The Winchester School, Jebel Ali

• The Winchester School location
• Years offered
• The Winchester School curriculum
• KHDA rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• The Winchester School scholarships
• The Winchester School transportation
• PTA and contact information

The Winchester School is a British School in Dubai. The educational institute offers the National Curriculum for England and provides education from Foundation Stage 1 to Sixth Form (Year 13). It hosts a cosmopolitan population with over 3,800+ students. The school opened in 2003 and is conveniently located in Jebel Ali. It is part of the prestigious GEMS Education group.

The school provides an array of facilities and amenities for its students including sports courts, school transportation, extracurricular activities and medical facilities. The Winchester School KHDA rating is ‘Outstanding’ – a principal reason as to why this school is considered to one of the top British Schools in Dubai.

This Bayut guide for the Winchester School Jebel Ali reviews the details, admission and fees and facilities available at the school.

Set within Jebel Ali, a large commercial area, The Winchester School is accessible from many residential areas including:

• Dubai Marina
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
• Jumeirah Islands
• Emirates Hills
• Discovery Gardens

Although The Winchester School is located in Jebel Ali, which is a commercial port, one can still find numerous residential properties near The Winchester School in Discovery Gardens.

• Apartments for rent near The Winchester School
• Apartments for sale near The Winchester School

The campus of The Winchester School consists of two buildings. One building is for the primary section, while the other is for secondary students. Equipped with high-speed internet service, state-of-the-art classrooms comprise of overhead projectors and pull-down screens. You can also find lockers, store books and bags.

The multi-purpose auditorium is a great venue to host public speaking and theatrical sessions. Students also enjoy various indoor games at the auditorium. The Winchester School is also home to various sports fields. These fields are revamped to provide a luxurious experience with proper health and safety standards.

Fostering the creativity of each individual, the school features well-equipped art and craft rooms along with music rooms. Science laboratories are also available for students to conduct experiments. The school also has six computer laboratories with multimedia facilities.

The learning centre features two libraries with a broad collection of books and periodicals and other resources that cater to students of all age groups. Encapsulating contemporary technological features such as 3D printers, LEGO and robotics — it comprises of 2 STEAM cafes.

The Winchester School features a well-equipped 3D room where students of primary and secondary sections watch educational videos for Mathematics and Science. With a secure and healthy atmosphere, the campus also has dedicated play areas for children of the foundation stage.

The Winchester School is located in Jebel Ali adjacent to Ibn Battuta Mall — a renowned lifestyle destination that hosts numerous retail outlets and entertainment venues. Jebel Ali, the largest marine port in the Middle East — is a flourishing neighbourhood in Dubai that is located close to many famous areas such as Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. The locality is also known for hosting various industries and diving centres.

Sitting just off Sheikh Zayed Road — the educational institute is easily accessible from most parts of the city.

The outstanding blend of dedicated teachers and innovative management techniques ensure that all pupils attain their maximum potential. The school nurtures children to be creative and self-sufficient. Hosting students from all nationalities, The Winchester School believes that its diverse community is its biggest strength that introduces pupils to new traditions, cultures and distinctive perspective.

Widening the individual’s perspective, the school instils values of tolerance and acceptance in each student. Emphasising on innovation and entrepreneurship — it assembles learners for a globalised and challenging world.

School teachers tailor the learning technique to suit the strengths and needs of each individual. Striving to continuously provide a safe and inclusive environment — the academy encourages its students to push boundaries.

Great educators inspire great learners. The Winchester School trains teachers rigorously. The educators are provided with an array of state-of-the-art technological tools which make teaching more effective and comprehensive.

The Winchester School is a part of GEMS Education — an international education company that has schools all across the globe. GEMS Education delivers 7 different curricula in 16 different countries, from the Middle East to North America.

The Government of Dubai has developed protocols for schools to follow until the pandemic is over. This is an accumulative effort and approach to keep everyone safe and healthy, including students, teachers, parents, and relevant third parties.

The KHDA has uploaded protocols for school reopening on the official website for your convenience. Here’s an overview of the preventive SOPs in place.

• Sterilising the school building, classrooms, laboratories and other facilities regularly, according to the recommendations of the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
• Assessing the temperature of everyone who enters the school building daily.
• Maintaining physical distance guidelines as recommended by the relevant health authorities and reducing the headcount capacity in classrooms.
• From this academic year, 1-metre distancing is recommended. Schools must take appropriate precautions to ensure that students and teachers stay physically distanced where possible.
• Buses may run at full capacity provided they comply with health and safety protocols.
• Schools shall reinstate Physical Education, swimming lessons and sports activities. Changing rooms and sports areas will be sanitised after each group of students
• The canteen shall reopen and resume live cooking
• School trips, excursions and holiday camps shall be resumed. 
• After-hours care, extra-curricular activities, performances, assemblies and other events at school or external venues are allowed.
• Students older than six years, staff and visitors to schools must continue to wear face masks.
• Vaccination is not compulsory. Unvaccinated school staff must submit a negative PCR test each week. Students are not obliged to submit negative PCR tests.
• From October 3rd 2021, all teaching and learning at Dubai private schools will only be face-to-face. Students who wish to continue with distance learning after the stated date must provide a medical certificate issued by Dubai Health Authority.

The Winchester School – Jebel Ali offers education from Foundation Stage to the sixth form. The education system of this school is as follows:

The Winchester School follows the National Curriculum for England. The academy provides education from Foundation Stage to Year 13. Pupils prepare for CIE and Edexcel board exams.

Nurturing the skills and competencies of students, the curriculum focuses on enquiry, creativity, and innovation. Moreover, it hones the analytical skills of students. Pupils get full exposure to modern technologies to meet the challenges in future. VR is integrated in lessons and use of coding and AI allow students to stay updated with the latest development in the society.

The Winchester School’s curriculum sets a stage for the diversity of intelligence in students and offers multiple directions to sharpen their skills.

Flourishing the ethical sense, it enables students to attain values which make choices and base attitudes. It gives children a skillset that will not only help them in their childhood but will also prove beneficial in their later years as well.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation Stage involves Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2. The school offers a stimulating and exciting environment to kids where they engage in different activities and enrich their senses. It gives a great positive start to the child towards lifelong learning.

To ensure a delightful and convenient academic journey for your child — highly qualified educators provide kids with a safe and full-filled environment, where they feel happy. This leads towards high self-esteem and self-confidence and honing of their cognitive and basic ability.

Preschoolers are involved in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Preparing children for literacy and numeracy, the foundation stage emphasises writing patterns and phonic techniques. Group discussions and individual activities further enhance the learning experience.

Key Stage 1 [Years 1 and 2]

Key Stage 1 includes Year 1 and Year 2. Focusing on creative thinking and problem-solving skills of students, The Winchester School aims to develop confident, creative and inquisitive learners. The meticulously crafted, vibrant and interesting curriculum fulfils the requirement of each individual.

Offering meaningful learning, the educational institution encourages students to ask questions and inquire, as it enhances their reasoning abilities. To increase the first-hand experience, pupils perform different tasks that emphasise on developing the learning power of students.

Core Subjects taught in Key Stage 1 involve:

• Personal Social Health Citizenship Economic Education (PSHCEE)
• Humanities (History and Geography)
• Islamic Education
• Physical Education
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• English
• Physical Education (PE)
• UAE Social Studies (Arabs and Non-Arabs)
• Arabic for Arabs
• Arabic for Non-Arabs
• Music
• Humanities (History and Geography)
• Moral Education (Year 2)

Key Stage 2 [Years 3 to 6]

Key Stage 2 includes Year 3 to Year 6. Fostering independent thinking and leadership skills through individual projects and group tasks, The Winchester School hones the analytical and rational skills of pupils. The carefully planned curriculum set challenging and achievable tasks for students. Using different teaching techniques, educators help children explore their talents and strengths.

The Winchester School realises that in this phase — an individual starts to grow, learn and evolve. Both academic and non-academic are incorporated to ensure all-round development of the students.

Core Subjects taught in Key Stage 2 involve:

• Islamic Education
• Humanities (History and Geography) English
• Personal Social Health Citizenship Economic Education (PSHCEE)
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• UAE Social Studies (Arabs and Non-Arabs)
• Mathematics
• Physical Education (PE)
• Music
• Moral Education
• Science
• French (Year 4, 5 and 6)

With an equal focus on extracurricular activities, Key Stage 2 motivates children to nurture their talents in areas they want to pursue. The program emphasises on innovation and deep-thinking.

Art teaches the importance of creativity and presentation skills — while persistent instruction on Music furnishes the development of harmony in students. Drama, Elocution and Drama encourage students to be confident and expressive. Unlocking their potential, pupils learn to correctly pronounce words and to speak clearly.

Key Stage 3 [Years 7 to 9]

Emphasizing on self-management skills, Key Stage 3 focuses on transforming students into creative and sharp learners. Throughout these years, the student encounters an array of diverse courses. Paving a path for IGCSE and higher courses — the learning programme fosters students and prepares them for upcoming challenges.

Core Subjects

• UAE Social Studies
• Mathematics
• English
• Science

Other Subjects

• French
• Art
• Arabic (different for both Arab and non-Arabic speakers)
• Information and Communication Technology
• Humanities (History and Geography)
• Islamic Studies (For Muslim Students) or PSHCEE (For non-Muslim Students)
• Moral Education
• Physical Education

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11)

Key Stage 4 allows students to choose from a broad range of optional subjects which help to discover their talents and explore their area of interest. Moreover, pupils are prepared for sixth form and university tests using many different teaching techniques.

Core Subject

• English (CIE Subject)
• Mathematics (CIE Subject)
• Islamic Education / PSHCEE (School Assessed)
• Physical Education (School Assessed)
• Moral Education (Year 10) (School Assessed)
• Moral Education (Year 11) (School Assessed)
• UAE Social Studies (Year 10)

Optional Subjects

Elective courses can change for each academic year. Students have to choose at least six optional subjects.

• History
• Computer Science
• Physical Education
• Environmental Management
• Geography
• Chemistry
• ICT
• Accounting
• Economics
• Psychology
• Travel and Tourism
• Business Studies
• Food and Nutrition
• English Literature
• Global Perspective
• French
• Sociology
• Physics
• Art and Design
• Computer Science
• Global Perspectives
• ICT
• Arabic (Compulsory for Arabs)

Sixth Form

The Sixth Form comprises of Year 12 and Year 13. Pupils choose four courses from the list of optional subjects. The subjects prepare the candidate for A levels and AS examination. The subjects can change every academic year.

Optional Subjects

• Travel and Tourism
• Sociology
• Economics
• Information Technology
• BTEC ICT / Business / Applied Science
• Art and Design
• Physics
• Mathematics
• English Language
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Geography
• Moral Education (Year 12) (School Assessed)
• Moral Education (Year 13) (School Assessed)
• Travel and Tourism
• History
• Global Perspective
• Chemistry
• Accounting
• Business Studies

AAs per the instructions of The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), all schools across the UAE will discontinue distance learning from January 2022.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a government organization that is responsible for ensuring the delivery of quality education in the emirate. They inspect private schools in Dubai with judgments made on a six-point scale: Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. KHDA focuses on maintaining a high quality of education as well as the happiness and wellbeing of students and educators.

From being ranked ‘acceptable’ in 2009 to achieving ‘very good’ ranking in 2019 report, The Winchester School has shown tremendous improvement in the past years. The 2018-2019 report of KHDA highlighted some strengths of The Winchester School which are as follows:

• Instilling the values of tolerance and mutual respect, the school focuses on the personal development of children and encourages them to understand the heritage of UAE
• A rigorous and broad learning programme is followed from FS to the sixth form which hones the learning skills of students
• The educational institution takes great care of the health and social well-being of each pupil
• The school communicates with parents to enhance the learning of children
• It prepares children for future challenges and increases career opportunities through a versatile curriculum

KHDA suggested a few improvements to the school which include:

• Enhance the leadership skills of children
• Ensure that teachers are delivering quality education

• New and existing students start the academic year with the first term that starts in the last week of August. The first term ends in the second week of December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and concludes in the fourth week of March.
• The final term starts in the third week of April and ends in the last week of June. There is no half-term break in the third term. Dates are subjected to change upon moon sighting.

All of these dates may vary for each academic year due to Islamic and National Holidays. For more information, view the academic calendar for The Winchester School.

The Winchester School aims to offer education for every student. With a selection of learning preferences, the school is inclusive for every pupil including students of determination.

Admission Process

Applications are submitted online through the school’s official website. Enrolment depends upon vacant seats. Siblings of current pupils are preferred. Student’s name is entered in the waiting list when the application fee is submitted. No entrance test is needed but an age-related assessment will be done at Foundation Stage to Year 1. Although, for other classes, the students must take an age-related placement test.

School tours can be scheduled through an appointment. These are conducted on Monday and Wednesday every week at 9:30 am. To book a tour, parents can call on 04-8820444. Admission will be confirmed only on submission of all the documents to the School and will be subject to Knowledge and Human Development Authority approval.

At the time of admission, the following documents are required:

• Filled admission documents
• 2 copies of the candidate’s birth certificate
• Residence Visa’s 2 copies that are valid for at least six months
• Parent’s Emirates ID
• Two copies of the student’s passport. You can also provide the mother’s passport copy if the candidate’s name is on her passport
• 4 passport-size photographs of the pupil
• The provided passport should have an expiration date of more than 6 months
• Students Emirates ID

If the parents are enrolling their children in the Foundation Stage or Year 1, they will have to provide a photocopy of the student’s vaccination record. The students of Year 2-Year 12 will have to provide the original mark sheet of the last 2 years along with original school leaving certificate or transfer certificate.

If the candidate’s school is any other emirate, the certificate should be attested by educational authority, while a candidate who is applying out of UAE must have transfer certificate attested by:

• UAE Embassy in the student’s country
• His country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Student’s previous country’s Ministry of education

If the candidate is from Australia, the US, UK, Canada or Europe — attestation is not necessary. Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) approves the admission of the candidate.

Step 1: Fill an online enquiry form.

Step 2: You will receive a confirmation email on the email you provided in the form. This will have an enquiry number. You will have to keep this number until the process is completed.

Step 3: You will have to pay a non-refundable application fee of AED 525.

Below mentioned documents are required to complete the registration process.

• English or Arabic copy of Child’s birth certificate
• 1 vaccination record copy (for Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2 applicants)
• Original Emirates ID Card of both child and sponsor
• A copy of Parent’s passport
• Student’s passport copy
• Students report card of last two years with any learning support document that appropriate to the pupil’s need (for Year
• onwards)
• Four white background passport-sized photos of the candidate
• One copy of both child’s and parent’s valid UAE residence visa page

Step 4: You will be invited for an interview or assessment test. Assessment tests are conducted for English and Mathematics for students of Year 3 and onwards.

Step 5: If the candidate has cleared the interview/test you will be informed

Step 6: An attested transfer certificate is required. Students coming from the UK, Canada, US, Australia don’t need to provide attested TC)

Parents will have to pay a non-refundable admission fee of AED 2500 after their child is offered a place at the school.

You are also required to share full details of individual education plans (IEPs), paediatric, educational psychologist or other specialist reports such as occupational therapy or speech and language) if completed.

One should share complete educational history with the school before a place is offered to the child so that the staff can properly assist the educational needs and plans. For more information, read the admission process at The Winchester School.

Parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria before starting the admission process.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st March (for schools beginning in April) and 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

The Winchester School fees are as follows:

• Mode of Payment: Credit Card, Cash, Cheque, Online Fee Payment
• Number of Terms: 3

The last date to pay a fee for term 1 is 10th September, while 10th January is the last date for the second term. Parents will have to pay the fee of 3rd term before 10th April. To find out more, view the fees structure at The Winchester School.

Each year one female candidate receives the Sheikha Fatima Award — a free of cost study program for girls. The scholarship is given to students who consistently perform well and exceed expectations.

Offering wholesome and nutritious meals for its students, The Winchester School has partnered with Slices, a home-grown food company. Slices provide fresh and healthy food to your children.

To brush off your worries of lunch payment — Slices features a cashless system. It provides every child with a Slices card that is used instead of cash to purchase their meals. Re-charging the card is convenient and easy. One can top up the balance online. The balance appears every time the child uses it.

To provide students with a comfortable and convenient commute to school — the school transportation in The Winchester School consists of a fleet of air-conditioned buses.

For transport, the school has outsourced these services to School Transport Services (STS) — a renowned school transport company that has been delivery safe commute services for more than 10 years. Each school van features the latest technology and high-quality equipment. All the bus drivers are thoroughly trained to ensure the safeguarding of students.

If you don’t find your neighbourhood on the standard service areas list, you can contact the school administration. The educational institution will help in making personal travel arrangements.

• School transportation fee for neighbourhoods including Discovery Gardens, The Gardens, Al Furjan is AED 4,100
• Students living in Jumeirah Lake Towers are charged AED 4,300
• Dubai Marina, Knowledge Village, Meadows, Springs, The Greens have transportation fee of AED 4,600
• Pupils residing in Al Barsha and Umm Suqeim pay AED 4,950
• Areas including Al Quoz, Al Safa, Ewan Residence, Green Community, Jumeirah Village Circle, Jumeirah Village Triangle have a transport fee of AED 5,250
• Transportation fee for Al Qusais, Arabian Ranches, Bur Dubai, Deira, International City, Karama, Mirdif, Motor City, Palm Jumeirah, Rashidiya, Satwa, Sports City, Oud Metha is AED 5,450
• Students living in Al Mira, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Falcon City, Layaan Community, Remraam, Sky Courts, Mudon will have to pay AED 6,400
• The school also provides transportation to a few areas of Sharjah for AED 6,700

Transport registration and other charges are paid to STS.

The Winchester School is not a boarding school. Therefore, it does not provide any boarding facilities.

Summer Holiday Camps in collaboration with East Sports Management are offered at the schools. These holiday camps are charged extra. The activities at camp include Football, Dodgeball, Basketball, Tennis, Music, Arts, Dance and Crafts. The timings of the camp are 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and is open for children aged 4-14 years old. Transportation is available to selected areas at an additional cost.

The Winchester School provides students with numerous sporting facilities. Encouraging pupils to lead an active and robust lifestyle — the educational institution supports students to be strong mentally as well as physically.

The learning centre offers the following sports facilities to students:

• Open-air spacious play areas
• There are numerous sports fields in the school where students can engage in exciting sports
• Indoor play areas for FS1 and FS2 students that are fully air-conditioned

Outdoor Sports facilities include:

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Football
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Gymnastics
• Volleyball
• Throw Ball
• Netball
• Cricket
• Table Tennis
• Karate

GEMS The Winchester School supports each pupil to discover their talents and potential. Diverse activities transform children into lifelong learners and foster their academic, social and sporting skills.

Following competitions are held in the school:

Extra-curricular activities receive significant importance at The Winchester School Jebel Ali Dubai. Pupils take part in these activities to enrich their capabilities. The discovery of inner potential is crucial. Individuals learn the importance of focus and the essence of teamwork. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular programs that underpins the overall growth of students, which are:

Islamic activities include:

The school organises different field trips throughout the year for students of different age groups to learn, explore and engage with nature and enliven their senses. Children from Foundation Stage 1 recently visited Umm Suqeim Park. Pupils observed nature — flowers, birds and butterflies and read stories and talked about the characters. Students also engaged in different games like ball games and duck duck goose.

Another trip that involved students of different age groups happened earlier this year. Pupils visited MotionGate theme park where they enjoy engrossing 4D movies and thrilling rides. The park incorporated four key sections — The Smurfs Village, Lions Gate, DreamWorks and the Columbia Pictures. These included famous movie characters like Kung Fu Panda, Smurfs and Shrek. The trip was amazing as students went beyond their academic syllabus and learned other skills teamwork and socialising.

The school does not have any after school care; however, there are a number of after school activities that students can avail at the school. The responsibility of transportation to these clubs will fall on the parents.

With two permanent doctors and four nurses — The Winchester School is home to two well-equipped infirmaries. Ill or injured students receive quick treatment by highly qualified medical practitioners. Moreover, each pupil gets regular medical check-ups and dental check-ups to keep their health in check.

The Winchester School understands how crucial the role of parents is in the development of a student. Offering an array of parent programmes, the academy emphasises on the relation between school and parents. Guardians are given continuous reports on their child’s progress and advice on how they can help their child improve.

As the year commences, parents’ orientation evenings are held to make them aware of the teaching methods the school uses. A parent representative group is also there. Parents can make an appointment any time to discuss the progress of your child with the relevant teachers or staff member.

To further strengthen communication, the school offers parents a state-of-the-art app that provides daily ideas to indulge in your child’s education. It involves three key areas:

• Something to talk about
• Activities to share
• Guidance to encourage children

A weekly newsletter called ‘The Winch’ is sent through email to all families. Foundation to Year 9 families also receive monthly newsletters- Family Learning Newsletters (FLN). These newsletters provide parents with information on how they can extend their child’s learning at home. An event update is available on the Year group / Department blogs.

The school website is another commonly used communication channel with a learning portal called My Learning. A student planner is also used as a way to communicate with parents on a daily basis. Additionally, GEMS parent Portal is also a vital source of communication between parents and school. Here parents can gain all the important information about their child’s progress in just a few clicks.

• Telephone: +971-4-882-0444
• Email: principal_win@gemsedu.com
• Website The Winchester School
• Facebook The Winchester School
• Twitter The Winchester School

Note that the cover image belongs to The Winchester School.