Repton Abu Dhabi recently hosted Digital Expo 2022, its Apple Distinguished School (ADS) Annual Digital Summit on March 21st and 22nd 2022. Under the themes Legacy of the UAE,Universe In Motion and World of Opportunities, students across the UAE completed a series of challenges that focused on the discipline of Sustainability.
In the first challenge, participating students were exposed to exciting future technology concepts such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and created their own creative designs to represent the legacy of the UAE supported by school staff.
Challenge two explored the 3D virtual worlds of the metaverse and the impact it will have on the future of education. Students were tasked with creating a virtual exhibition on traditional and innovative transportation.
Students sharpened their podcasting skills in the third challenge, learning about the processes involved from conception to execution. The creative future leaders designed their own podcast pilots surrounding the theme of Happiness.
Guest judges of the remote summit included Tala Badri, Founder & Executive Director at CMA Dubai; Philippa Wraithmell, Author The Digital Ecosystem; and Reema Al Abbas, Senior Manager at In5.
100 teachers and 70 students across UAE schools participated in the Apple Distinguished School’s annual Digital Summit
The 2021 edition of the Digital Summit showcased the purposeful use of EdTech, enhancing teaching skills and raising awareness on environmental issues
Repton Abu Dhabi, part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools in the UAE, recently hosted its annual Digital Summit, phased in two editions: The teacher summit and the student summit. The virtual event invited UAE teachers and students from Year 5 and Year 6 to creatively collaborate on environmental awareness initiatives and create an open dialogue for strategies to implement the purposeful use of technology within school curricula.
Themed ‘Rethinking Education’, the teacher summit explored the innovations and technologies in the education sector, showcasing seven informative webinars presented by Apple Distinguished teachers from Repton Abu Dhabi as well as Professional Learning Specialists from other UAE schools.
Gillian Hammond, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi says, “As educators, we must continuously create relevant and innovative teaching methodologies to create exciting learning experiences for our students, and technology enables us to enhance these experiences. At Repton Abu Dhabi, technology is a crucial part of our core curriculum and we are delighted to share our research and best practice solutions with the wider UAE school community.”
The first webinar, Creativity Through Technology, focused on developing EYFS learners’ creative thought processes by exploring the applications of tools such as camera devices, markup tools, Sketches School, and QuiverVision, designed to implement the use of augmented reality (AR) in the classroom to sharpen students’ critical thinking through drawing, videography, photography, and music.
The Using Greenscreen in Nursery session showcased the introduction of applications such as iMovie features to enhance EYFS students’ retention levels by creatively incorporating visual cues, and using the greenscreen and layering features to spark interest in young minds. The session also highlighted tips and tricks for teachers to create easy DIY green screens during remote learning sessions.
Digitalisation: The Impact on the Literacy Learning Journey emphasized the need for key drivers such as student engagement and formative assessments for positive learning outcomes, and how technology allows teachers to adopt a ‘flipped classroom’ approach. This methodology strengthens pupil’s understanding and cognitive thinking through peer interaction, facilitated by class teachers. Teachers can use interactive internet-based educational applications, including Showbie and Nearpod, to effectively customise their teaching to each pupil’s individual needs, thereby offering an enhanced and personalised curriculum that is ideal for EAL, SEN learners.
Teachers from the participating UAE schools gained valuable insights from the Structuring Digital CPD session, which discussed the internal and external barriers preventing the successful integration of EdTech. The intuitive webinar also showcased the findings of Repton Abu Dhabi’s teacher-case study, providing efficient digital CPD strategies that schools and teachers can easily implement within the curriculum. These include adoption of practical and department-specific training, low-stakes peer observations for teachers, creating a network of digital leaders or distributed leadership teams to support teaching staff in understanding new EdTech tools, and embedding useful collaboration in departmental meetings to discuss the performance of implemented technology and innovations in EdTech.
Creative use of Music Technology in Teaching showcased musicas an effective teaching tool and its various cross-curricula benefits. Students can use online applications such as iMovie, Clips, and Garage Band, which provide a better understanding of STEAM subjects.
In the Creating Digital Resources session, teachers were given a detailed tutorial to easily create their online resources, such as online textbooks using the Pages application on Apple iPads, enabling them to customise their teaching.
Lastly, the Making a Difference with Technology webinar highlighted simple yet ingenious techniques teachers can implement in their coursework to enhance students’ learning experiences by designing targeted classroom interventions. The integrated approach addresses classroom challenges either in subject areas or student behaviours, using EdTech applications and classroom-specific management strategies such as conducting mini-quizzes and designing observation checklists on iPads to record certain student behaviours and skills
In addition to the teacher summit, a dedicated pupil summit was held to challenge young minds to use the coding applications to design and present concept computer games based on one of the following topics: Ocean Pollution, Litter on our beaches, and Air Pollution. The interactive session encapsulated students’ creative and collaborative skills to produce fun and exciting concept games and 3-minute video presentations, outlining how their game raised awareness for their chosen environmental issue. All students received a certificate of participation for their creative collaboration with the top three entries winning vouchers and the top prize of a games design workshop hosted by our head judge Ali Hassan, Lead Game Developer and Chief Technology Officer at Hybrid Human Games Studio.
“This year our Digital Summit used an innovative platform to successfully engage with EdTech best practices and the positive impact it has on young minds. At Repton Abu Dhabi, we strive to invoke innovative forward-thinking amongst our teachers and students, and aim to continue sharing our insights and findings with the UAE education community to further drive the use of EdTech with the classroom,” concludes Alexander Kelly, an Apple Distinguished teacher and Digital Lead at Repton Abu Dhabi’s Fry campus.
Paying homage to 15 years of educational excellence, and first prestigious UK school to establish a ‘sister school’ in the dynamic UAE Education landscape
Offering Arabic language to UK Reptonians stems from the strong partnership with the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE and its prestigious sister school
Repton’s Heritage Exhibition is showcasing first edition books from world-renowned author and Old Reptonian, Roald Dahl
The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE is celebrating Repton School Dubai’s 15th anniversary with the launch of an exclusive Repton Heritage Exhibition at the Nad Al Sheba campus. Launched today on 9 February 2022, the exhibition will travel across campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the coming months, showcasing the enriched heritage and foundations of Repton dating back to its inception in 1557 in the United Kingdom.
The bespoke heritage exhibition displays a dedicated wall to world-renowned children’s author and Old Reptonian, Roald Dahl. This will include a first edition copy of the ‘Magic Finger’, a signed first edition of ‘The Twitts’, and an uncorrected proof copy of ‘Going Solo’. In addition, through the use of the latest technology of Augmented Reality, the famed author himself will make an enticing one-of-a-kind appearance, taking visitors on a captivating journey as he reads an excerpt from ‘The Twitts’.
The interactive experience will also showcase special artefacts and memorabilia such as the original framed rubbing taken from the school’s founder, Sir John Port and an original Graffiti Sanitorium Board featuring carvings made by students to pass the time in the sick bay, dating back to the 1890’s. Reptonians and history enthusiasts will have the opportunity to reminisce and learn about the enriched Repton historical culture; from hand drawn family- tree charts linking Sir John Port with HRH Queen Elizabeth II, to priceless Repton ledgers and the original Priory Seal explaining the inception of Repton UK.
David Cook, Headmaster of Repton Dubai and Chief Education Officer for the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE says: “It has been an honour to provide the UAE community with academic excellence at Repton Dubai. Repton UK was the very first institution in the country to establish a sister school within the dynamic UAE education landscape. The Repton community has grown immensely with talented students and teachers gracing the Repton Family of Schools over the past 15 years. It has been a tremendous journey for the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE so far; we will strive to achieve new heights and look forward to growing our community even further. To celebrate our anniversary, we wanted to commemorate the occasion with a captivating exhibition that showcases the Repton values, heritage and traditions. I would like to share my heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers, students, parents and staff in helping us build a strong and lasting community in the region.”
Mark Semmence, Headmaster of Repton UK says, “I would like to congratulate the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE on achieving this important milestone and continuously striving to enhance student learning outcomes. As a sister school, Repton UK is proud of our counterparts, as we collectively endeavour to create and develop innovative learning opportunities for Reptonians globally, building a stronger and deep-rooted understanding of the cultures of the world.”
Repton School Dubai, as part of its vision to explore, understand and embrace different cultures across the world through academic excellence, will begin developing plans to offer Arabic as an online language subject to Repton UK students from the 2022-2023 academic year. Repton students in the UK and the Middle East will benefit from a fluid exchange of values, cultures and knowledge. Repton UK offers Latin as an online language course to all Reptonians in the UAE from Year 10 onwards, aligning with the collective vision to embrace and appreciate the cultural values of the world.
Khaled AlMheiri, Chairman of the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE and Founder & CEO of Evolvence Group says, “In 2005 we had a vision to bring the esteemed Repton community to the UAE. Today we are proud to be an outstanding-rated school and celebrate 15 years of providing exceptional education to 83 nationalities.”
ADS|X will create a holistic on-campus unique and exciting opportunity for staff, students, parents and visitors to experience innovative learning with Apple technology.
Repton Al Barsha, part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools in the UAE has today launched the Apple Distinguished School Experience Centre (ADS|X) on campus. Centered on the themes of environmental awareness, sustainability and nature, the ADS|X will focus on three interactive learning journeys: ‘Celebrating Differences’, ‘Our Home and Beyond’ and ‘Finding Solutions in Nature.’ Beginning from 31st October 2021, the innovative experience center will be available for use and exploration by parents, visitors and students across Junior and Senior Schools.
ADS|X will combine world-class learning experiences with a biophillic design aesthetic to create a flexible learning space that gives parents and visitors the opportunity to gain insights into their child’s learning experience on campus. It will also create a collaborative workspace for students, enabling them to be creative and experience a personalised learning journey.
An eco-friendly display will introduce visitors to thought-provoking ideas and knowledgeable insights through each theme. They will be able to explore new information, connect ideas and deepen their understanding of how they can utilise Apple technology to gain deeper insights into the world around them.
Zoe Woolley, Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha said, “As an Apple Distinguished School, we are proud to establish the Apple Distinguished School Experience Center. Digital literacy is an integral component of a student’s educational experience and provides them with an interactive medium to reach new heights of potential. We aim to enhance their critical thinking, diversify their environment and help them develop skills of the future. The combination of talented educators and innovative technology has the opportunity to create an empowering classroom experience for students and teachers alike, and we are thrilled to showcase this to our parents and wider school community.”
The stimulating learning journeys will follow three key stages focused on nature, sustainability and environmental awareness, with underlying themes, which explore diversity and inclusion. Through ‘Celebrating Difference’ in key stage one, Reptonians and parents will celebrate the life and work of illustrator and storyteller, Eric Carle exploring the life-cycle of the butterfly through an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experience. The engaging journey celebrates diversity through Apple’s ‘Everyone Can Create’ curriculum allowing learners to explore the beauty of difference culminating in their creation of an animated collage to share with the world.
The ‘Our Home and Beyond’ learning experience aimed at key stage two, inspires future astronauts aspiring to be the next Hazza Al Mansouri, teaching them about the intricacies of space exploration and the vulnerability of our home, planet Earth through a unique AR experience comprising of scale models of planets on iPad. With Swift Playgrounds, learners will be able to program their own version of the Ingenuity – the Mars drone by NASA sent to scout Mars’ landscape nurturing essential skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Then, using the ‘Clips’ app, learners can create a mobile video report documenting the success of their mission.
Inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), the final key stage will focus on ‘Finding Solutions in Nature’, highlighting the practice of biomimicry and looking towards nature for inspiration to solve problems in sustainable ways. Reptonians and their parents will use iPad, powerful microscopes and informative presentations to create an interactive journal to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges through collaboration and solution generation.
The Apple Distinguished School Experience Center’s flexible and innovative design will also accommodate space for school presentations and special Apple Distinguished School events. Furthermore, ADS|X will enable the Al Barsha campus to creatively showcase the school’s success to parents and visitors, reflecting the digital literacy values of Repton Al Barsha as an Apple Distinguished School.
Both schools have renewed their recognition due to impressive technological initiatives and programmes embedded within the curriculum
Repton Al Barsha (formerly Foremarke School Dubai) and Repton Abu Dhabi, both part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools in the UAE, are pleased to announce their reaccreditation as Apple Distinguished Schools for 2021 – 2024. This is the second and third time, respectively, that both schools have received this recognition, as a result of the unique implementation of Apple technology in the classrooms, coupled with the schools’ continuous innovation in learning, teaching and the overall school environment.
Apple Distinguished Schools are centres of innovation, leadership and educational excellence, and use Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal.
At Repton Al Barsha, technology is at the forefront of learning from Early Years Foundation Stage, to aid student development and drive innovation both in and beyond the classroom. Its approach is guided by its vision of‘Learning by Connecting’; supported digital learning that goes beyond the textbook.
The school hosts a number of unique initiatives to integrate technology in students’ approach to learning – including the annual ‘Creativity Festival’, whereby schools across the UAE join together, developing creative responses anchored in Art, Music and Digital Presentation to solve different real-world challenges. Teachers have successfully completed the Apple Teacher learning programme – a self-paced professional development course that fosters the skills necessary to use technology purposefully and creatively – while every teacher and assistant has received training to use in-built accessibility features as well as Apple Classroom, to personalise learning for each child.
Zoe Woolley, Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha noted, “We are proud to once again receive the recognition as an Apple Distinguished School in the UAE, as we continue to place digital literacy at the core of our curriculum. The re-appointment of Repton Al Barsha as an Apple Distinguished School highlights our success and ongoing commitment to creating a compelling learning environment, where teachers are fully equipped to help develop our students into innovative leaders of the future, in a world driven by technology.”
Repton Abu Dhabi on Reem Island in the UAE capital ensures that technology is embedded into the curriculum from Early Years all the way up to Year 13. Students are equipped with their own iPad, Coding is a timetabled subject, and children are also exposed to resources such as interactive Spheros, Beebots and drones, as well as enjoy access to robotics challenges. The school has a dedicated Student Digital Team; with Apple Teacher trained staff to ensure that technology is implemented in a safe and controlled manner. Its pioneering ‘Annual Digital Summit’ event sees hundreds of students and teachers across the UAE collaborate each year, dissecting important and topical issues, and developing strategies centred on the purposeful use of technology within the school curricula.
Gillian Hammond, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, said: “At Repton Abu Dhabi, technology is at the heart of what we do. We’ve been recognised as an Apple Distinguished School since 2016, and receiving this status once again is a true honour for our teachers, students, parents and the entire school community. Our students are continuously encouraged to solve problems in new ways, particularly through STEAM subjects. Our team works hard to integrate problem-solving strategies through the use of Coding and technology in lessons and activities, in an effort to encourage computational thinking and impart 21st century skills onto our aspriring future innovators, entrepreneurs and career go-getters.”
For further information on the schools’ continued Apple designation please visit:
Carfax Education launches second annual global private schools index in partnership with Spear’s Magazine
The Spear’s Schools Index launches its second annual index for 2021
15th September 2021;Oxford, UK: Carfax Education, the leading global education group, today announced the launch of the second annual Spear’s Schools Index, the only official international ranking of top private schools. In partnership with Spear’s, the award-winning magazine for high-net-worth individuals, Carfax Education has released its second global index, which lists the 100 very best private schools around the globe.
Categorised by region, prospective parents and pupils can now access a list of the top 100 schools for 20201, across the UK, Switzerland, Europe, USA, Middle East, China, Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, chosen by expert education consultants at Carfax Education and Spear’s.
As well as formal criteria such as academic results and preparation for university entry, schools are ranked on their unique ethos, their reputation both locally and internationally, and how adequately they prepare students for life beyond academia. The guide provides a comprehensive overview of curriculum and fees as well as practical information such as travel times to local airports.
Top schools listed for 2021 providing exceptional education for students include well-renowned British schools such as Rugby School and Wellington College, as well as those further afield, such as St George’s College in Argentina and The Scots College in Australia. New entries for this year include Brighton College, Amadeus School, Vienna and YK Pao School, China. Collated by Carfax Education experts on the ground across the world, the index is the most comprehensive global list available.
Fiona McKenzie, Head of Education, Carfax Education, said: “The Spear’s Schools Index lists schools that are either worth moving countries for, sending children far away for, or aiming to get into if living nearby.
“Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family will make for their child and that’s why we wanted to share our knowledge in an index that provides a trusted perspective on the very best schools around the world. The impact of a child’s educational experience goes far beyond academia alone, and for that reason we looked at each school’s unique ethos and how they prepare students for the future, when determining schools that made the cut.
“Carfax Education works with parents across the world to place their children in the very best schools and universities. With an unrivalled network of education specialists across the world, we are expertly placed to provide the knowledge and insight to select the top 100 private schools in the world.
“We know that finding the right school can be a daunting experience and our work is rooted in guiding parents through the complexities of the education landscape and demystifying the process, and this comprehensive list is a great start to assisting families through what can be a confusing time.”
Edwin Smith, Editor, Spear’s Magazine, said:“Last year, when we began work on the first Spear’s Schools Index in partnership with Carfax Education, we had no idea of the success it would become.
“The second edition of the index arrives at an interesting moment, with the impact of the pandemic still reverberating through the education sector. The way schools responded to the crisis has been taken into consideration in this year’s index as we wait to see how the longer-term consequences will impact education as we move into the next academic year and beyond.”
Lists in this year’s Spear’s Schools Index include:
Carfax Education is a leading global education group combining the best of tradition and innovation in education. We work with families to access an exceptional education for their children, from nursery through to university. Carfax Education group offers specialist support through Carfax Consultants, Carfax Tutors, and Carfax College and Carfax Online. Carfax Education has offices in London, Oxford, Monaco, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Moscow, Singapore and Hong Kong. For more information visit www.carfax-education.com.
Spear’s
Spear’s is the multi-award-winning magazine and media brand for high-net-worth individuals (HNWs). Spear’s publishes indices of the leading advisers and service-providers to HNWs, covering wealth managers, private bankers, property advisers, reputation managers, divorce lawyers and many other specialist expert advisers. Spear’s indices and rankings are published at spears500.com; Spear’s editorial content is published at spearswms.com.
The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE has reached yet another milestone, announcing the transition of Foremarke School Dubai to Repton Al Barsha. A natural next step, the move follows the re-branding of its esteemed sister school in the United Kingdom, Foremarke Hall to Repton Prep School. This inspiring continuity of the Repton portfolio takes the prestigious brand up to three operating schools in the region, Repton Dubai, Repton Abu Dhabi and now Repton Al Barsha, each built on the firm foundations of academics, wellbeing, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.
The school will begin physical upgrades to its Al Barsha campus in 2021, with full re-branding and implementation set for completion at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. This allows existing parents to benefit from a lengthy transition period, to ensure both parents and students are acclimated with comfort and ease.
Zoe Woolley, Headmistress Repton Al Barsha, says: “Today is a proud day as we celebrate such a ground-breaking landmark in our short, yet robust tenure in the UAE. Over the years, our staff and teaching faculty have worked rigorously to inspire and cultivate quality learning that focuses on an innovative curriculum, ensuring outstanding results and student development. We are overwhelmingly excited to welcome parents and students on this new journey of Repton Al Barsha, and promise to continue providing the same level of outstanding education that safeguards students’ successful path to a fulfilling professional and personal career.”
David Cook, Chief Education Officer of the Repton Family of Schools and Headmaster of Repton School Dubai, says: “I would like to congratulate Repton Al Barsha for its pioneering transformation. While the school has always been part of the Repton Family of Schools, it is a proud moment for us to officially welcome another Repton-branded school in the UAE. We want to show gratitude towards our parents and students for their continued support and want them to rest assured that Repton Al Barsha will continue to provide the same level of exceptional education to which they are accustomed.”
Since opening its doors to students in 2013, Repton Al Barsha has delivered state-of-the-art education as a leading British preparatory school in Dubai. In November 2019 it announced its expansion into Senior School years with Year 7 & Year 8 already successfully operating, additionally Year 9 to start in the 2021-22 academic year, followed by an organic year on year growth to provide the IGCSE curriculum up until Year 11 and A-levels for Year 12 and Year 13.
The Repton Family of schools in the UAE has long enjoyed academic success at the university level, sending students to highly acclaimed universities from across the world, such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Repton School Dubai similar to its prestigious sister school Repton UK has received high accolades during its tenure as well such as an Outstanding KHDA rating and establishing its IB Diploma Programme amongst the world’s elite education programmes; while retaining perfect IB and IGCSE scores in 2019 – 2020 academic year.
Repton Al Barsha’s academic vision combines curated curriculum enhancements to ensure students achieve higher academic progress year on year. A sophisticated combination of standard data are evaluated and already predict an ambitious yet achievable flight path for each student, positioning them on the same academic trajectory as the Repton Family of Schools to achieve one of the top IGCSE results in the UAE. Students joining Repton Al Barsha will receive a comprehensive educational experience that focuses on the foundations of academics, sports, and wellbeing.
The re-branding further cements the Repton Family of Schools’ commitment to its parents and the UAE school community. Earlier this year it announced the introduction of the Repton Family Support Fund (RFS) to offer parents additional benefits and financial relief on tuition fees in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cook explains, “In recent times, the need to adapt and embrace change has become more prevalent than ever, and the Repton Family of Schools has been a stellar example in this regard. We have been humbled to be able to support parents and give back to the Repton community through the RFS Fund, which is an exemplary reflection of the collaborative efforts undertaken between Repton Dubai, Repton Abu Dhabi, and now Repton Al Barsha. We promise to continue supporting our Repton community and taking our schools to even new heights.
Furthermore, we are delighted to share additional positive news”
Repton Al Barsha reduces tuition fees from 2021-2022 academic year
Beginning at the start of the next academic year, parents of students from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 6 will benefit from school tuition fees up to 16% lower, while Senior School parents will benefit from financial support for the next three academic years: 15% off for existing parents and 10% off for new parents.
The fee reduction is possible thanks to the group’s hard work and prudent operational and financial efficiencies implemented at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the AED 8 million Repton Family Support Fund (RFSF) introduced earlier this year, which provided financial support and benefits to some families who had suffered financial hardship as a direct result of the pandemic.
Zoe Woolley, Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha says, “To be able to offer our parents a reduction in tuition fees is something we are immensely proud of. We understand many have faced financial challenges over the past few months, and we hope that this initiative, combined with our RFSF, can be a form of much-needed support to parents and our school community. I would like to thank all members of the Repton Family of Schools for their hard work and dedication, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, to ensure we can give back to the community and continue to achieve academic excellence.”
Repton Al Barsha has been delivering high quality education since 2013 and, in November 2019, announced its expansion into Senior School years, with Year 7 & Year 8 already successfully operating. Year 9 will commence in the 2021-22 academic year, followed by an organic year on year growth to provide the IGCSE curriculum up until Year 11 and A-levels for Year 12 and Year 13.
Repton Abu Dhabi’s first GCSE cohort attains fantastic results with 100% of students in Year 11 awarded 5 or more GCSE grades 9-4’s (A*-C) including English and Mathematics
44% of Repton Abu Dhabi’s exam entries attained the grade 9-8 (A*), with 64% attaining the grade 9-7’s (A*-A)
Repton Dubai students once again achieve academic excellence, with 39% of exam entries achieving the 9-8 grade (A*) and 58% securing the 9-7 grade (A*-A)
The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE has accomplished another year of academic excellence in the 2021 IGCSE examinations. This year, Repton Abu Dhabi presented its inaugural Year 11 GCSE cohort, with students achieving exemplary results along with its sister school, Repton Dubai, which also celebrated outstanding performances for the 12th consecutive year.
Despite the ongoing challenges brought about by Covid-19, this year’s IGCSE results have reflected Repton Abu Dhabi’s unwavering resilience, determination and passion to achieve academic excellence. As the first IGCSE cohort from Repton Abu Dhabi, students from the Fry Campus set the precedent, with 100% of students achieving 5 or more GCSE grades 9-4 (A*-C) while 44% were awarded the maximum grade 9/8’s (A*) and 64% of entries achieved the grade 9-7’s (A*-A), an exceptional academic benchmark for future cohorts to follow.
Repton Dubai showcased similar results with Reptonians taking the 2021 examinations, triumphing an averagegrade 7 (A grade) and exceeding the benchmark set by last year’s cohort. 39% were awarded grades 9-8 (A*) with 58% entries achieving 9-7(A*-A).
David Cook, Chief Education Officer of the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE and Headmaster at Repton Dubai says, “Academic Excellence is part of the Repton DNA and our students have consistently showcased phenomenal performances in the IGCSE examinations. This year’s results hold special value as we had two cohorts within the Repton community challenging themselves. I would like to thank all the teachers, parents and students from Repton Abu Dhabi and Repton Dubai for their hard work and dedication in attaining the distinguished merits. A special congratulations to Repton Abu Dhabi and its students on the exemplary performance they have achieved in their first GCSE examinations.”
The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE consists of dedicated and passionate teaching staff who have the expertise to enhance students’ academic and personal development, which begins from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Senior School, preparing students for their future endeavours. Every year, the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE offer the ‘Repton Headstart’ programme to further support the Year 11 cohort following their GCSE final examinations. The month-long programme was designed to prepare students for their academic road ahead, bridging the gap between IGCSE, IB or A-Levels and university life. It offers a range of courses, including ‘Finance for Teens’, ‘First Aid’, ‘EPQ Preparation’, ‘Study and Metacognition Skills’, ‘University and Career Guidance’ and introductory A-Level or IB sessions.
In recognition of their outstanding achievement, Repton Abu Dhabi has also offered its Year 11 top-performers academic scholarships at the Sixth Form for the next academic year. Marina Perez Martin and Omar Abu Drya have received academic scholarships for their remarkable performances, with Marina attaining grade 9/8’s (A*) and one grade 7(A) in all subjects and Omar securing grade 9/8’s (A*) in all subjects.
Gillian Hammond, Principal of Repton School Abu Dhabi says, “It is truly an outstanding feat by our students, who have coped exceptionally well and triumphed despite the underlying pressures of the pandemic. I am immensely proud of their achievements and would like to thank our impeccable teaching staff who went the extra mile to ensure our students were able to exceed expectations and attain these remarkable results. Thank you to all our parents, whose unwavering support has played an integral part in this outstanding accomplishment. My heartfelt congratulations go out to the students within the Repton community on this stellar achievement.”
Please find the Reptonian academic achievements below:
Repton School Abu Dhabi:
Omar Abu Drya achieved 9/8’s, (A*) grades in all subjects (English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Geography and Arabic). His outstanding performance has attained him an academic scholarship at the Sixth Form for the 2021 – 2022 academic year at Repton Abu Dhabi
Marina Perez Martin’s top-performance has secured her an academic scholarship at the Sixth Form for 2021 – 2022 academic year at Repton Abu Dhabi for accomplishing grade 9/8’s (A*) and one grade 7 (A) across all subjects (English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish and Geography)
Liyan Al Ramahi attained grade 9/8’s (A*) across all subjects (English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Art and Arabic)
Sami Youssef attained eight grade 9/8’s (A*) and one grade 7 (A) across all subjects (English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Geography and Arabic)
Repton School Dubai:
Pierre Touma attained grade 9’s (A*) in all subjects. This outstanding performance has secured a place on the IBDP course for Year 12
Jana El Zahhar attained grade 9’s (A*) in all subjects. This top performance has ensured Jana will continue into Year 12 studying the IBDP
Zeren Demerkilic attained grade 9’s (A*) in all subjects. This fantastic achievement means that Zeren will continue her studies on the IBDP course
As an inclusive school, we are delighted that all students of determination achieved 5 or more IGCSE’s at grade 9-4 (A* – C) that included English and Mathematics. This is testament to the outstanding level of support and education for all here at Repton Dubai
To learn more about Repton Pathways, please visit:
Repton Dubai is the only ‘Outstanding’ rated curriculum school to offer A Levels in addition to IBDP and IBCP curriculums
Repton School Dubai, part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools in the UAE, proudly announces the addition of an A Level programme as part of the school’s innovative curriculum. Post-16, existing and new students can now choose to specialize in AS and A Level courses, commencing in September 2021.
Repton Dubai is the only ‘Outstanding’ rated school in Dubai to now offer three post-16 courses of study: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) and now they are adding AS/ A Level qualifications. Repton Dubai recently received formal approval from the KHDA on their innovative A Level Plan and beginning from the 2021 – 2022 academic school term, will offer core subjects such as Maths, English, Economics , languages and one or two sciences at A level, as part of its diversified education curriculum. Additional subjects may also be included according to student preferences.
David Cook, Chief Education Officer of the Repton Family of Schools and Headmaster of Repton School Dubai says, “We are very pleased with this formal approval to diversify our education offering, enabling our pupils to explore several opportunities for post 16 study and once again, giving our students and their families, greater choice. The teaching staff have worked hard to gain this approval for the A Levels programme, and are already drawing up detailed plans for the start of each course in September. We at Repton Dubai are committed to offering academic excellence and supporting students’ future career endeavours.”
Repton Dubai is raising the innovation bar in curriculum pathways and in April 2020, the school launched its free five-week programme called The Repton Bridge Course. The virtual programme was designed to prepare Year 13 students for university life and included specialist seminars and group lectures on five focus areas – An Academic Focus, Student Wellbeing, The University of Life, Shared Experiences and Getting Real. The state-of-the-art programme also offers students the opportunity to attend university level subjects, in order to better prepare them for life. This year Repton Dubai looks forward to once again offering this challenging and engaging course to our Year 13 students.
The ‘Outstanding’ rated British curriculum school has long enjoyed academic excellence during its tenure in the UAE, retaining perfect IB score, achieved by less than 1% of students completing the IB diploma course globally, and perfect IGCSE score in the summer 2020 public exam results. Additionally, Repton Dubai has also experienced resounding success at helping secure offers from the world’s leading universities, including highly acclaimed Ivy League universities, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, King’s College London and University of California, Berkeley.
Tracy Crowder, Head of Senior School at Repton School Dubai says, “At Repton Dubai, we want to ensure our pupils have access to the best educational opportunities post-16 that will further enhance their diverse skillsets, empowering them to explore limitless endeavours in the future.”
New and existing parents seeking further information about Repton Dubai’s A Levels Academic Plan can contact the admissions department via email: admissions@reptondubai.org or phone: +971 4 440 3482
The Apple Distinguished School held its annual Creativity Festival in an effort to raise awareness on current global crises.
The virtual festival welcomed schools from across Dubai, with 48 pupils participating in the festival.
Repton Al Barsha (formerly known as Foremarke School Dubai), part of the prestigious Repton Family of Schools in the UAE, hosted their annual Creativity Festival on Thursday, 25th February 2021. The theme of this year’s festival focused on current climate crises and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic facing the world today. Pupils from Years 3 to Years 6 from schools across Dubai participated in the virtual festival.
The participating student teams presented 3-minute creative responses to one of the five climate crisis situations: the melting ice caps, deforestation in the Amazon, wildfires across Australia and California, pollution in our oceans and the Covid-19 pandemic. The creative collaboration was based on three disciplines – Art, Music and Digital Presentation.
Zoe Woolley, Headmistress of Repton Al Barsha noted, “Through the technological elements of the three disciplines, the festival highlighted the significant impact digital literacy has on raising awareness about global issues. As an Apple Distinguished School, we are proud to offer digital literacy as part of our core curriculum. At Repton Al Barsha, we are committed to creating responsible citizens of the future.”
It is well known that a picture speaks a thousand words. This was the foundation for the first discipline of the festival, Art. Participants were encouraged to express their creative process through different artistic techniques. Pupils used digital applications such as ‘Tayasui Sketches School’ to formulate their creative visions through sketches, mind maps, notes and a collection of images or colour that they can use to help create their final and visually impactful responses.
After formulating their vision, the second discipline showcased how pupils expressed themselves through the universal language of Music, composing musical pieces that invoked mood and meaning surrounding the climate crises. The young learners recorded their performances through a combination of traditional and digital media, which included the use of musical instruments and digital audio workstation such as GarageBand. The final discipline, Digital Presentation, allowed each team to uniquely and methodically express their talents and ideas through an innovative presention. Participants expressed themselves by creating multilayered Art and Music responses, blending live and recorded pieces through applications such as, iMovie, Clips, Procreate and Green Screen by Do Ink.
The judging panel consisted of multi-award-winning Emirati filmmaker Hasan Kiyani, CEO of ONE MOTO, Adam Ridgeway and Sherifa Aly, Education Business Unit Manager at MDS Computers Technical Systems|Apple Practice. The judges examined the various submissions and selected the Best in Music, Best in Art, Best Presenting and Best Final Presentation. Additionally, ONE MOTO will select one of the winning teams to support the sustainable firm’s next environmental awareness campaign.
“Repton Al Barsha’s Creativity Festival was successful in so many ways. As a virtual event, the festival was able to connect with external schools, bringing pupils and teachers together, making it a very important occasion. The festival demonstrated the wide ability of all the children involved and how they were able to communicate a message of hope! It is reassuring to know that our children are actively aware of the current global crises, and as human beings it is our moral duty to help resolve these issues. The children demonstrated skills in art, music and presenting to communicate and tell stories. The results of the day were incredible, but most importantly the children had a wonderful day, full of enthusiasm, engagement, discussion, excitement and creativity. I would like to thank all the participating pupils for their hard work and dedication towards creatively raising awareness on these issues,” concludes Aidan Godwin, Head of Digital Literacy at Repton Al Barsha.
