The excitement of receiving an offer to move abroad to work is often quickly tempered by a reality check. There is a dawning realisation that not only does this mean relocating your whole life to another part of the world but also that you will need to find schools for your children. For many families moving abroad the education choices are the deal breaker as to whether to take the posting or not.

Fortunately, thanks to the explosion on British curriculum international schools across the globe there is now far more choice available. However, there are plenty of factors to consider when choosing a school in another country and some pros and cons to take into account as part of the decision making process. Sara Boomsma from Gabbitas Middle East shares key things to consider before making the move.

The Curriculum

When researching schools in a new country, one of the key factors to take into account is the types of curriculum on offer. Typically, international schools offer a much broader range of curriculum choices including British, American and the IB. In the UAE for example, there are over 17 different curricula on offer which gives families access to a unique variety of education opportunities for their children.

You may wish to stick with the British curriculum to ensure consistency with your child’s current schooling. This can also be helpful if you are considering moving back to the UK in a few years or sending your child back to boarding school at some point.

However, moving overseas can also give your child a chance to explore a different curriculum. The American curriculum could be a good route if your child has ambitions to study at a US University. Or the IB which is a broad curriculum for ‘all rounders’ and offers unique breadth and depth as part of its programmes.

Parents need to be assured that international schools are rigorously held to account to ensure the curriculum is aligned with their home country and issuing globally recognised qualifications. It is worthwhile checking how schools are inspected and if it is part of any global associations.

It is worth being aware of the local regulations that may impact of curriculum delivery in different countries. For example, many schools are required to offer the local language as a compulsory part of the timetable and others may have restrictions on the subjects that can be offered as they maybe culturally inappropriate in that particular region. But it is also worth bearing in mind the positives that this brings such as your child being able to immerse themselves in a new language or culture fully!

School Fees

Another factor to consider when moving overseas is school fees. It is rare for education to be free in an international setting. Most international schools are private and often for profit, therefore school fees can be a significant cost.

In addition, whilst school fees were traditionally included in relocation packages for families, more and more these fees are being left to parents to pay directly. Therefore, when looking at schools in your chosen country, it is worth investigating fully what the overall fees will look like for each child and to factor in the extras such as school trips and extracurricular activities.

Location

At Gabbitas Middle East we always recommend to our clients try to live near their chosen school. Not only does this ease the journey this morning but you will find that all of their new friends also live nearby meaning you’ll spend less time in the evenings and weekends chauffeuring them around and arranging play dates becomes a whole lot easier!

Benefits to your child

The most important thing to remember when considering moving abroad is that it will, of course, be different. Your child will be thrown into a multi-national, multi-lingual and diverse environment and it is vital that you encourage them to embrace the change. Whilst perhaps daunting at first, your child will gain a truly global outlook and will have an amazing new experience.

Studying abroad also gives children a unique edge in life. Being brought up in an international environment you have to learn quickly to be flexible and adaptable. Your child will learn to appreciate others viewpoints and become confident and independent ready for the next step in an increasingly globalised world. What an amazing opportunity for them to experience something new!

Read more about the benefits of an international education here.

Are you being relocated to a new country and looking for advice on international schools? Gabbitas are experts at helping you find the right school for your child, get in touch today.

Knowing which curriculum is right for your child is a key decision that can feel very overwhelming for many parents. With 17 different curricula on offer in Dubai, it can make the challenge even harder.

We profile three of the most popular – British, American and the IB.

The British Curriculum

 

How is it structured?

The British curriculum is very structured, it is broken down into 6 stages starting with the Foundation years through Key Stage 1-4 and ending with the Post 16 years.  There are a number of statutory areas that are set out for all schools to follow and these tend to be subject orientated with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy and the sciences.

There are regular testing points to make sure children are achieving their potential and GCSE’s and A Levels are widely regarded as the gold standard in external exams.  This means that it is easy to track children through the system and to ensure progress and also that each child is introduced to the essential knowledge they need to be well rounded citizens in an age appropriate way. The external exams are recognised by Universities all over the world and will often bear additional credits as they are deemed to be of such a high academic standard.

 

What makes it special?

The British curriculum prides itself on teaching pupils to think independently and to develop the ability to critically analyse information, vital transferrable skills in the 21^st Century. It allows for differentiated teaching so the brightest children can be stretched and support can be offered for children who need it. At every point in the curriculum from EYFS onwards children are encouraged to gain independence and confidence and develop the ability to make choices and decisions. The British curriculum is globally recognised and very transferrable internationally and domestically because the core requirements are the same.

 

Schools in Dubai – Manor Primary

If you are looking for a small, village feel school in the heart of Dubai, Manor Primary could be a perfect fit. There is a real feel of a community in this British curriculum school, which is something the Principal Karen Davies has worked hard to create. Classes will never be more than 20 pupils per class and the UK trained staff take a very hands on approach to education as does the senior leadership team. Extracurricular programs are very important to the vision of Manor Primary to produce well-rounded global citizens. A bonus is that their after school programs can go until 5pm which is very handy for working parents.

The American Curriculum

 

How is it structured?

The American system is available worldwide, originally established to service American families abroad, it is now available in many large international cities and can see up to 100 nationalities grace their hallways.

Each school aligns itself to a particular state and they follow that curriculum, as well as receiving accreditation from that state or group. Alternatively they can choose to follow a different overarching curriculum framework such as the Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, or the C3 Social Studies Standards. Most students will leave with a High School Diploma but many will offer the option of the Advanced Placement programme for Grade 11 & 12 and the scores from these external exams can count towards university credits and are recognised by UK Universities too. American schools are also accredited by an in-country team to comply with the local educational standards.

 

What makes it special?

While the American curriculum tends not to be as rigorous as the British curriculum in Maths and English in the early years, students will still have well-rounded subject knowledge appropriate for their stage of development. With the adaptability of the American curriculum to different states and frameworks it can easily incorporate inquiry-based, hands-on learning and a plethora of educational opportunities. Furthermore, American schools tend to have strong extracurricular and sports programs to supplement their world renowned curricula.

 

Schools in Dubai – The American School in Dubai

The American School in Dubai is a non-profit, well-established American curriculum school with as strong programs as it has reputation. Students at ASD not only perform well in the usual core subjects such as maths, science and English, but also have opportunities to educate the whole child and become individuals through drama, sports and tech opportunities. Of particular note is their makers space in the elementary school where a dedicated educator works to integrate tech into the regular school day. Anything from 3D printing, to coding and robotics, to sewing, this space is incredibly well utilized, stocked, and integrated into everyday learning.

The International Baccalaureate

 

How is it structured?

A worldwide recognized curriculum, the International Baccalaureate is a program that helps a child become a global citizen. Consisting of 3 programs, the PYP (Primary Years Program), the MYP (Middle Years Program) and the DP (Diploma Program), students and teachers coexist as theoretical equals and develop the curriculum together. Centred on Units of Inquiry based on theme, students do not take subject classes separately, but as part of a multidisciplinary unit.

The IB is centralized in Geneva and each school is accredited by their accreditation team to be a truly IB school, as well as an in-country accreditation team, usually.

 

What makes it special?

This curriculum is especially good for a family that is on the move often as it translates very well around the world and is recognized internationally. While the PYP has seen great success, the MYP’s reputation isn’t as strong. However, the DP is a very rigorous, academically and research wise, fabulous for studious, disciplined students. The IB diploma is recognized at all major universities around the world.

 

Schools in Dubai – North London Collegiate School

North London Collegiate School in Dubai is an IB continuum school which means it offers all three IB programmes.  The teaching and learning is very enquiry based and encourages children to make interdisciplinary connections and to be intellectually agile. The school has close ties to its alma mater in London and its other campus in South Korea. NLCS also has strong extracurricular opportunities such as a swim team, chess and robotics, and orchestral club. A unique feature at NLCS is the offering of Mandarin as a second language beginning in grade 2 (year 3) alongside Arabic, French & Spanish.