It does all these things – but could explain all this so much better.

Photograph of students at Jumeira Baccalaureate School in Dubai engaged in the study of Biology and preparatory Medicine.

Facilities at Jumeira Baccalaureate School are Tier 1 across sporting and academic provision, distributed across its four main buildings (a dedicated Primary block, the J Building; a Grades 3 -5 ‘BACC building’; a combined senior school and library block, ‘the Library Building’; and a shared multi-facility across sports, music, performing arts and academics with rooftop tennis courts, ‘the S Building.’  Facilities stretched across each include, a whole-school digital campus; fabulous multi-purpose auditorium and elementary gym; central and Primary libraries (the latter with a media centre); (sound proofed) music rooms; digital design classrooms; drama studios and spaces; visual arts studio; music practice rooms; multiple internal and (shaded) external play areas for Pre-K and younger children; Primary PE Hall; Health Centre; Prayer Rooms; multiple Science Laboratories by subject specialism; language centres; product design studio; cafeteria; dance studio; and established, inspiring landscaped grounds that can be enjoyed by the whole school.

Jumeira Baccalaureate School sports facilities include a FIFA spec flood-lit grass football pitch; 25M shaded swimming pool; two large gymnasiums, Senior indoor sports hall; basketball courts, two roof-top tennis courts (above).

Whilst Jumeira Baccalaureate School lacks the bells, whistles, metal, chrome and architectural innovations of the ultra-premiums, functionally it matches their provision – a defining feature of Taaleem schools is to focus investment on spaces that work (light and airy) and facilities that meet student need, potential and aspiration. Given that the school, excepting its new buildings, are in many cases some 40 years old, the general feel of provision is an impressive balance of huge warmth and the state-of-the-art that new builds cannot match.

ECAs at Jumeira Baccalaureate School are equally impressive ranging from the spectrum of sports (cricket, football, swimming, tennis, rugby, volleyball, basketball, badminton, …) to clubs for Arabic; the Quran; dance; LEGO Robotics; guitar; Yoga; “Rock Choir”; Arabic dance; drama, Chess; cooking; Spanish; Manga; kick boxing; rugby; “Desert Dance”; choir, public speaking, Model United Nations, The Duke of Edinburgh Award; French; Student Council; and, the Scholars Cup.  There are annual camps for Primary and Secondary students and overseas options for Secondary students.

Leveraging the school’s extensive sporting provision has been one clear driver for Richard Drew over the last three years. A Sports Scientist by training, Mr Drew earned his Masters from the UK’s top sports university, Loughborough. A Deputy Head at Biddenham, a specialist sports school, for eight years, he was recruited to Taaleem as Director of Teaching and Learning before moving to Taaleem’s IB Greenfield Community School as Vice Principal. He joined Jumeira Baccalaureate School in 2015. As the school notes: “A keen sportsman, Richard is a former first class Rugby Player in the UK. He now competes in triathlon events and coaches rugby in his spare time. Richard’s involvement in high level team sport has helped him develop a distributed leadership style that supports collaboration, growth and improvement.” Tellingly, the KHDA state that Mr Drew has “swiftly made his mark”, and, critically, this has “been recognised by parents.”

It is worth noting that in one area of school transparency Jumeira Baccalaureate School is to be applauded, in publishing the names of all staff, faculty and otherwise. This recognises that an outstanding school is the work of many, and not just leadership – and also serves to build staff retention. We wish that all teaching staff, not just school leadership, however, had the opportunity to provide bios and photos as is best practice with the most transparent schools.

KHDA inspections have consistently until now rated Jumeira Baccalaureate School a “Good School” with Outstanding features. Latterly these have included exceptional whole child development; outstanding links with parents and genuinely impressive, accountable, investing and committed school governance. Even prior to its new Very Good rating,  JBS was scoring Very Good or Outtanding in 27 out of the 41 non-student achievement areas graded by the KHDA.

Very creditably, the KHDA today is increasingly now recognising inclusion and progress as a truer measure of a school’s performance for its children. We think, if Mr Drew and Taaleem can hold their nerve, that there is an Outstanding school here in the making.  We would very much like, in this context, further IB CP BTEC options being provided for children.

Certainly, where the real costs of any school lie too, investing in staff – their number and calibre, Jumeira Baccalaureate School delivers with its focus on recruiting (and retaining) predominantly (expensive) British faculty and maintaining small class sizes (between 15 and 25 students) with an outstanding 1:9 student: teacher ratio.

Everything is in place now to secure the continuity of (outstanding) school leadership Jumeira Baccalaureate School has so needed after a period of considerable flux. The curriculum today is structured to meet, and deliver to, the needs of all of its impressively inclusive intake. Jumeira Baccalaureate School has the hard part out of the way – JBS clearly has a story to tell, it just needs now to actually tell it to the prospective parents that need to hear it.

The trajectory now, with these in place, is towards realising the potential of a KHDA Outstanding school clearly in the making. 

Mr Drew, Taaleem, parents – and Jumeira Baccalaureate School children should feel so proud of what together they have achieved.

Jumeira Baccalaureate School is an outstanding school and one that comes very highly recommended. 

 

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Details to consider
2018/19 Overall ADEK / KHDA Rating

Very Good with Outstanding features

2017/18 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

Very Good with Outstanding features

2016/17 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

Good with Very Good and Outstanding features

2015/16 Overall KHDA / ADEC Rating

Good with Very Good and Outstanding features

Rating FS

Very Good

Rating Primary / Elementary

Good-Very Good

Rating Secondary / Middle

Good-Very Good

Rating Post 16 / High

Very Good-Outstanding

Type of school

Private, for-profit

Full WSA Review
Average Cost Per Year

Pre-KG: 39,750
KG1: 43,750 (KG1)
KG2: 48,500 (KG2)
YEAR 1: 52,500 (Grade 1)
YEAR 2: 52,500 (Grade 2)
YEAR 3: 58,500 (Grade 3)
YEAR 4: 62,500 (Grade 4)
YEAR 5: 62,500 (Grade 5)
YEAR 6: 72,970 (Grade 6)
YEAR 7: 72,970 (Grade 7)
YEAR 8: 72,970 (Grade 8)
YEAR 9: 72,970 (Grade 9)
YEAR 10: 72,970 (Grade 10)
YEAR 11: 84,197 (Grade 11)
YEAR 12: 84,197 (Grade 12)

Curriculum

International Baccalaureate:
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme [IB PYP] [Candidate]
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme [IB MYP]
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme [IB DP]
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme [IB CP]

External Exam Boards

International Baccalaureate

IB DipM Pass Rate

Not published

IB DipM Average Grade

32 Points (2018)
32.4 Points (2017)
Notes
(1) In 2017-18, 17 students sat for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
(2) In 2017-18, 16 students sat for the International Baccalaureate Career related Programme

Selective

Outstandingly Inclusive
Notes:
(1) Places are awarded only after passing a placement assessment, student interview and former school reports
(2) The school provides full English as an Additional Language [EAL] support
(3) Most children with learning or language support needs can have them met in school
(4) An Individual Action Plan (IEP) may require extra resources requiring additional costs which will be discussed and agreed with parents
(5) The school says it is strongly committed to supporting children with Additional Learning requirements and SEN provided they can access the curriculum
(6) The KHDA note that "an inclusive ethos is a marked feature of the school's policy and practice and the curriculum developments bear this out." [2016]

Waiting list

No

Value Added

Not published

Number of Students

791 (2018)
893 (2017)
975 (2016)

Teacher to Student Ratio

1:9 (2018)
1:10 (2017)
1:11 (2016)

Largest nationality teachers

British

Teacher turnover

10% (2018) (Significantly below average)
26% (2017) (Above average)
26% (2016) (Above average)

Year opened

2010

Location

Jumeirah 1, Dubai

Student composition

Emirati (largest nationality): 260 (2018) 243, (2017), 243 (2016)
Special Educational Needs (SEN): 77 (2018), 61 (2017), 49 (2016)
Total nationalities: 85

Gender

Mixed, co-educational

School canteen

Yes

Owner

Taaleem
Amanat Holdings

Admissions Telephone

+971 (0) 4 344 6931, ext 205
+971 (0) 4 344 6931, ext 209

Web Address
Attainment Nur SEM

66.6%

Attainment Pri SEM

60%

Attainment Sec SEM

66.6%

Attainment Post-16 SEM

73.3%
Notes:
(1) Outstanding in English

Progress Nur SEM

80%

Progress Pri SEM

80%

Progress Sec SEM

73.3%

Progress Post-16 SEM

86.6%

Arabic Native Primary Results (Native)

70%

Arabic Secondary Results (Native)

60%

Arabic Post-16 Results (Native)

80%

Arabic Primary Results (Add.)

70%

Arabic Secondary Results (Add.)

70%

Arabic Post-16 Results (Add.)

NA

Islamic St. Primary Results

50%

Islamic St. Secondary Results

60%

Islamic St. Post-16 Results

60%

Leadership

80%

Community

100%

Facilities

100%

Quality of teaching

80%

Student personal responsibility

100%

Quality of curriculum

85%

School Governance

100%

SEN Provision

90%

Strengths

• Outstanding all-through IB curriculum in place
• Outstanding school leadership
• Taaleem backing - and extraordinary and outstanding commitment to the school and its children. Outstanding governance – investing, committed and passionate about the school, its potential and the success of its students
• GENUINE inclusion with SEN and curriculum provision to match
• Outstanding facility provision
• Location
• Significant Emirati role and cultural investment within a genuinely outstanding, inspirational international student population
• Innovative IB CP Programme meeting the needs of the school’s inclusive intake
• IB PYP in place and awaiting IB certification
• Sporting facilities and commitment

Weaknesses

• A potentially Outstanding KHDA school - certainly one today firing on all cylinders
• High fees place the school in a hugely competitive space - but the ROI is immense
• No advertised scholarship or bursary provision
• Taaleem should be doing more to celebrate this school, particularly in terms of the information provided to parents

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

A school to watch with very significant promise. Outstanding care of children - and one of the most exciting and inspiring stories of genuine investment in children in recent years.

B+
Our Rating
C
User Rating
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Top of shortlist
41%
In my Top 5
19%
Shortlisted
4%
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19%
Pass
4%
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19%
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
1 Comments
  • Bajhanudean Omar
    March 4, 2019 at 12:20 am

    Just love this school. Has to be on e of the top schools in majority of the categories. The care, attention, love, respect, security is just phenomenal

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Academic
Value
ExtraCurricula
Languages
Sports
Arts & Drama
Teaching
Communications
Warmth
Differentiation
SEND Provision
Scl Community
Scl Facilities