Abu Dhabi Grammar School

Abu Dhabi Grammar School (AGS) is a private K-12 school in Abu Dhabi that follows the Canadian curriculum. Founded in 1994 by Mrs Fatima Assad, the school was relocated to its current campus in the Tourist Club Area in 2008.

Accredited by the Nova Scotia Department of Education, the school offers quality Canadian curricular education to students. Currently, the school has 1,083 students belonging to 50 nationalities. Most students at AGS are Jordanian, followed by Egyptian, Syrian and local Emiratis. It has hired a pool of 84 full-time teachers, 11 teaching assistants and a guidance counsellor to guide students. The low student to teacher ratio of 1:13 ensures plenty of individual attention and care. Some subjects are taught in Arabic and French, but rest of them are taught in English. The school also complies with the guidelines of the Ministry of Education (MOE) as it teaches Arabic and Islamic Education.

AGS has an excellent range of school facilities that fully support academic and non-academic programmes. The enrichment programme is comprehensive and covers a wide range of interests. Abu Dhabi Grammar School ADEK rating is found to be good in the latest inspection.

This Abu Dhabi Grammar School review by Bayut elucidates features, quality of education, details on admission and fees and other important information.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School (AGS) is located at the centre of the Tourist Club Area, now known as Al Zahiyah. The community is located in the centre of the city and has the following neighbouring communities:

• Al Maryah Island
• Al Najda Street
• Al Nahyan
• Al Khalidiyah
• Al Bateen

Al Maryah Island, closest to the Abu Dhabi Grammar School, is a mixed-use residential area. It is one of the most opulent residential spots in the capital, consisting of luxurious apartments. Those looking for relatively cheaper residential options can opt for Al Nahyan and Al Khalidiyah.

• Apartments for rent near Abu Dhabi Grammar School
• Villas for rent near Abu Dhabi Grammar School

Abu Dhabi Grammar School was relocated to its current campus in 2008. It was further refurbished in 2010 to include necessary school facilities. The campus has bright and airy classrooms that provide an excellent learning environment for students. The refurbishment project added ten more classrooms in the high school section to accommodate more students. A music room, dance studio, science labs, computer labs and a well-stocked library are also part of the campus. The school also has a hygienic and clean cafeteria where students can enjoy their meals and socialise with peers.

An indoor multipurpose sports hall is available for indoor activities such as athletics, badminton, table tennis and gymnastics. A well-furbished gymnasium and a swimming pool were included in 2010. Additionally, the school has outdoor play areas, fields and courts for basketball, field hockey, handball, netball and football.

There is a parking area for faculty and parents outside the school’s entrance. Also, behind the campus, there is a vast parking space for school buses.

The school is on Al Masayid Street near Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi in the Tourist Club Area of Abu Dhabi. Residents of nearby residential communities can access the school through Zayed the First Street and Al Meena Street.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School has a competent and experienced teaching staff ensuring quality support to students. The teacher-to-student ratio at this school is 1:13, which is lower than many schools in the UAE. The low teacher-to-student ratio ensures students receive individual attention and care. Therefore, students at Abu Dhabi Grammar School have a strong relationship with teachers and faculty members.

Inclusivity is another strong point of the Abu Dhabi Grammar School. The school has a highly inclusive admission policy that encourages candidates from different backgrounds to apply. This is clear from the fact that the school has students from over 50 nationalities. As a result, the school has a diverse environment where they learn to embrace and accept each other.

Another strength of this school is that it is accredited by the Nova Scotia Department of Education. Therefore, the students completing their high school education receive a Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma. The educational programme and the graduation diploma are well accepted in top colleges and universities. This diploma opens several opportunities for students to work or continue their education.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School encourages students to participate in non-academic activities. For this purpose, the school has developed a comprehensive extra-curricular programme. The programme is carefully tailored to meet the needs of students with different interests. The educational institute also has an active student council where senior students are allowed to represent the school.

Another feature of this school is its house-based system. Students are segregated into these houses at the time of admission. The schoolhouses are:

• Green Moose
• Black Bison
• Blue Wolverine
• Red Grizzly

These houses help the school to instil a sense of friendly competition among students.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School educates children aged 3 to 18 years old. The phases of education at this school are:

The school follows the Nova Scotia curriculum to shape its syllabus. It is an internationally recognised educational programme inculcating modern education based on an international context. Nova Scotia Department of Education accredits the school and offers high school students a Nova Scotia High School Diploma. The medium of education is English and students need to complete a pre-set range of standards to qualify for the diploma.

The Nova Scotia curriculum has several awards and distinctions for students demonstrating excellent academic performance. It awards the Queen Elizabeth II Medal to Grade 12 students who showed excellent academic performance in Grades 10, 11 and 12. Students with the highest average marks in all courses in Grade 12 are awarded the Governor General’s Academic Medal. Whereas, the Lieutenant’s Governor’s Medal is for one male and one female student who showed excellent leadership skills, contributed to the community and showed good academic performance. The Lieutenant’s Governor Medal is for students in Grade 11.

The AGS Athletic Department takes care of the physical education and sports activities in the extra-curricular programme. The department consists of five teachers who guide students based on two principles:

• Sports in psychology
• Psychology in sports

Technology education is another important part of the AGS School Abu Dhabi curriculum. The school has good IT resources and uses them to develop IT knowledge among students. Students from Grade 4 to Grade 12 have access to Google Education Account and email address. Moreover, the school focuses on education through Chromebook and Google Apps. For students in Preschool to Grade 3, iPads and software are used to help to build foundational skills. Additionally, each student is allowed to complete project-based learning where children develop exciting new projects using multiple techniques.

The specifics for each phase of education at Abu Dhabi Grammar School are:

Elementary School

In the elementary section, the school follows the Nova Scotia Curriculum of Education. Teachers contribute to the development of a supportive learning environment where students interact with technology and learn new concepts. The subjects taught to students from KG2 to Grade 6 are:

Specialists teach Arabic, Islamic Studies, French and Physical Education. French is a compulsory subject from Grade 4 onwards.

The school timing for KG2 to Grade 2 is from 8:00 am to 1:40 pm, and Grade 3 to Grade 6 is 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Junior High School

In junior high school, Abu Dhabi Grammar School continues the Nova Scotia curriculum. The school encourages a physically intellectual environment where children undergo emotional and social changes. The subjects taught to students from Grade 7 to Grade 9 are:

The school timing for junior high school is from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Senior High School Curriculum

The school continues the adoption of the Nova Scotia curriculum in senior high school. Students need to accumulate a minimum of 18 credits to qualify for the high school diploma. The diploma is equivalent to the official general secondary certificate in the UAE. The senior school timing is from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is an education regulatory body of Abu Dhabi. It was developed in 2006 by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to improve and sustain the education sector of the capital city. For this purpose, it inspects the performance of schools every 18 to 24 months and issues a report based on a six-point scale. The ADEK’s rating scale varies from outstanding (best) rating to very weak (worst) rating.

ADEK reviewed the performance of Abu Dhabi Grammar School in 2019-2020. The overall performance of the school was found to be good. Previously, the school was also rated for the academic year 2017-2018. Out of the six performance standards, ADEK observed improvements in students’ personal and social development and innovation and curriculum while the rest of the standards remain the same.

According to the latest inspection report, the strengths of the Abu Dhabi Grammar School are:

• Responsible and self-motivated students
• Elevated attainment in mathematics, English and science
• Effective implementation of the Nova Scotia curriculum resulting in the development of learning skills among students
• In the middle and high school phase, the school has very skilled teachers for subjects taught in English

Nevertheless, the school needs to improve the following:

• The school must raise its achievements in subjects taught in Arabic. For this purpose, the school should implement quality tasks and activities to inspire students. It can also modify its curriculum and use coaches and monitoring to full effect.
• Abu Dhabi Grammar School also needs to smoothen the transition of students into the Canadian curriculum from the KG2 phase. This requires planning experiences for students, extending resources and recording children progress. Moreover, the school can provide opportunities for students to try their ideas and use unstructured play-based activities.
• Professional development and improvement activities must be designed to reap full benefits. For this purpose, the school can use the summarised data, monitor a broad range of evidence and give governors the power and resources for the school’s improvement.

The ADEK Approved academic calendar of Abu Dhabi Grammar School starts in late August and ends in late June. The school year is usually split into three terms or sessions.

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. The term ends with the start of the winter break in the third week of December till the end of December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. Students then go on a two-week spring break until the first week of April.
• The last term starts in the second week of April and ends in the last week of June. After that, the school closes for the summer breaks that end till the start of the new academic year.

Besides, Abu Dhabi Grammar School remains close on various national, international and religious events. The exact dates of these events depend on the moon sighting or the government’s announcements.

Admission Application

For the academic year, the new admission starts from 24th February 2022. Re-registration begins at the beginning of February and ends on 11th March 2021.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School follows a highly inclusive admission policy and accepts admission requests of all. The school typically starts its admission process in January. Please view the dates of admission at Abu Dhabi Grammar School to stay updated.

To apply, fill out the application form along with the following documents to the admission team:

• A copy of a valid UAE Emirates ID (front and back)
• A copy of a valid passport with the UAE residence visa (for non-UAE students)
• The recent academic record of the candidate (current and last academic year performance report)
• Enrolment letter from the previous/current school with eSIS number (for students studying in the UAE)
• One recent passport-size photograph of the students (white background)

Please note that due to a high number of applications, the school shortlists the applications and contact the parents of the successful candidates.

The age-grade guidelines are:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Assessment

The admission team carefully observed the documents sent in the application form and shortlisted candidates. In the second stage, the school assesses the shortlisted candidates by entrance test and interview. The school will interview the candidate who applied for admission in KG2 to Grade 2. For admission in Grade 3 and above, the school conducts both entrance tests and interviews. The entrance test evaluates students’ skills in English, mathematics and Arabic.

Approval

In the third stage, parents need to submit the Confidential Recommendation Form. The form needs to be completed by the candidate’s teacher in the previous school. They can submit the form in a sealed envelope or email it directly to admissions@agsgrmmr.sch.ae. Please note that the form needs to be submitted within 7 days of the entrance test.

Securing Admission

In the last stage, the school contacts the parents of the successful candidate to register their child to complete the admission process. Parents will have to pay 5% of the tuition fee at the beginning to secure a seat for their child. For registration, parents are required to pay the deposit fee and submit the following documents:

• A copy of mother’s and father’s passports with a valid UAE residence visa (for non-UAE residents)
• A copy of mother’s and father’s Emirate ID cards (if the ID card is not available please provide a copy of the application for Emirate ID cards)
• Birth certificate of the candidate
• Copies of the UAE health insurance card and students’ immunisation record
• A copy of the resident’s electricity bill (for address)
• Original transfer certificate
• Final report card

Attestation Requirements

Please note that parents need to adhere to the attestation requirements for the birth certificate, transfer certificate and final report card.

For those applying outside UAE, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Western Europe and the US, a birth certificate must be attested by the:

• Ministry of Health
• Embassy of the country of origin
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs

For students applying outside the UAE, except Canada, the US and Western European countries, the transfer certificate must be attested by the:

• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Embassy of the country of the previous school

The final report card must have the official school stamp

To read more about the admission process and access required forms, read the admission procedure at Abu Dhabi Grammar School.

The Abu Dhabi Grammar School fees structure is as follows:

Besides tuition fees, parents have to pay the following:

The other charges need to be paid with the first instalment of the tuition fee.

For more information, view the fee structure of the Abu Dhabi Grammar School.

The school does not have any scholarship programme for its students.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School Canada has a school cafeteria and a canteen where students can buy hot and cold food items at affordable prices. Students can also enjoy home-packed lunchboxes in the cafeteria. Please note that the school follows a no-nut food policy. Therefore, parents are advised to not send food with nuts, oil or traces of nuts to children. The canteen has a varying menu that changes every day. The food includes regular snack items, juices and complete meals.

Some of the popular items in the canteen menu include:

Those living far from the school find it hard to drop their children at school on time. Moreover, the busy lives of parents also cause concerns for parents to pick and drop their children daily. The school understands the parents’ hustle and therefore offers reliable and safe transport service.

The transport service includes a one-way and two-way transport service at prices approved by the ADEK. The school has a well-maintained fleet of buses that has extraordinary safety and security features. It covers wide areas of Abu Dhabi and is ideal for those living far from the school. Fill out the transport form to register your child for the school transportation report.

The bus drivers and conductors are well-trained and certified. They handle the children with delicate care and attention. The transportation fee charged by the school is AED 2,900. For more information, contact the transportation department of the Abu Dhabi Grammar School.

AGS Abu Dhabi is a day-only school with classes ending for most grades at 3:00 pm. The school does not offer any boarding facility to its students. Those living far from the school can register for the school transport service or can relocate to nearby residential communities.

The school currently does not offer holiday camps for its students.

Sport is a vital part of the extra-curricular programme of AGS. It allows students to remain physically active and polish their skills in competitive sports. To facilitate the students’ love for sports, the school has:

The school has an extra-curricular programme that caters to the non-educational needs of students. The plan aims to discover the hidden potential of students and help them polish their skills to combat modern-day challenges. The extra-curricular programme at Abu Dhabi Grammar School is sport-oriented. However, students will find many activities of their choice. The major extra-curricular activities at AGS School are:

One of the most popular extra-curricular activities at Abu Dhabi Grammar school is the student council. It serves as an opportunity for students, mostly senior students, to participate in school initiated activities and events. Candidates selected for the school council have many responsibilities. Their main responsibility is to bridge the gap between students and the administration. Senior students can acquire the following roles:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer

Students electing for president must be from Grade 12 and Grade 11 or 12 for vice president. Moreover, candidates for these posts must maintain their average score above 75% for the entire year. Students of Grade 10 to Grade 12 can apply for treasurer and must maintain their average scores above 70% for the year.

The Terry Fox Run is another important extracurricular activity at Abu Dhabi Grammar School. It is an annual event where children participate in a non-competitive marathon for charity. Many Canadian schools participate in this event in commemoration of Terry Fox, a Canadian cancer activist.

The school arranges field trips throughout the year to aid in their learning and keep them entertained. Most school trips are educational, however; some recreational trips are also arranged by the school. A popular school trip was the visit to the Golf field Club. Grade 5 students visited the Golf Field and had a good time with peers.

Abu Dhabi Grammar School offers after-school care to students in the form of an extra-curricular programme. Sometimes, the school arranges events with the help of external providers to support students’ development. After-school care offered to students at AGS are:

The school has one medical clinic on campus and has employed two nurses to tend to the medical needs of the students.

The school has an official website where parents and the wider community can access vital information. The website includes information on the admission process, fee structure, requirements for documents, newsletters and much more. From Kindergarten to Grade 4, the school uses ClassDojo to communicate with parents. From Grade 5 to Grade 12, Google Classroom is used. WhatsApp use is limited as it depends on the class teacher.

The school also has an active presence on Facebook. Users of this social media platform can see the latest news, updates, videos, images and much more.

• Abu Dhabi Grammar School Address: Al Masayid Street, Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Email Address: agsadmin@agsgrmmr.sch.ae
• Telephone Number: +971 2 6444703
• Official Website
• Facebook

Note that the cover image belongs to Abu Dhabi Grammar School