DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: GEMS Education has announced plans to expand one of its top-performing schools, Jumeirah College in Dubai, with the first phase completed in time for the start of the 2023-24 academic year at the end of August.

 

Investment will focus on redeveloping an extensive site directly adjacent to the current campus to house the Outstanding-rated secondary school’s new sixth form centre and specialist sports facilities, while at the same time enhancing and modernising the existing school building.

 

Works will be managed in phases to avoid any impact on learning and ensure there is no ongoing building work while students are on campus. Phase 1 comprises the construction of the school’s new sixth form building, which will include a new café and common room, a research library, upgraded administration spaces and facilities, as well as bespoke teaching spaces. Phase 2 will see specialist sports facilities added to the site.

 

Highlighting the many benefits of the expansion and investment, Rob Kesterton, Acting Principal of Jumeirah College, said: “We are able to add enhanced facilities and staffing to our already world-leading outcomes. The expansion of Jumeirah College allows us to further future-proof our students for 21st-century skills. It will enable us to send our students on to university and the workplace with belief that they have a competitive advantage over their peers, due to their tangible experience and adaptability, their creative and innovative solutions-focus, and their confidence and competence.”

 

Jumeirah College is located in Dubai’s Al Safa 1 neighbourhood, sharing the same street as its sister school, Jumeirah Primary School, also rated Outstanding. Together, they make up the Jumeirah Schools, which combined offer exceptional teaching and learning from Foundation Stage to Year 13.

 

Rachel Higgins, Principal/CEO of Jumeirah Primary School, and Head of Jumeirah Schools said: “The Jumeirah Schools offer a unique opportunity in Dubai for families to experience dedicated primary and secondary sites within walking distance of each other. For over 10 years both schools have offered an Outstanding-rated provision to their students, and with Jumeirah College’s expansion we can look forward to an incredible future for all learners. The development of the College site allows for more students to experience that outstanding education. The new facilities enable additional subjects to join the wide offering already available and we look forward to including these courses.”

 

Completion of Phases 1 and 2 will free up capacity within the current campus, which in turn will allow for a redesign of the existing Jumeirah College space by September 2024. The main focus of this will be on enhancing existing facilities, including the creation of an auditorium with retractable seating and black box drama classrooms, new music suites, a larger canteen space, a food technology lab, a new multi-purpose sports hall, enhancement of the swimming pool and surrounds, an upgraded administration and reception area, and additional classrooms.

 

By September 2024, the school aims to add Robotics, AI, VR and Food Technology to its Key Stage 3 curriculum, with a view to adding qualifications in these subjects in the future. Additional teaching and administrative staff will also be recruited to augment curriculum provision, including specialist sports coaches, a full-time US admissions counsellor, and a research librarian for the new sixth form library.

 

The expectation is that these increased facilities will combine with teacher recruitment to allow the school to reduce class sizes, in turn enabling Jumeirah College to improve on its already world-leading academic results and outcomes for students, all the while enhancing their day-to-day learning experience.