Jumeriah Primary School is a mixed, private primary school (ages 3 to 11, FS1 to Year 6) which is located in Al Safa, Dubai.  The School was first established in 1996 and is part of the GEMS Education group. For 2015-2016 the school was ranked by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) as Outstanding – for the sixth year running.

Jumeriah Primary School offers education to over 1435 students – sizable for a primary which can be off-putting for some parents used to smaller schools.  That said the school itself is described as “warm and caring” and “very inclusive” by parents of students who attend. The school itself says it has a ‘small school atmosphere’

Students are supported by 89 full time teachers who are “very well qualified” according to the KHDA (2011/12 report) – a rarely used statement by the education regulator in its reports. Average class sizes are in the range of  22 to 27; classrooms themselves are said to be bright and stimulating. The school has a teacher to student ratio of 1:15, down from 1:16 (2016) in previous information supplied to WSA in its Q&A.

The curriculum framework at GEMS Jumeirah Primary School is based on the National Curriculum for England from Foundation Stage to Year 6.

The school’s KHDA report notes a very high quality of teaching, especially in English, Maths and Science with a rich and carefully planned curriculum.

English, Maths, and Science are deemed Outstanding for attainment and progress across the school’s phases – as is the curriculum, teaching, and assessment in general.

In addition students are said to display exemplary behaviour and there is “very high quality of support provided to students with dyslexia and other special education needs” – quite unusual for Dubai schools, but not it must be said for GEMs ‘premium’ schools which do invest in SEN provision. In its most recent report inspectors note “fully inclusive and vibrant learning environment”, the school’s “cohesive teamwork and shared visionary leadership”, and its “relentless drive for continued improvement”.

The school says it has just under 100 students with special educational needs, in addition to 150 who were more able, gifted and talented.

Areas for improvement according to the KHDA are Islamic and Arabic education (repeated in all reports over the last four years). It is unusual to not find this as a recommendation in a KHDA report, and to its credit the school has made “significant headway in these areas. The KHDA also notes the need to better use international benchmarks to more accurately assess student progress.

Facilities at JPS are very impressive, including a library and discovery centre, a multi-purpose sports hall, a large, temperature controlled Gymnasium, a partly shaded 25-metre swimming pool and infant learning pool, an all weather synthetic turf pitch, a computer room with 12 laptops, a garden and a mosque.