GEMS Metropole School

Managed by GEMS Education, GEMS Metropole School (MTS) was established in 2014. It is located in Motor City and has successfully maintained its reputation as a medium price-range institution that offers quality education.

Currently, there are over 2,700 students, 177 teachers and 64 teaching assistants, making the teacher to student ratio to 1:16. Similarly, there are 283 students of determination.

GEMS Metropole School, Motor City offers education based on the British curriculum to children aged 3 to 18. It prepares students attending secondary level and Post 16 to appear for General Certificate of Secondary Examination (GCSE) and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) Levels.

• Location: Dubai Motor City
• School fees: AED 36,560 - AED 48,748
• Curriculum: British
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-ed
• KHDA rating: Acceptable
• Years offered: FS 1 - Year 13

Based in Uptown Motor City, the school campus is easily accessible for residents living in:

• Dubai Production City
• Dubai Studio City
• Dubai Sports City
• Arabian Ranches

Dubai Studio City is the closest at a 2-minute drive away. The neighbourhood boasts film production houses, broadcasting companies and ventures related to the entertainment industry.

Families that prefer to live near the school can consider:

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GEMS Metropole School provides excellent facilities to support the learning process. There are spacious classrooms with interactive whiteboards, iPads, laptops and other supporting multimedia. Wi-Fi internet is available throughout the school building. There are three libraries in the school; Each level, i.e. foundation stage, primary level and secondary level, has a library.

MTS School has six secondary science labs, a primary discovery lab, an innovation room, and rooms for music, arts, and performing arts. Students can also enjoy their time outside the class in the peace garden and student garden. The school canteen has a lunch facility while parents can buy snacks and drinks from the parent’s café upon their visit.

Talking about sports facilities, Foundation Stage students can use the playground and the PE hall. There is a fitness studio and dance studio for secondary students, a large multi-purpose and an AstroTurf with markings for the athletic track and the football pitch. In addition, there are two multi-purpose sports halls where students can play tennis, basketball and netball. One can also find two swimming pools where one is a trainer’s pool, and the other is the main pool.

There is an inclusion centre for students of determination and a common room, and a study room for Sixth Form students.

GEMS Metropole School location is on Honsho Road in Motor City. The school is situated near Al Eman Mosque.

GEMS Metropole School is a part of GEMS Education, a trusted name in education. Several reasons make MTS Dubai a preferable choice among parents.

First, the school has students from over 100 nationalities, and this cultural exposure helps groom students. The school has now introduced the Sixth Form stage, so parents need not worry about moving their kids to a new school eliminating the painstaking task of scouting for schools that offer higher-level education.

Besides this, the school has flat tuition fees from Year 7 to Year 13.

Being part of the GEMS group, the school has state-of-the-art classrooms and highly experienced, well-trained teaching staff who bring novel information and knowledge to classrooms each day.

The GEMS Metropole School, Motor City curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England. The years offered include Foundation Stage up to Post-16 or Sixth Form.

GEMS Metropole School’s curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for England. The school offers education starting from the Foundation Stage until Key Stage 5 or the Sixth Form.

Foundation Stage

MTS Foundation Stage includes FS1 and FS2 for students aged 3 to 4 years old. The curriculum is designed to pay special attention to caring and nurturing children during lessons and hands-on learning. The core academic subjects and areas at this stage are:

Key Stage 1 and 2

In these two stages, students are encouraged to apply the knowledge they have gained during the previous stages at school. The curriculum places more emphasis on individuality and grooming of mind through assessments and self-evaluation. Subjects taught during these stages include:

*French is introduced in Key Stage 2

Key Stage 3 and 4

During KS3 and 4, the curriculum is formulated to incorporate more skills and competency discovery in students. The school also prepares children for GCSE examinations that will take place in Year 10 and 11 in Key Stage 4. Subjects offered during Key Stage 3 and 4 include:

Sixth Form

GEMS Metropole School recently introduced Key Stage 5 or Sixth Form. After successfully clearing their GCSE or IGCSE examination, students can opt for AS and A level or Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) courses. Subjects offered at the AS, and A Level include:

*Core Mathematics is only offered in Year 12.

Other courses include:

• Art & Design (2-year course only)
• Drama (2-year course only)
• Physical Education (2-year course only)
• French (a 2-year course or 1-year complete A Level course for native speakers)*
• Spanish (a 2-year course or 1-year complete A Level course for native speakers)*
• Media Studies (2-year course only)

*The Head of the Department will test native speakers.

Please note:

• Students can choose four subjects for Year 12 but drop one subject when moving to Year 13.
• Physical Activity and Moral Education is compulsory for all students. However, Muslim students must study Islamic Education.

Parents searching for facilities that follow the UK-based education system can check out the best British Schools in Dubai.

The Knowledge Human and Development Authority (KHDA) regularly inspects all private schools operating in Dubai. These schools are rated on a six-point scale, as presented in the image below.

As per the latest KHDA report, the school has successfully maintained its ‘Acceptable’ rating. Some key areas of the school that were appreciated in the report include:

• Partnership between governors and senior leaders, and effective hard work from teachers, which together have led to many improvements in outcomes.
• Students’ behaviour and attitudes towards others and to their work.
• The school has arranged to provide high-quality health, safety and support to students.
• The very effective identification of barriers to learning and support for students of determination.
• The partnership with parents is very positive, and staffing, facilities, and resources are enhanced.

Areas of improvement include the quality and consistency of teaching and assessment. Also, the teacher and students need to work together to improve the latter’s performance in Arabic as the first and additional language in the secondary and Post-16 section.

GEMS Metropole School calendar spans across 10 months and is divided into winter, spring and summer terms. A summary of the academic calendar is presented below.

The GEMS Metropole School admission process is relatively simple. The application process starts with completing an online Enquiry form. Upon filling the form, parents will receive a confirmation email with an Enquiry reference number that should be saved for future reference.

The next step involves uploading all the mandatory documents the school requires. The list includes:

• A copy of the applicant’s Emirates ID, a valid passport and residence visa
• A copy of each parent’s Emirates ID, a valid passport and residence visa
• 1 recent passport size photograph of the applicant
• 1 recent passport size photograph of the parents
• Copies of the applicant’s last school reports (for students seeking admission in Year 1 and onwards)
• Complete medical report and a copy of the immunisation card of the applicant
• Transfer Certificate from the last school attended attested by:
  • The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy if the student is coming from countries other than America, Australia, Canada, Europe and New Zealand
  • The Ministry of Education if the student is coming from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman
  • The Ministry of Education of the emirate if the student is coming from Emirates other than Dubai

Assessments

To secure a spot at GEMS Metropole School, it is imperative that the student meets the admission eligibility criteria mentioned above and clear the entrance exams set differently for each level.

For entry into Foundation Stage, students must clear a play-based screening test that allows the examiner to observe children’s emotional, social and communication skills.

Students seeking entry into Years 1 and 2 must pass an entrance exam based on Mathematics and English. Students applying into Year 3 and onward will have to clear the CAT4 assessment that enables the school to determine the applicant’s abilities in various curriculum areas and their interaction with the team.

Before initiating the admission process, please ensure that your child meets the following age placement criteria.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for the school beginning in September). Source: GEMS Metropole School.

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

Here’s the GEMS Metropole School fees information for the current academic year:

The school is also offering the following sibling discounts:

• 25% for the fourth child
• 50% for the fifth child

Parents also need to pay AED 525 (VAT included) as the application fee. The amount is non-refundable if the school offers a place to students, but the offer is rejected. This admission fee is refundable if the school does not offer a place to the student.

The school will also ask for a non-refundable registration deposit of 10% of the tuition fee and a non-refundable re-registration deposit of 5% of the tuition fee.

Refund

The school rarely refunds applications; however, the school makes a refund under exceptional circumstances, including relocation to another country. The calculation for a refund is:

• If the student were enrolled for two weeks or less, the school would deduct one-month fees.
• If the student attended school between 2 weeks to one month, the school would deduct two-month fees.
• If the student attended school for one month or more, the school would deduct the entire term fees.

Refunds would be made through cheque if parents paid the tuition fee in cash. If the fees were paid with a credit card or online, then the money would be returned to the credit card.

Student Withdrawal and Non-Payment of Fees

In case a student wants to withdraw, parents are required to inform the school at least a month in advance so that MTS can complete all the exit formalities or prepare the Transfer Certificate for the student’s convenience.

Failure to pay the school fees on time will result in the loss of the student’s place at the school. GEMS Metropole School, Motor City, has the autonomy to withhold any school report, examination results and suspend or expel the student from the school.

Payment

Parents can pay GEMS Metropole School, Motor City fees through cash, cheque, bank transfer and credit card. Also, they can make the fee payment either annually or at the start of each term, i.e. 1st September, 1st January and 1st April.

GEMS Reward System

Parents have been a vital part of the GEMS Education group since its inception. The trust of parents in the GEMS education system has enabled them to witness success over all these years. Parents who have kids studying at the GEMS Metropole School, Dubai, can avail of multiple discounts via the GEMS Reward System.

Parents can make the most of the discounts and amazing offers by purchasing goods from GEMS discount partners all over the UAE. Parents could earn back up to 4.25% of the tuition fee if they paid the school fees through GEMS FAB Credit Card.

The GEMS Ambassador Programme allows parents to successfully earn back a minimum of 4% of the annual tuition fee of their child upon successfully referring the school to their friends and family.

For further details on terms and conditions, please visit the GEMS Ambassador Programme.

Being part of the GEMS group, the students of GEMS Metropole School can apply for the GEMS scholarship in five different categories, including Academics, Creative and Performing Arts, Arabic Studies, Sports and Innovation and Digital Technology.

The scholarship is awarded on merit only, and students can get a 25% to 100% waiver on their tuition fee depending upon their performance in the category they would like to apply.

In general, to successfully compete in the scholarship program, students need to show a record of proven outstanding achievement in the relevant category, submit a duly completed scholarship form along with the most recent school report. They also need to pass specific tests or assessments and then successfully clear interviews conducted by the school principal and the GEMS Scholarship Committee.

To start the scholarship process, parents need to apply online.

GEMS Metropole School advocates healthy living; it insists on nutritious and healthy foods as a choice for students. Students can find a wide variety of Arabic, International, Mexican, Continental and Indian food at the school cafeteria.

Parents can send lunch from home,  but they are advised to avoid fizzy drinks and junk food.

GEMS Metropole School has outsourced the transportation service to School Transport Services LLC (STS). All buses provided by the company are well-equipped with a video surveillance system, GPS and student attendance confirmation scanner.

To avail of this facility, parents are requested to submit a transport request form to STS Representative deployed at the school. Upon receiving the form, the same representative will confirm the availability of the bus along the route provided and will intimate the contact information of the bus driver to parents.

You can pay for the transportation fee online by visiting STS and reading up on terms and conditions.

Students can participate in spring and summer holiday camps arranged by the East Sports Management (ESM) Company. All candidates can avail of a 25% discount if they book for a week-long camp and a 30% discount if they book a 2-week camp.

Students at GEMS Metropole School, Motor City, are encouraged to take part in sports. Physical activities are incorporated into the school curriculum to allow students to develop their interest in sports further.

MTS school students participate in different competitions held in Dubai, including DASSA League, GEMS Sports Series and World School Games.

The school has established several sports facilities, including two multi-use game areas where students can play tennis, basketball and netball. There are two multi-purpose sports halls, a dance studio, a fitness studio, two swimming pools and an AstroTurf with a football pitch, athletics track and a rounder’s pitch.

GEMS Metropole School offers many extra-curricular and after-school activities. Students can participate in academics, sports, arts and crafts, drama, music, elocution, and more. The school has partnered with a few external organisations to arrange a wide range of activities. The enrichment activities available in the Sixth Form include:

MTS takes its students on several field trips within the emirate. So far, students have enjoyed an overnight Eco Venture trip. Year 4 campers enjoyed the mangroves and rock climbing; they visited Posh Paws. Year 6 visited the Expo 2020 site and Emirates Park Zoo.

Since the school has partnered with DELTA Learning, students can participate in various after-school activities offered by the company. Popular activities include:

After-school activities run from 03:00 pm to 04:45 pm. To know more about each of these activities, please click here.

The school has a fully equipped medical clinic with a full-time nurse to administer first aid. The school also maintains all medical records of all the students.

Appreciating parents for trusting the school is at the heart of GEMS Metropole School’s philosophy, and Parent Partnership is just one way to show this gratitude. The school believes that establishing a close relationship with parents and keeping them in the loop is critical for the betterment of students in the long run.

For this purpose, the school has launched a ‘3-a-day’ app where parents can access lectures to continue their child’s learning at home. There is a parent portal where parents can register to gain access to their child’s performance, attendance, and upcoming school events and happenings.

Parents can always visit the Feedback and Suggestions page for more traditional routes to lodge a complaint or send a message to the school. Also listed below are the GEMS Metropole School contact details.

Telephone

Telephone Number: +971-4-550-7200

Email

• General Enquiries: registrar_mts@gemsedu.com
• Parent Relations Executive: PRE_MTS@Gemsedu.com

General Information

• GEMS Metropole School Dubai Website
• GEMS Metropole School Dubai Facebook
• GEMS Metropole School Dubai Twitter
• GEMS Metropole School Dubai Instagram
• GEMS Metropole School Dubai YouTube

Do you conduct after-school activities?

GEMS Metropole School offers after-school activities in collaboration with Delta from 03:00 pm until 04:45 pm.

How many grades/years are there in your school?

GEMS MTS welcomes students from FS 1 until Year 13.

How many students are currently studying in your school?

Currently, there are over 2,700 students, including 283 students of determination belonging from different Arab nations.

Can you please describe the academic calendar of your school?

The academic calendar starts in the last week of August and ends in the first week of July. 

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by your school?

The annual KHDA-approved tuition fee ranges from AED 36,560 - AED 48,748.

Do you offer scholarship programmes to needy and deserving students?

The school offers GEMS Education Scholarships in five different categories including Academic, Creative and Performing Arts, Arabic, Sports and Innovation and Digital Technology.

How do you communicate with parents?

The school is keen on effective communication with parents through the 3-a-day app and the parents portal along with the comments and suggestions page on the official school website.

Do you have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

There's a cafeteria on the school premise that serves various cuisines.

Does your school organise holiday camps for winter, spring or summer breaks?

Students can participate in spring and summer holiday camps arranged by the East Sports Management (ESM) Company. You can avail different discount offers as well.

How many teachers are currently teaching in your school?

The teaching staff consists of 177 teachers and 64 teaching assistants.