JESS Arabian Ranches

Friday 12 March 2010 (UAE)

KHDA inspection rating: Outstanding (report issued 02 Apr 2009), 15% maximum fees increase for 2009-2010

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JESS Arabian Ranches was reported by The National 27 October 2009 to have lost their "Oustanding" rating after a KHDA school inspection, due to lack of improvement in Arabic and Islamic Studies. The report has not been confirmed by the KHDA or JESS Arabian Ranches (as far as we know), and a news item on the website for the Kings Dubai school says that Mr Peter Carpenter of the DSIB says the KHDA have not stated "that any school will lose its outstanding ranking" ... yet.

JESS Arabian Ranches fees updated for 2009-2010. Looks like they increased them the maximum 15% allowed by the KHDA as a reward for getting one of the few "Outstanding" ratings in the 2008 Dubai school rankings. Fees for 2008-2009 were AED 25,035-53,865. Big jump at the top end is for Sixth Form students starting in September 2009.
Add Registration Fee AED 300, Entrance Fee AED 500, Debenture AED 10,000 for Jumeirah location or AED 20,000 for Arabian Ranches location.
Additional fees for uniforms, bus transport, external examinations, field trips, extra-curricular activities, sports, stationery, food, and so on.
Same fees apply to JESS Jumeirah (which is a primary school only though).

Head of new sixth form is Julie Fantham. JESS sixth form will offer the IBDP (IB Diploma Program), and JESS Arabian Ranches was awarded IB World School status in March 2009.
Other senior management positions are Mrs Ann Jones (primary headteacher), and Dr Michael Biggs (secondary headteacher).
JESS websites at www.jess.sch.ae and www.jessdubai.com, appears to be the same information on both websites.

JESS AR was one of only 4 schools to be given an "Outstanding" KHDA rating in the Dubai schools review. One of the others was the original JESS Dubai school. That's not to say JESS is the only decent British school option in Dubai, there are several others which many people would find comparable to JESS despite the lower KHDA ratings they received: DESC and DESS, Dubai College, and JAPS Dubai would also be top of most peoples' British school in Dubai list.
IB website says Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) has been an IB World School offering the IB Diploma program (grades 11-12) since February 2009, but does not specify if referring to JESS Jumeirah or JESS Arabian Ranches. However, the JESS contact tel number on the IB website is for JESS Arabian Ranches, and since JESS Jumeirah is a primary school, it seems reasonable to assume the IB Organisation (IBO) are referring to JESS Arabian Ranches.

JESS AR fees updated (was 20,000-42,000 for 2006-2007).
IB courses expected to start September 2009 (if application approved) when JESS AR 6th Form classes start.
GCSE started in September 2007.
Website updated from www.jessdubai.net.
Director is Mr R Stokoe.

Jumeirah English Speaking School Arabian Ranches also called JESS Arabian Ranches (JESSAR or JAR?).
Phone and fax numbers given for Arabian Ranches location should be correct, otherwise JESS Jumeirah tel is +971-4-3945515. PO Box is same as Jumeirah JESS.
The original JESS primary school is very well regarded in Dubai for those wanting a British education. Most teachers would rate it highly as a place to work. Presumably the Arabian Ranches branch of the school will be thought of in a similar fashion.
Website www.jessdubai.net has no information about school, only login pages, website/domain often given elsewhere as www.jess.sch.ae - shows network error, another domain listed as www.jessdubai.org has no website and archives show spam (all checked September 2006).
Arabian Ranches location is initially primary and secondary grades 1-9, will eventually be extended to grades 10-12 with IB (International Baccalaureate) under consideration at senior levels.
School has a debenture system where parents (or companies) pay a 20,000 dhs deposit. This is returned when the student leaves the school.

Many popular schools are full for 2009-2010. New schools in Dubai may have places.
Allow extra for books, extra-curricular activities, uniforms, trips, etc if not included in school fees.

British schools in Dubai
Best British school in Dubai - add your vote and/or comment to the forum topic.
Study in Dubai - list of curriculums and general information
Teaching in Dubai and the UAE

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