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Our View
Founded in 2015, the Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (SISD) stands out for its two bilingual academic streams, senior boarding offering and spacious campus.
Where?
In the Dubai Healthcare City, surrounded by science and medical businesses. The fact that the campus is outside the centre means it’s far larger than other schools. It’s split into early years (pre-kindergarten, kindergartens 1 and 2), primary (Grades 1 to 5) and secondary (Grades 6 to 12). There’s parking aplenty but SISD also has a fleet of buses to ferry pupils to and from the site.
Head
Irish head Ruth Burke has worked in Dubai for 20 years and has an impressive track record for elevating her schools – including Jumeirah English-Speaking School, GEMS Wellington International School and Deira International School – to achieve Outstanding ratings from the emirate government’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). She joined SISD (currently rated Good) in 2021 and we found her to be really passionate about the school’s strengths. Eager to expand the boarding (and thus compete with Repton School, Dubai), she also very much wants to develop the arts offering to its full potential.
Admissions
SISD recently reached its target of 1,500 pupils (400 in the early years, 700 in primary and 400 in senior; the school is keen to grow the latter but this will happen naturally as the lower years grow older). It is non-selective academically but language knowledge is key for the bilingual streams (and must be supported at home), especially with the older children. In the early years, children attend a one-to-one practical play session with the admissions team, who assess competence in their strongest language, numeracy, literacy and school-readiness. They must also be toilet-trained before starting school.
Academic
Right from the early years, SISD has three learning streams: English and French, English and German, and English and STEAM. Arabic is compulsory in the UAE, so pupils can attain fluency in three languages.
Children follow the IB Primary Years Programme, which puts the emphasis on holistic, hands-on learning, play and exploration. There are specialist classes for music, PE and art; other subjects taught are maths, languages, science, social studies and Arabic.
There are two teachers (one for each language) for every class of 22 students and, together with an assistant, they can accommodate all abilities well. There is lots of emphasis on science, as well as enquiry-based and peer-led learning – the older children regularly read with the younger ones.
SEND and EAL support are excellent. The inclusions department ensures that everyone is part of the community, providing classroom help as well as individual support.
Co-curricular
Space is so unusual in a Dubai school – which means that sport really comes into its own here, with facilities that include football pitches, an athletics track, tennis courts, two dance studios and a climbing wall. SISD competes in basketball, tennis, football, golf and athletics. It is also a centre of excellence for swimming.
A new head of music has been appointed to drive the offering in that field. Art is also getting stronger and will be further developed over the next few months.
Pupils are allowed to take part in two internal after-school activities. In the early years, these include French Cultural Club, Just Dance, Sewing and Music and Movement. Additional external after-school activities are available at a charge.
School community
There are 93 nationalities within SISD, including an influx of European families keen to tap into the bilingual streams. The four values underpinning the school are bilingualism, excellence, sustainability (the school building was made from sustainable materials and uses less energy than most) and what it calls ‘together’ - i.e. community. The latter is helped by great pastoral care, overseen by a new head of inclusion whose role is to ensure that anyone with a barrier to learning can thrive here. Parents are welcome on site and there is a café in the campus to encourage them to meet up and spend time here. After-school care, managed by the early-years team, is for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten 1 and 2 pupils who have siblings in primary or secondary.
And finally....
As one of the few IB-through schools in the world plus one of only two boarding options in the UAE, this is a brilliant option for families looking for a bilingual education, with space and sports facilities away from the city.