Parent's Review of Horizon School in Dubai, UAE

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

Horizon School

In what town or city is this school located?

Dubai

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

British Primary

What grade levels are represented at this school?

up to grade 6

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

parents drop them off, some get there by bus (contracted it seems by the school)

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Facilities are fine. They have a good play area, a big field etc. The swimming pool is out in the open – which makes it freezing cold in the winter (even though its heated), and your child is pretty much sun-prone in the summer. The football field is very nice.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

Not much really. Horizon is pretty much a by-the-book school and that book is written by the Head Teacher Ms Sinclair – who seems to be very focused on micromanaging the entire school. If your child comes from the UK, it's pretty much similar, except Horizon's standards are lower than equivalent grades in the UK. Coming from other countries, I haven't heard much complaining, but please don't look for extra support.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

You're kidding, right? Parents are treated like second class citizens by the school management. The Head Teacher and her team of 'rulers' have no clue that even though they are a school, they are accountable to parents, and that parents are paying customers. Gosh they need to go for a course or two. I'd hate my child learning social manners from that lot. Oh yes, there are coffee mornings – but these are meetings by moms to discuss how best they can raise even more money for the school.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

Don't! The teachers (not all, but quite a few) are rude and they they are basically ruled over by the Head and the others in top positions. Gosh, that's a rude lot. I you want a good school, try DESS, JESS or Jebel Ali. The American Scools are better as well. It was a huge mistake we made putting our child in when we arrived from the UK. What a poor waste of the formative years.

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