GEMS Winchester School

The GEMS Winchester School Dubai (WSD) established in 2011 is part of the prestigious GEMS Education group. Formerly located in the heart of Bur Dubai, the school moved to its new campus in Dubailand for the 2020 – 2021 academic year.

GEMS Winchester School Dubai offers the National Curriculum for England (NCFE). This British curriculum school is especially popular with the expatriate community in Dubai and boasts a multicultural student population belonging to over 20 different nationalities.

The GEMS Winchester School Dubai offers classes from Foundation Stage to Year 13. The school gained popularity because of its prime location, top-notch facilities, affordable fee structure and its high standard of education. The school has improved its KHDA rating in the latest inspection.

• Location: Dubailand
• School fees: AED 19,398 - AED 36,570
• Curriculum: National Curriculum for England
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA rating: Very Good
• Years offered: FS - Year 13

Located close to IMG Worlds of Adventure, GEMS Winchester School in Dubailand is easily accessible from residential communities such as:

• Majan
• Falcon City of Wonders
• Liwan
• The Villa

Liwan is a freehold development located at the Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road intersection. Residential properties in Liwan have state-of-the-art facilities and mainly include apartments for sale and rent. The Villa is a gated community launched in 2005 by Dubai Properties. Besides spacious villas, the development features local marts, mosques and playgrounds.

Those interested in living close to the campus can consider:

• Apartments for rent near GEMS Winchester School
• Apartments for sale near GEMS Winchester School
• Villas for rent near GEMS Winchester School
• Villas for sale near GEMS Winchester School
• Townhouses for sale near GEMS Winchester School
• Townhouses for rent near GEMS Winchester School

The GEMS Winchester School opened to address the increasing demand for quality schools in Dubai. At WSD, a stimulating learning environment is created with state of the art facilities that include classrooms equipped with high-speed internet, a multi-purpose hall, auditorium, arts and crafts rooms, music room, library, primary and secondary medical centre.

Foundation stage students have access to specially designed soft outdoor play areas. Covered turfs and multipurpose courts and a canteen and school store are also located on the premises to facilitate children.

GEMS Winchester School is located in Dubailand, close to IMG Worlds of Adventure, one of Dubai’s popular tourist attractions. Apartments and villas in the parent community are spacious and affordable, making it an excellent option for parents looking to stay close to GEMS Winchester School, Dubai.

Important factor parents consider when choosing WSD is that the school belongs to the GEMS Education group. The GEMS founding concepts include pursuing excellence, learning through innovation, growing by learning and global citizenship. The shared concepts of GEMS Education are further enriched by the well-rounded curriculum of GEMS Winchester School.

WSD offers the National Curriculum of England which is a structured curriculum designed for the well-rounded development of children. The curriculum enables children to reach their potential by exploring the world around them, relating to others, thinking for themselves and forming opinions. Students are taught to learn by questioning, problem-solving and creative thinking. At WSD, quality education is offered at a very reasonable fee.

The school’s location is another deciding factor for parents. WSD new campus is conveniently located in the heart of Dubailand.

Parental support plays a crucial role in a child’s development. WSD has always maintained a strong partnership with parents, students and the community. Many events are being hosted by the school to bring together these communities.

Student Leadership and teamwork are very important at WSD. A well-established house system ensures that students work together to make their respective houses Term and Year Champions. There are many student leadership roles such as House Captains, Arabic Ambassadors, Student Voice Delegates, Head Boys and Girls.

The following years are offered at WSD:

GEMS Winchester School follows the National Curriculum for England. Currently, the school operates from Foundation Stage to Year 13.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

At WSD, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is offered for Foundation Stage 2 (FS2). EYFS is an activity-based program with a focus on the development of speaking, reading, listening and writing skills. These goals are supported by numerous individual and group activities that hone children’s natural curiosity.

Key Stage 1 (KS1)

KS1 includes Year 1 and Year 2, where children are encouraged to develop skills related to problem-solving, reasoning and creative thinking.

The main subjects included in KS1 are 

Key Stage 2 (KS2)

Key Stage 2 comprises of Year 3 to Year 6. At WSD, the curriculum is adapted to set challenging targets in these years, when children become more independent and self-aware.

The main subjects for KS2 include 

Key Stage 3 (KS3)

KS3 students are made familiar with creative and accelerated learning. Students are taught to set daily goals and long term objectives. WSD helps lay the foundation for the IGCSE based subject options for Year 10 and beyond.

Subjects in this stage include:

Key Stage 4 (KS3)

At this stage, the school encourages students to choose subjects that are best suited for their future university requirements and career path.

The main subjects offered in GEMS Winchester School at Key Stage 4 include:

On the other hand, the optional subjects include 

Key Stage 5 (KS5)

Students completing Year 11 can now complete their schooling by enrolling into KS5. In this stage, students can opt for A Levels or BTEC (Level 3). Besides, students can also opt for blended pathway, which is a mixture of AS Levels and BTEC courses or a personalised pathway.

Students opting for A level programme have two options: study the subject of their choice for a year (AS Level) or study for two years for a complete A Levels. Subjects available to students are:

Students choosing BTEC pathway has to study for two years, equivalent to three A levels. Extended diplomas are available in Business Studies and Information Technology.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for evaluating private schools in Dubai based on a six-point scale as shown below.

GEMS Winchester School was inspected by the KHDA from 16th to 20th January 2023. The overall rating achieved by the school is “Good.” 

From FS onwards, students develop strong learning skills and achieve well in all subjects and activities. Students of determination get very well support. They make very good and often outstanding progress.

Students’ welfare and wellbeing are school’s priority. Safeguarding procedures and made by very clear policies and are supported training of the staff. Students are under effective supervision. The school promotes healthy living systematically. Overall, the health and safety procedures at school are outstanding.

The best features of the school are:

• School’s strong, visionary leadership that ensures wellbeing of students and its strong partnership with parents
• The excellent curriculum, vast range of extracurricular activities and students’ impressive achievements
• School’s inclusive ethos, provision of effective care and support and encouragement of a strong sense of social responsibility
• Support at the FS level that provides base for students’ outstanding personal development

Areas where the school can improve include:

• Increase the part of very good and outstanding teaching by ensuring teachers regular check students’ progress and then use the assessment to challenge and support students of all abilities

GEMS Winchester School calendar is divided into three terms. GEMS WSD’s academic year runs from August until July.

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. This is followed by a three-week winter break.
• Spring term starts in the first week of January and concludes in the last week of March. Students then take a 2-week spring break.
• The final summer term starts in April’s second week and concludes in the first week of July.

To find out more about the holidays and academic activities, check out GEMS Winchester School’s academic calendar.

Registration and admission of students for the new academic year is done through the school website. Here’s an overview of the different steps involved in GEMS Winchester School, Dubailand admissions.

Step 1: Submit an online enquiry form, by filling in all requisite details.

Step 2: A confirmation email will be sent containing the Enquiry Number. This is a reference point for all further application-related communication with the school.

Step 3: Pay the Application Fee of AED 525 (500/- Application + 25 VAT) and bring the following documents to the school to complete the registration process:

• 1 copy of both the child’s and parents’ passports, including a valid UAE residence visa page
• Original Emirates ID card (of child and sponsor: both will be verified and copied by school staff)
• 1 copy of Emirates ID of both child and sponsor
• 1 copy of the child’s birth certificate (in English or Arabic)
• 4 recent passport-sized photographs of the child (with a white background)
• 2 years’ of school reports, including any learning support documents pertaining to your child’s educational needs (for Year 3 onwards)
• 1 vaccination record copy (for Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2 applicants)

Step 4: The school will schedule an interview and/or assessment test (assessment tests for English and Mathematics are required from Year 3 onwards).

Step 5: Bring the child at the scheduled time for their interview and/or assessment test.

Step 6: Upon completion of the interview and/or assessment test, the school will contact parents once the child has been offered a place.

Step 7: Bring the child’s attested Transfer Certificate to the school (Attestation is not required for transfers from schools in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe).

An Admission Fee of AED 2,500 will also be due upon the acceptance of the offer letter. The Admission fee is non-refundable but adjustable against the total tuition fees for the academic year. Visit the admission process page on the official GEMS Winchester School Dubai website for more information.

Before starting the registration, please ensure that your child follows the age-placement guideline.

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). Source: KHDA

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

GEMS Winchester School Dubai fees is as follows:

Method of Payment for fees in GEMS Winchester School: Online payment/cash or cheque payment/bank transfer payment/credit cards

Please note that the aforementioned fee structure is approved by the KHDA. For further details, visit the official fee structure page on the GEMS Winchester School Dubai website.

The school also charges the following fee:

• New Students Application Fee: AED 500
• Registration Deposit: 10% of the total tuition fees
• Re-registration Deposit: 5% of the total tuition fees

Fee can be paid using the following bank details:

• Account Name: GEMS WINCHESTER SCHOOL
• Bank Name: MASHREQ BANK
• Bank Address: AL RIQA BRANCH, DEIRA, DUBAI-UAE
• Account Number: 010493178840
• Swift Code: BOMLAEAD
• IBAN: AE170330000010493178840

The school also offers sibling discounts on the tuition fee.

• 4th Sibling: 25% discount
• 5th Sibling: 50% discount
• 6th Sibling: 60% discount

The clean and hygienic school canteen provides healthy snacks and drinks during break time. The school has teamed with Slices, which is an external company based in UAE to provide healthy and balanced food to WSD students.

Parents can sign up for a Slices card through the GEMS Connect app. Students can use this card to pay for the food instead of carrying money. The card also allows parents to track food consumed by their kids and set limits on how much they can buy in a day.

School transportation services at GEMS Winchester School, Dubailand, are provided by School Transport Services (STS) LLC. STS is one of the prestigious ISO accredited transport service providers in the UAE. STS has an extensive bus fleet equipped with the latest technology to ensure commute quality, safety, and comfort.

All STS bus guardians and bus drivers undergo training by specialist and accredited trainers that is aligned with the RTA regulations. All STS buses have safety features including GPS tracking, electronic attendance system, video surveillance system, panic button, sleeping child check button and a state of the art control room. Once the child is registered, STS app can be used.

Premium sports facilities at GEMS Winchester School include:

• Sports fields
• Covered outdoor recreation areas
• Multipurpose sports court
• Air-conditioned play-area (for Foundation Stage students)

WSD offers interest-based activities as both co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

The GEMS Winchester School conducts regular field and overseas trips for students that are aligned with the class lessons. GEMS Winchester School students have visited Green Planet, City Walk and the Space Camp in the United States.

WSD runs support classes after school hours. These classes are voluntary and incur additional charges. WSD has collaborated with East Sports Management (ESM), an international sport Management Company governing all sports provision in schools.

ESM manages sports activities such as karate, football, and cricket for WSD students who have to stay back after school dismissal.

Like most GEMS Education Group’s school, Winchester also has a well-equipped primary, and secondary medical clinic managed by the DHA registered nurse. Parents are advised not to send sick children to school. If children display symptoms of illness, parents are notified immediately. The clinic has a bed, first-aid kit, over-the-counter medication and other essentials.

GEMS Education has designed various parent programmes to strengthen the relationship between children, school, and parents. GEMS Connect App features a dashboard allowing parents to access student Info, academics, school Info, timetables, attendance, activities, bus transport, communication, fees and payment, shopping (parents can place orders for school uniforms and school canteen cards) and GEMS Rewards.

Parents can also use the GEMS Portal to access information, such as attendance record, feedback, academic performances, notifications and examination schedules. Another option that allows parents to engage with students is the GEMS my learning.

At WSD, parents are engaged in the learning and development of their children. Parents are given Welcome Packs that indicate how they would be able to help with the learning and development of the student. Moreover, parent orientation evenings are also held for almost every year group at the start of the year.

There is also a parent representative group at WSD. The school faculty and parents meet every month to think of different strategies to engage in the learning and development of the students. Weekly newsletters are also sent by the school to give parents an idea about the learning that happens during the week.

Parents and teachers can also contact each other using the grade specific WhatsApp Groups.

• Telephone: +971-4-337-4112
• Email Address: enquiries_wsd@gemsedu.com
• Website GEMS Winchester School Dubai
• Facebook GEMS Winchester School Dubai
• Twitter GEMS Winchester School Dubai
• YouTube GEMS Winchester School Dubai

Note that the cover image belongs to GEMS Winchester School Dubai.

What are the timings of the school?

The school is operational from 7 am to 3:30 pm.

How many grades/years are there in the school?

FS to Year 13.

Does the school follow a co-education model?

Yes, GEMS Winchester School, Dubai has a co-education model.

How many students are currently studying in the school?

The school has 4,219 students.

Please describe the academic calendar of the school.

The school year starts in August and ends in July.

Please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by the school.

The tuition fee ranges from AED 19,398 - AED 36,570

How does the school communicate with parents?

Parents can use the GEMS Portal to get attendance record, progress, performance and examination schedule. Parents can also become part of parent representative group and attend parents orientation evening at the start of the year. GEMS connect app allows access to academics, timetables, attendance, transport service, fee and other student related info.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, GEMS Winchester School Dubai has a canteen.

Does the school have any special education programmes or learning plans for students of determination?

Yes, GEMS Winchester School, Dubailand is an inclusive school and it provides support to students of determination.

Does the school arrange field trips?

Yes, the school takes students on national and international trips.

How many teachers are currently teaching in the school?

The school has 236 teachers and 49 teaching assistants. Most of the teachers are from India.