The International School of Choueifat DIP

The International School of Choueifat (ISC) DIP is a part of the international SABIS Group operational in over 20 countries. Located in the Dubai Investment Park, it was established in 2012 to overcome the increasing influx of admission requests for the ISC Dubai branch located in Al Sufouh 2.

The school follows the SABIS Curriculum, which is an academically rigorous educational programme. This co-educational and English-medium day school provides education from Pre-KG to Grade 12. The teaching staff of 134 full-time teachers and 36 teaching assistants support the educational needs of over 2,800 students. Most teachers are Irish and have relevant teaching experience.

ISC DIP has exceptional facilities, including specialised sports facilities for extra-curricular activities. Other regular school facilities are also top notch and aid in the teaching and learning processes. Weekly assessments on computers are another major highlight of this school.

To know more about the curriculum, admission and fees, school features and contact information, read this guide by Bayut.

• Location: Dubai Investment Park
• School Fees: AED 24,000 - AED 46,298
• Curriculum: SABIS Curriculum
• Co-Ed or Segregate: Co-Education
• KHDA Rating: Acceptable
• Years Offered: Pre-KG - Grade 12

ISC DIP is located alongside 39 street at Dubai Investment Park 1. The following communities are found near the school:

• Jebel Ali
• Remraam
• Jumeirah Golf Estate
• Motor City

Jebel Ali, a heavily industrialised community, also houses several residential apartments and villas. Ample public transport, job opportunities and amenities make Jebel Ali an ideal place for residence. Those living far from ISC DIP can consider moving to this progressing area of Dubai.

• Apartments for rent near ISC DIP
• Apartments for sale near ISC DIP

ISC DIP

The newly developed campus in Dubai Investment Park has several facilities to offer. The high-end facilities ensure students experience the best possible environment. There is an attractive building that houses bright classrooms and spacious corridors. It depicts an amalgamation of modern and Arabic architecture.

The campus has an examination hall, computer labs and science labs to support the SABIS educational programme. There is also a spacious library with a vast collection of learning materials. Other noteworthy facilities at the DIP campus are the gymnastic room and ballet room.

The school also has a wide range of sports and outdoor facilities. There is also an infant car track, where children can race with their classmates. Other sports facilities include a synthetic grass field of international standards for soccer, a gigantic sports hall, a 400-metre running track and shaded outdoor areas.

ISC Dubai Campus

The ISC Dubai campus also has exceptional amenities. Housed within a well-maintained building, the school has well-lit classrooms, an auditorium, an examination hall, computer labs and science labs. Several sports facilities make it an all-around campus. These facilities include ballet rooms, a gymnastic hall, a multi-purpose hall and outdoor sports facilities.

The International School of Choueifat (ISC) DIP is situated at The Palisades, which is a spacious residential project in Dubai Investment Park. Dubai Investments Park is a mixed-use development with a plethora of residential and commercial properties. It is easily accessible via Industry Ring Street and other connecting streets, such as 53 Street and Al Nuhus Street.

The International School of Choueifat Dubai Investment Park is an essential part of the international SABIS network. The network educates students in over 20 different countries. Established in 1886, the SABIS Network has monumental experience in meeting the educational needs of the international community. This network of education allows them to develop and share effective teaching and management strategies. All schools in this network follow a standardised SABIS curriculum, known for its academic rigour.

All the SABIS Schools follow the high-quality SABIS curriculum. The curriculum is designed based on learning objectives achieved over the academic year. Students passing out of such institutes possess exceptional academic skills that lead them to top institutions.

Besides its popularity as an academics-only schooling system, ISC Dubai has a wide range of sports and outdoor facilities, which are used for extra-curricular activities. These activities let them develop skills mandatory for the 21st century.

All these facilities make it an attractive option for parents.

ISC DIP educates children from Pre-KG to Grade 12, educating students aged 3 to 18 years old. The educational structure at this school is as follows:

As a part of the renowned SABIS Network, the school follows the SABIS curriculum. It is a rigorous and education-focused programme that focuses on developing solid educational foundations. The curriculum has existed for over 130 years and has undergone modifications to keep it updated. The syllabus inspires the enrolled learners to reach their true potential by following effective teaching approaches.

The primary targets set by the ISC DIP are the development of learning techniques, competencies, interpersonal skills and personalities that help students in higher education. Besides, it also cultivates high moral, ethical and civic values.

The school follows a highly structured programme that revolves around a three-step process. The first part of this process is the teaching phase, where lectures are delivered in specialised classrooms. To help them grasp the concepts, lectures include oral work, individual assignments and group work.

The second phase of this process is testing and monitoring, where teachers ask students to present the concept in a written assignment. These assignments show the level of understanding and help the teachers to draft their future lessons. In the last phase, i.e. the students’ follow-up, peers evaluate each other’s work. The entire learning process at ISC DIP is computerised. The weekly assessments lead to the identification of gaps that are thoroughly overcome by the teaching staff. SABIS Students Life Organisation (SLO) supports the staff in the following:

• Develop your personality
• Involve students in organising aesthetic and sports activities
• Raise academic standards
• Develop communication and management skills
• Promote high moral and social values

ISC DIP follows the SABIS Book Series for education. It is a series of over 2,000 books on a large range of subjects. These books are based on the learning objectives set by the SABIS Network.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is an education regulatory body in Dubai. The body was established in 2006 to improve the quality of education provided by private institutes in Dubai. Each year, it inspects schools in Dubai and offers a judgement on their performances based on a six-point scale. The scale varies from outstanding to very weak and is briefly explained below:

The school was first inspected for the academic year 2014-15 and since then has maintained the ‘acceptable’ rating. Some argue the disparity between the standards set by KHDA and SABIS Network lead to an unsatisfactory performance in various aspects. The positives of ISC DIP highlighted in the 2019-20 report are:

• The senior school students have well-developed learning skills that are reflected by their good achievements in English, science and mathematics.
• Students of ISC DIP demonstrate very good behaviour.
• Another strength of ISC DIP is its safety policies and practices.
• Students of ISC DIP demonstrate a good understanding of Islamic values, Emirati culture and other cultures of the world.

Nevertheless, KHDA recommended ISC Dubai Investment Park’s governing board and principal to improve teachers’ skills across the school. For this purpose, teachers must learn to use information from assessments. They must provide provisions for students of determination and gifted and talented students. They must also focus on progress in Arabic and Islamic Education, partnership with parents and self-evaluation.

Besides seasonal holidays, other national and Islamic holidays are subjected to moon sightings. For more information, check out the academic calendar of the International School of Choueifat DIP.

Before applying, it is advised to request a school visit by emailing them at iscdip@sabis.net. The school tour serves as a great opportunity for parents and teachers to interact with one another and understand the needs and requirements of the candidate.

Admission application and documents

Those who have previously visited the school can skip the aforementioned step and fill the online application form to register their child. Ask the school if they accept forms physically. An encouraging fact about ISC DIP is its non-selective admission policy. This policy enables ISC DIP to extend admission to students with different needs.

Please note that there are no deadlines for submitting the admission form. However, it is advised to do it at the earliest, as ISC DIP extends admission only when a vacancy arrives. 

Besides the application form, parents need to submit the following documents:

• A copy of the birth certificate of the candidate
• Recent passport-size photographs (white background)
• A copy of passport with a valid UAE residence visa of the candidate
• A copy of passport with a valid UAE residence visa of the sponsors
• Emirates ID of the candidate and sponsor (one copy each, both sides of the ID)
• Latest academic report or transcript
• A copy of the vaccination record

Assessment

To apply for Grade 3 and above, candidates need to clear the online diagnostic test conducted by ISC DIP. The diagnostic test gauges the candidate’s competencies in core subjects. The test is important as it allows the admission team to understand the needs of students. If a candidate cannot clear the assessment, ISC DIP offers the summer school programme or special academic support to bridge the gap.

For admissions in KG1 to Grade 2, the child must at least be toilet trained and obey simple instructions. The placement decision depends on the outcomes of a diagnostic test and previous academic records. The school informs the parents via contact details shared in the application form. 

To learn more, view the admission process at the International School of Choueifat DIP.

The age-grade guidelines for admission followed by ISC DIP are:

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)

The International School of Choueifat DIP fee structure for the current academic year is as follows::

Some mandatory charges include:

• Books: AED 717 - AED 2,653
• ICT: AED 500

The table below list some additional (optional) charges:

The other charges are based on the info available in KHDA’s fee fact sheet.

All the ISC schools, including the Dubai Investment Park chapter, have canteens and cafeterias for eating food and socialising. The school has outsourced the catering services to an ISO certified catering company that prepares hot and cold food items for students. All the food items available at the canteen are prepared in a hygienic environment.

One concern of parents looking for a school is the availability of transport, especially for working parents. The International School of Choueifat (ISC) DIP has a transport facility that covers areas throughout Dubai. It has a fleet of well-maintained buses with outstanding safety features, including seat belts and GPS tracking.

The annual transport fee for areas within DIP is AED 6,600 (two-way). While the annual fee for areas outside DIP is AED 8,100 (two-way). Please note that the tuition fee can be paid in three instalments.

For more information, contact the school’s administration.

It offers a very limited range of holiday camps.

The International School of Choueifat Dubai Investment Park has a wide range of sports facilities. For those interested in indoor sports, there is an air-conditioned multipurpose sports hall. That hall has facilities for sports like table tennis, badminton and basketball. There also exists a gymnasium equipped with the equipment necessary for athletic training.

For those interested in swimming, the school has two well-maintained swimming pools. The infant swimming pool is used for kindergarten students. Trained students can use the other Olympic-size swimming pool.

ISC DIP also has a 400-metre athletic rubber-based track that allows the students to work on their stamina and endurance. This track is also used in annual sports competitions. For football lovers, it has an international-sized synthetic grass-based football field.

Other outdoor facilities on campus include shaded outdoor play zones, an indoor playground for kindergarten students, an infant car track, a gymnastic room and a ballet room.

There are many opportunities for students in co-curricular activities. Each year, students have a plethora of activities to choose from. The school arranges specialised activities for each grader to ensure the development of modern-day skills. From educational-based events to recreational trips, students can take part in more than one activity.

One noteworthy extra-curricular activity at the school is the Model United Nations (MUN). Each year, children in higher grades take part in ISCDIP MUN, where they learn about international relations, diplomacy and foreign affairs. Another important opportunity for students to showcase their brilliance is the Spelling Bee competition. Recently, Grade 6 students participated in the annual spelling bee competition.

Other popular extra-curricular activities at the school are:

Field trips are an important part of student life at ISC DIP. Students eagerly wait for the day when they are taken on a visit to famous locations in Dubai. The field trips are specifically designed considering the needs of different age groups. For Kindergarten students, most of the field trips are educational, allowing them to understand how the world operates. However, they are also taken on recreational picnics where they learn teamwork and enhance their social skills.

Other popular field trips by ISC DIP include visits to:

• Legoland
• Beaches
• Jump Boxx
• Ski Dubai

The school does not have a dedicated after-school care system in place. They do, however, have extracurricular activities like gymnastics on alternate days of the week for students in Grade 2 and above. They have ECA on Saturdays (which requires additional payment).

Additionally, the summer school programme is one of their outstanding after-school care provided to the new students during the summer breaks. These programmes are designed to bridge the gap between the current and required skills.

The school has two clinics on campus- one for KG to Grade 1 and another for Grade 2 and up. They have employed a full-time doctor and three nurses.

The school engages with parents through the SABIS Parent app. It is a mobile-based application that is available for Android, Windows and Apple devices. Its simple user interface and user experience enable parents to look for different information. Here, parents can access examination schedules, notifications, teachers’ feedback and much more. Parents and teachers can contact each other on school designated WhatsApp groups. Also, it shares important information with parents and the community through its official website and social media platforms.

Telephone

• For general enquiries: +971 4 884 7884

Email Address

• General enquiries: iscdip@iscdip.sabis.net
• Principal: principal@iscgcd-sabis.ae
• Vice principal: viceprincipal@iscgcd-sabis.ae

Official Website and Social Media

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Vimeo

Note that the cover image belongs to the International School of Choueifat DIP

What are the timings of The International School of Choueifat DIP?

School timings are not mentioned on the website, however the school remains open from Monday through Friday.

Does ISC DIP conduct after-school activities?

There are few activities that are conducted after-school hours and on Saturdays. Other than this, International School of Choueifat DIP offers summer activities as well.

How many grades/years are there in International School of Choueifat in DIP?

ISC DIP offers education from Pre-KG until Grade 12.

Does ISC DIP follow a co-education model?

Yes, the school follows a co-education model.

How many students are currently studying in the school?

Currently, there are 2,858 students enrolled in ISC Dubai Investment Park.

What is the academic calendar followed by ISC DIP?

The academic calendar of ISC DIP runs from August until June of the next year.

What is the tuition fee charged by the school?

The annual tuition fee ranges from AED 24,000 to AED 46,298

How does the school communicate with parents?

Teachers and parents can communicate with each other via SABIS Parents app and WhatsApp group. You can also book an appointment with a particular teacher as well.

Does ISC DIP have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

There's a canteen on the school premise however meals are outsourced from a third-party caterer. 

How often does the school arrange field trips?

The International School of Choueifat DIP takes students on field trips round the year. The trips are either educational or recreational in nature.

Does ISC DIP organise holiday camps for winter, spring or summer breaks?

Yes, the school organises holiday camps in summer.

How many teachers are currently teaching in International School of Choueifat DIP?

Currently, there are 134 teachers and 36 teaching assistants employed by the The International School of Choueifat in Dubai Investment Park.