Dubai Cares is a UAE-based global philanthropic organization that aims at providing equitable access to quality education and learning opportunities for children and youth around the world. Although the whole Emirati community supports the organization by doing their bit, Repton School Dubai has been turning heads in their endeavour to help Dubai Care. The school raised over Aed 280,000 to fund the building of two schools in Senegal. This record-breaking collection amplifies Repton School Dubai’s mission of shaping courageous and curious ‘Agents of Change’ with a passion for excellence. Found in 2007 by Mr. Khaled Al Mheiri, Repton Dubai’s philosophy follows the same core values of its counterpart in the UK; developing the whole child, through academic, creative and sports learning. Mr. Khaled, presently the Chair of Repton Dubai, brings the same passion and vigour from Repton UK to the UAE schooling system, creating one of the leading international British boarding schools in the Gulf region.
Deftly Weaving Tech with Ed
Repton School Dubai, with 1.3 million sq. ft. space boasts of the largest school campus in the region. The school provides world-class academic and sporting facilities that include 3 swimming pools, 3 gymnasiums, 3 tennis courts, full-size rugby, cricket, and football pitches, 10 ICT labs, 6 Science labs, 3 art rooms, as well as a two-story library. Every classroom is equipped with interactive whiteboards and 3D Printing is used in Design Technology. All Junior School students have access to iPads and with a completely refurbished Mac suite, not only are the students provided with an avenue to use cutting edge technology, but it also paves the way for Repton Dubai to become an Apple Distinguished School. “Our pupils’ lives are beginning to transform by AI (Artificial Intelligence) and AR (Augmented Reality), and these changes are being seen in school today. For instance, Repton’s world-class design engineering department fully utilizes the creative opportunity of 3D printing, and our language departments are being transformed through AI software,” says David Cook, Headmaster, Repton School Dubai.
Repton offers scholarships in academics, Music, and Sports. Repton believes that a stimulated mind is a strong armament to possess when dealing with different circumstances, which is why the school does not limit learning to the confines of the classroom. The school’s Outdoor Education program is also world-class and is designed to build confidence and character, resilience, and grit. For instance, the Reptonians have experienced once- a-lifetime opportunities via expeditions to the French Alps, fieldwork in Geography and Biology in Thailand. In addition to the facilities, Repton provides more than 100 free-of-charge extra-curricular activities that are designed to build confidence, character, resilience, and grit. “Our outstanding PE and coaching staff are specialized in their sport, often with experience representing their country on the national or international level. In a recent visit to Repton Dubai, the cricket coach for team USA shared and imparted invaluable knowledge to the Repton cricket team. Reptonians have also participated in the Rugby 7s as official ball boys and girls of the biggest sports tournament in the region,” explains the Headmaster.
World’s Citizens Under a Roof
At present Repton houses two boarding houses (one each for boys and girls), becoming the first school in the UAE to offer boarding facilities to its students for both boys and girls from Year 7 onwards. Each house offers flexible boarding options, such as weekly or full-term boarding and. Each room is equipped with en-suite bathrooms, personal study space, and high-speed Internet. Students from Year 10 – 11 share a room while IB students have their own room. Each boarding house has a highly experienced housemaster or housemistress, and a resident house tutor; supported by a residential matron, ancillary support staff and a fully equipped medical centre, staffed by the UK-qualified onsite doctor and a team of nurses. “The students and faculty in the boarding houses are also exposed to a diverse and excited after school and weekend activities which range from desert camping, sailing, horse riding, go-karting and paintballing to name a few. We are happy to say that we house students from more than 80 nationalities. We also provide our students with student visas,” adds the Headmaster.
Following an academic program based on the British National Curriculum from Early Years to Year 11, Repton Dubai offers students a broad choice of international GCSE subjects to choose from and are accredited by the Cambridge and London University Boards. Upon completion of Year 11, students have the opportunity to study for the International Baccalaureate qualifications following either the Diploma program or more vocational Careers program. Advanced career counselling or advice is available to IGCSE students regarding destination universities, as well as ‘Booster Sessions’ for students who require additional support.
“We provide our students with diverse curricula, which are internationally recognized, broadening their scope of opportunities with world-renowned universities. Additionally, from Year 10 we support our students with career development seminars and offer them the use of an online platform called Unifrog, to research programs best suited for them. At the beginning of Year 11, each student is interviewed by the in-house University Adviser and Senior Leadership Team, who provide advice on the most applicable course of action students should undertake,” comments the Headmaster. Repton Dubai recruits the majority of teachers from the UK and works hard to provide ongoing support and further training. The school’s trained teaching staff consists of 160 teachers and 59 teaching assistants, resulting in a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:10 – one of the lowest in the city. Parents can be safe in the knowledge that Repton teachers role model the most positive learning behaviours, including life-long learners.
A testament to the efficaciousness of the school’s pedagogy is that the school’s 2019 graduating class had an overall 100% pass rate, across both IBDP and IBCP. 75% of graduates received unconditional offers from universities, out of which 60% received offers from the Russell Group of Universities (top 24 leading universities in the UK). Besides, 98% of all junior school students exceeded global test results: 98% in English, 93% in Mathematics, and 97% in Science. Repton’s IBCP 2019 graduates consisted of 11 students with a 100% pass rate, surpassing the global average pass rate of 75%. 10 out of the 11 IBCP students went to universities such as the University of Liverpool, the University of Sussex, and the University of Kent. An exclusive partner of the Dubai World Art Exhibition since 2014, Repton Dubai has seen an outstanding track record in F1 for Design and Technology 4×4.
Last year, ReptonDubai collaborated with Manzil, one of the renowned nonprofit centres focusing on the social inclusion of people of determination. Through the collaboration, Reptonians created an art project on the theme of sustainability, which was showcased at the Dubai World Art and Dubai International Financial Center Art Nights Exhibitions. Moving forward, the school is excited at the completion of The Performing Arts Centre (PAC) in July 2020. The centre will provide a world-class musical and performance space, combined with state-of-the-art studios, practice rooms, and larger function rooms. PAC is believed to take Repton to the next level in the arts, in public speaking and debating and as a venue for conferences.
Meanwhile, Repton School Dubai is constantly endeavouring to produce well-mannered and responsible students that strive to be courageous adults with a curious mind and a passion to create the extraordinary.
David Cook took up the reigns in 2017 to build on the school’s past successes and maintain its standing as an ‘Outstanding’ rated institution. Working closely with 160 teachers and a dedicated group of support staff, Repton is determined to pursue excellence in every area of school life, whether in the classroom or on the sports pitch, enabling each of the 1800 pupils to fulfil their potential.