GEMS Royal Dubai School is closing the secondary school section according to media reports and forum postings. But nothing seen from GEMS, and nothing obvious on the GEMS RDS website to confirm the closure. The GEMS Royal Dubai School secondary section started in September 2007 and was expanding by one grade or year group per year. Originally there were plans to introduce IB at senior levels but that seemed to change to A-Levels. However, that’s moot now.
According to the various comments around the place:
- Only the high school section of RDS is closing.
- Closing date is end of 2009-2010 academic year (June 2010)
- Parents can transfer students in January 2010 or June 2010.
- Reason for closure is not enough students (one report says 100 students at present) so high school is not financially viable.
- Parents can choose to transfer their kids to GEMS Jumeirah College or GEMS Wellington International School.
- A place in one of those two schools is guaranteed for students at RDS secondary school.
- Teachers presumably will have to find another job.
Both JC and WIS are more expensive than RDS, and locations are not friendly for families living in Mirdif. JC is in Al Safa 1, WIS is in Al Sufouh, just off Sheikh Zayed Road. Comparison table of the 3 schools (ratings based on DubaiFAQs.com school ratings as of 29 October 2009):
| School | Royal Dubai School | Jumeirah College | Wellington International School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Mirdiff | Al Safa 1 | Al Sufouh |
| Fees (AED) Years 7-13 | 44,001-53,399 (Year 9) | 55,228-69,035 | 57,742-72,335 |
| Curriculum | UK | UK | UK/International |
| Qualifications | GCSE | GCSE, A-Level | GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level, IB |
| Student rating |  |
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| Parent rating | |
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| Teacher job satisfaction |  |
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| Other comments | High school only | KG-12 school |