Sunrise English Private School, Abu Dhabi

Sunrise English Private School (SEPS) in Abu Dhabi is an all-through English medium school offering the Indian curriculum. It started in a villa in 1988 to provide quality education to Indian expats.

158 teachers are part of the faculty and they are supported by four teaching assistants. Most teachers are from India. The teacher to student ratio is 1:25 in KG and 1:30 in other classes. Sunrise is rated as one of the best low-budget CBSE curriculum schools in the city.

At the time of the last inspection, the school had over 2,800 students with the majority belonging to India. Approximately 10% of students have some kind of additional learning needs. The school motto is ‘Lighted to Lighten.’
Sunrise Private Schools strives to achieve academic excellence. Teachers pay special attention to meeting all academic and non-academic needs of students. Parents are involved in the school’s improvement plan. The aim is to provide quality, balanced education to children of all ages with help from all stakeholders. The school’s vision is in line with Abu Dhabi 2030.

Sunrise English Private School campus can be easily accessed by families residing in the following residential communities:

• Al Maqta
• Musaffah
• Bawabat Al Sharq
• Khalifa City

Musaffah is quite close to Sunrise English Private School. Initially developed as a small industrial area, it is one of the top areas for renting apartments in Abu Dhabi. Al Maqtaa is a largely residential neighbourhood away from the city centre. The area was formerly known as Bain Al Jessrain. One can find villas along with a handful of apartments in Al Maqtaa. Bawabat Al Sharq in the district of Baniyas has a mix of apartments and villas for residential use.

Parents looking to move closer to the school can consider the following options:

• Apartments for rent near Sunrise English Private School
• Apartments for sale near Sunrise English Private School
• Villas for rent near Sunrise English Private School
• Villas for sale near Sunrise English Private School
• Townhouses for rent near Sunrise English Private School

The school was initially established in a villa in 1988 but later moved to a purpose-built campus in 2006. In 2008, a new secondary section was added to the school.

The new campus is a large, modern building. Facilities on offer include a big AstroTurf outdoor space and a covered sports area. Students can use the science laboratories, a new robotics lab, art room, a music room and a drama room. The well-equipped library has a variety of books. The school is overall well-maintained and resourced.

Sunrise English Private School is based on 59th street in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. It is just 12 minutes away from the well-known Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Abu Dhabi-Al Ain truck road is in proximity to the campus. Several other schools are located close to the Sunrise School Abu Dhabi.

The school’s motto, as stated earlier, is “Lighted to Lighten.” Sunrise English Private School fosters excellence and provides world-class education to young individuals. Students graduating from the school are well-prepared to meet the global challenges. Sunrise English School is an affordable option for those who prefer the CBSE curriculum.

The school works on fostering necessary skills in students including critical thinking, creativity, individuality and a lifelong passion for learning and knowledge. Its core values include:

• Establishing clear goals and measuring progress while taking responsibility for results
• Helping students become responsible, self-motivated learners
• Challenging the faculty for professional and personal development
• Partnering with parents and stakeholders to fully support learning and teaching goals

Sunrise English Private School is an all-through school offering classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The school was set up to provide quality education to expatriate Indian children. SEPS offers education to children from KG to Grade 12 following the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi (CBSE) curriculum.

SEPS Abu Dhabi follows the CBSE curriculum. Core subjects taught from Grade 1 to Grade 5 include:

• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Islamic Studies
• Arabic
• Art
• Dance
• Music
• UAE Social Studies (from Grade 4)
• Moral Education
• Hindi
• Environmental Science

From Grade 6 to Grade 10, subject options are:

In High School, students can opt for either Science or Commerce stream. If they choose the Science stream for Grade 11 and Grade 12, they have to study:

• Arabic
• Life Sciences
• English
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Moral Science
• Physics
• General Studies
• Library
• PE
• General Studies

Students who opt for Commerce have to study:

• Islamic Studies
• Life Sciences
• English
• Mathematics
• Accountancy
• Business Studies
• Economics
• Psychology
• General Studies
• PE
• Moral Science
• Library

Sunrise English Private School in Abu Dhabi was inspected by ADEK from 7th May 2018 to 10th May 2018; it secured a Good rating.

Students’ achievement is good while their personal, social and innovation skills are very good. Teaching and assessment are also good. The curriculum was also rated as good by the authorities. According to Sunrise English Private School ADEK rating and report, the school provides very good protection, guidance, care and support to students. School leadership and management are good.

The overall quality of the students’ achievement is good. Kindergarteners make good progress. All students achieve acceptable results in Arabic as a second language. Students’ attainment is good for all subjects. They make good progress in all subjects and learning skills are good too.

Students show very good personal and social development. Their behaviour and attitudes towards learning are very positive. They share respectful relationships with other students and teachers. Students have a good understanding of the UAE culture, its heritage and Islamic values while they also respect other cultures and religions.

The curriculum is good and enables students to make strong links with the UAE culture and community. However, it has to be adapted well enough to meet the needs of each student.

Sunrise English School provides very good protection, support and care to students. It has well-established systems to identify special educational needs (SEN) and Gifted and Talented students. SEN students also make good progress. However, Gifted and Talented students should consistently receive challenges to maximise their learning potential.

Sunrise English Private School leadership is good and it has very effective day-to-day management. The school shares a good partnership with parents and its community links are very strong. Since the last inspection, the curriculum has improved from acceptable to good. Sunrise School Abu Dhabi reviews its curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of most students. Students can write creatively in English.

School governance is good and all school leaders have raised their expectations. School’s work is closely monitored for rigorous improvement.
Key areas of strength at Sunrise English Private School are:

• The impact of school leaders when it comes to improving students’ achievement
• Students’ positive attitudes for learning, behaviour and improved attendance
• Students’ appreciation of the UAE culture, heritage and vision.
• Students’ understanding of Islamic values
• A strong partnership between parents and the community that enriches students’ learning
• School’s effective day-to-day management that enables the school to run smoothly
• The high priority that the school has set for students’ welfare, safety and health

Key areas for improvement:

The school has to improve achievement in Arabic as a second language. This can be done by:

• Offering a more effective and regular learning experience to help students develop their creative writing skills and innovative learning
• Checking students’ progress consistently to support their learning
• Supporting and guiding students to learn and form Arabic letters

Sunrise English Private School can enhance teaching and learning by:

• Planning the next steps for learning and using assessment information effectively
• Offering high quality and proper feedback to help students improve the quality of their work
• More effectively adapting the curriculum to meet the learning needs of all students
• Delivering appropriately challenging tasks for students within lessons especially for Gifted and Talented students

To further improve the leadership impact, the school should:

• Develop the define the role of middle leaders to make them fully equipped to monitor and improve their subjects

The academic year at Sunrise English Private School is divided into three terms.

• First Term commences in April and ends in June.
• The Second Term begins in August and ends in December.
• The Third Term commences in January and concludes in March.

Sunrise English Private School’s admission process begins in the first week of December (for Kindergarten) and in January for other grades. Interested parents can fill and submit the form available on the school’s website. If the admission form is accepted by the school, students have to appear for the entrance exam. The entrance test is conducted at the school. The result and merit list are prepared for each grade.

The admission strictly depends on merit and availability of seats. Successful short-listed candidates have to appear for a personal interview. Selected candidates are then formally offered a seat. Parents must submit the following documents once the admission is accepted by the school.

• School leaving certificate signed by the head of the institution previously attended.
• Birth certificate of student issued by the registrar
• Recent report cards
• Vaccination card and medical records

In case of internal transfer (within Abu Dhabi), parents must submit the following documents:

• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of parents’ and student’s passport with valid visa page
• 3 recent passport size photo with white background of the student
• Copy of mark statement/ progress card from previous school
• Copy of Emirates ID (Original Emirate ID card will be required for scanning student’s details in the ESIS system, which will be returned)
• Copy of Health Insurance Card.
• Copy of Immunization Card.
• Copy Water / Electricity Bill.
• Copy Premise ID

Selected applicants have to submit the registration form and they have to pay the registration fee of 5% of the net tuition fee, which is later adjusted in the first term fee of the academic year.

However, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement guideline 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: ADEK

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

Sunrise English Private School fee structure is mentioned below:

The quoted tuition fee can be paid for each term.

• The first-term fee has to be paid in April
• Second term fee has to be paid in October
• Third term fee has to be paid in January

Sunrise English Private School does not have a canteen facility on campus. The school encourages students to bring healthy, packed lunches from home.

SEPS has contracted Fast Rent a Car to provide transportation for the students. The transportation facility covers most routes in Abu Dhabi such as Mussafah, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Baniyas, Shahama, Abu Dhabi and Khalifa City A.

Monthly transportation charges are as follows:

• Abu Dhabi: AED 400
• Mussafah (Sector 9/10/11/12): AED 350
• MBZ City: AED 400
• Baniyas: AED 400
• Shahama: AED 400
• Khalifa City A: AED 400

Sunrise English Private School does not conduct camps on the school premises. They do, however, direct parents to external providers that organise fun, games and activities camps for students during the holidays.

Physical fitness is an important part of the education offered at SEPS. The school encourages active participation in sports activities for all-rounded development. Students can participate in:

• Football
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Kho Kho
• Throwball

To facilitate participation in sports, SEPS offers a range of amenities. The school houses a vast outdoor AstroTurf field that students can use to play football, cricket and kho kho. The school also has a Basketball Court, Throwball Court and indoor and outdoor play areas for Kindergarten students.

SEPS offers an extensive extracurricular activities programme for the students. Popular choices include:

Additionally, students can also participate in various sports activities as a part of their co-scholastic development.

Some options provided by the school include:

• Kho Kho
• Football
• Volleyball
• Cricket
• Swimming

Students of SEPS participate in inter-house and inter-school competitions held throughout the school year.

Sunrise English Private School conducts regular excursions for students of all grades. The school arranges trips to historical/cultural significance to UAE so as to provide students with the required exposure extending beyond the classroom.

They also organise fun-filled trips to locations such as Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and IMG Worlds Dubai so that students can unwind and relax. These field trips take place at least once a year for every grade level.

The school does not have a dedicated after-school care program. However, some of the extracurricular activities and coaching sessions in sports take place after school hours.

Sunrise English Private School has a fully-equipped medical clinic on campus. This medical facility is operated by three qualified full-time nurses that tend to the medical needs of the students during school hours.

Sunrise English Private School encourages active parental involvement in the daily operations of the school. SEPS keeps the parents informed of the events and activities that take place throughout the academic year through specially designed newsletters and e-magazines.

Parents can also visit the school website’s information page to access important circulars, news and details.

• Phone: +971-2-552-9989
• Email: inquiry@seps-auh.com
• Website Sunrise English Private School
• Facebook Sunrise English Private School