swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Oct 1, 2015 15:27:20 GMT
Yep, we have 2 school places.
I bought a load of workbooks when I was still in the UK, and was going to teach the kids myself (I am not a teacher). A number of people seem to use homeschooling as a stop gap between getting here and getting schools. There appears to be loads of movement, and places coming up all the time in various schools, tho the wait list length affects where you might get a place. Your passport also affects how high a priority you are for the various schools.
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Post by Famwelnl on Oct 1, 2015 20:33:28 GMT
@ Swan great that you found 2 places. This encoues me! My children are currently on the waitinglists for ISG and BISAK. We are planning to relocate in the Christmas holiday. My husband will fly out in October. I hope that he can do a roundtrip to the various schools and fill out the blanks (as where we are on the waitinglist) and find new oppertunities. What do you man by massive waitlists? Months, years?
What school did you manage to get in to?
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Oct 4, 2015 14:20:14 GMT
ISK and Bisak will be long lists. Congrats on even getting on a wait list! I don't know the time scales, but it has been MUCH easier since being in Kingdom. We are hoping to apply for ISG in the normal applications round, when we can be here for testing. The length of list depends on your nationality!!!!
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Post by Famwelnl on Oct 4, 2015 18:32:11 GMT
We are Dutch, I don't think that this helps. We aren't native English speakers. I understand that British nationals and Canadian children will be first. Anyway we will take a risk because we will come out as well, even when the schooling issue is not completly sorted
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Post by jimmyartic on Oct 4, 2015 21:57:56 GMT
I tried to get some info from schools about timeline of a typical application-assessment once you arrive to KSA, it seems a bit difficult to get it.
Does anybody knows it? Is it fast/slow? Do they give you a date for the test for the next week or can it be done within the next 2 months?
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Oct 5, 2015 5:24:49 GMT
All I can give is our experience. We (me and kids) landed on Thursday, while everywhere was shut for Hajj holidays.
Phoned school on Monday when they opened, tested Thursday. Started Sunday. So 10 days.
ISK and Bisak seem to have fixed testing days.
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Post by Famwelnl on Oct 21, 2015 12:48:50 GMT
jimmyartic,
I think it also depends where you are on the waiting list, if there is a waiting list. I have arranged with all the schools that when we get an invitation and we are not in KSA yet, that we can reschedule to a date when we are in the country.
Meanwhile my husband relocated Monday. He just finished his first day of orientation in KSA. I cannot wait to get on the plane and go there as well.
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Post by UK Family on Feb 20, 2016 21:53:23 GMT
Hi all,
It has been very interesting following everyone's experiences with regards to schools. We are from the UK. My husband will be leaving in the next 3 weeks. We should follow as soon as our family visa is processed. I was wondering if any of you managed to get into Bisak or the British Grammar schools? Our kids are UK year 1 and year 4. I have not had much luck in getting through to the schools or getting them onto a waiting list. Hoping my husband might have more luck once he gets there. Has it been easier once the children were there? Not sure if we should risk coming out before the end of the school year. Much appreciated!
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Feb 22, 2016 5:04:39 GMT
We found schools MUCH easier onc e kids in Kingdom, and slightly easier once husband was in Kingdom.
If your considering coming out for the start of the school year, due to Eid timings this year, there is a big range in start dates. Think mid Aug to End Sept for the start of the year.
Personally, I'd come out when the visas come through. Mid year is possibly slightly easier than start of year for places, as people will move schools at the start of the year, but are less keen to do so mid year (you can end up paying 2 full sets of fees).
Yes, we got 2 places at DBGS, 6-8 weeks after kids arrived in Kingdom.
Y1 will be your hardest, but if you can get a place for the oldest, you will then be top of the wait lists for y1.
Good luck. It's a bit of a leap of faith, but planning to fit with "common sense" doesn't work out here!!!!
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Feb 22, 2016 5:07:36 GMT
Just read that in conjunction with my previous posts.
To clarify, we immediately secured places at an international school on arriving in Kingdom. Less than 2 months after that, we secured DBGS places, and moved the kids (again!)
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Post by UK Family on Feb 23, 2016 12:49:54 GMT
Swan,
Thank you so much for your reply. It is very helpful. As you are also from the UK, can I check wether you needed to get your school reports attested by the Saudi attache in the UK or just by a lawyer?
One thing for me is also that we live in an area/compound where there are other young families so that the kids have friends. Would be interesting to hear where you found a place. We are currently looking at Oasis Gardens, Zamil or Canary.
Many thanks!
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Mar 7, 2016 11:38:49 GMT
We didn't need the reports attesting in any way for either school, but we are lower Primary age (both KS1). Not sure if that makes a difference. The compounds are in an ever moving state of flux!!! Kids tend to mean school buses, so I'd look for somewhere with several school buses (even if you don't need them as they don't go to a school your interested in!). Oasis seems popular. Your not considering where I live  |
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Post by Famwelnl on Mar 8, 2016 14:59:50 GMT
Unfortunately we are still in the Netherlands. My husband is already for 6 months in KSA. We had some major issues with his degrees and after that obtaining the yellow slip. However my children are now 6 months+ on the waiting list for ISG and BISAK. We might get lucky after Easter break to get a place in reception and preschool. I am hoping for BISAK as my husband moved to Oasis Gardens, and the school is on Oasis Gardens. I can bring them myself without arranging transportation.
I have an appointment with the registrar as soon as we come out (probably during Easter), and I am hoping that my sons can be placed as soon as possible.
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Post by Famwelnl on May 7, 2016 5:04:13 GMT
Well we arrived 5 weeks ago in the Kingdom. My younger son will start preschool coming Sunday. My oldest son cannot start anywhere untill September 21.
It is al most impossible to get the children in Bisak, DEMS, dbgs or IPS. My children are 3 and 5. We don't have English as a mothertongue, so they cannot speak it fluently. The assesment every school requires are hard tests, in which the children need to speak fluently English, read and writing. My 3 year old needs to know the alphabet, write his own name and know the numbers up to 20, shapes and colours. Preferably hè would also know how to write the letters and numbers. He has never been in school, he is 3!!
Spaces are very limited. They will invite 50 children for two spots. For every registration and assesment you have to pay. My oldest son will now start at another international school. I am not happy with the school, but I have no other options. I cannot homeschool because then I will face problems in the Netherlands and I would never get him up to the level he would need for a good international school.
If you want more information you can always send me a PM
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Post by yamaaan on Apr 26, 2017 11:48:00 GMT
Thank you very much to all and in particularly to Famwelnl and Swan - your inputs is much appreciated. I've been told by my RA that is all well and now just waiting for the visa before heading off (fingers crossed) from London to KSA. So now it's getting more serious and tangible, I've started to think about house, schooling etcetra With respect to schools, I have two young kids, both in primary (reception and year 3 currently) and I am keen to have them on boarded to a British school, naturally (not a big fan of my kids picking up the American accent). However, it appears all the schools (or British schools) are fully packed i.e nothing available even for the next academic year 2017/2018. As such I am thinking the most pmatic approach would be to home-school and my wife has done this recently with my daughter for one term. My understanding was, that before the family arrive it was a requirement to secure schooling? If this is not the case and Aramco/Saudi Gov, doesn't have a problem with home-schooling, both my daughter and wife would love this initially. If there's any advice from anyone regarding 'tips and tricks'  to get into the British schools such as the application process, type of tests (8 year old and 4 year old) or anything else it would be much appreciated. Cheers, Yamaaan |
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to get into the British schools such as the application process, type of tests (8 year old and 4 year old) or anything else it would be much appreciated.