RAK Academy International Secondary School (ISK)

RAK International Secondary School Khuzam (ISK) is a part of the prestigious RAK Academy. RAK Academy is one of the oldest educational establishments in the emirate providing quality education to students at an affordable price tag. Opened its gate for the first time in 1975, the school now sprawls over 23 acres of land with four well-established campuses:

• RAK British School Khuzam (BSK)
• RAK International Primary School Khuzam (IPK)
• RAK International Secondary School Khuzam (ISK)

RAK ISK, as the name suggests, is a secondary school offering high-quality education to students since 1994. It educates children aged 11 to 18 years old from Year 6 to Post-16. It follows the National Curriculum of England for its educational programme leading to IGCSE certification and A-Levels. It also allows students to opt for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) at the post-16 level. In the academic year 2018-19, the school had 874 students out of which 509 were boys and the remaining 365 were girls.

Top institutions, such as International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), Edexcel, Council of International Schools, Learning Ladders, University of Cambridge International Examinations and British Schools in the Middle East, accredit all the campuses by RAK Academy.

This RAK Academy ISK review by Bayut elucidates quality of education, details on admission and fees, and facilities available to students.

RAK Academy International Secondary School is located in Dafan Al Khor. Dafan Al Khor is one of the bustling communities in Ras Al Khaimah equipped with a plethora of amenities. The school is in the proximity of the following nearby communities:

• Khuzam
• Dahan
• Al Nadiyah
• Malibu

Khuzam is a small suburban residential locality in Ras Al Khaimah. The community is known for its elegant and spacious villas. It is deeply rooted in the main city and has plenty of amenities for residents. Those living far from RAK Academy ISK can move to Khuzam and other nearby residential communities.

• Apartments for rent near RAK Academy ISK

The RAK International Secondary School Khuzam is in the neighbourhood of the RAK Academy IPK and RAK Academy BSK and shares most of the facilities. As per the recent inspection report by the Penta International conducted in early 2019, indicates a satisfactory range of school facilities. The school has most of the facilities necessary to run a school. The health and safety measures at the campus including signage and availability of first aid kids near classrooms are satisfactory.

The noteworthy school facilities at the campus include:

• Spacious and well-lit classrooms
• Science laboratories
• Media centre
• Library
• Cafeteria

The school also offers some sports-related facilities that are:

• Soccer pitch
• Swimming pool
• Courts for outdoor gaming
• Gymnasium
• Outdoor playground

The RAK Academy International Secondary School Khuzam is near the new building of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality in Dafan Al Khor, RAK. The school is at a 5-minute drive from the RAK Municipality Department. Those looking to visit the school from the nearby communities can access it through the Al Nahdah Street where they will also find RAK BSK and RAK ISP campuses.

RAK Academy is one of the oldest schools in Khuzam with an experience of running schools for over 40 years. Today, the academy is running four well-established campuses and two new schools in Ras Al Khaimah. The ISK campus, itself, has an experience of 25 years in providing quality education and support to students. The establishment of different campuses offering education to different phases ensures all the age-appropriate needs of students are met.

RAK International Secondary School Khuzam primarily follows the National Curriculum of England, a reputable curriculum framework for modern-day education. Students in RAK Academy International Primary School Khuzam automatically enrol in the ISK campus where they continue to study the same curriculum. The ISK campus allows students to complete their schooling until the post-sixteen stage following the UK curriculum. However, students can opt for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) after clearing IGCSE examinations. Both curricula are well regarded and accepted in top colleges and universities.

The school’s leadership is in the hands of experienced professionals. The school’s decisions are in the hands of an eight-member board of governors led by Her Highness Sheikha Amneh Saud Al Qasimi.

RAK International Secondary School Khuzam is a secondary school that caters to the educational needs of students aged 11 to 18 years old. The educational phases at this campus are:

The curriculum followed by the International Secondary School Khuzam is the National Curriculum of England. The school’s educational programme is broad and provides knowledge based on the international context.

Middle School Curriculum

In middle school, RAK Academy follows the Key Stage 3 (KS3) of the National Curriculum of England. It is the continuation of the same curriculum standard followed by RAK Academy IPK. The educational programme for the middle school includes Mathematics, Science and English as the core subjects. The students also study Arabic, Islamic Education and Moral Studies as per the Ministry of Education (MOE) guidelines.

Secondary School Curriculum

Grade 9 marks the start of the secondary section where students prepare for the IGCSE examination conducted by the Cambridge International Education (CIE). In Grade 9, the school conducts internal examinations whereas, in Grade 10, students sit for the external board examination.

Pathway 1 – IGCSE Level

Students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 have three columns: Column A, Column B and Column C. Students have to a minimum of one subject or a maximum of two subjects from Column A. If one subject is chosen then student have to choose four subject from column B. If he or she has chosen two subjects from Column A then he or she can choose three subjects from Column B. They also have to choose one subject from Column C. Subjects available in each column are as follows:

Column A

Column B

Please note that students can choose only one subject from Arabic, Art and Design, Music and Physical Education.

Column C

You can register for subjects of your choice by filling out the form for Grades 9 and 10 for pathway 1.

Pathway 2 – IB curricula

Those opting for IB curricula are presented with six groups. Students have to select one subject from each group. If they are not willing to choose Visual Arts from Group 6, they can choose another subject from Group 2 to Group 5.

The following are the subjects available in each group:

Group 1

• English

Group 2

• French
• Spanish
• English

Group 3

• Business Management
• Geography
• History
• Psychology

Group 4

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Design and Technology

Group 5

• Mathematics

Group 6

• Visual Arts

Sixth-form Curriculum

After completing Grade 10, students have the option to pursue either the A-Levels or International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). Both programmes are for two years and have their inherent advantages. In the post-16 stage, RAK Academy ISK offers two pathways to students. The choice of the pathway depends on the grades in IGCSE examinations.

Pathway 1 (AS and A Levels)

Students have to study five subjects to attain A Levels. The core subjects are Arabic and Islamic Studies. Students have to choose three subjects from the following four categories:

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

For more information, check out the A Level subjects at RAK Academy ISK.

Pathway 2 – IB DP

In the pathway 2, students have to study Arabic, Islamic Studies, Theory of Knowledge (IB requirement). Moreover, students have to study a subject from the following six groups:

Group 1

• English A Literature: HL
• English A Literature: SL

Group 2

• Arabic
• French
• Spanish (AB)

Group 3

• Psychology
• Geography
• History
• Business Management

Group 4

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Computer Science

Group 5

• Math HL
• Math SL

Group 6

• Art
• DT
• Music
• Another subject from Group 2 to Group 4

For more information, check out the IB DP subjects at RAK Academy ISK.

The academic calendar at RAK Academy International Secondary School Khuzam Starts in August and ends in June.

• The first term starts in the last week of September and ends in the second week of December. This is followed by a 3-week winter break that ends in the last week of December. The mid-term examinations occur in the fourth week of October.
• The second term commences from the first week of January and ends in the last week of March. The spring break starts right after the end of the second term and ends in the first week of April. The mid-term examination for the second term usually occurs in the second and third week of February.
• The last term starts in the second week of April and ends in the last week of June. After the last term, students go on a summer break, which ends with the start of the new academic year.

For more information, check out the academic calendar of RAK Academy.

New Enrolment

The admission process for all the RAK Academy Schools, including the International Secondary School Khuzam campus, has three steps.

First step – Application Process

The first step of the application process involves submitting an online admission form. Before applying, the school encourages parents/guardians to visit the school. The school tour allows them to observe the school facilities, school environment and the way staff handles students before their eyes. To request a school visit, submit the online school visit application.

The school requires the following documents along with the application form to proceed forward:

• Previous academic record (preferably last school report)
• Medical record of the candidate
• Three passport size photographs of the candidate
• Birth certificate of the candidate
• Copy of passport of the candidate and his or her sponsor
• Copy of Emirates ID of the candidate and his or her sponsor
• Copy of visa of the candidate and sponsor (for expatriates only)
• Family book (for UAE nationals only)

Step 2 – Paying Registration Charges

One all the documents are submitted, parents need to pay AED 400 as registration fee. It is a non-refundable and non-transferable fee that does not guarantee admission. All the documents and proof of payment can be emailed or submitted at the school’s admission office.

Step 3 – Assessment and Interview

In the third step, the school conducts an assessment to gauge student’s skills in core subjects. The school notifies parents about the outcome of the assessment by an email within 48 hours. Parents of successful candidates need to pay a required deposit within 14 days of offer to secure the seat for their child. Failure to do so could result in cancellation of offer.

For more information, read the admission process at RAK Academy ISK

Re-enrolment

The re-enrolment is for the existing students wishing to continue their education with RAK Academy Schools. Before the start of a new academic year, the school emails parents of the existing students about re-enrolment. Parents have the following three options:

• First choice – they can secure the seat for their child for the next academic year till the first week of May. Parents also need to pay the re-enrolment fee within 20**th** May of each year to secure a seat for their child.
• Second choice – parents unsure of continuing their children’s education in RAK Academy can opt for the second choice where they provide an estimated date to make a decision. Please note that the school reserves the right to offer the child’s seat to external applicants
• Third choice – parents who do not wish to continue their child’s academic journey with RAK Academy Schools can opt for this choice. The school management will help parents in obtaining school leaving documents.

To learn more about the re-enrolment, read the re-enrolment procedure for RAK International Secondary School Khuzam.

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

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

The confirmation charges that need to be deposited at the time of admission is AED 5,000 for all the grades. The tuition fee charged by the RAK Academy ISK are:

Other charges

The charges for educational resources at RAK International Secondary School Khuzam are:

The re-enrolment fee at the school for each grade is AED 5,000. The fee is non-refundable but transferable in the tuition fee for the first term.

For more information, view the fee structure of RAK Academy International School Khuzam (ISK).

There are no scholarship programmes at RAK Academy International Secondary School Khuzam.

The school has opted for a catering service to offer healthy and nutritious food items to children. The school ensures that all the food items are prepared in a hygienic environment with fresh raw materials. All the food items are available at affordable prices.

RAK Academy ISK offers reliable and safe transport service to its students. For more information, contact the school.

There are no boarding facilities for students of RAK Academy ISK.

There are no holiday camps for students in International secondary School Khuzam campus. Students in primary school have access to the summer holiday camp arranged in collaboration with Wellspring Egypt.

Sport is an important part of the lives of students in all RAK Academy Schools. Students from all campuses are found to be participating in inter-school tournaments. To support the athletic requirements of students, students have access to the following sports facilities:

• Swimming pool
• Gymnasium
• Outdoor tennis courts
• Grass-based soccer pitch
• Outdoor play area

RAK Academy has an extensive extra-curricular programme that results in the all-round development of students. The school specifically focuses on the provision of quality extra-curricular activities for students in secondary school. Most extra-curricular activities are part of the after-school programme. However, some of them are also available during normal school timing. The main extra-curricular programme offered at RAK Academy International Secondary School are:

Duke of Edinburgh International Awards

Besides the regular clubs and extra-curricular activity, students of RAK patiently wait for Duke of Edinburgh International Awards. It is an internationally recognised extra-curricular programme that focuses on the physical, social and personal development of students. Participants aged 14 to 24 years old can take part in this international programme. The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is an ideal programme for students in secondary and higher-secondary stages. There are three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh award:

Bronze

Bronze is the easiest level of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award. Students need to participate in a range of volunteering, physical and other activities for 6 months. The minimum age of requirement for the bronze award is 14 years. Students also have to take part in an expedition trip of 2 days and a night.

Silver

Silver is the second level of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award. A bronze award holder needs to complete a range of activities in 6 months whereas a beginner needs 12 months to acquire the silver award. The expedition trip for the silver award is of 3 days and 2 nights. The minimum age of eligibility for the silver award is 15 years.

Gold

Gold is the toughest category of award in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award that takes 18 months for a beginner to achieve. A silver award holder can complete all the gold award tasks in 12 months. Students need to complete the expedition trips of 5 days and 4 nights and 4 days and 3 nights for the gold award.

The school offers several educational and recreational field trips to its students. These trips help students to understand the world around them and link the lessons taught in classrooms with a practical environment. Last time, the school took its students on a visit to Dubai Aquarium where students explored life underwater. The school also arranges foreign trips and residential trips to its students.

RAK International Secondary School Khuzam offers after-school care to students in the form of the extra-curricular programme. Most extra-curricular activities are conducted after the regular school timing. The activities available to students are:

All the aforementioned activities occur every working day from 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm.

RAK International Secondary School Khuzam has a medical facility where registered nurses and medical staff are available to treat students in need. Furthermore, the school clinic maintains the medical record of each student and participates in government-initiated health awareness programmes.

Communication is a vital aspect of the success of schools. All the RAK Academies, including the International Secondary School Khuzam campus, ensures effective communication with teachers and parents.

The parent-teacher meeting is the primary mode of communication at the school. These meetings serve as an opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss the progress made by children. Parents and teachers can discuss the teaching and learning plans and strategies to aid in student’s learning. Due to current circumstances, face-to-face meetings are not arranged. The school might arrange virtual meetings as an alternative. The school will let you know in advance.

Parents can also access important information by logging into the ISAMS parent portal. Here, parents have access to attendance records, academic performance, circulars, notifications, news and other information.’

The official school website and social media accounts are the other modes of communication that can be used by parents for communication.

RAK Academy Khuzam Address: RAK Academy ISK, 34B Street, Dafan Al Khor, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

Telephone Number

• For general information: +971 07 236-2441 (239/200)
• For admission:+971 07 236-2441 (226/331)

Email Address

• For admission: admission@rakacademy.org

Official Website and Social Media

• RAK Academy ISK Website
• ISK Facebook Page

Note that the cover image belongs to RAK International Secondary School Khuzam