GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah

GEMS Westminster School (WSS) is a prestigious international institution in Sharjah. The school opened its doors in 2012 after the success of its sister school – The Westminster School in Dubai. The school has another sister branch – GEMS Westminster School RAK.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah follows the international educational programme based on the National Curriculum of England. It prepares students to sit in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations in the secondary stage and AS and A-Levels examinations in the Higher Secondary Stage.

Students at this school belong to over 70 nationalities and are taught by a team of experienced teachers, predominantly Indian. The teacher-to-student ratio at this school is 1:16, ensuring a considerable level of individual attention and care.

• Location: Muwaileh Sharjah
• School fee: AED 13,428 - AED 26,343
• Curriculum: The National Curriculum for England
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-Ed
• SPEA rating: Good
• Years offered: KG1 - Grade 12

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah is located in Muwaileh – a community known for top-notch schools in Sharjah. In terms of residential options, once can find several low-rise apartment buildings with studios to 3-bed units at an affordable price. Other communities that are close to the school are:

• Al Noaf 3
• Al Noaf 1
• Al Noaf 2
• Al Gharayen

Al Noaf 3 is nearest to GEMS Westminster School. Families that enjoy a quiet and calm lifestyle prefer this community. Here, one can find most lifestyle amenities, such as schools, health clinics, restaurants and supermarkets, all at short-driving distances. Those interested in moving close to the GEMS Westminster School can also opt for other sub-communities of Al Noaf. Additionally, Al Gharayen is located close to the school.

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GEMS Westminster School Sharjah has outstanding school facilities that fully support the academic and non-academic provisions of the school. Outside the building lies a small parking space for faculty members. Inside the school building, there are administration and reception areas for enquiry.

The campus classrooms are bright and spacious. The school equips classrooms with age-appropriate technology features and furniture to aid in students learning. Music, science, computers, arts and other laboratory facilities are available on campus. Other noteworthy academic facilities at the campus include a library, ICT labs and Electronic labs.

GEMS Westminster School is close to the India International School on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road in the Muweilah area, Sharjah. Those living in the nearby residential communities can access the school via Maliha Road, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road and Sharjah Ring Road.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah (WSS), a private institution in Sharjah, adheres to the National Curriculum of England, renowned for its academic rigour and global recognition. Graduates earn Cambridge A-Levels Certificates, opening doors to prestigious universities worldwide. The school prioritizes student needs, offering child-centric academic and extracurricular programs within a nurturing environment. With facilities supporting diverse activities like sports, arts, and science clubs, WSS aims to foster well-rounded individuals. Its inclusive culture, accommodating over 70 nationalities, encourages mutual respect and exemplary behaviour. 

A house system promotes friendly competition, with students grouped into Scorpion, Falcon, Arabian Horse, and Dolphin houses. As part of the GEMS Education Group, WSS benefits from shared best practices and values such as growth, excellence, innovation, and global citizenship. Programs like the GEMS Reward and Ambassador Programs further incentivize loyalty among students and parents, enhancing the school's reputation and community engagement.

The phases of education at GEMS WSS are:

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah follows the National Curriculum of the UK and Wales for its educational programme. The British curriculum has gained a reputation for quality and is internationally recognised for its readiness.

The curriculum followed by the school fosters a keen interest in learning and striving for academic excellence. The specifics for each phase of education are as follows:

Key Stage 1 (KG1 to Grade 1) Curriculum

In KS1, the school follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. It is a popular educational model for introducing children to the school’s environment. The school understands that students learn through different means. Therefore, it follows a non-formal teaching method based on ‘play and learn’ strategies. Teachers focus on developing students’ skills in the following seven key areas of learning:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, social and Emotional Development
• Literacy
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world

All these seven areas of learning are interconnected and play a pivotal role in a child’s development.

From KG2 onwards, the school follows a more formal teaching approach based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales. It provides an introduction to the essential knowledge and skills that are necessary for the subsequent phases of education. It also prepares students for responsibilities, opportunities, experiences that will be helpful in the future. Once students clear Grade 1, they are ready to tackle the next academic endeavour – Key Stage 2 (KS2).

Key Stage 2 (Grade 2 to Grade 5) Curriculum

In the primary stage, GEMS WSS continues to follow the National Curriculum of England along with a few subjects as specified by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The school offers a vibrant and rich learning experience in the primary stage that allows students to be creative and expressive.
The syllabus is child-centric, experiential and applications-oriented. As a result, students can better understand the phenomena going around them.

The relaxed and caring environment along with the academics and non-academic provisions helps in the holistic development of students.

Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 (Grade 6 to Grade 10) Curriculum

Key Stage 3 is one of the crucial stages in the academic life of students. In this stage, the school introduces students to subjects and concepts that prepare them for secondary and high school education. GEMS Westminster School Sharjah offers an academically productive environment where students have opportunities to reach their full potential. The school focuses on building confidence and independent learning skills of students by catering to the individual needs of students and expanding academic expectations.

In Key Stage 4, the school prepares students to sit for the IGCSE examinations, GEMS WSS has a unique dual pathway of education that offers a great opportunity for students to hone their academic skills. Students in Grade 9 can either opt for the two-year IGCSE pathway or the three-year IGCSE pathway. Students completing their IGCSE certification in three years will study for the AS Level in Grade 12.

The subjects available to students for the IGCSE stage are:

• Mathematics
• English
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Economics
• Accounting
• Combined Sciences
• Business Studies
• Geography
• Information Technology
• Art and Design
• Arabic as First and Second Language
• Travel and Tourism
• Food and Nutrition

Key Stage 5 (Grade 11 and Grade 12) Curriculum

Key Stage 5 (KS5) is the last stage of education at GEMS WSS. In this stage, the school challenges students to find their identity as artists, scholars, scientists or athletes. The KS5 stage revolves around the AS Level programme by Cambridge International.

The subjects that are available at this stage are limited. The subjects include:

• English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Economics
• Accounting
• Business Studies
• Information and Communication Technology

Besides the aforementioned, the school also includes the following subjects as per the guidelines set by the MOE:

• Special Arabic (for native speakers)
• Regular Arabic (for non-native students)
• Islamic Studies (for Muslims)
• Social Studies

Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) is a governmental education regulatory body in Sharjah. SPEA assesses schools' performance and issues a rating on a six-point scale from Outstanding to Very Weak.

GEMS Westminister School is rated Good by the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA). For more information, read the inspection report available on the SPEA's website.

The academic year at GEMS WSS starts in late August and ends in early July. The activities are split into three academic terms:

• The first term starts in the last week of August (as staggered because of the COVID-19 pandemic) and ends in the second week of December. This is followed by a three-week winter break that ends in the last week 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 that ends in the first week of April.
• The last term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July.

For more information, check out the academic calendar of GEMS Westminster School Sharjah.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah follows an inclusive admission policy that allows students from different backgrounds to be a part of the school. The school uses screening or assessment to determine the appropriate grade of the candidate.

To apply, parents can register their child by submitting the GEMS online student registration form. Before applying, the school prefers parents to visit the school and see the facilities by themselves. To book a tour, parents can fill out the school tour form or reach out to the parent relationship executive on aiysha.k_wss@gemsedu.com. Currently, the school is following strict guidelines for parents visiting the school. The school tours are usually arranged every Sunday to Thursday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

After submitting the form, parents will receive the receipt at the provided email address. Parents are advised to print out the receipt and save the enquiry number. They will come in handy in future processes. The school uses the following age-grade guideline to grant admission to their educational institute:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st July (for schools beginning in April). Source: GEMS WSS

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

Afterwards, parents will be invited to bring the candidate for the assessment. The assessment may include an admission test or an interview. Successful candidates will be granted admission. Parents can pay AED 500 (exclusive of VAT) within 24 hours of the offer to reserve the seat. Parents are also requested to submit any documents left. Failure to do so can result in the cancellation of admission.

For more information, read the admission process at GEMS Westminster School Sharjah.

The GEMS Westminster School Sharjah fee for the academic year 2020-2021 is as follows:

New admissions have to pay a non-refundable fee of AED 500 that is adjustable in the tuition fee for the first term. Please note that the tuition fee is approved by SPEA and is exclusive of charges for uniform, extracurricular events and other activities at the campus. For more information, check out the fee structure of GEMS Westminster School.

Currently, GEMS Westminster School does not have a scholarship programme for its students. The tuition fee charged by the school is less than many international schools following the same curriculum.

There is a canteen where students can buy hot and cold food items at affordable prices. All the food items are prepared in a hygienic environment using fresh raw materials. Certain foods, such as fizzy drinks, junk food, candies and cakes, are not allowed. Students in the kindergarten stage need to bring home-packed lunch boxes.

It is difficult for parents to pick up and drop off their child to and from the school on time regularly. The school eases parents by offering a safe and efficient transport service. GEMS WSS has outsourced its transport operations to School Transport Service (STS) – a reputable name in providing transportation services to schools and other educational institutions.

The transportation staff is experienced and well trained. The school buses are equipped with modern safety features, including a Global Positioning System (GPS), video surveillance, scanners for attendance.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah is a day-only school. It does not offer any boarding or hostelling facility to students. Students can opt for the school transport service offered by the school. Parents that are interested in moving close to the school should read the residential communities near GEMS Westminster School Sharjah at the beginning of the guide.

Currently, the school does not offer any holiday camps to its students. Parents can enrol their children on the holiday camps organised by the external camp agencies.

Sport is an integral part of the enrichment programme at GEMS Westminster School Sharjah. Participation in physical activities results in self-confidence, positive self-esteem, fitness and coordination. GEMS Westminster School Sharjah balances the academics and non-academic aspects of students’ lives through its outstanding range of sports facilities. The campus has:

Two of the outdoor multi-games courts are on the ground storey and the rest of them are on the roof. The school also arranges an annual sports competition in which students showcase their athletic skills.

GEMs Westminster School Sharjah offers a plethora of extracurricular activities dedicated to the holistic development of students. The enrichment programme is designed in a way to ensure that each student can take part in his or her favourite activities.

The co-curricular activities offered to students include field trips, cultural events, campaigns and environmental and social service projects. Other optional extracurricular activities available to students are broadly classified into sports, music, art, language and maths and science clubs.

Some popular extracurricular programmes at the campus are:

WSS Physical Education (PE) Programme

The WSS PE programme serves as an opportunity for all students to be physically, mentally, psychologically and socially active. Students of GEMS WSS channel their motivation, energy and strength in a positive and structured way using the school’s facilities.

Regular PE lessons are conducted at the campus that focuses on the development of general motor skills. As students grow older, they work on their agility, flexibility, coordination, balance and power skills. Students that show exceptional talents represent the school in various tournaments. Besides traditional sports, such as football, cricket and basketball, students also take part in running, jumping, galloping, hopping and other sports based on locomotor skills. Students also represent their houses in annual sports competitions held at the campus.

Students’ Leadership Programme

Students of GEMS WSS are exposed to many opportunities where they showcase their leadership skills. About 40% of students at the campus are engaged in leadership roles. These students are responsible for organising events that raise awareness on social problems, create community spirit and support peers and parents through creative actions.

WSS Music Programme

Students that are interested in performance arts, especially music, can participate in the WSS music Programme. Students learn to play guitar, piano and other musical instruments. They are given opportunities to showcase their skills in talent shows and concerts. Students of GEMS WSS are also given theoretical and practical lessons in Western Classical Music.

WSS Club Programme

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah also has exciting clubs for students. For more information, contact the school’s administration.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah arranges field trips throughout the year to expose students to the outdoor environment. Field trips allow students to explore and better understand the world around them. Most field trips arranged by the school are recreational.

One of the popular field trips that were arranged by GEMS WSS was the visit to Sharjah Aquarium. It is an outstanding educational centre in the UAE that is ideal for children. Here, students explored a plethora of sea creatures in 20 different aquariums spanning across two storeys.

Another popular field trip was the visit to the Sharjah Art Museum. Students explored the artwork depicting the rich history of the UAE.

The school has an after-school care programme consisting of school clubs and extracurricular activities to hone the non-academic skills of students. These activities are offered after regular school hours. Activities such as WSS Music Programme and WSS Club Programme are offered as after-school programmes.

GEMS Westminster School Sharjah has a medical facility that caters to medical emergencies to students and staff. The facility is equipped with resources and experienced professionals to deal with minor to moderate injuries and illnesses.

Communication between the school and parents is vital for GEMS Education. Therefore, all the GEMS Schools, including GEMS WSS, have several modes of communication to facilitate the process.

GEMS Westminster School arranges parent-teacher meetings throughout the year in which parents and teachers discuss the progress made by students. They share their feedback and strategies to assist each other in the student’s academic journey. The school has a parent portal that allows access to attendance records, academic progress, teachers’ feedback, examination schedules, news, notifications and much more.

GEMS WSS rewards parents who are loyal to the school and GEMS Education. GEMS Rewards is an initiative by GEMS Education through which parents can save money on tuition fees. Also, parents who refer to any GEMS schools to their friends and family earn a special discount through the GEMS Ambassador Programme. There also exists the GEMS Parent Experience Centre that answers parents’ questions and queries. The GEMS Parent Experience Centre is open every Sunday to Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The school has an official website where visitors can access information on curriculum, admission and fee details and school facilities. Other modes of communication at this school are social media pages, newsletter on the official website and school-designated WhatsApp groups. Also, the school has a feedback and suggestion form on its official website.

• Address: GEMS Westminster School (WSS), Muwaileh School Zone, Muwaileh, Sharjah
• Telephone: +971 6 5426323
• Email: registrar_wss@gemsedu.com
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Where is GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah located?

GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah is located in Muweilah, Sharjah.

How many grades/years are there in GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah?

GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah welcomes students from KG 1 to Grade 12.

Can you please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by  GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah?

GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah tuition fee ranges from AED 13,428 to AED 26,343.

Note that the cover image belongs to GEMS Westminster School Sharjah