School of Modern Skills

Founded in 2006, the School of Modern Skills (SMS) is a private co-education school in Muhaisnah. The school welcomes students from different cultures and religions. It offers an American curriculum that is customised according to the UAE Ministry of Education.

SMS Dubai offers classes from KG1 to Grade 12. The curriculum for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics is based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The school follows the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science.

The School of Modern Skills Dubai has a well-qualified staff that passionately prepares students for the future and turns them into lifelong learners. SMS Dubai promotes international teaching and learning methods through a teaching development program. The school welcomes students from different cultures and religions, and the curriculum instils the understanding of the Emirati culture and heritage.

Students graduating from the School of Modern Skills successfully join renowned local and international colleges and universities.

• Location: Muhaisnah
• Fees: AED 16,171 to AED 28,541
• Curriculum: US curriculum
• Co-ed or Segregated: Co-ed till Grade 4
• KHDA Rating: Acceptable
• Grades: KG1 to Grade 12

Some well-known residential areas are in proximity to the School of Modern Skills Dubai including:

• Al Twar
• Al Qusais
• Mirdif
• Al Mizhar

Al Qusais is one of the older districts in Dubai. Al Mizhar is another nearby residential community, based on the outskirts of the city. Another popular residential area near the School of Modern Skills is Mirdif. It is a family-friendly community dominated by green spaces, paved walkways, elegant villas and townhouses.

Families looking to settle near the school can consider:

• Apartment for rent near School of Modern Skills
• Villa for rent near School of Modern Skills

The school campus has plenty of modern facilities. There are lots of green spaces beside a well-equipped computer lab, a large auditorium, a swimming pool and a gym. Boys and girls study together in the same campus from KG1 to Grade 4. Afterwards, they study separately in different campuses.

A large football ground and play area are also part of the campus. Whiteboards are used in all classrooms.

The School of Modern Skills is located on the west of the larger Muhaisnah neighbourhood. It is situated in Muhaisnah 1, close to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). Families can easily access the School of Modern Skills Muhaisnah via E311. Al Khawaneej Street is towards the south of the school.

School of Modern Skills Muhaisnah is accredited by the Council of International School (CIS). The process of getting the accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and College (NEASC) is underway.

SMS Dubai optimally balances academics, extracurricular activities and sports for the well-rounded development of students. The school also offers an Advanced Placement programme to introduce students to college-level content and skills. Students also earn valuable credit through AP programme.

The creative Mind program is used to promote technology-related skills in students. High school students confidently participate in weekly robotics classes.

School of Modern Skills offers classes from KG1 to Grade 12.

Please note that boys and girls study separately from Grade 5.

The school follows the American curriculum. The Advanced Placement (AP) programme supports regular teaching and allows secondary school students to measure their achievement through standardised exams.

Each year, AP exams for secondary school students are scheduled in May. Subjects covered include Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and foreign languages (French, Spanish and Italian). Other elective subjects include Geography and Micro-Economics. The exam results are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 is the highest score. It indicates that the student is well-qualified to receive course credit at the chosen college.

According to the KHDA report, the curriculum following the California State Standards is broad and well-sequenced. Also, it is supported by a broad range of cross-curricular links. All aspects of the curriculum are in line with the Ministry of Education and KHDA requirements.

Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) works under KHDA to inspect schools based in Dubai. It issues inspection reports and rates the school as very weak, weak, acceptable, good, very good or outstanding based on a six-point scale. The authority inspected the School of Modern Skills from 25th to 28th March 2019 and rated the school as “Acceptable.”

According to the School of Modern Skills KHDA ratings and reviews, the school leadership team is committed to the goals of the National Agenda (NA). It is developing internal assessment techniques to address any weaknesses.

The confidence of students in reading across the subject is in the emerging phase, and their learning is restricted by the limited understanding of technical vocabulary. However, the School of Modern Skills Dubai is committed to improving students’ proficiency in reading. KHDA has recommended SMS Dubai to encourage KG children to use phonics for improving their reading skills at a basic level.

UAE Social Studies is taught in Arabic from KG1 to Grade 9 as a separate subject, while in High School, it is taught in English. Students’ skills and understanding of the subject is in line with the curriculum standards.

Students’ attainment in Islamic Education is strong in all phases, especially High School. In the KG section, children show good progress in English communication skills. Students can use well-planned lessons to develop their language skills.

The teaching standards for most high school subjects are consistent. Some teachers make use of technology to improve their teaching process.

The academic year at Schools of Modern Skills starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of July. There are three terms in an academic calendar, with important dates as follows:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the first week of December. This is followed by a winter break from the second week of December to the last week of December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. This is followed by a spring break that ends in the second week of April.
• The third term starts in the third week of April and ends in the second week of July.

For more information, contact the school.

For School of Modern Skill admissions, parents can approach the school directly for the application form or fill out the online application form on the website. This form has to be submitted at the school along with the admission test fee for three subjects, which is AED 350.

Once the school reviews the form, it contacts the parents and invites the applicant for an entrance exam. An interview with the school social worker or the SEN specialist is also scheduled.

The entrance test is designed based on the candidate’s age and other factors. The result of entrance exams is issued within two to three days.

After the entrance exam and interview, the specialist decides if the student needs additional tuition in core subjects including Arabic, English and Maths. Successful candidates are notified through phone or SMS. A mandatory registration fee of AED 1,500 is be paid at the time of registration.

Following documents should be submitted to complete the admission process:

• Two recent photographs of the student
• Copy of the student’s birth certificate
• Copy of the immunisation card
• Copy of student’s and father’s passport with a valid residence visa
• Original and copy of the student’s Emirates ID card
• Copy of family registration card (for UAE applicants only)
• Original attested transfer certificate with previous school stamp and educational zone of the Emirates certificate issued by the reference number for the student transfer
• Previous attested school report

All documents and certificates should be in Arabic or English. Documents in any other language must be legally translated.

Applicants who have siblings studying at School of Modern Skills are given priority in the waiting list. All applications are evaluated by the registration department and senior leadership team throughout the year. Admission is offered based on entrance test results, the number of seats available as well as school/term reports.

All medical forms should be filled and submitted to the school. If the transfer certificate is issued by a school in a GCC country, it should be stamped by the school and the Ministry of Education of that country. It should also be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the UAE of that country.

Students with SEND must provide full details before admission and during the registration process or before accepting the admission offer.

Nevertheless, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement criteria before starting the admission process.

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)

The breakdown of the School of Modern Skills tuition fees for each grade is as follows:

The above-mentioned fee should be paid via cash or cheque in three instalments on the following dates:

• 50% on 15th August
• 25% on 1st December
• 25% on 1st March

Students can bring healthy lunch/snacks from home. Parents are requested to make sure beverages are given in unbreakable containers. Carbonated drinks are not allowed in the school, and sugary food should be limited. The school canteen is well-maintained and is inspected regularly.

School of Modern Skills Dubai provides paid transportation service in partnership with Emirates Transport. Bus monitors ensure attendance during pickups and drop-offs.

• One way transportation costs AED 3,491 for areas in Dubai
• Two-way transportation costs AED 4,653 for Dubai and AED 5,818 for Sharjah

Following rules should be followed to ensure a safe journey:

• Students should remain seated during the ride.
• Students should wear seat belts throughout the journey.
• Students must respect and listen to the bus monitor and bus driver.
• Damaging the bus in any form is prohibited.
• Bus windows should be closed unless students are instructed otherwise.
• Students shall be taken back to the school if the designated person does not show up at the drop-off point.

A spacious area is dedicated to playing football at the School of Modern Skills, Dubai. There are plenty of green outdoor areas for sports and physical activities at the school.

To help children develop their physical, social and creative skills, Modern Skills School Dubai incorporates various arts and learning activities in the syllabus.

The school plans an educational field-trip for students during each term.

Students can take part in after-school activities for an hour after dispersal every day of the week. School ends at 01:30 pm for KG1 and KG2 students. Classes end at 02:30 pm for students in other grades.

A full-time doctor and two full-time nurses are employed at the school to handle health-related emergencies. All medical cases are noted and recorded by the nurse. Parents receive a medical form at the start of the academic year. They must fill the form and send it back for medical records. If a student has a chronic illness, parents are suggested to visit the school clinic and meet the doctor and nurses with medical reports. All allergies and medical conditions should be mentioned clearly in the form.

As per the Department of Health rules, the school conducts a general medical examination of students and monitors their Body Mass Index (BMI). Parents are promptly informed if their child requires any medical attention.

Permission from parents is required to administer medicines to students from Kindergarten to Grade 2. School nurses and doctors can administer first aid medication approved by DHA to Grade 3 to Grade 12 students. Administration of antibiotics during school hours is not allowed.

Vaccination is carried out by the school nurse at the clinic after parents sign the consent form. Except for KG students who are vaccinated at the Primary Health Centre. Parents are requested to submit the original vaccination card at the school clinic.

In case of a contagious disease such as chickenpox, mumps and conjunctivitis, students should stay at home in quarantine.

For outstanding efforts, dedication and professionalism, Dubai Health Authority awarded the school medical team for Hasana.

Parents can use the parents portal to receive notifications regarding upcoming events, announcements and their child’s progress. Parents are also invited to parent-teacher meetings to discuss their child’s progress.

The School of Modern Skills has several modes for communication with parents including newsletters, social media, short text messages, official announcement letters and school paradigm.

Parents can also join the WhatsApp group to keep themselves updated regarding their child’s progress and the latest school happenings. The details of joining the WhatsApp group are available on the school’s official website.

• Telephone Number: +971-4-288-7765
• Reception for boys campus: info@dubai-sms.com
• Reception for girls campus: reception-girls@dubai-sms.com
• Admissions: [registrar@dubai-sms.com](mailto: registrar@dubai-sms.com)
• Website School of Modern Skills
• Facebook School of Modern Skills
• Instagram School of Modern Skills
• Twitter School of Modern Skills

Note that the cover image belongs to the School of Modern Skills

What are the timings of the School of Modern Skills?

The School of Modern Skills Dubai starts at 7:30 am and ends at 2:30 pm Monday to Friday.

Does the school organise after-school activities?

Yes, the school organises after-school activities after regular school timings. Students are charged separately.

How many grades are there in The School of Modern Skills?

The School of Modern Skills Dubai has students from KG1 to Grade 12.

Does the school have a waiting list for admission?

The school gives priority to registering applicants who currently have a sibling at the school on the waiting list.

Does the school follow a co-ed model?

Yes, the school has a co-ed model till Grade 4. Afterwards, boys and girls study separately in different campuses.

How many students does the school have?

The school of Modern Skills Dubai currently has 1,750 students, predominantly Emiratis.

What is the academic calendar followed at the School of Modern Skills?

The academic calendar followed by the school of Modern Skills starts from AED 16,171 to AED 28,541.

How to communicate with parents?

The school actively communicates with parents through parent portal, parent-teacher meetings, newsletters, social media and official website.

Does the school have a canteen or a cafeteria?

Yes, the school has a canteen.

Does the school arrange field trips?

The school plans educational field trips for students each semester

How many teachers are in The School of Modern Skills?

The school has 123 teachers and 23 assistant teachers, predominantly Egyptians.