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Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou Nursery School, Oud Metha
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Review

Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou Nursery School, Oud Metha

by August 7, 2019

Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou Nursery School – updated August 2019 – KHDA

The story of the Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou Ecole Maternelle [LFIGP-EM] is almost completely aligned with the appointment of the school’s current Principal (La Directrice) Saadia Hachid. Appointed in September 2013, in just one year she oversaw the transformation from KHDA “Good” to “Outstanding” school status, the creation of a dedicated Maternelle school focused exclusively on educating young children between 3 and 6 years of age (Petite Section de maternelle (PS), Moyenne Section (MS) de maternelle, Grande Section (GS) de maternelle) and the redevelopment and renewal of the old school to create a genuinely, child-focused, inspirational school, that has reaped dividends:

“The well-being of the children is at the heart of the school and central to its vision. Children [themselves] show commendable sensitivity towards others; they love to collaborate and help their peers.” KHDA. 2014-16.

Previously the school had educated children in the French system to the age of 11 years, combining the Nursery/Infants maternelle phase with the later Junior élémentaire phases (CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2) under the leadership of Jacques Corgini. The new school is very different, and in its development under Ms Hachid, there has been a recognition from ‘Day One’ that the needs of children at this young age are better served by a separate, highly focused Maternelle educational environment and culture which she, and her team, have nurtured and created with great success. Feedback to ourselves, and our sister site, WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, has been very positive.

It is worth noting that the evolution of the LFIGP-EM demonstrates powerfully the central importance of a school Principal in the evolution of any school. The best school leaders, properly, as here, empowered and resourced, can achieve great things very quickly for a school.

Prospective parents should note too that the school has the lowest teacher turnover rate of any school in the UAE over the last two years, running at an average 0.5% per annum. We have written widely on the importance and critical role of continuity in teaching and broader leadership faculty to the successful, happy education of children, and this is, we believe, just as relevant for children at this young age facing their first formative years away from home.

The result today is that the Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou Ecole Maternelle stands with just 15 other schools to have secured the KHDA “Outstanding rating” in Dubai, this defining schools that are significantly over achieving against the expectations of the Dubai Education Authority and which are operating at a globally competitive level of achievement in key respects of their education of the children under their care. Our Guide to KHDA Outstanding Schools can be found here.

It also stands as the slipstream feeder to the KHDA “Outstanding”Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou in Dubai Academic City, for which all students receive automatic entry at age 6. Our review of the all-through school can be found here.

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The KHDA view of the school is one of the most positive we have read of any school in the Emirates – and is without a single major critique. The school drops a single point across all its scoring categories, this in the area of nurturing an understanding of the impact of broader global and Islamic values and context – and even here the school scores at a “Very Good” level. This is an area where non-Arabic schools struggle more often than not to get even an “Acceptable” rating – quite some achievement.

Standout features from the last two years of Outstanding school status include:

  • Very effective, dynamic and innovative school Principal with “Outstanding school leadership;”
  • Exceptionally clear school vision;
  • Fully, genuinely inclusive, welcoming school environment with the resources to deliver for all children;
  • Outstanding child progress in Mathematics, French and Science to reach levels of attainment above the French national curriculum standards;
  • Outstanding personal and emotional support from the Principal and staff for the children and their families;
  • In English, stand-out outstanding attainment against French curriculum standards;
  • Hugely rich and varied curriculum accommodating the needs and interests of all children;
  • Ongoing investment and improvement to the school’s premises and learning environment – and responsiveness to, and success in, meeting all KHDA recommendations.

Facilities include bright and welcoming classrooms (with whiteboards);  Special Educational Needs provision; dedicated sensory soft-play room;  gymnasium; flow-through courtyards; library; clinic; colourful painted exterior play equipment and environs; and driving track. This is not a new “bells and whistles” school, but it does not need to be.

If there are points of criticism, and we have seen this in many schools outside the British and IB sector, it is that much more could be done, even at this early age, to improve digital learning resources, including investment in LEGO, robotics and basic programming. This said, the French system is inherently and deliberately different – and for many parents its more progressive approach will be very welcome.

There are too, many outdoor areas that could be leveraged further – but school development is clearly a priority and investment is ongoing and incremental.

ECAs include Fun Ball, Mini Football, Mini Gym, yoga, Zumba Kids, Peinture/Dessin, Atelier Modelage, Jeux de construction, Atelier Art Moderne, basketball, Jeux de societies; Atelier “Princesse”, Eveil Musical; and Loisirs creatifs. There are many other whole child activities within the school timetable – and concentration on ECAs is at the older phases to leave children some chance to actually play and discover their own identity and interests outside formalised learning.

As we noted with its slipstream school, fee levels, in this case fixed at 27,735 AED for both KG years, offer the best value of any school in the Emirates.

Bottom line? It is rare to be able to write a review so complimentary and without serious qualification.

Yes, we can find things to fault. The school would, as any school, benefit from greater investment in infrastructure and resources. In appearance, this is certainly this is not an ultra-premium Tier 1. Certainly technology could have more focus and outside areas further developed.

However the balance to this is that the French education system should not be compared so easily to its British and IB counterparts: reading, for example, takes place, in emphasis, later. Instead the focus is much broader, with a rich investment in the whole child across every aspect of education. This is particularly striking in the new French curriculum at these phases.

In technology, the children catch up later in its slipstream all-through. In fact, the two schools, really, should not arguably be seen in isolation, except and in so far, as to highlight the benefits of children at this age being educated in their own school with all the capacity to maintain childhood and the richness of play centred learning that this intimacy brings.

If there are limited, very limited critiques possible in appearance, in delivery, however, schools do not come any better. There is a real opportunity here for parents of all nationalities to gain a world class, bi-lingual education for children. Starting at this age gives all children the strongest possible start in language development. English progress and attainment is a stand-out feature. Thought provoking stuff.

At this fee level, with this quality of school leadership, curriculum, teaching faculty and care for children on offer, we think that the French educational system really deserves more than a fleeting consideration by parents.

A VERY special school.

COMING SOON on WhichSchoolAdvisor.com

Details to consider
2018/19 Overall ADEK / KHDA Rating

Outstanding

2017/18 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

Outstanding

2016/17 Overall ADEC / KHDA Rating

Outstanding

2015/16 Overall KHDA / ADEC Rating

Outstanding

Type of school

Private, for-profit

WSA Good School

Yes

Full WSA Review

Coming soon: Go

Average Cost Per Year

FS1/PS-MS: 27,735
FS2/MS-GS: 27,735
YEAR 1: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 2: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 3: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 4: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 5: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 6: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 7: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 8: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 9: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 10: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 11: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 12: Slipstream to Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou
YEAR 13: NA

Curriculum

La Maternelle:
(1) Moyenne Section (MS) de Maternelle
(2) Grande Section (GS) de Maternelle

External Exam Boards

NA
Notes:
(1) French Ministry of National Education

Selective

No
Notes:
(1) Fully inclusive

Waiting list

No

Value Added

Not published

Number of Students

380
Notes:
(1) Emirati: 8
(2) SEND: 15
(3) Pre-K: 125

Teacher to Student Ratio

1:22

Largest nationality teachers

French

Teacher turnover

1% (2016)
Notes:
(1) 2015: 0%

Year opened

2013 (as a dedicated KG/Maternelle)
Notes:
(1) Originally founded 2006

Location

Oud Metha, Dubai

Student composition

French (largest nationality)

Gender

Mixed, co-educational

Owner

Foundation/Agency for French Education Abroad / Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger (AEFE)

Admissions Telephone

+971 (0) 4 337 41 61

Web Address
Attainment Nur SEM

100% (Maternelle)

Attainment Pri SEM

NA

Attainment Sec SEM

NA

Attainment Post-16 SEM

NA

Progress Nur SEM

100% (Maternelle)

Progress Pri SEM

NA

Progress Sec SEM

NA

Progress Post-16 SEM

NA

Arabic Native Primary Results (Native)

NA

Arabic Secondary Results (Native)

NA

Arabic Post-16 Results (Native)

NA

Arabic Primary Results (Add.)

NA

Arabic Secondary Results (Add.)

NA

Arabic Post-16 Results (Add.)

NA

Islamic St. Primary Results

NA

Islamic St. Secondary Results

NA

Islamic St. Post-16 Results

NA

Leadership

100%

Community

100%

Facilities

100%

Quality of teaching

100%

Student personal responsibility

100%

Quality of curriculum

100%

School Governance

100%

SEN Provision

100%

Strengths

• Best value school fees in the Emirates
• KHDA Outstanding school status – richly deserved
• A beacon language infant school that sets benchmarks across all sectors/curricular
• Outstanding, driven, visionary school Principal – with very close links to parents and as far from being a remote Head of School as it is possible to be
• Outstanding Governance
• Outstanding SEND provision, with extraordinary levels of curriculum adaptation – backed by a school ethic that genuinely nurtures and embraces inclusivity
• Outstanding whole child development
• Outstanding attainment and progress for children in Science, Mathematics, French and (stand-out) English – well beyond French National Curriculum expectations for these phases
• Lowest teacher turnover in the Emirates

Weaknesses

• Like all schools, more investment would not go amiss
• Parents expecting a Tier 1 in appearance and facilities may be disappointed (but this would miss the point)
• Technology and IT does not get the same focus as in British and IB schools (but it comes later)

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

• Our review says it all. Highly recommended.

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