Australian International School Sharjah

Australian International School (AIS) Sharjah is a private co-education institution in Sharjah since 2005. The Al Sharif Investment Trading Group partnered with the Government of Queensland to start this school in Sharjah. It is the first Australian curriculum school in the Middle East.

AIS provides the Australian curriculum from the Early Learning Centre (ELC) stage to Grade 12. The school also offers Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies as mandated by the Ministry of Education (MoE). Its faculty consists of highly trained, experienced teachers who work toward cultivating a nurturing and caring environment at the school.

The four pillars at Australian International School Sharjah are Academia, Culture, Sports and Community. The school strives to provide every student with opportunities that will help them improve their strengths and interests within these four pillars.

To learn more about the campus, facilities and fees structure at AIS, read this comprehensive guide by Bayut.

Australian International School is situated on the Maliha – Kalba Road in Industrial Area 18, Sharjah. There are a number of family-friendly residential communities near the area such as:

• Al Mizhar
• Al Khawaneej 1
• Oud Al Muteena
• Muhaisnah

Al Mizhar is a large community that has two sub-communities. Those looking to settle in this area can find villas on rental basis here. Al Khawaneej 1 is part of Al Khawaneej, an area where Dubai government has invested for agriculture. Residential options here mainly include rental villas. Muhaisnah is on the northeastern side of Dubai. People can find a mix of apartments and villas in this area.

This all-through school’s campus is split into four teaching blocks catering to four specific schools. They are:

• Block A: Early Learning Centre and Nursery
• Block B: Primary School
• Block C: Junior Secondary School
• Block D & E: Secondary School

There are dedicated Science labs, theatre and movement rooms, music and arts rooms, digital technology rooms and onsite occupational and speech therapy rooms within each teaching block. The ELC rooms are further equipped with indoor learning resources, a STEM exploration area, a Perceptual Motor Program area, an outdoor learning area and a playground.

Other facilities that are open to students are:

• Large spacious grounds (Five dedicated playgrounds and three separate ovals)
• Gymnasium (including changing rooms and performance stage)
• Library and resource centre
• Prayer rooms
• AIS cafe

The library at AIS received recognition for being the best library in the UAE.

Australian International School is situated on the Maliha-Kalba Road, Sharjah. The Maliha-Kalba road provides easy access to both Dubai and Sharjah residents, making it an ideal location for students and parents alike.

Other prominent educational institutions in close proximity to the school include American School of Creative Science Maliha and Sharjah Institute of Technology.

Australian International School Sharjah started as a joint venture between Al Sharif Investment Trading Group and the Government of Queensland. Since then, AIS has been on a journey to provide a high standard of education through its Australian curriculum, while also embracing the values and ethos of the Emirati culture.

The school’s innovative Australian curriculum framework, experienced teachers from Australia, Arabic specialists and a passionate leadership team make for an international educational experience. The Arabic specialists ensure that students honour and appreciate Emirati values as well as the language of the soil. AIS also places great importance on parental involvement in the school which they believe to be a driving force in the students’ educational advancement.

AIS is a K-12 school that offers classes from Nursery to Grade 12. At the end of Grade 12, students graduate either with the Queensland Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, depending on the curriculum they opt for in Senior School.

The school collaborates with external learning partners to provide the best possible education for its students. Some of the educational partnerships AIS has are:

• Google for Education
• Wilson Centre
• The Duke of Edinburgh International Award
• Queensland Government– Department Of Education & Training

It comes as no surprise that Australian International School is considered to be one of the best schools in Sharjah.

AIS offers classes from Nursery to Grade 12. The classes are split into specific schools. They are:

Grades at AIS are divided into Early Learning Centre, Primary School, Junior Secondary School and Secondary School.

Curriculum for Early Learning Centre

At the ELC stage, AIS’ philosophy is based on an image of children being creative, capable and intrinsically motivated to explore and discover the world around them. The school has therefore created a play-based learning environment. Children get the opportunity to imagine and create, propose and reason, master skills, have meaningful experiences, express thoughts and ideas, solve problems, challenge themselves, engage in reflective thinking, and build meaningful relationships.

The learning curriculum at this level leans toward five outcomes, which are:

• Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.
• Outcome 2: Children are connected and contribute to their world.
• Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
• Outcome 4: Children are confident And involved learners.
• Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.

Parents can access the website to learn more about the learning Pprogram, principles and practices of the Early Learning Centre at AIS.

Curriculum for Primary School

In the Primary School, the Australian Curriculum focuses on developing literacy, numeracy and ICT skills in students. Students also developt critical and creative thinking, personal and social capabilities and ethical and intercultural understanding.

At the foundation level (prep), AIS imparts disciplinary knowledge, skill and understanding in eight learning areas, which are:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Health and Physical Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Arts
• Technologies
• Language

Students also study Arabic, Social Studies and Islamic/Moral Education.

Curriculum for Secondary School

From Grades 7 to 9, AIS improves the foundation built in Primary School. At this level, the school prepares students for their Senior Year as well as life beyond school. AIS delves further into the eight subjects explored in Primary School.

The core areas of learning are English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities. Students are also introduced to an elective program where they can choose between theatre, visual arts, digital technology and health and Physical Education. The curriculum is supported by a strong foundation in Arabic and Islamic studies.

From Grades 10 to 12, the school aims to prepare students to become all-rounded, responsible citizens that contribute positively to society. In Grade 10, AIS has a Senior Education and Training (SET) plan that guides and supports students and assists them in achieving their career goals.

Subjects offered in Grade 10 are:

For Grades 11 and 12, students can choose between two programmes:

• The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
• The Queensland Certificate of Education

Both programs are internationally acclaimed challenging courses of higher studies.

The IB Diploma program is globally recognized and provides students with the necessary training required by many prestigious universities. Under the IB Diploma Program, students can select subjects from:

• Studies in Language and Literature:
  • English Language and Literature
• Language Acquisition:
  • Arabic B
  • Arabic ab initio
  • French ab initio
  • Spanish ab initio
• Individuals and Societies:
  • Business Management
  • Economics
  • History
  • Psychology
• Experimental Sciences
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• Mathematics
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation
• The Arts
  • Theatre

To receive the IB Diploma, students should also complete the IB Core Program that requires:

• Studying the Theory of Knowledge as a two-year subject
• Participate and complete the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) program
• Submit a 4000-word extended essay written as a research topic of their own choosing.

To receive the Queensland Certificate of Education, students must pursue the Queensland Senior School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). Students can choose between:

• Maths A or Maths B
• English or English as a Second Language
• Business Management
• Science in Practice
• Film, Television and New Media
• Physical Education
• Arabic

QCE students also study courses from the Curtin University in Dubai Foundation Program, which are:

• Introduction to ICT
• Critical Thinking And Research Skills
• Foundation Mathematics

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspects private schools in Dubai based on their facilities and academic results. Schools receive ratings such as Outstanding, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak. The KHDA focuses on maintaining a high quality of education as well as the happiness and wellbeing of students and educators.

Australian International School Sharja KHDA rating for the year 2023-2024 is ‘Good’.

The school year at AIS is split into three terms. Term Dates for the current academic year are as follows:

• The first term begins in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December.
• Students return to school in the first week of January after a 3-week winter vacation for the second term. This term ends in the last week of March.
• The third term begins in the second week of April after a 2-week spring break. The term ends in the first week of July where children go on a 2-month summer break.

To secure a seat in AIS students have to go through the following admissions process:

• Parents can choose to book a school tour to ensure that AIS is the perfect fit for their child. The school organises individual tours in Semester 1 as required and group tours in Semester 2.
• To enrol your child at AIS, parents have to complete the Enrolment Application form. Parents can download the enrolment application form and submit the complete form to the Enrolments Team, along with the required documents.
• Parents get the Enrolment Pack that has everything they need to do till the interview stage.
• To proceed to the interview stage, all the forms must be fully completed and submitted along with the required documents.
• For students transferring from the schools outside of the UAE, parents have to submit the attested Transfer Certificate (TC) and report card from the country they were residing in before transferring.
• Once the required documents and forms are submitted and vetted by the Enrolment Team, parents can request an interview with the School Administrator. To send an interview request, complete the interview booking form and pay non-refundable fee of AED 1000. (Note: The interview deposit fee is non-refundable if the student does not attend the interview, another interview deposit fee will be required to secure a second interview.)
• The Enrolments Team arranges the interview and notifies the parents about the interview time.
• The enrolling student along with the parent is required to attend the interview with the school administrator.
• The student may need to take a Diagnostic Assessment if required.
• Parents must complete the enrolment agreement and acceptance form at the end of the interview (Note: Signing this form is not a confirmation of admission. The Head of School will decide on the outcome of an enrolment application.)
• To enrol in Grade 10, 11 or 12, students must complete the SET Plan as part of the selection process. This is followed by an appointment with the Secondary Guidance Officer when enrolment process begins.
• The interview for prospective Grade 10-12 students take 60 minutes. From ELC to Grade 9, the interview takes 30 minutes and an additional 30 minutes for the Diagnostic Assessment (if required).
• Parents will be notified of their successful/unsuccessful application within 48 hours of completing the interview. The Head of School decides the outcome of the enrolment application.
• If accepted, a non-refundable registration fee of AED 1,000 should be paid within one week to secure the seat.
• Enrolments are subject to approval by the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The documents required for enrolment are mentioned in the enrolment pack that can be procured from the school’s Enrolment Team. Call +971-6-558-9967 to contact the Enrolment Team.

Parents can also choose to follow the two-step enrolment process at AIS.

However, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st March (for schools beginning in April) and 31st August (for schools beginning in September).

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

Australian International School Sharjah fees are paid in three instalments– one per term. Fees structure for the academic year is as follows:

An additional Health Services Fee of AED 200 is applicable on all students and should be paid with the first term fees.

Fee payment can be done through:

• Bank Transfer
  • Bank Name: Emirates NBD
  • Account Name: Australian International School
  • Account Number(IBAN) : AE14 0260 001011 19454 3501
  • Account Number: 1011 19454 3501
  • Branch: King Abdul Aziz Road, Sharjah, UAE
  • Swift Code: EBILAEAD (required if sending EFT from overseas)
  • Reference: Family Code Childs Name and Family Name
• AIS online payment portal

AIS students can apply for scholarships. Scholarships are for students who meet the scholarship criteria set by Australian School Sharjah.

AIS Cafe is school’s own cafeteria . The food and drinks served at the Cafe follow the regulations under the dietary guidelines for children and adolescents in Australia.

The school provides a nutritious, healthy selection of sandwiches, hot lunches, salads, snacks, cold beverages, hot beverages and sessert. The cafe has a weekly food plan.

AIS Sharjah places the utmost importance on the safety of its students within and beyond the classroom. This extends to their safe arrival and departure to and from school. AIS operates its own transportation for students. Parents can use the Lokate Student App system to monitor the whereabouts of their children travelling on the school bus. Students scan their cards upon entry/exit of the bus. Parents are notified of this via the Lokate app.

The annual transportation fee is AED 6,990.

The Global Explorers of AIS take part in various local and international camps and trips organised by the school. These programs focus on the holistic development of students in unfamiliar environments.

Some of the trips the Globe Explorers have conducted are:

• Ski Trip to France: Grades 7-9 went on a week-long trip to the French Alps for a ski trip.
• Ski Trip to Japan: The senior students from Grades 10-12 took part in a challenging week-long trip to the Japanese Alps. They also visited the Snow Monkeys and the Zenkoji Temple as part of the tour.
• World Challenge Expedition to Vietnam: Students of Grades 11 and 12 participated in a 13-day expedition to Vietnam where they helped the Vietnamese community of the Quynh Son region in Northern Vietnam. They also visited Ha Long Bay during this trip.
• Swiss Leadership Camp in Switzerland: Grades 7-10 students visited the Gstaad Valley mountains in Switzerland where they participated in activities such as rock climbing, building an igloo, mountain and glacier hiking, bushcraft and more.
• London Theatre and History Immersion Excursion: IB History, Theatre and English students of Grades 11 and 12 explored London. They attended three theatre productions, visited the birthplace of Shakespeare, the home of Henry the VII, participated in theatre workshops, took a tour of the Tower of London and many more.

AIS students also visit the United Nations for a tour where they participate in various group activities such as campfires, torch walks and group games.

AIS is well known for its state-of-the-art campus. It considered to be one of the largest school campuses in the United Arab Emirates. The school has five dedicated playgrounds and three separate ovals where various sports activities, competitions and training take place.

The school’s large gymnasium that includes changing rooms and a performance hall also provides students with the space to practice sports and maintain their physical health.

AIS recognises and promotes the various talents and strengths exhibited by its students. It firmly believes that schools should not be restricted to solely book learning and has therefore established various Clubs and Communities within the school for students to participate in.

The clubs are aimed at holistic student development. The school collaborates with external service providers to bring about these activities. Some examples include:

These programs take place during the term for a period of eight weeks and incur an additional cost which should be paid directly to the service provider.

The Australian International School Association also hosts an annual sports competition for all AIS students. Students aged 16 and below can participate in this event that takes place in different locations each year. Competitions include netball, football, swimming, touch rugby and basketball. In 2019, the competition was held in Malaysia. Singapore is expected to host in 2020 and Hong Kong in 2021.

AIS regularly organises educational trips and excursions to locations within the country. These expeditions aim to add value to the academic life and syllabus covered by the school.

AIS offers multiple after-school clubs and communities. School clubs are held in the afternoons on Sundays and Thursdays from 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm for Early Years students, and 03:30 pm to 04:30 pm for Prep students.

After-school clubs and communities at AIS are:

• Chess knowledge
• DaVinci Bricks
• ETB Engineering Workshops
• Robots Make And Take
• Pro Sports – Gymnastics, Tennis, Ballet, Little Chefs, Handicrafts
• Pulse Centre Science Club
• IFA Sport – Soccer
• Gulf Star Karate
• MPAC Basketball Academy

AIS has a clinic facility that tends to the medical needs of the students and staff. The clinic has a Ministry of Health certified doctor and two full-time nurses to provide medical care and preventive measures at the school.

AIS’ well-equipped clinic has First Aid and Emergency provisions. It conducts periodic medical check-ups, initiates vaccination programs to prevent childhood diseases, practices infection control by isolating affected cases and supervises the school environment. The school ensures a high-quality health service.

Australian International School Sharjah encourages parental involvement in the campus as they believe it to be a pivotal factor in driving students to achieve the best results.

Parents can access vital information regarding their child through the school’s parent portal called the Engage Parent Portal. The portal contains students’ timetables, attendance records, assessment reports and more.

• Telephone number: +971-6-558-9967
• Australian International School Sharjah Website
• Australian International School Sharjah Facebook
• Australian International School Sharjah Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to Australian International School Sharjah.