Overview
Established in 1978, The City School International has witnessed phenomenal growth and success attributed to its high quality standards and pedagogical leadership. Today, the school is internationally renowned as the premier institution in South Asia.
School Vision/Mission and Core Values
We are motivated by a mission to create a better world through education, and aim to develop happy, inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people, who will have the skills and social awareness to help them become independent and valued members of the society.
Academic Philosophy
At The City School International we believe that each child is unique. Our continuous focus is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning through high expectations to ensure that each child achieves his/her own potential in a safe and stimulating environment.
Our UK National curriculum is so designed to nurture a desire to learn. Students of all levels are encouraged to investigate and question the world around them. Teachers are trained to develop the maximum potential of every student under their care.
Admission
The Academic Session starts in September each year and ends in June. The registration starts in February for the upcoming academic session.
Admission is offered for all year groups subject to the availability of seats. The admission has no restriction to cast, nationality or religion however, siblings of existing students are given a priority, if they meet all admission requirements.
Age Guidelines
At TCSI, students are placed in Year levels by age and demonstration that they can successfully access our curriculum and provide a positive contribution to our school. However, as our program is designed to be a challenging academic program, the school can only admit students who require academic support where there is capacity to support them within our Achievement Center.
Students are enrolled based on acquiring age level for the Year of entrance by 31st August of the same academic year
● The age of the student admitted must meet the minimum age set for the grade/year group outlined in the table below. This is in accordance with the legislation governing the enrolment of students at private schools in Dubai.
● The age mentioned in the table should be the age of the student on August 31 for schools beginning in September.
● Students enrolled in UAE schools will be treated based on their transfer certificate.
● For students at or above Grade 2/Year 3 who come from outside the UAE and from a system that admits students at a younger age, sufficient evidence for the last Grade/ Year of enrolment (in the form of stamped transfer/school leaving certificates) must be provided.
● Students entering Pre-KG/FS 1 to Grade 9/Year 10 can be up to two years older than the minimum age. For the remaining grades - up to Grade 12/Year 13 – students can be up to three years older than the minimum age.
This table explains the age/grade requirements:
Admission Process Workflow
TCSI welcomes applications throughout the year. However, there is limited seat availability so we advise you to apply as early as you can.
When you are ready, follow the instructions below.
Step 1 – Applying online
● Before applying;
● Check the age chart to see which year group is correct for your child, based on their date of birth.
● Familiarise yourself with the relevant school fees
Step 2 – Finalizing the application
● After filling the online application form. You will receive an email with further instructions.
● All the required documents can be uploaded to the reply email.
● You will be required to pay a non-refundable Registration fee of AED 500, which must be paid online before the admission test.
Step 3 – Securing a Place
● Once you have added all the required details for your child(ren) and paid the registration fee, an admission test/interview will be scheduled depending on availability.
● You will be notified of the outcome of the assessment shortly afterwards. Successful applicants will receive a formal offer email valid for 2 weeks from receipt. If no places are available at the time, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified once a place becomes available.
● To secure the offered seat, you will be required to pay the Non Refundable Admission Fee of AED 1000.
● Parents will meet the school’s KHDA secretary to register the child with KHDA. For KHDA registration it is mandatory to bring along the Student and Parents original Emirates ID cards and Child's Previous School Leaving Certificate (if any)(attested if coming from outside the country/emirate).
Admission will be withheld until all the required documents are provided to the school. School will be not responsible for KHDA non-registration due to delay of providing the documentations.
STUDENT REGISTRATION
Online Registration via the following link: https://thecityschool.sch.ae/student-registration/
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
IMPORTANT:
● Students can only attend school in the new academic year if they are registered in the KHDA School System and their parents have signed the Parent-School Contract.
● Students enrolled in UAE schools should have a transfer certificate from their previous school; this is a mandatory requirement for students in all grades.
● New students from outside Dubai and entering Grade 2/Year 3 and above must have a transfer certificate from their last Grade/Year of enrolment. If this certificate is from another country, endorsements and ratifications must be provided according to the table below:
If students are transferring from... This is what they’ll need on their transfer certificate:
Another emirate in the UAE or any GCC country
1.School principal’s signature and school stamp
2.Attestation by the Educational Authority in that Emirate or attestation by the Ministry of Education in the GCC country
North America, Western Europe and Australia
Middle East (excluding the UAE), South and Central America, Asia, Russia and former Russian States, Eastern Europe, Africa and New Zealand
1. School principal’s signature and school stamp
1.School principal’s signature and school stamp
2.Attestation by the Ministry of Education in the country of origin.
3.Attestation by UAE Consulate or Embassy in the origin country OR by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
Admission will be withheld until all the required documents are provided to the school and upon KHDA approval.
ADMISSION TEST:
Before a place can be offered, the child will be assessed. These assessments vary according to the age of the child. Successful applicants will be notified by email that a place has been offered. The offer is valid for a week from receipt. In all cases the parent or guardian will be notified of the outcome of the assessment by email.
● Each applicant must have the necessary academic qualifications, fulfil the Schools’ admissions criteria and pass the Schools’ assessment process.
● FS1 and FS2: informal one to one interview/play based observational assessments (we look at communication, behaviour, interaction and the ability of the child to follow instructions)
● Years 1-2: hand written assessment - appropriate to the age of the child.
● Years 3-10: written admission test
● Years 11-13*: previous results, admission test and individual student interview
ADMISSION DEADLINE:
The table below shows the timeframe for the transfer of students for all curriculums. Registration and transfer procedures should be completed prior to the student’s enrolment in the school.
● High school students (Grades 9-12 or equivalent) must seek UAE Ministry of Education approval when transferring to schools with a different curriculum.
● If students (from KG 1 to Grade 1 or equivalent) transfer between schools beginning in September then admission and placement will be according to the age-grade table only.
Within Dubai FS 1 to Year 6 Throughout the school year
Year 7 to 10 Before the first week of the second semester - January
Year 11 to 13 Within 60 days of the beginning of the school year - October
Approval from the receiving school
Approval from the receiving school
Approval from the receiving school, while adhering to the policies of the respective educational councils
From other Emirates or outside the UAE
All age groups Throughout the school year
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES:
Approval from the receiving school, while adhering to the policies of the respective educational councils
Payment of fees can be made by credit/debit card or post-dated cheques. Cheques are to be prepared in favour of “The City School International Pvt”
Annual tuition fee may be paid termly using Post Dated Cheques (PDCs) dated as below:*check percentage
● latest by 20th August – Term 1 (Sep-Dec) Tuition Fees & Other Fees
● between 1-5 December - Term 2 (Jan-Mar) Tuition Fees
● 1-5 March - Term 3 (Apr-Jun) Tuition Fees
These cheques need to be submitted to the School Accounts Department before the start of the Academic Year.
Reviewed and Revised April 2022
Should a parent wish to substitute a post-dated cheque (PDC) with card payment, this must be done 14 days prior to the cheque date. If a school fee cheque is bounced for insufficient funds or a closed bank account, a fine of AED 500 will be applied to each bounced cheque.
FEES
● Registration Fee
A non-refundable AED 500 registration fee is payable for each applicant. This must be paid prior to the assessment/interview.
● Admission Fee
A non-refundable AED 1,000 Admission fee must be paid on acceptance to the school.
● Non-Payment of Fees
Failure to pay school fees may result in a loss of the student’s place in the school, withholding of their school reports, transfer certificates and/or examination results.
● Re-registration Fee
Every year there is a charge of non-refundable re-registration fee AED 1000 of tuition fee for confirmation of seat for the next academic year.
The school has the right not to re-register a student in case the current academic year fees are outstanding. The school reserves the right not to re-register the current student for the next academic year for irregularity in the school fee payment.
This fee is Non-Refundable and will be adjusted in the Term 1 fees of the new Academic Year.
● Tuition Refund Policy
The registration and admission fee remains non-refundable. Please refer to KHDA Parent Contract for more information.
● Refund Policy
Notice of student withdrawal and application for a tuition refund must be given in writing to the Principal a month in advance. Ministry of Education regulations govern the school tuition refund policies outlined below.
Student withdrawal prior to the start of the academic year: The balance of the first-term fee paid is refunded, except the Registration and Admission fee.
Student withdrawal during the school term:
● Fees will be charged for one full month if a student attends school for two weeks or less.
● Fees will be charged for two full months if a student attends school for more than two weeks and less than one month.
● In case a cheque is returned by the bank for any reason, AED 500/- will be charged and cash only will be
Reviewed and Revised April 2022 Admission Policy
accepted in lieu of the returned cheque.
● The school will not accept responsibility for any returned cheque.
● Cheques will be encashed immediately. The school will not hold cheques for any reason.
● Parents bear the total responsibility for the payment of fees on time.
● Parents are requested not to send cash payments through their children. The school will not be held responsible for any loss of money sent with students.
All cheque payments must be made to The City School International Dubai. The fees, subject to Ministry approval, may be reviewed at any time.
ADMISSION POLICY FOR STUDENTS OF DETERMINATION
The City School International is an Inclusive School that respects diversity, supports a sense of belonging and ensures that every student receives a quality education. The City School International admits students regardless of their gender, race, disability or special educational needs. We therefore, welcome and encourage Students of Determination to enroll at TCSI as we provide academic, behavioral and emotional support that they might require to reach their full potential.
Entry Assessment and Admission Procedures for Student of Determination
The City School International has an entry assessment process for Students of Determination that focuses on identifying the challenges and barriers to learning, strengths and capabilities to be able to plan provisions and strategies that will contribute to the student’s progress and development as they are admitted in our school. The entry assessment process is not a “pass or fail” that the student must have to be admitted to school (as per the KHDA Directives and Guidelines for Inclusive Education).
● The school is committed to equality of opportunity and will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments and provide reasonable support to students who are experiencing a learning difficulty or disability.
● The school requests that parents of any student with specific learning requirements, special needs or physical disability declare them at the application stage. The school will then deal with all such applications fairly, compassionately and realistically.
● Parents or guardians are requested to provide with following if available:
Diagnostic report
Referral
Approval from KHDA
Previous academic reports and IEP from previous school Reports from therapists (if any)
Reviewed and Revised April 2022
● Priority admission is provided for a student of determination with a sibling already on roll in the school.
The TCSI entry assessment and admission procedure strictly follows the KHDA Directives and Guidelines for Inclusive Education which ensures that the tools or assessments used for admission of Students of Determination are age-appropriate and reflects the student’s age of development; Students of Determination are not actually required to secure or complete medical assessment or a medical diagnosis in order to proceed with the entry assessment process or for enrollment in TCSI.
The entry-assessment for the Student of Determination will give the Inclusion Team and the teachers the idea of how to plan school-based provisions and accommodations for the student.
In a very rare and exceptional circumstance that TCSI will deny a student of determination for admission, the criteria and rationale for the decision will be clearly described through the completion of KHDA’s non-admission notification procedure for Students of Determination.
Reviewed and Revised April 2022