Reviewed as ‘functionally outstanding’ by Schools Compared, GIS offers students and families a close-knit school community and an excellent IB education
Campus Highlights
GEMS International School – Al Khail (GIS) is located in the newly developed Dubai Hills neighbourhood next to Al Khail Road in Dubai. The school campus was purpose-built, providing students with a wide range of facilities to support their learning, growth and development. Classrooms are spacious and naturally lit and there are speciality science, technology, visual and performing arts classrooms.
Standout facilities include a digitally-connected design wing, advanced communication teaching facilities such as an on-site green screen studio and music recording studio, a robotics centre, fitness suite, black box theatre, dance studio, fully-equipped music rooms, a library, outdoor amphitheatre, design and technology labs, a food technology lab and medical centre. GIS is also the GEMS Centre of Excellence for Aviation and Space.
Students are encouraged to live healthy, active lifestyles and the school is committed to ensuring every student is well rounded. To achieve these goals, students have access to a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool plus a learner pool, a full-size football pitch, indoor and outdoor KG play areas, a multi-purpose performance and sports hall, outdoor mixed-use game courts for basketball, netball and tennis, and lots of shaded outdoor spaces.
Student Ages And Curriculum
GIS is committed to delivering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) education programme to students in Pre-KG all the way up to Grade 12. A personalised approach to learning is offered, with a strong emphasis on developing mother tongue languages, innovation, healthy lifestyle and leadership skills. With 91 nationalities, all cultures feel at home at GIS. And all students benefit from a unique mother tongue support programme designed to strengthen their home language and encourage bilingualism. There is also a strong emphasis on character and leadership development, ensuring students develop their EQ alongside their IQ.
The school’s highly qualified IB teachers, recruited from around the world, undergo rigorous and continuous IB-accredited training to promote their awareness of current educational practices and new thinking. A number of teachers are also accredited IB trainers and have been heavily involved in developing the GIS curriculum.
Senior Leadership Team
The senior leadership team (SLT) at GIS brings a great deal of experience to guide the school into the future.
With over 30 years of combined IB Executive Leadership experience, members of the SLT have held high-profile positions such as National Chairman of IB Heads Councils, or IB Accreditors and WASC and CIS Reviewers.
Head of School Glen Radojkovich, Head of Primary Kim Conlin and Head of Secondary Lee Hole together offer the knowledge, experience and passion to ensure GIS remains at the forefront of excellence in education.
School Mission
GIS aims to provide the ideal preparation for life beyond school and access to the world’s top universities. The school’s vision is to provide an exceptional education to meet the needs of a diverse, international community in an ever-changing world. Beyond the wonderful facilities, dedicated teaching and leadership team and internationally-minded students, GIS is a home away from home – a community where all people belong and students are encouraged to be all they can be. It is a learning environment where self-belief is fostered and students truly are proud of who they are, what they know and what they can achieve.
Classes And Extra-Curricular Opportunities
Extra-curricular activities (ECAs) are an important part of the overall school offering, as they provide an opportunity for students to develop a range of attributes that are integral within an IB education. There are also options to take part in a wide variety of sporting activities as part of the ECA programme. The school believes in the value of team and individual sports and healthy competition. ECAs and other opportunities are either provided directly by the school or by external providers such as ESM.