Parent's Review of ISG Jubail in Jubail
What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)
ISG Jubail
In what town or city is this school located?
Jubail
How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)
UK International Pre Recep - Yr 7. US International Gr 7 - gr 10
What grade levels are represented at this school?
Pre reception - Grade 10
How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)
Compound Bus - School Supplied Bus
How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?
Activities vary but are limited. Year groups are combined. ie: Yr 2/3/4 will do the same activity at the same time and date scheduled. One maybe two activities available to 3/4 year groups per semester.
What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?
Our children came from the USA from an enrichment/gifted program. No such programs available. They were tested but put in age appropriate year. Work is very easy if not boring. We feel children moving BACK to the USA/UK from here will face problems keeping up with the age appropriate year group. No help is apparent to keep your child at a level to which he/she is accustomed too.
How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?
PTA organised Sept 2009. Only available socializing via the PTA is to better the school. A monthly meeting to discuss school issues. No social events for parents.
What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?
Take a long hard look at other options. If you can take accomodation in Dammam or Khobar you will have the option to school your child in Bahrain where schools are of a much higher standard ethically and educational. You do not need to live in Bahrain or have residency. USA and UK citizens can live in Bahrain for 28 days before they need to come back over the border to KSA and then it is just to get the entry stamp back in your passport. You can turn around and go straight back. You can live in Saudi and commute to school everyday. Eastern Province experience of ISG SCHOOLS - 14 Years (Parent and Previous staff member)
More Parents' Reviews of International Schools in Saudi Arabia
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Comments about this Report
guestISG Jubail is a very good school, and considering the options available to expats in Jubail, the ONLY international school that I would put my children in. Coming from Canada, my children going into the elementary school, I found the standard high. I completely disagree with the comment "We feel children moving BACK to the USA/UK from here will face problems keeping up with the age appropriate year group. No help is apparent to keep your child at a level to which he/she is accustomed too." as my daughter battled with Math, as the standard was much higher than that of Canada. She did have extra Math help after school, and eventually was in the top 5 Math students in her grade. You may feel this way, as the curriculum is different, but there is a method to this curriculum, as it makes your children think for themselves, and find out how and why something is what it is. I have moved from Saudi, and my children have both integrated very well into their new school which is IB based, and of a very high standard. After school activities are limited, but it is not a big city, and there are only so much the teachers can do with only 5 days of the week. Regarding PTA, the fact that you are living in Saudi Arabia, it is very difficult for social events for parents, considering the hours the men work, as well as the fact that women cannot drive. Social events are usually compound based. To get your children into a Bahrain school is not that easy, and the education is about the same. The only other option is to go to the ISG school in Dammam/Khobar, where there is a bigger campus and probably more for the children to do... which is what you will have to do when they go to Grade 11 as they are bussed there from the compounds.
guestDear poster, the fact that your talented and gifted kids from US went into age appropriate classes in ISG Jubail tells the whole story. After rigorous US SAT and UK NFER testing on entry, your children were put where they could cope! Results obviously indicated on grade standards at best! If results showed outstanding achievement and skill levels, they perhaps would have been moved up a grade if they could have coped socially and emotionally. Would be ionterested to know why their results didn't show this if they were so talented and gifted in US? Respect.
