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Post by Sand groper on Apr 15, 2015 23:44:37 GMT
Hi, we Are moving to Rakkah in August 2015, we have lived previously in Dhahran , Does anyone have their children attending either the Dhahran British School or BISAK? Please and thanks I dont want to do the boarding school thing and I'm looking for anyone's thoughts on either of these schools for my almost 16 year old daughter for years 11 and 12 . I also have a son who will be 9 . Both have attended the Dhahran hills and middle school in the past . I'm so curious as to how the difference of living in Rakkah compound will compare to Dhahran . :lol:
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Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Apr 16, 2015 19:49:55 GMT
I will start with the last part of your question - the commute time from Dhahran or from Rakah to DBGS is more or less the same. Dhahran is closer, but slower roads or more pick-ups or something.
BISAK is much closer to Rakah - however there is no company provided transport from either site so you would be on your own for finding a driver / taxi service.
With respect to the schools for your children: DBGS only goes to 16yo (GCSE) right now. It will be running about 10 A-levels for the first time 2015/16. It is run by ISG and there are other schools on the site which go beyond 16 - ie US style high school or baccalaureate centre.
I am guessing that your son is year 4 - places at either school tend to be tight in early years and you may struggle to find a place so apply early.
I am sure you will think hard about this. Many parents of older children prefer to use boarding schools, not only because they have a choice educationally. There are not many other 16 year olds around, the company school finish at Grade 9 and many are at boarding school by this age. Perhaps some of those parents will share their experiences on here.
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Post by Sand groper on Apr 17, 2015 3:14:36 GMT
Thank you for the reply when we were there 4 years ago the DBS went to year 11 and they told me they were introducing year 12 . We are Australian and I do not want to do the boarding mum thing my Aussie neighbors in Dhahran had a daughter that went to BISAK so that may be my only choice , I'm more interested in the social aspect for her and the extra curricular activities they have , i will contact them directly Dhahran high school has many nationals there but most western children leave for boarding school and so I have been told socially out of school there is not much for her .As for places , they were tight when we were there last and like many other things over there , through personal experience , I have no expectations of anything going smooth! :lol:
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Post by waywood on Apr 20, 2015 17:14:05 GMT
Maursh is quite right. DBGS is just about to start teaching A Levels, extending students' education therefore to year 13. BISAK also offers A Levels, and DHS the IB programme (along with the usual US programme). Many of my DBGS students join DHS for the IB rather than study A Levels - both are more than adequate for university courses. Another option for your eldest is a commute to Bahrain for St Christopher's, again for A Levels, which a number of students do. I am not aware of any from Rakah, which doesn't mean to say though that there aren't any! As you are aware, it's a lengthy commute although students get a priority pass through the formalities.
You will find Rakah quieter than Dhahran but that has its merits. For high schoolers, you may find your daughter spends more time on the main camp (there is an hourly bus service between the two). Certainly, if she attends DHS, she'll meet many fellow Aramco students in the last 2 years of school.
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