GEMS DSO Smart School Dubai

[shawarma]

Silicon Oasis School - DubaiFAQs.com information

There was a press release from Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) 14 August 2007 announcing a new "Smart School" to be established in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). The school will be set up in partnership with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA). The press release didn't say what sort of partnership it would be, just that it was the first such tie-up between the Dubai government and GEMS. Other points made in the press release:

• The Silicon Oasis School will be "the first technology focused new generation school in the UAE", with lots of comments about groundwork for a knowledge based economy, skilled pool of technologically aware students, and so on and so on.
• Name of the school is the GEMS-DSO Smart School and is "scheduled to open in September 2008". I wonder if the Geek International Technology School was considered as a possible name?
• Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the DSOA, said "DSOA saves no effort in developing a technology oriented economy based on advanced knowledge, and partnering with GEMS satisfies our objective in contributing to the development of the UAE's knowledge based economy."
• Sunny Varkey, Chairman of the GEMS network, said "The school in DSO builds on the group's tradition of providing education that goes beyond classrooms. In today's highly competitive global economy, knowledge is paramount and technology is the way forward; this is critical for education. The GEMS-DSO Smart School will align us with the future and with Dubai's aspirations."
• GEMS DSO Smart School facilities will include hands-on microelectronics and nanotechnology labs, an on-campus science park, botanical garden and community workspaces
• DSO Smart School will offer the UK National Curriculum (NC), and possibly the IB diploma by 2010 if they get approval from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
• School capacity will be up to 2200 students.
• Executive principal from the UK has been appointed but no name was given.

Here's a list of all GEMS Education schools.

Questions:

Who is the "executive principal"?
Where do you apply for a job?
What are contact details for DSO Smart School?
What ages / grades will school cater to when it first opens? Presumably it will be KG-12 eventually.
Where is the school located in Dubai Silicon Oasis?

Any other comments? Add them here ...

[shawarma]

The new GEMS Silicon Oasis "Smart School" appears to have been renamed as GEMS Wellington Academy, and is expected to open for September 2009 (unless there are 2 GEMS schools planned for Silicon Oasis but that seems unlikely, at least for the time being). Principal's name is or was apparently Martin Clark? Don't know if that's still valid, there's a photo of him on the GEMS DSO school website as "CEO/Principal of GEMS Wellington International School - Dubai Silicon Oasis", however Mr Clark is currently the principal at Jumeirah College, another GEMS school. Maybe he's moving for September 2009?

Update from 27 October 2008 (reposted here): Email received from GEMS Education says the Dubai Silicon Oasis school is UK NC school only, so presumably no IB then, although they didn't say that exactly. The original press release said "GEMS-DSO Smart School will offer the National Curriculum for England to 2,200 students. The IB diploma may also be offered by 2010, subject to approval of the International Baccalaureate Organization".

So either GEMS changed their minds, or didn't get approved (seems unlikely since they have other IB schools), or they're still waiting, or I misunderstood the email.