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Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé-Dubai, Al Muhaisnah 4 – THE REVIEW
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Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé-Dubai, Al Muhaisnah 4 – THE REVIEW

by August 5, 2019

Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé-Dubai – updated August 2019 – KHDA 2019

Founded in 2003, the Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé (LLFP) was originally created to meet the needs of the Lebanese and Francophone community established in the Gulf. Today, whilst remaining a fundamentally Franco-Lebanese school, LLFP welcomes a broad range of nationalities between KG and Year 12 for its core French syllabus culminating in the General Baccalauréat, the French system’s equivalent to UK A’ Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma [IB DP]. Since 2009, the school has shared extremely close educational, academic and administrative inks with the prestigious Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour Lebanon. It remains resolutely a not-for-profit.

Whilst somewhat out of date, the following film may be helpful to parents in bringing to life something of the school’s (inspirational) ethos:

https://youtu.be/ALjQ7QqdL-0

The school sets itself apart from alternative French schools by aiming to nurture a school culture that “lives and breathes” the Lebanese cultural context and its national heritage, whilst preparing children for the demands of the French or Lebanese Baccalaureates, and entrance examinations for university study in either Lebanon or France. LLFP has a special dispensation from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to teach the Lebanese variant of Arabic.

The Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé is also 1 of only 13 schools awarded the highly creditable “Very Good” rating by the Dubai Inspectorate of Schools in its new 6-point grading structure that rates schools between “Very Weak”, “Weak”, “Acceptable”, “Good”, “Very Good” and “Outstanding”. Given that there are only currently 16 schools with an “Outstanding” rating, and weighting its individual scoring, LLFP ranks very highly within the top 12% of all schools in the Emirate.

“From a very early age, children are encouraged to be curious, to investigate and to explore. In maternelle, where learning skills were particularly strong for their age, children began to find out information for themselves by using simple books and asking parents about class topics. Critical thinking and problem solving were regular features in many lessons in the primaire, collège and lycée.” Knowledge and Human Development Authority. 2016.

Independent feedback from parents, students and teachers has been uniformly positive since 2015 – particularly from students who have commented on the inspirational and nurturing dynamics of school life and the school’s links with the local community it serves.

The Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé aims to deliver a secular, humanist education based on valuing the individual, embracing diversity and respecting multiculturalism. The school aims to develop each child’s ability to think for his or her self and to embrace creativity and critical thinking. The school’s motif is Permet de vivre ensemble et de réussir ensemble (“Let’s live together and succeed together”). There are four ambitions:

GEMS_INARTICLE  

  • To provide a combination of French curriculum education with a Lebanese Arabic focus on language – this to prepare each child jointly for either French or Lebanese university degree slipstreams;
  • To educate all students with tri-lingual skills in French, Arabic and English, both written and oral.(A further Spanish option is offered from Grade 4);
  • To give students the option to study the Grade 9 Brevet or Grade 12 Baccalaureate in French or Lebanese variants (Lebanese Baccalaureate Certificate of Secondary Education (Shahaadat Al-Bakaalouriya al Lubnaaniya l’il-ta ‘liim al-Thaanawi) or the Technical Baccalaureate (Al-Bakaalouriya al-Finniya), according to each student’s streaming between S (Sciences), ES (Economic and Social Sciences) or L (Literary) options; and,
  • To offer a broad range of sporting and artistic activities through “apprenticeships”, Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) and workshops.

The school’s founder and Chairman, Mr. Varouj Nerguizian, is the current Executive Director and General Manager of the Bank of Sharjah. He led the team that established the Lebanese Educational Fund Panama SA in 2003, galvanising 37 high net worth Lebanese individuals to fund the AED 10M investment required to create the Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé.

Education at the school is structured in four phases: Maternelle (Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, KG1-2); Élémentaire (Elementary, Grades 1 – 5); Collège (Middle School, Grades 6-9); and, Lycée (High School, Grades 10-12).

Maternelle phases see students study Arabic; French; Mathematics; Science; Art; Music; and, Physical Development (focused on fine and gross motor skills).

Élémentaire builds on this with further study in Arabic; Islamic Education (Muslim students); French; English(from grade 3); Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; Music; PE; Library; and, Art.

In Collège students study Arabic; Islamic Education (Muslim students); French; English; Spanish; Mathematics; Physics,; Chemistry; Biology; History; Geography; Music; Physical Education (PE); Library; and, Art. In grade 9 all students have to pass their French “Diplôme national du brevet.”

Finally, at Lycée, from Grade 10, students are prepared for the French General Baccalaureate (Bac) program by being placed in either Scientific (Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry, or Biology); Social and Economic studies (Mathematics or Economic & Social Sciences); or, Literary streams.

Students in Grade 10 study options from Arabic; Islamic Education (Muslim students); French Literature; English; Spanish; Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; History; Geography; Library; Art; Economics; Art; Music; and, Physical Education (PE).

In Grade 11 study continues through options drawn from Science; Economics; Arabic; Islamic Education (Muslim students); French Literature; English; Spanish; Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; History; Geography; Physical Education (PE); Art; and, Economics.

In their final year, Grade 12, students study from options in Science; Economics; Arabic; Islamic Education (Muslim students); Philosophy; English; Spanish; Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; History; Geography; Physical Education (PE); Art; and, Economics.

Facilities are at a good Tier 1 standard, including beautifully maintained grounds; a main administration block; dedicated nursery, elementary, middle and high school blocks; small gym; large gymnasium; High School canteen; multi-purpose auditorium; Primary art room; Islamic Studies Centre; language labs; and, new Science laboratories. This tells only half the story, however. For prospective parents, the more telling indicator is the ongoing investment and commitment made by the school in rolling development of new and upgraded facilities. LLFP works on the basis of a highly detailed three-year plan, published in full by the school, in which investment, supported powerfully by Governors, plays a central role.

Fees run from 23,151 AED at FS phases through to 49,610 AED in the Bac years. We think these fees offer exceptional value to prospective parents. Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé is a school operating very much at premium sector standards but with distinctly mid-tier level fees.

In 38 out of 50 individual child education related categories the school scored “Very Good” or “Outstanding”. In 32 out of 41 of the school teaching and management categories LLFP scored at the same higher levels. These are very high overall scores. Highlights of the school for the KHDA include:

  • Outstanding attainment in English across every phase
  • Very good standard of teaching across school provision
  • Extremely good relationships and communication with parents – at times “exemplary”, the strongest choice of word used by the KHDA in its reporting
  • In Science, English and Mathematics all children received a “Very Good” or higher standard of education
  • Outstanding, visionary school leadership
  • Outstanding whole child development and student care
  • Exceptionally friendly relationships between students and teachers built on mutual respect and care

Significant critique is in short supply and related to the need to speed up the school’s investment in IT and technology.

Bottom line? The Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé performs in the top 15% of Dubai schools – but this is not what ultimately sets the school apart and makes it so special. That lies, alternatively, in the dynamics of a school established to give life and protection to the nuances and ideals of Lebanese culture – whilst absorbing the extraordinary richness of the Dubai context. This is an institution which, whilst it does not describe itself as such, is more of a community school than many others that make such claims. The fabulous links between parents and the school follow through to very strong links between students and teachers – and it is these that are at the bedrock of each child’s education as they proceed through the school.

The Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé is at once creative and rooted, and the ways the school blends Lebanese, UAE, International and French culture and education sets standards for how specialist schools can build on their uniqueness to be more than the sum of their individual parts.

For parents set on a multi-lingual education for their children, and especially Lebanese parents who want a school that will amplify the heart of Lebanese culture in their child(ren)’s education, this is a school that sets the bar very high. Recommended.

Go to the FULL REVIEW on WhichSchoolAdvisor.com Go to EN FRANCAIS on WhichSchoolAdvisor.com

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

Very Good with Outstanding features

2015/16 Overall KHDA / ADEC Rating

Very Good with Outstanding features

Type of school

Private, not-for-profit

WSA Good School

Under review 2016-17

Full WSA Review
Average Cost Per Year

Pre-primary: 23,151
FS1: 23,151
FS2: 23,151
YEAR 1: 25,356
YEAR 2: 25,356
YEAR 3: 25,356
YEAR 4: 25,356
YEAR 5: 25,907
YEAR 6: 33,073
YEAR 7: 33,073
YEAR 8: 35,278
YEAR 9: 41,342
YEAR 10: 41,342
YEAR 11: 4,097
YEAR 12: 49,610

Curriculum

La Maternelle
Brevet des Collèges
Baccalauréat Français / Bac

External Exam Boards

Agency for French Education Abroad / Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger (AEFE)
Collège Notre Dame de Jamhour Lebanon (academically and administratively linked)

Selective

Inclusive
Notes:
(1) An interviews and/or entrance tests may be required in some circumstances

Waiting list

No

Value Added

Not published

Number of Students

1160

Teacher to Student Ratio

1:12

Largest nationality teachers

Lebanese

Teacher turnover

15%

Year opened

2003

Location

Al Muhaisnah 4, Dubai

Student composition

Lebanese (largest nationality)
Emirati: 0
Special Educational Needs (SEN): 81
Age range: 4-17
Pre-kindergarten: 103

Gender

Mixed, co-educational

School canteen

Yes

Owner

51% Locally owned
49% Lebanese Educational Fund (the Panama)
Mr. Varouj Nerguizian (Founder and Chairman)
HE Abdul Rahman Al Owais (President)
Notes:
(1) AED 10M was invested by 37 Lebanese citizens to a fund established by the Bank of Sharjah to meet the needs of members of the Lebanese and French community living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

Admissions Telephone

+971 (0)4 264 0800

Web Address
Attainment Nur SEM

90%
Notes:
(1) Score is weighted to Science and Mathematics as English is not taught in La Maternelle

Attainment Pri SEM

86.6%

Attainment Sec SEM

86.6%

Attainment Post-16 SEM

86.6%

Progress Nur SEM

90%
Notes:
(1) Score is weighted to Science and Mathematics as English is not taught in La Maternelle

Progress Pri SEM

86.6%

Progress Sec SEM

86.6%

Progress Post-16 SEM

86.6%

Arabic Native Primary Results (Native)

60%

Arabic Secondary Results (Native)

60%

Arabic Post-16 Results (Native)

60%

Arabic Primary Results (Add.)

50%

Arabic Secondary Results (Add.)

40%

Arabic Post-16 Results (Add.)

NA

Islamic St. Primary Results

80%

Islamic St. Secondary Results

60%

Islamic St. Post-16 Results

50%

Leadership

100%

Community

80%

Facilities

60%

Quality of teaching

80%

Student personal responsibility

100%

Quality of curriculum

85%

School Governance

80%

SEN Provision

80%

Strengths

• KHDA “Very Good” School with “Outstanding” features
• Unique blended Lebanese and French curricular, both firmly rooted in the dynamics of UAE cultural life
• Outstanding English language teaching
• Tri-lingual language schooling
• Passionate, committed and visionary leadership
• Not-for-profit driven mid-tier fee structure offers extraordinary value for this quality of education
• Ongoing investment rooted in ambitious 3-year business plans
• Exceptional levels of parental engagement
• Outstanding transparency of information for prospective parents

Weaknesses

• The school needs to ratchet up, and quicken, investment in IT and technology provision

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

A fabulous school that thoroughly deserves its KHDA rating as one of Dubai’s top schools. Characterful, nurturing, achieving and rooted, the Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé is certainly a school for prospective parents seeking a multi-lingual, French language based education for their child(ren) to consider – and for Lebanese parents it may well just be unbeatable.

A-
Our Rating
B+
User Rating
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9%
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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