Dubai Schools (DS), which is a subsidiary / an affiliate of The Dubai Education Council (DEC) annouced in a Press Release 24 January 2006 that they were launching Repton School in Dubai. The original Repton School in Repton, Derbyshire, UK, is fairly well known British Public School, about 450 years old. It's not quite in the same league as Eton or Harrow but is certainly posh enough to satisfy a good number of upper class toffs. Summary of press release is:
- Repton Dubai will enrol day and boarding (a first for Dubai) students from kindergarten to Year 13
- School will be co-educational.
- UK curriculum (GCSE and A- level presumably but press release didn't say), and an International Baccalaureate (IB) option at Sixth Form level.
- Initial enrolment of 500 students, to increase to 1000 eventually, with an expectation that half the pupils will be boarding.
- The DEC has a plot in Nad Al Sheba for the school, area 1.36 million square feet.
- Construction will start in June 2006 and Repton School expected to open September 2007 for 2007-2008 academic year.
- Secretary General of the Dubai Education Council is Dr. Abdulla Al Karam. He said "Repton School Dubai offers academic standards comparable to the best in the world and we are proud to have them as our flagship school,"
- Director of Dubai Schools is Jamilah Al Mehairi, and she was "extremely happy to welcome Repton School to Dubai," because "Repton will add considerable value to the educational sector in Dubai"
- Headmaster of Repton School UK is Robert Holroyd. He said "An international dimension is central to the future success of Repton as we travel into the global world of the 21st century.". So you see, insightful reflections like that explain why he's a headmaster and not just a mere schoolteacher
. - ... and that's probably enough of the pithy comments for now.
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