Our Vision
Educating to Make a Difference in the World
Our Mission
Discovering the brilliance in every individual. Building community through respect and a sense of belonging.
Empowering people to act with purpose.
Our Values
The core values that embody a JESS education and the ethos of our community
Commitment
We are dedicated and persevere in every undertaking.
Respect
E cellence
C e
we y and compassion our planet.
Integ ity he right thing, even when ith difficult decisions.
Curiosity
We are excited to learn and have the courage to explore.
Contents
Welcome
Senior Leadership Team
Pastrol Team
Upcoming dates
School day timings
New JESS students
Tutor groups
Uniform and dress code
Yondr at JESS
The house system
Oasis
What to bring
Language selection
Co-curricular clubs
JESS sports
Instrumental music lessons
JESS cafeteria
School bus service
Parent communications
Wellbeing Hub
Halpay application
Calendar of school events
Absence reporting
Key points of contact
Welcome
A warm welcome to all new students and families joining our JESS community. We are excited to get to know your child and to support them on the exciting journey ahead! The transition process is comprehensive and we offer support every step of the way
Inside this student guide you will find information on the most common questions we receive. Please get in touch if you have any questions and open the links throughout the booklet for further information.
We understand that beginning a new school can be daunting for some students (and parents). Rest assured; we have a dedicated transition programme to ensure that all students feel at home as quickly as possible. Students will experience a host of team building days and experiences to ensure they get to know the school and their new classmates.
We look forward to meeting you in person
Kind regards,
The JESS Pastoral Team
Senior Leadership Team
Andrew Sargeant Deputy Head (KS4)
Sam Cole Assistant Head
Roger Nicholson Associate Head
Bryony Lynch Deputy Head (KS3)
Richard Malpass Deputy Head
Katie Raybould Assistant Head
Steve Vickers Deputy Head (KS5)
Jennie Burke Senior Deputy Head
Stephen Green Head of Secondary
Amanda Rogers Secondary Head Teacher’s PA
KS3/KS4 Pastoral Team
Bryony Lynch Deputy Head (KS3)
Nahla Osman Head of Year 7 nosman@jess.sch.ae
Andrew Sargeant Deputy Head (KS4)
Ashley Young Head of Year 8 ayoung@jess.sch.ae
Louise Walshe Head of Year 10 lwalshe@jess sch ae
Sarah Buckingham
KS3 Academic Secretary academicsec@jess sch ae
Brendan Reilly Head of Year 9 breilly@jess.sch.ae
Callum McGuigan Head of Year 11 cmcguigan@jess sch ae
Louise Hughes
KS4 Academic Secretary academicsec@jess sch ae
Upcoming Dates
Please refer to the key dates below for Year 7 students joining us in the Autumn term, 2026. You can also view the academic calendar for 2026/27 here.
Friday 24 April
Friday 15 May
8:00am - 9:00am Lecture Theatre ARP
Monday 18 May 8:30am - 2:30pm
Monday 18 May 8:30 am - 9:30am
Bus registration opens For information, and to register, visit: School Buses
JESS ARP Student Parents - Meet the Team
Please complete this form here to register your attendance
External Students Taster Day
Please complete the form here to register your attendance.
External Parents meeting and short tour around the school. Please complete the form here to register your attendance
Monday 18 May Deadline for completing the Language Selection Form
Monday 18 May Expression of interest in music lessons opens - Registration Form.
Thursday 21 May st
8:00am - 9:00am at JESS Jumeirah
Wednesday 3 June 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Monday 22 June
9:00am - 10:30am at ARS
Tuesday 30 June 8:30 am - 2:00pm
Friday 28 August 8:00 am - 11:30am
JESS Jumeirah Student Parents - Meet the Team (At JJ)
Please complete this form here to register attendance
Parents ‘The Next Steps’ welcome evening. This is for all new parents. STS bus representative will be available for queries and JPG second-hand uniform sale will take place 3:30pm - 4:30pm Please sign up using this Registration Form.
Parent Support Cafe
“Supporting your Child with Moving to Secondary School ” Sign up information to follow
Year 6-7 Transition Day ‘Moving on up’ Further information on this will be sent nearer the date.
First Day of Term: New students only (student Yondr pouch and parent ID badges handed out)
Monday 31 August 7:40 am - 3:20pm All students return.
School Day Timings
JESS Secondary timings are as below.
Co-curricular activities vary and will be before, during, or after the school day
Monday-Thursday 7:20-7:40 am 7:40 am 15:20 pm
Friday 7:20-7:40 am 7:40 am 11:30 am
Secondary drop off is at the front entrance of the school, or the side entrance opposite the community shops. Please use the designated drop-off zones, which are monitored by our site community team
Students are welcome to cycle to school and can leave their bikes in the designated area. Students must wear a helmet when cycling to school. Please note, E-Scooters are not permitted.
JESS Student Taster Day
Every year we welcome new students to JESS. On Monday 18th May, all external students will have the opportunity to experience a day in the secondary school.
They will meet the Head of Year and some of the Year 7 team, they will be given a tour of the site, experience lessons, meet members of the teaching staff, and experience lunch in the JESS Cafeteria.
Students may bring a packed lunch or buy food from the JESS Cafeteria using cash Please ensure your child has approximately 30AED. This will cover a snack and main meal.
External Students Taster Day
Please complete form here to register attendance. This will be held on Monday 18 May, 8:30 am - 2:30pm
External parents meeting
All new parents are invited to attend a short tour followed by an informal meeting on Monday 18 May at 8:30am - 9:30am. Please complete the attendance form here.
Your child will be assigned a tutor during Transitions Day. From that point, they will be your first point of contact. You will receive an introductory email from them. At the start of the academic year, you will have the opportunity to meet them on a one-to-one basis This information will be shared with you at the start of September.
Each year group is assigned an Assistant Head of Year, Wellbeing Coordinator, and Head of Year. The Head of Year for Year 7 will be Ms. Nahla Osman. The pastoral team will work closely to support both your child and you through the transition process
Tutor Groups
Your child will be notified of their tutor during Transition Day. From that point, they will be your first point of contact At the start of the academic year you will also have the opportunity to meet them on a one-to-one basis. This information will be shared with you at the start of September
We place belonging and care at the heart of all our decisions and, therefore, seek to place students in classes based upon how they learn, work, and interact together within a school setting. This may differ to the friendship groups your child may socialise within and outside school The development of students’ social and emotional skills is also seen as paramount Enabling children the opportunity to widen their circle of friends within new classes, supports this crucial element of development.
Staff meet to discuss and structure potential tutor groups to ensure that they are equally well balanced, based on the following areas of consideration:
Gender
Academic ability
Learning styles
Children who require learning support
Productive/unproductive learning relationships and interactions within the classroom
Language selection to ensure balanced numbers in MFL classes
Balancing the of number of Arabic A and Arabic B students for timetabling purposes
By aiming for an equal spread of the above areas within each tutor group, we aim to create well-balanced classes with the best learning climate for all students.
Experience has shown that this is a successful and beneficial process. A great deal of time, effort, discussion, observation, and consideration goes into creating the tutor groups.
In addition, each year group is assigned an Assistant Head of Year and a Head of Year. The pastoral team will work closely to support your child and you through the transition process
Our Secondary school Academic Secretary for KS3, Sarah Buckingham, is also available to answer any administration questions. academisec@jess.sch.ae
Uniform and Dress Code
We pride ourselves on the appearance of all those who attend JESS. The school implements a strict dress code from Year 7 thorough to Sixth form
All pupils are encouraged to take care of their personal appearance and to comply with the school code. Below are our general dress code guidelines.
Uniform requirements can be found here
JESS sportswear and swimwear requirements can be found here.
General Dress Code guidelines
Hair
Jewellery
Shoes
School Bags
Sports Teams
PE Kit
Hair below the shoulder must be fully tied back No extreme cuts or unnatural hair colour are permitted
A watch and one pair of plain, small stud earrings (silver or gold) in the ear lobe are allowed
School shoes should be black (matt) leather with a solid heel of less than 4cm
Please note that ballerina style pumps and black trainers are not acceptable
Please note that students arriving at school in sports named footwear will be asked to purchase the correct footwear. This will then be an additional expense.
Students are encouraged to bring a rucksack style bag to school to carry their equipment for the day This is then left in their locker A laptop bag or small canvas tote bag is used to carry their device between lessons.
If selected for a sports team, pupils are expected to purchase JESS team kits, this applies to those chosen for football, rugby, netball, and athletics teams. All kit is available to purchase online from J20 Sports Please do not purchase until directed by the team coach
Students have two games sessions a week – on both days, students can wear their PE/games kit for the duration of the school day It is compulsory for all students to purchase a hoodie for PE/games kit They are unable to wear the hoodie with their school uniform.
Yondr at JESS
In August 2024, JESS became the first Yondr school in the UAE. So what is Yondr? In summary, Yondr is a mobile phone solution that utilises a simple, secure pouch that securely locks away a mobile phone or smart watch to prevent its use. Every student at JESS is required to secure their mobile phone in a personally assigned Yondr pouch during form time, each morning. This means that students will not have access to their mobile phones during the school day. Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school and are responsible for their pouch at all times It allows students to take responsibility for their phone, without the distraction or temptation of using it throughout the school day.
Student’s will be assigned a brand new Yondr pouch on their first day of school. This will be handed out to all students, with a brief presentation on how to use the pouch along with the rules around this There is a one time cost of 100AED to purchase the pouch, which will be invoiced via accounts in due course. The pouch is designed to last for the duration of a students journey at JESS and is the responsibility of the student to take care of it
For any students who do not own a phone, or will not bring their phone to schoolwe would like you as the parent to sign this Exemption Form so that we can make their tutor aware.
STORE
On arrival at school, phones are secured inside a Yondr pouch.
SECURE
The pouch is locked and kept in the student’s possession at all times.
RELEASE
On leaving school, students tap their pouch on an unlocking base.
The House System
The house system is very much a part of life at JESS with house competitions and house points creating a community for peers to support one another, to engage in competition, and to work together to make a positive contribution to the school community.
The house system helps to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging, and creates opportunities to celebrate achievements and instil pride amongst students.
All students are allocated one of four houses on enrolment. You will be informed of your child’s house at the start of May Students coming from our JESS primary schools will stay in their allocated house. Our houses are:
Tahr (black)
Oryx (white)
Panthera (red)
Falco (green)
House t-shirts are worn several times a year during competitions, Mindbeat Days, Bonanza Days, and house events. They are compulsory to purchase; this can be done online from our PE kit supplier, J20 Sports, once students start at JESS
For all JESS sportswear and swimwear requirements click here.
Oasis - Learning Support
Some students who have identified learning differences (such as Dyslexia, Autism and ADHD) receive extra support from the Oasis team
The Oasis team supports in some lessons with additional adults in the room (usually English and Maths) and also provides support sessions during prep lessons.
Some students also have additional accommodations for their tests and exams, and may sit their exams in the Oasis Centre. You will be aware if your child has this support already in their primary school If you are coming from an external primary school, please make sure you let us know of any needs and/or support that your child receives.
Sometimes, teachers will refer students to the Oasis department if they have concerns about potential learning barriers. Please do not be alarmed if one of the team reaches out to you –we always come from a place of care and support
If you would like to contact one of the Oasis team you can reach out to Mrs. Zoe Phelps, who oversees the Key Stage 3 Oasis provision. Please note that in Term 3, 2026, Ms. Phelps will be on maternity leave. All Year 7 Oasis transition support is being coordinated by Natasha Winstone
Alternatively, you can contact Mrs Beth Sargeant, Head of Inclusion for JESS Secondary
Oasis Team
Head of Inclusion Bsargeant@jess.sch.ae
Deputy SENCO Zphelps@jess.sch.ae
Stephen Guing Inclusion Teacher Sguing@jess.sch.ae
Beth Sargeant
Zoe Winslade
Natasha Winstone Inclusion Teacher, Wellbeing Co-Ordinator Year 7 Nwinstone@jess.sch.ae
What to bring
The difference between enjoying the school day and just getting through it often lies in making sure everything that’s needed gets packed
All secondary students are expected to have the following:
A labelled water bottle
A labelled lunch bag or their lunch card for the cafeteria (replacement card 30AED)
A windows device (digital information can be found here)
A pair of wired headphones
A compatible keyboard with a stylus
Pencil case, including writing pens, pencils, colouring pencils scissors, glue stick, ruler, eraser, pencil sharpener
Geometry set
Casio ClassWiz FX-991CW calculator
Please read through the digital information guide carefully for product requirements and instructions on ordering.
Any questions or queries, please email academicsec@jess sch ae
Language Selection
Students at JESS secondary have the opportunity to study either French or Spanish. This is in addition to Arabic If your child is already proficient in French or Spanish, they will be required to select the other language option.
MFL lessons are always very active and incorporate a variety of learning activities and games. There are many opportunities to take part in activities outside the classroom and trips are organised to both Paris and Barcelona
In the interest of enabling as broad a knowledge of modern languages as possible, native/fluent speakers of French will automatically go on to study Spanish, while native/fluent speakers of Spanish will be expected to study French.
Please discuss this decision with your child. We suggest that students choose a language that they may have exposure to in the future, through their travels so they can practice their language learning in real-life situations.
If you are offered a place at JESS after Monday 18th May, your selection will still be considered. We will always endeavour to allocate a language according to their choice, however, places for the courses are limited and students will be selected on a first come, first served basis. If you do not have a preference, please indicate this on the language selection form
We understand that this may seem like a big decision at this stage of your children’s schooling, however, we feel that it is important that your child focuses on one language, either French or Spanish. This will enable them to build a good base for examinations at a later stage, especially when you consider that students will also be studying Arabic at JESS
Please follow this link to complete the language selection form. Please only complete this form once
Selections are allocated to ensure equal distribution of classes across the year group Whilst we will endeavour to place your child in their chosen language, this may not always be possible.
Co-Curricular Clubs
A timetable of secondary clubs is published at the start of every term. Students and parents will be able to access this information through the ECA channel on Microsoft Teams, SOCS, and the Parent Portal.
Students will be shown the selection available in their tutor groups and they will have the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about them before they go live, which is when the sign-up is completed.
JESS Sports
Sports kits and communication
Our Guide To JESS Sports and Swimwear details all the kit needed at JESS. The sports department also has its own website - www jessranchessport com - where it hosts and shares information on sports fixtures, teams, opponents, and results.
This website can be accessed in a variety of ways:
Parent Portal – select ‘JESS Sport’ from the top menu
Parent Portal app – select ‘JESS Sport’ at the bottom of the ‘School Life’ tab
Sports Website
If you use the sports website, the browser will recognise when you’re accessing the site from a mobile device and deliver the information in a user-friendly, app-style, format It will also give you the option to save it next to all your other apps. To do this, once on the site, select ‘Options’ (accessible on a Samsung via the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner and on an iPhone via the box icon with an arrow coming out of the top just above the home button) Then select ‘Add to home screen’. The next time you look at your phone, the JESS icon will be sitting amongst your apps and you will be able to access our sports site in one press of the button.
The sports app/website shows fixtures, team sheets, opponents’ locations, and results We suggest that you check the information regularly to be able to see what’s on for your child’s team
Please email parentportal@jess.sch.ae with any installation issues you may have.
Instrumental Music Lessons
Individual and group music lessons
The JESS Music Department organises individual and group instrumental lessons for a variety of instruments, including guitar (classical and electric), clarinet, saxophone, flute, voice, trumpet, piano, violin, drums, and cello.
Lessons are charged at individual or group rate and are 30 minutes long For more information relating to our instrumental programme, please email peri@jess.sch.ae.
You can view your child’s timetabled music lessons in the parent portal/app by selecting ‘Calendar’ and then under the date, select ‘This week’ and the music lessons will be displayed.
Please register your interest for music lessons via this sign up form.
JESS Cafeteria
The school cafeteria provides a range of fresh, nutritious meals prepared on-site each day. Students can choose from a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, as well as sandwiches, salads, wraps, and healthy snacks.
JESS remains a nut-free school. Parents can register any additional allergens through the school’s designated cafeteria system to ensure that their child’s dietary needs are clearly communicated and safely managed
At the start of the academic year, all new students will receive an email containing: A step-by-step guide on how to register for the cafeteria system Your child’s student information, including their Student ID
If families require assistance at any point during the school year, support is available through the school’s cafeteria helpdesk Contact details will be provided in the registration email and on the school website.
School Bus Service
Secondary Transport
A bus service managed by JESS for Secondary students operates between JESS Jumeirah and JESS Arabian Ranches, as well as other designated surrounding areas, at both the start and end of the school day. Details of routes and their related timetables can be found on the JESS website, here
If you would like to sign up for the JESS Bus service please complete our Expression of Interest form here before 29th May 2026.
If you have any other queries regarding the bus service, please email sts@jess.sch.ae.
Parent Communications Communication Channels
Our main method of communicating with parents is through our Parent Portal and Parent app, which both draw information from our data management system, iSams. Much of the data is personalised to year groups so that you only see documents and files that are relevant to your child/ren, such as timetables, key dates, and information;. Importantly, this is the only method that we use to share reports and assessment results.
The link to our Parent Portal goes straight to the login window, so it’s a good idea to bookmark this for future reference The portal can also be accessed at the top of the JESS website.
Parent Portal
You will receive an email from the Parents Relations Team containing the activation details for your iSAMS Parent account. This email will guide you through the steps needed to activate and access your account
Once registered, you can download the iSAMS parent app from your usual app store When prompted, enter the JESS code, which is JDXB, and the username and password you created when activating your account. You will only be able to see information related to your child once they start school Until then, you may not have any children associated with your account. If you do not have the activation code, or you have any problems accessing the portal/app, email parentportal@jess sch ae or contact your school reception
Adding multiple schools on the Parent Portal App
We appreciate you may have students attending different schools in Dubai. If these schools are using the iSAMS app for communications, it is possible to have all the school communications coming through Note, you will need the iSAMS code from each school to complete this process:
1 Open the app
2.On the dashboard, select ‘Settings’ in the bottom right-hand corner
3.Select the ‘Manage Schools’ option and then select your school
4 Enter the school code For JESS, this is JDXB
Wellbeing Hub
Supporting our families and students
JESS is delighted to offer parents access nto the Wellbeing Hub, a UK-based platform dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of students, parents, and staff across all areas of life. At JESS, we believe that wellbeing is central to personal and academic success, and we hope this resource will become an invaluable source of information and support for our entire community
As part of our partnership with the Wellbeing Hub, you will receive:
Regular emails with helpful tips and updates
Invitations to events and webinars
Access to a wide range of resources and courses tailored specifically for parents We warmly invite you to explore the extensive content available on the platform From expert advice and practical strategies to engaging videos and articles.
To understand more about the hub, please watch a tour video designed to guide parents through the platform and its features. Parents and students will receive their logins at the start of the academic year We encourage parents to sit down with your child and explore the site together. Please rest assured that all student content is age-appropriate and designed to support their wellbeing in a safe and meaningful way
HalPay Application
Payments for all school-related trips and activities
HalPay App is a new application designed to make managing payments for school-related activities and trips easier and more efficient Please note that the app does not support payments for tuition fees and debentures.
This modern, user-friendly platform, allows parents to track their transactions in real-time and provides access to a detailed history of payments for record-keeping.
Our goal with the HalPay App is to make school payments more convenient and hassle-free.
We encourage all parents to download HalPay from the App Store or Play Store and explore its features.
Here is the video tutorial on how to use the Hal Pay app: https://www youtube com/watch?v=U o9m-Ps7QI
Calendar of School Events
SOCS
SOCS integrates the school calendar, sports fixtures, ECAs and music lessons all in one place for ease SOCS provides you with a personalised timetable for your child, including events they are involved in. Secondary student timetables are also available, outlining everything your child is doing during the school day in one place. Sign up and access to our co-curricular programme is also via SOCS
The calendar can be accessed and viewed at www.socscms.com/login/28060
How to activate SOCS
To access the SOCS calendar, you need to activate your account. To do this, search for Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS Arabian Ranches), then select the Login Type – Parent. When activating your account, use the same email address used for all school correspondence Check your junk inbox if you do not receive the activation email when registering.
If you incur any problems accessing the calendar, email parenthelpdesk@jess.sch.ae
Adding calendars to your Android device
Open https://socs-ar.jess.sch.ae in the web browser on your device to access the JESS calendars. To save to your device homepage like an app, select the 3 dots on the top righthand of the page, select ‘Add to Home Screen’ and then the web link will appear in the same way that apps do.
Adding calendars to your Apple device
Open https://socs-ar.jess.sch.ae in the web browser on your device to access the JESS calendars To save to your device homepage like an app, select the share icon (a box with an arrow coming out from the top) and then select ‘Add to Home Screen’ and the web link will appear in the same way that apps do.
Absence Reporting
Daily Absence
Daily absence, such as an illness or medical appointment, must be reported before 7:15am that day
Exceptional Leave
Exceptional leave, such as holidays, sports events, or for exceptional circumstances during term time, should be requested early in advance. Once this has been received, the leave of absence will be reviewed by the Senior Leadership Team for approval
kS3 - 5 days of approved leave per academic year
KS4 - No approved absence during term time.
Please save/favourite the links below for all future absence reporting/requests
Student Daily Absence Leave
Exceptional Leave Application
Academic Calendar
Please follow this link to view the 2026/27 academic calendar
Key points of Contact
Please see below some key contacts that are worth adding to your email inbox address book to prevent any emails falling into your spam folder
Secondary Admin - academicsec@jess sch ae
Health Office - healthoffice@jess.sch.ae
Accounts - accounts@jess.sch.ae
Oasis Department - oasisars@jess sch ae
Deputy Head responsible for Years 7 to 9
Bryony Lynch
Deputy Head (KS3) blynch@jess sch ae
Contacting the school
It is possible to either email or call the school with any queries you may have We have one main number to call, which is 04-3619019.
Follow us
JESS has a range of social media channels that are used for different messages They are:
Facebook: JESS Dubai
Instagram: @jessdubaischool
X: @JESSDubai
YouTube: @jessdubaischool
LinkedIn: JESS Dubai
