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Uptown International School
Programs and prices, tuition fees in Uptown International School
IB Primary Program
- Age — from 3 to 11 years old,
- The duration of the study is nine years.
In the primary grades, children from 3 to 12 years of age develop academic and personal skills that contribute to the further transition to the secondary school department.
The International Baccalaureate curriculum supports children in their curiosity, desire to explore the world around them and learn about it in their own ways. Classes are held in classrooms and outdoor areas, using different materials and approaches, in groups and alone with the teacher. The program highlights six important areas of child development:
- Who are we?
- Where are we in place and time?
- How does the world work?
- How do we organize ourselves?
- How do we express ourselves?
- Sharing the planet.
Six subject areas provide an interdisciplinary approach that will show pupils the connection between subjects and the wholeness of the world:
- Tongue
- Social Studies,
- Personal, social and physical education,
- Mathematics
- Science & Technology,
- Art.
Benefits of the IB Primary Years Programme:
- Caring for the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students,
- Encouraging students to develop independence and take responsibility for their own learning,
- Help in getting an idea of the world and a comfortable life in it,
- Helping to set personal values as the basis on which international thinking develops and flourishes.
The PYP programme focuses on the development of the whole child as a researcher, providing an excellent academic foundation for further education.
IB Middle Stage, International Baccalaureate Middle School Programme
- Age — from 11 to 15 years old,
- The duration of the study is five years.
After completing the Primary Years Programme, students enter secondary school, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), which prepares them for the IB Diploma. The MYP programme is offered from Grades 6 to 10.
The curriculum aims to help students develop their personal understanding, emerging self-esteem, and responsibility to society. Educators organize the educational process by paying due attention to the contexts of the individual and global issues, conceptual understanding in problem solving, self-directed learning of students, and service to the community. An important aspect of secondary education is also the study of at least two languages: English and Arabic/French.
The MYP helps to:
- Build confidence in managing your own learning,
- Learning by doing, applying knowledge in real life,
- Outperform non-IB students in critical academic skills,
- Consistently achieve great success in exams and tests,
- Excel in extracurricular activities and the realization of one's own potential,
- Develop an understanding of global issues and a willingness to act as responsible citizens.
IB Diploma Programme
- Age — from 16 to 18 years old,
- The duration of the training is two years.
The IBDP Diploma Programme is a two-year course of study with final examinations that prepares students for admission to top universities around the world. Leading higher education institutions around the world recognize and respect the outstanding and diverse qualities of IB Diploma students.
The curriculum of the program consists of six subject groups and three compulsory courses. From each group of subjects, the student will have to choose a discipline, a total of 6 directions:
- Research in the field of language and literature,
- Learning a second language,
- Individuals and Societies,
- Science
- Mathematics
- Art.
In addition to them, students take courses aimed at the personal development of the student:
- Extended essay is an individual work with the study of a topic of interest to the student, which should be related to one of the selected subjects,
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a course that reveals critical thinking, the nature of cognition, and the understanding of the knowledge we receive.
- Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) is a series of activities that allow students to show their talents and strengths in creativity, sports, and giving back to society.
At the end of the program, each student must score at least 24 points, with additional courses contributing three points to the total number of subject grades. The highest number of points that can be scored is 45.
Final exams are taken in selected subjects and assessed by external International Baccalaureate (IB) examiners.
Nursery Program
- Age – from 6 months to 2 years,
- The duration of the training is one to three years.
The curriculum of preschool education is built on the main stages of child development, with the help of kindergarten attendance, children will prepare for entering primary school.
The playful approach used in daily classes includes the daily experience of speaking and listening, sensory activities, role-playing, development of fine and gross motor skills, numeracy. Lessons are held not only in classrooms, but also in open areas, for example, in the Forest School: a specially built playground allows children to explore the world around them, conduct experiments, get acquainted with different materials and gain valuable knowledge, which will definitely come in handy in their lives.
Teachers take care of their pupils not only during school hours, but also in their free time, offering a variety of themed activities, modeling and drawing circles, additional language and numeracy lessons. At the end of kindergarten, students will be ready to enter the first grade with basic academic knowledge and important life skills: self-care, respect for people, and the ability to work in a team.
Description of Uptown International School
- Location: Dubai, UAE,
- Founded: 2005,
- Number of students: about 1400,
- Language of instruction: English,
- Type of study: blended.
Uptown International School is an international educational institution offering three International Baccalaureate (IB) programs catering to elementary, middle, and high school students.
Established in 2005, the school stands out due to its fully accredited programs, a team of experienced and highly qualified educators, modern campus facilities, an extensive array of extracurricular activities, and ample opportunities for students to showcase their talents. The school's approach to nurturing young professionals emphasizes individual attention for each student, as well as support tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. It is committed to guiding and contributing to each child's academic and personal development.
The student body at Uptown International School represents a diverse range of countries, with a total enrollment of approximately 1400 students. This multicultural environment fosters a sense of community among students, broadens their horizons, exposes them to various foreign languages, and allows them to interact with peers from different cultural backgrounds. Uptown International School prides itself on maintaining a caring, respectful, and friendly atmosphere where each student is recognized as an individual.
Educational process
International students are offered academic support in the form of language classes with a native teacher. The lessons are aimed at developing the skills of speaking, reading and writing, listening comprehension and vocabulary: they will help students to adapt faster in the English-speaking environment and more effectively assimilate the information provided in the subject classes.
Faculties and colleges
Uptown International School has three academic departments for elementary, middle, and high school education, offering an early childhood development program, teaching preschool children in kindergarten.
Accommodation, meals, prices
On-campus accommodation is not provided.
The canteen offers a healthy, balanced menu. Meals are supplied by Leela's Lanches, a certified catering organization. The products used in the portions are always tested for freshness and certification, meat, fish and dairy products are brought from trusted suppliers who have been cooperating with the organization for many years. The menu of lunches and snacks is varied and offers children not only hot and cold dishes, but also alternative meals without allergens, dairy products, gluten. If your child doesn't like lunch at school, they can bring packed lunches from home.
Parents of students can draw up a monthly meal plan, according to which each day the child will receive a certain number of meals agreed in advance. This list includes morning snacks, afternoon snacks, soups, pastas, and other portions.
Uptown International School is a pork-free school.
Activities Uptown International School
The biggest event that all students look forward to is a live-in excursion. Trips provide a great opportunity for students to broaden their horizons outside of the school community, each carefully organized to ensure comfort, safety, and the best possible experience. Whether it's supporting learning, visiting local attractions, providing services to the local and global community, or participating in adventurous activities, each field trip will bring something new and exciting to students' lives!
Live-in camps are also organized throughout the year: they are available to students in grades 5-8 and are aimed at honing leadership skills, the ability to work in a team and make decisions.
Students participate in academic trips, such as Model UN and World Scholars, which take place both locally and internationally, preparing students for careers in international relations, politics, and debate. Language immersion trips allow students to apply communication skills in real-life situations and learn about the history and culture of the locals.
One of the opportunities that Uptown International School also provides is a winter trip to the ski slopes with the opportunity to try your hand at cross-country skiing, snowboarding, cheesecake and tobogganing.
An integral part of the Year 11 education is the CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) course, which is complemented by an annual trip in partnership with Moshi International School, Tanzania, where students work with camp directors to help those around them.
Since 2005, residents of the city's residential areas from preschool to grade 10 have been competing and showing their athletic ability while demonstrating a positive attitude towards physical activity. These inclusive activities are a great way for school coaches to identify students for swimming and track and field teams, an opportunity for students to discover their passion for sports and physical activity.
At the end of each year, the institution holds an award ceremony for students who have achieved success in sports activities. The awards are named as follows:
- The most advanced player in each team,
- The most valuable player of each team,
- The Spirit of Uptown International School,
- Outstanding contribution to sport,
- PYP/MYP Female Athlete of the Year Award,
- PYP/MYP Sportsman of the Year Award,
- Team of the Year.
Some of the sports participating in the competition are:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Netball
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Athletics.
Creative activities at Uptown International School are represented by dance, drama, and performing arts circles. The outstanding infrastructure of the campus allows students to realize their talent and ideas in specialized studios, classrooms and halls. Students can take part in many extracurricular activities such as choir, rock band, orchestra. In addition to the classroom, students' talents are showcased in a variety of concerts and competitions, such as the Interhouse Music Competition, Live Lounges, and Winter Concert. Performances at Uptown are commonplace: students in grades 6-12 are given the opportunity to participate in all school plays, concerts, Sunday morning music, performances, education modules, and much more. With over 150 weekly activities, the school truly has room for all interests and talents!
In addition to subject skills, central to the program are in-demand leadership, collaboration, resilience, and perseverance skills that help prepare students for life outside of Uptown International School. Important aspects of personality development are covered in the activities of thematic clubs in the following areas:
- Youth Model UN,
- Lego: Robotics & Programming,
- French – DELF,
- Fine Arts,
- Gymnastics
- Arabic
- Literary Club.
Advantages
- Uptown International School has received a rating of "Very Good" from DSIB,
- Opportunity to learn three languages: English, Arabic and French,
- A wide range of extracurricular activities, including live-in excursions,
- Full accreditation of programs by representatives of the International Baccalaureate (IB), the Council of International Schools.
Facilities and equipment at Uptown International School
The campus infrastructure is designed to provide students with the best possible environment to support their learning and development, with zoned areas for preschoolers, primary and secondary schools.
Uptown International School's state-of-the-art facilities include:
- Seven scientific laboratories with the necessary materials for research and experiments,
- Libraries for primary, middle school with reading rooms, areas for self-study and work on projects,
- Computer classes with PC and iPad, wired Internet connection,
- Full-size gym with spring-loaded floor,
- Indoor 25-metre swimming pool with eight lanes,
- Gym with swimming pool for the youngest children,
- Two standard-sized football pitches,
- Indoor basketball courts,
- Outdoor tennis courts,
- Track and field courts for long jump and javelin throwing,
- A 120-meter running track,
- School Dining Room.
Various indoor and outdoor seating areas allow students to enjoy the weather, dine with friends, and relax between classes.
Admission dates and extra charges
The academic year consists of three trimesters and lasts from September to early July. At the end of each trimester, holidays are organized, and rest is also provided on national and international holidays.
Academic classes are held on weekdays, their schedule depends on the level of the class - high school students finish the school day later than the elementary department of the school. On some days, after classes, the staff organizes activities or excursions, activities of thematic clubs and communities.
An approximate list of additional costs:
- Application Fee,
- Registration fee,
- KHDA Fees,
- Deposit for booking a seat in the class,
- School uniforms,
- Lunches in the dining room,
- School Transportation,
- Some extracurricular activities,
- Extracurricular activities and academic support,
- Passing exams.
Enrolment process
- Filling out an online application and submitting documents,
- Payment of the application fee and registration fee,
- Receiving an invitation to campus or an online conference for interviews and entrance exams,
- After the assessment, the admissions committee will send an official letter with an offer to start studying,
- Making a deposit to book a seat in the class,
- Arrival on campus and start of studies.
Perspectives
High school students at Uptown International School have an excellent knowledge base, personality traits, and practical skills that allow them to gain admission to top universities around the world. In recent years, graduates have chosen higher institutions such as:
- Dartmouth College,
- George Washington University,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- University of California, Berkeley,
- University of Pennsylvania,
- University of Sydney,
- University of Calgary,
- York University,
- Cardiff University,
- Imperial College London,
- Kings College London.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
Parents of prospective students should provide the Admissions Committee with copies of the following documents:
- Personal documents of the child and parents: passport, birth certificate, visa or residence permit, Emirates ID card,
- Health insurance, vaccination certificate,
- School reports for the last two years,
- Passport-size photo,
- Any diagnostic evaluations by specialists, such as a psychologist or speech therapist.
All classes are conducted in English, so it is important for middle and high school students to have a level of knowledge of at least B1. If a student finds it difficult to learn a language, the school offers academic support in the form of additional classes.
Scholarships Uptown International School
Uptown International School rewards its students with scholarships based on success in studies, sports, creativity and research in Islamic culture and the Arabic language.
Families with two children already enrolled in Uptown International School are offered a 10% discount on tuition fees for the third and subsequent children.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about Uptown International School
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
