Star International School Al Twar

Star International School Al Twar is a foundation, primary, secondary and sixth-form school in Dubai that educates children aged 3 to 15 years old. The school started in 2005 and is managed by the Eta Star Constructions. The other branch of this school chain is Star International School Mirdif is still managed by Eta Sta Constructions. While, the Umm Suqeim branch is taken over by Al Najah Education.

The school currently has around 550 boys and girls. Students of over 50 nationalities form a highly diverse school environment. Despite a high turnover rate, the school offers sufficient individual attention with a student to teacher ratio of 1:11. Currently, it has 52 teachers and 22 teaching assistants. Most teachers teach more than one subject and have relevant qualifications. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) rated the performance of Star International School Al Twar as good.

It follows the National Curriculum of the UK with the Cambridge International Programme from Year 11. The quality of education is satisfactory and fosters positive learning attitudes among students. With ample academic and non-academic opportunities, students at Star International School Dubai are happy with what the school offers.

This guide by Bayut helps you discover more about the education and facilities of Star International School Al Twar.

It is located in  Al Twar 2, a popular residential area near the Dubai-Sharjah border. This makes it accessible to the following nearby residential communities:

• Al Twar 3
• Al Qusais
• Muhaisnah 1

Al Twar 3, a sub-community of the major Al Twar area, is nearest to the Star International School. It is an expensive residential community in Dubai, offering lavish villas. It is near the Dubai International Airport, which makes it ideal for frequent travellers. Still, those interested in affordable options should invest in properties in Al Qusais and Muhaisnah.

• Apartments for rent near Star International School Al Twar
• Villas for rent near Star International School Al Twar
• Villas for sale near Star International School Al Twar

Al Twar Campus

The Al Twar campus is located on a spacious plot and the indoor facilities are housed inside buildings arranged in a horseshoe shape. The facilities available on campus meet all the educational and non-educational needs of children.

Classrooms are meticulously planned to ensure a perfect environment for learning. The availability of interactive whiteboards in each classroom aids in students’ learning. Corridors are bright, spacious and allow free spaces for children to move. The walls of the classrooms and corridors are decorated with students’ artworks related to the curriculum and the school’s ethos.

There also exist separate science labs equipped with all the resources. Exceptional safety practices are followed, including safe storage of chemicals in specialised cupboards.

There is a central library for Key Stage 1 (KS1) onwards that is well-resourced with curricular and non-curricular books. Students in Key Stage 3 (KS3) have access to specialised reading corners with a wide range of learning materials. There is a separate library with age-relevant books for early years students.

The outdoor areas amidst the school buildings are available for sports and recreation. The covered grass fields and swimming pool are the major attractions for students.

Star International School has opened a new secondary-only campus in Al Qusais, with all the relevant educational and non-educational facilities.

Mirdif campus

The Mirdif campus is also well-built. It is composed of two large buildings with classrooms, laboratories and other indoor facilities. The teachers’ wing is near the side of the main entrance and has suitable furniture. Classrooms have interactive whiteboards and technological support like the Al Twar campus.

Besides, the Mirdif campus has a multi-purpose hall for sports and morning assemblies. Star International School Mirdif also has play areas, a covered swimming pool and expansive playing fields.

Star International School is located near the intersection of 7B Street and 26B Street in Al Twar 2. The main entrance to the school faces 7B Street and is an 8-minute walk away from Al Twar 2 Park.

Those interested in visiting this campus can access it through Al Quds Street and Beirut Street. Famous nearby places are Cafeteria Luzan and Al-Twar Sports Centre.

The school follows the National Curriculum of England to shape its syllabus. This internationally recognised curriculum is based on balancing academic and non-academic spheres of students’ lives. Students finishing their schooling with this curriculum are accepted in top colleges and universities around the world. The syllabus is planned in such a way as to target the inquisitive nature of children.

Another strength of this school is the individual attention and care offered to each child. The school, due to its small size and a low number of students, pays ample attention to students. The young and energetic teaching staff led by an experienced principal ensures that no one is left behind. This has also resulted in a learning environment that provides every opportunity to grow and prosper.

There exists a considerable range of facilities that fully support the school’s syllabus. Technology is an important part of the school that is integrated throughout the campus. Interactive whiteboards and other technological gadgets helped the school to improve learning. Besides academics, it also has ample sports and outdoor facilities to cater to the non-academic needs of students.

Star International School Al Twar has shown outstanding academic achievement in the last few years. Recently, all the students that took part in GCSE examinations cleared all the British core subjects. Additionally, they secured high grades in business, science, English and mathematics. It indicates the efforts made by the students and teaching staff to excel in external examinations.

Another alluring feature of this school is its environment. As a privately owned small community school, students experience a warm and nourishing environment. It plays a key role in ensuring a positive relationship between children and school. This, in turn, results in lifelong learners that enjoy their stay at the school. Teachers and other faculty members also play an important role in dealing with young learners.

Star International School in Al Twar provides education from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13. The educational system is composed of the following sections:

Foundation Stage

The foundation stage is the first stage of education in a life of a student enrolled in a British school. In this stage, schools ensure the development of fundamental skills to help students understand the world and succeed in it. Star International School Al Twar adopts the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

EYFS is a reputable early years’ education programme practised all over the world. It focuses on seven key areas of learning for two years, equipping learners with a set of skills necessary for the primary stage. The areas of learning in the EYFS framework are:

• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Understanding the World
• Mathematics
• Expressive Arts and Designs

Teachers cover all seven areas of learning in its syllabus through play and learn strategy. They follow a well-structured set of activities that leads to the development of skills for the primary stage.

Primary Stage

In the primary stage, Star International School Al Twar follows the National Curriculum of the UK. Based on this curriculum, students go through Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) phases.

In KS1, students are gradually introduced to formal learning methods. Cross-curricular links and practical examples are extensively used to help students build their concepts. The subjects taught at KS1 are:

Please note that Social Studies is introduced from Year 2 onwards. Islamic education is mandatory for Muslims while non-Muslims study Moral Education.

In KS2, the concepts learned in Year 1 and Year 2 are further strengthened by introducing new depths to the curriculum. Subjects in KS2 are:

Geography, music, history, arts and physical education are taught thematically. By the end of the KS2, students have exceptional self-confidence and critical thinking skills. These skills allow them to adjust easily to the secondary phase.

Secondary Curriculum

In the secondary phase, students go through Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) as parts of the British curriculum.

A broad and balanced curriculum is the essence of the KS3 stage. It allows learners to build necessary skills to clear external examinations. Subjects involved in this stage are:

In KS4, the school follows the Cambridge International Programme for GCSE courses. Students have to study the following compulsory subjects:

Students have the option of choosing either Arabic A or Arabic B.

Please note that the aforementioned subjects are examined. The non-examined compulsory subjects in KS4 are:

The optional subjects available to students in Year 10 and Year 11 are:

Sixth-Form Curriculum

Star International School Al Twar has started offering sixth form education (Year 12 and Year 13) to its students. In this stage, students go for A Level or Level 3 BTEC. Subjects offered to students in A-Level are:

There are five courses available for students enrolled in BTEC:

Many schools in Dubai, including Star International School Al Twar, started educating students via distance learning. The school uses resources such as Dojo, Seesaw, Edmodo, Microsoft Teams and Zoom to develop a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The school teaches students via asynchronous lessons so that students can complete their assignments at their own pace.

To assist students and parents, Star International School Al Twar has drafted a detailed distance-learning policy.

As per the new COVID-19 protocols issued by KHDA, schools are discontinuing the distance learning programme from October 3, 2021. Those wishing to continue their education via distance learning have to show a relevant health certificate issued by Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Schools may revert to distance learning if COVID-19 cases are detected in a class or a group in a class.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is an education regulatory body established by the Government of Dubai. It was established in 2006 and is playing a vital role in improving the quality of education in Dubai since then. It annually inspects schools and offers a rating based on a 6-point scale. Those with superior performances are rated outstanding. Those with poor performance are rated as very weak. KHDA rating system is briefly explained below:

For the year 2019-20, KHDA rated Star International School Al Twar performance as Good. Previously, the school was rated acceptable. Here is a summary of the rating for the Al Twar campus in the last 10 years:

The main strengths of Star International School Al Twar identified by KHDA are:

• The teaching and learning at this school are good. They have led to good or better progress in English, science and mathematics across all phases.
• Another commendable strength of this school is the students’ social and personal development, and understanding of Islamic values and UAE’s culture in the secondary phase.
• The curricular provisions in the FS stage match with the requirements of the EFYS curriculum. Thus, ensuring each student is included and supported.
• The health and safety measures for students and staff are good.
• The school’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Besides, KHDA recommended the following to Star International School:

• Improve attainment in Arabic and Islamic Education by raising teachers’ expectations, building students’ knowledge and evaluating and monitoring individual performance.
• Elevate students’ achievements in all subjects by aligning the curriculum with best practices.
• Develop understanding and commitment for school improvement to maximise the impact of senior leadership.

The academic year at Star International School Al Twar starts in August and ends in July.

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. The expected holidays for students include a mid-term break in October.
• After a three-week winter holiday, the second term commences in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March.
• After a two-week spring break, the students return to school for the third term in the third week of April. It concludes in the first week of July.

To know the tentative dates for holidays, view the Star International School Al Twar calendar.

Star International School Al Twar welcomes applications from all families irrespective of their ethnicity and nationality. Before applying, the school encourages parents to visit the campus and see the facilities by themselves. The school has also made available a 3D tour of its campus on the official website to facilitate parents in making an informed decision.

To apply, submit the online enquiry form to ask questions. The admission team typically replies in one to two days. Once satisfied, you can register your child by submitting an online registration form. Parents need to attach the following documents with the application form:

• Passport with a valid UAE residence visa of the candidate (one copy)
• Passports of both parents (one copy)
• Recent passport-size photographs (four photos)
• Birth certificate of the candidate (one copy, in Arabic or English)
• Emirates ID of the candidate (one copy, both sides)
• Emirates ID of the parents (one copy each, both sides)
• Latest academic record
• Immunisation record (one copy)
• Original transfer certificate (if applicable)
• Makani number
• Records indicating special needs (one copy, if applicable)

Parents also need to submit AED 500 as a registration fee if the school places the candidate’s name on the waiting list.

Assessment

After applying, the school calls the parents to bring their child for an assessment. For different years, it has different assessment plans with different targets. The main outlook of the assessment plans for each year is as follows:

FS1 and FS2

In this stage, the school conducts a play-based interview session with the child to gauge the following aspects:

• The readiness of the candidate to join the school
• Language and communication skills

The outcome of the interview session is typically shared with parents via email within three working days.

Year 1 and Year 2

For admission in KS2, the school encourages the candidate to participate in the following activities led by class teachers:

• Mathematics
• Reading
• Writing
• Phonics

The school will let the parents know about the outcome of the assessment.

Year 3 to Year 13

To get admission in Year 3 onwards, the candidate needs to clear the assessment test based on questions from English and mathematics. They will also look into the previous academic records while making a decision.

Parents need to pay 30% of the annual tuition fee to secure the seat only if the school extends admission. This will be adjusted in the same year’s tuition fee.

The age-grade guideline for students in FS1 to Year 13 is as follows:

This is based on the age of the students on 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)

For more information, read the admission process at Star International School Al Twar.

The Star International School Al Twar fees are as follows:

Please note that the deadline for the first term payment is August 15, for the second term it is December 1 and for the third term it is March 1. It accepts the fee via a direct cash payment, credit card, cheques in favour of Star International School and wire transfer to their bank account.

To learn more about the fees structure, bank account details and fee policy, view the fee structure of Star International School Al Twar.

Currently, the school does not offer scholarships.

At Al Twar campus, there is no canteen facility. Therefore, students bring home-packed lunch items. The school encourages students to eat healthy options through health-awareness programmes. Teachers monitor the eating habits of children during breaks.

The school offers a safe and reliable transport service to students. They have outsourced the transport service to Busco Passenger Transport to ensure smooth operations. It is a renowned private transport service provider with considerable experience. Their well-managed fleet of buses includes the following safety materials:

• GPS tracking
• Video monitoring
• Electronic attendance system

Pick and drop stations are available in the following areas of Dubai and Sharjah:

For more information, Call Mr Wahid on +055 9 925504 or view the transport service by Star International School Al Twar.

It is a day-only school that does not offer any boarding facility to students.

Currently, the school does not offer any holiday camps but may offer them in the future.

A limited range of sports facilities is available at Al Twar Campus. These facilities cover some of the sports-related needs of students. The campus has a multi-purpose hall for physical education and indoor sports. Morning assemblies and other enrichment activities happen here.

It is also used for morning assemblies and other extracurricular activities. Besides the multi-purpose hall, students can enjoy quality time in spacious outdoor areas and a well-maintained swimming pool. For sports competitions, the school arranges its annual sports day at the Dubai Police Academy.

Extra-curricular activities at this school are split into two main sections:

• Sports
• Clubs

Elite Sports Academy manages the sports-related activities at Star International School. Their Elite Football Coaching programme allows the children to learn football from tactics to kick-offs in three parts. In the first part, the coaches focus on warmups and basic football knowledge. In the next, they learn the basic skills to play football. Finally, they learn about tactics and play competitive games.

Those who are not interested in sports have the option of school clubs led by teachers. These clubs are segmented based on the age group to facilitate students’ growth. These clubs include:

The Al Twar campus also focuses on students’ learning outside the classrooms. To help them explore the world and learn simultaneously, they have arranged several field trips. Each year, they visit famous locations in Dubai, such as museums, art galleries and recreation spots. Some trips by the school are:

• Little Explorers
• OliOli
• Emirates Bio Farm
• Ayyam Gallery

The only after-school care available at Star International School Al Twar is the enrichment activities. Additionally, the school offers training sessions for parents after regular school timings.

A small clinic serves as the facility to treat sick children and immunisation. The medical staff includes a qualified school nurse and a part-time doctor. Medicines are available for students.

The school understands the importance of regular communication with parents. For this purpose, they have introduced several modes of communication.

The official website is the primary source of communication for the school to share information with parents. A separate tab, named Parent Information, is where all the vital information is readily available, including the newsletter.

The school arranges one formal occasion where parents and teachers can discuss students’ progress. A large number of parents show up on this special occasion. Nevertheless, those unable to come for any reason can access the progress through written reports.

Additionally, Star International School Al Twar shares the curriculum overview weekly. It allows the parent to remain updated with the syllabus taught at school. In case of urgent enquiries, parents and teachers can communicate with one another on WhatsApp groups.

To get in touch with the school for general enquiries, fill the contact us form available on the school website. You can also contact the Star International School through the following sources:

Star International School Al Twar Address: Star International School, 7B Street, Al Twar 2, Dubai

Telephone

• +971 04 263 8999
• +971 04 263 8998

Email address

• info.altwar@starintlschool.com

Official Website and Social Media:

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WhatsApp

Note that the cover image belongs to Star International School Al Twar