< Previous20 Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 Y ou just have to cast your eye over the local parent Facebook pages to see first-hand the heated debates amongst mums and dads about for profit and not for profit schools, and there are strong and opinionated responses on both sides. But surely, at the end of the day, for a school to become a sustainable business model, it has to make a profit – something that applies equally to both models. While this makes sense, it is the perception of the motives behind the “profit” element that causes the confusion and debate. Having worked for both sides, Ciarán Cunningham- Watson, principal at Belvedere British School, Abu Dhabi – a profit school – explains that both types of models need to operate in an economically appropriate manner, which must involve some profit-making. But the misconception comes because some believe that while profit- making schools reinvest their financial gains back into the Profit or not for profit? school, profit schools make financial gains for the owner. “But it is an oversimplification to suggest this happens in all schools,“ says Cunningham-Watson. “It is worth bearing in mind that large corporate groups often operate very differently to independently owned schools, regardless of whether they are for or not for profit.” Colette Doughty, who has mainly worked for not-for-profit schools during her time as a teacher in Dubai (she is currently head of secondary at not-for-profit Jebel Ali School, Dubai) agrees. “Ultimately all schools have to make money in order to run their schools, so they all use some kind of business model. It is the shape of this model and how it is applied that differs,” she says. “We have to make money to allow us to educate the students – no more, no less. So from our school’s point of view we are in the ‘business’ of education, but our students’ education always comes first in every decision we make or action we take. No money is taken out of a not for That is the question on the lips of many mums and dads as they look around the UAE’s incredible selection of top schools. But does it really matter which you go for? And what does it all actually mean?Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 21 from the visitors perspective so that they can engage with the school?” And referring to the model she is most familiar with adds: “We very much believe that the recruitment and retention of high quality, experienced staff who are able to deliver best educational practice is of paramount importance. We also understand that environment is a vital part of a child’s learning experience but there has to be a balance between school environment and delivery of education and this in turn is impacted by school budget.” On the other side of the coin, Cunningham-Watson says that from his point of view schools operating with sound financial planning and management should make the business model work and therefore result in a successful school, regardless. “The nature of the school governance is only as good as the people in control of the financial side of the business, as they will make the decisions on how best to run the school along financial grounds,” he adds. “Both types of schools are only as good as the people who work there and all schools are in competition for members of staff, including school leaders and teachers of all levels.” “It is a competitive market for international schools worldwide, particularly so within the UAE, which offers such a diverse range of types and standards of schools.” “When parents decide on a school, it is worth bearing in mind the reason for the school’s existence – does it run in order to keep the school financially stable and operational, or to invest in the quality of its education?” concludes Cunningham-Watson. When it comes to school fees – another heavily-debated topic given that the days of all-inclusive packages are long gone – these are set by the school operators. That means the prices they charge are mostly based on their operational model, and again, not because they are a for profit or not for profit school. So there you have it Mums and Dads. There are so many determining factors when choosing a school for your kids from commute time to school timings and after school activity programmes. The list is endless, so perhaps, whether it’s a for profit or not for profit school shouldn’t come into that process quite so much as it seems to. That’s one less thing to worry about then. “Ultimately all schools have to make money” profit school. Every dirham is reinvested in the provision of education.” The question is are parents worrying unnecessarily? Surely the priority is to find the right fit school for their child, regardless of whether it’s a for profit or not for profit school. Do Cunningham-Watson and Doughty think there are benefits to either of the education model? Doughty says: “It all depends on where money is spent in a school. Do you focus on the nitty gritty of staffing, equipment, texts, materials that drive learning or do you focus on how the school looks Jebel Ali School, Dubai22 Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 N othing can be as emotionally fraught as your child’s first-ever day at school, right? Wrong. Moving them from one school to a new one can be just as tough. You say goodbye to solid friendship groups, favourite teachers and a familiar routine and start all over again in a completely different school environment. But, whether you’re moving from overseas or within the UAE, Zoe Woolley, headmistress of Foremarke School Dubai has some sound advice for making a smooth transition. There is a lot of movement between schools here in addition to the usual primary to secondary moves. Why is that? International schools can have a very transient population of pupils; it’s the nature of being part of a majority expat community. Is it easier to move within the UAE, or harder than coming from overseas? Over recent years, as the choice of schools has increased, there has been more movement between schools within Dubai. Whether a child moves within the UAE or relocates from overseas, the process is almost the same. How do you help ease kids into a new school and life? At Foremarke School, the pastoral care of a new pupil during the initial days and weeks is important. Often a ‘buddy’ is assigned to a child to help guide them to lessons, help them organise themselves for the classes ahead, or just be a friend. Sometimes the whole class Managing the move to a new school will take on this role. When at all possible, we like to meet new pupils in advance of them joining us. The best way to do this is through a taster session. How do you handle children coming from various curricula? Firstly, we identify any gaps in knowledge and skills. Teachers can then plan accordingly and the gaps can be plugged. We offer a range of Curriculum Plus sessions before school for children who require this extra focused input. How to make the transition as smooth as possible for your child Zoe WoolleyTime Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 23 And what about children who may have missed out some topics? A comprehensive assessment process is conducted to ensure students have appropriate support. For children that are identified as needing additional learning support, the school uses a graduated system of response to ensure all needs are individually and appropriately catered for. What paperwork do kids moving schools within the UAE and from abroad need? For those moving from other “We suggest that parents join the PTA” UAE schools and abroad, there should be a set of assessment data available to move with your child. Information such as Early Learning Goals, standardised scores or CAT4 data is extremely useful, and we would always request this. The latest school report also provides a useful insight into a child’s progress, attainment and curriculum coverage to date. If we identify what topics have already been taught then we can adapt planning to take a mastery approach, thereby extending the learning and application of skills further. What should parents do before their child leaves their school to move to a new one in the UAE? At Foremarke, we have a strong network of class social reps (CSRs). These class reps are parents who play an important role in welcoming new families and getting the children involved in class activities, such as SMOOTH MOVES Take a positive approach – if the parents have a sense of excitement about a new school, then their children will as well. Be transparent about any additional needs that your child has. Withholding this information can lead to your child feeling insecure. Let your child tell you about their first day in their own time. Some children take time to process the changes, they will tell you all about it when they are ready. Look at the range of extra clubs and activities on offer and get involved right from the start. If moving from another UAE school, ensure that you have completed all exit procedures in order to generate the transfer certificate. birthday parties, as soon as possible. The CSR also aims to introduce new parents to existing parents in a relaxed context and explain the daily routines of the children in the class. We also suggest that parents join the parent- teacher association (PTA). 24 Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 F rom suggesting what you watch on Netflix to who you follow on Twitter, artificial intelligence (AI) is already an ever present feature in our lives. But what are the implications of using this technology in the teaching of our children? “The global education landscape is fast evolving” says Emma Whale, Vice President – Schools, Pearson Middle East. “There’s an increased emphasis on going beyond the school curriculum to prepare students for higher education and employment, so schools across the UAE and globally are innovating their approach to curriculum content and delivery.” Whale says that the digital revolution is now all around us. “We predict that in about 20 years there will be at least 500 new jobs, which will demand new skills and values. Technical skills such as AI, business intelligence, data and marketing analytics, coding and programming will all be highly valued.” However, is bringing more technology into the classroom to be welcomed when many Talking tech – the future of education parents already feel they’re fighting a losing battle over screen time? Whale says: “We see the advancement of technology as a positive development. It has the potential for individuals to access a range of relevant, engaging and motivating educational programmes customised to their specific needs.” According to the Pearson Global Learner Survey 2019, students believe that technology has the potential to increase accessibility to education and improve the overall learning experience. Three in four respondents said that AI could make a positive impact on education, helping it to be more engaging and providing more personalised content. But we’re not about to see a robot replacing the teacher in class just yet. “The majority of students and parents in the UAE still consider classroom and in- person teaching the preferred mode of learning,” Whale says. “As a result, we’re focused on developing holistic digital and blended learning experiences, incorporating both print and digital.” “Hey Alexa, teach this class to read” Emma WhaleTime Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 25 So how might a greater use of technology affect the attention span of students and the ability of teachers to engage with them? “The majority of parents and educators believe the perceived advantages of IT and technology outnumber the negatives” says Whale. “Respondents to our survey agreed that digital channels, content and devices have the potential to improve learning outcomes and to better prepare students for any future challenges.” She added that digital learning solutions allow educators to teach in a much more personalised and targeted manner, while also helping students to master all of the concepts being taught in the classroom. “In addition, technology has also made it easier for teachers to engage students in learning, for example through innovative interactive content using things like video and quizzes.” And with greater emphasis being placed on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) both in the UAE and globally, it would seem technology is only going to play a greater part in the school life of youngsters. As Whale concludes the most highly valued jobs will be in IT, software engineering and business consultancy. “Recruiters will be looking for people who have a higher level of technical and socio-emotional skills for these positions,” Whale said. “Bringing more tech into the classroom is making our students ready for the 21st century workplace.” “The global education landscape is fast evolving” SEVEN WAYS TO monitor technology use at home Limit screen time by setting a schedule and asking children to use their gadgets according to the prescribed timetable only. Activate Privacy Settings for different websites and platforms to keep a check on their online activities. Monitor and model your own technology habits. Set a good example for your kids by limiting your own technology use. Get them involved in other activities such as a productive board game or outdoor physical activity. Create tech-free zones such as “tech free” dinners, etc. which means that they won’t be allowed to use their gadgets during this time. Encourage face-to-face communication by interacting with your kids on a daily basis and listen to their thoughts, ideas and issues. Talk to them about internet safety and make them vigilant towards social media threats like cyber stalking. 26 Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 M indfulness has been proven to optimise health, wellbeing and happiness in children and here in the UAE we are seeing an increase in the number of teachers exploring the benefits of mindful practices for their classes. There is even an annual mindfulness week for UAE schools in November. “I think there have always been pockets of teachers trying to implement mindfulness in their classrooms in the UAE, and a few years ago they started a group for teachers who practise mindfulness in,” says Ashley Green, a key stage one teacher at JESS Jumeirah. Green has been instrumental in highlighting the benefits of mindfulness in schools and is the main reason that the primary school she teaches at has embraced the phenomenon. All the students even have a reminder in their diaries asking Find your focus them if they have practised mindfulness today. “The UAE is catching up with the rest of the world. Wellbeing in Dubai is massive, and the KHDA is so forward-thinking when it comes to wellbeing, and mindfulness comes under that umbrella,” says Green. Mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something, and there are many different definitions of mindfulness and various activities, training and practices that fall under it, but when Green explains it to the children she says: “it’s about being aware of the present moment and being non- judgmental of the thoughts that are in your head.” “It teaches them to recognise their emotions and focuses their minds on the here and now. It’s another way of being kind to themselves.” Green explains that they have at least one mindful moment every day as a way of getting the children to focus. “In this class I ring the bell four times and the children stop, drop everything they are doing, sit on the floor and just breathe.” Practising mindfulness can help kids learn to focus, manage stress, regulate emotions, and develop a positive outlookTime Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 27 As well as mindful moments, Green also implements a practice called mindful eating. She asks the children to choose something out of their lunchbox, it could be a raisin or a grape, and she gets them to study it. “I ask them what they can see – and the language they come out with is really lovely” “I ask what they can smell and hear when they shake it. The say things like ‘my raisin is squeaking’,” laughs Green. There are plenty of short- term benefits for kids. It sharpens their focus and helps them to practise self-regulation, allowing them to control their movements so that they aren’t running around bumping into their friends. “It’s hard to judge here because all the children are so well-behaved anyway, but It’s the awareness point of it that really improves behaviour, focus and attention. It’s learning a real skill” And later in life, a child who has started practising little mindfulness activities like these at five, will see reduced anxiety and depression. But do the kids enjoy it? Green says they do. “I have a wellbeing club here in the afternoon where the kids experience different types of mindfulness and the children all love it,” she says. “I always point out how lovely it is to actually be able to lie down on the floor during school. I mean, if I could lie down on the floor for five minutes during the day, I’d be absolutly delighted,” Us too, sign us up! “Sometimes I do a guided meditation with them, but the mindfulness practice is just focusing on their breathing, it really is as simple as that. And trying let everything else just drift away,” she says. “And it’s really only for a minute, and then I ring the bell again and they get up and carry on doing whatever they are doing.” “Wellbeing in Dubai is massive, the KHDA is forward- thinking”28 Time Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 T he age-old debate about homework has been argued in staffrooms across the country, in households between parents and has been the cause of plenty of childhood misery. So why do schools insist on making children continue to work outside of the actual classroom? The primary teacher. Rachael Abbas, assistant head of primary at JESS Dubai “There are many benefits of homework such as consolidation of new learning and allowing parents and families to be involved in the learning process, Abbas explains. “The key is not to make homework a battle.” The great homework debate “Home learning is a great way of involving parents in their child’s learning and is also a good reference point for parents; children love nothing more than feeling like they have taught their parents something new,” says Abbas. Homework has continued to evolve over the years – no longer the chanting of spellings and the rote learning of times tables – as teachers strive to make it as engaging as possible. The introduction of iPads both in school and for home learning has helped Abbas says. “It may be a short quiz on an iPad, a game of snakes and ladders with a mathematical twist or a task to practice your spoken Arabic. We try to give a variety of different tasks so that it doesn’t become monotonous.” When it comes to downtime for the kids, Abbas is in full agreement that it is vital for their wellbeing, but interestingly adds that children: “also need to value their learning and remember that without some consolidation their working memory won’t do its job. By The problem is far from new: home learning has long been a contentious issue. Time to look at the pros and consTime Out UAE Kids Education 2020/21 29 treating home learning as another ‘ECA’ it can be seen as just as important as playing rugby or learning the piano.” In line with this way of thinking, JESS has recently moved to a model of timed home learning, rather than task- based allowing home learning to reflect what students are capable of in the time allocated. “If they want to finish the whole task, no one will stop them, but we ask that it is noted how far they got in the allocated time,” Abbas concludes. The secondary teacher. Mike Waller, head of secondary at JESS Dubai As children move into secondary, the pressures on learning change both in school and at home. Waller explains that there are increased benefits of homework when it comes to senior school students. “Research suggests effective home learning habits have an impact that last into higher education,” he says. “The short-term benefits for older students include improved memory recall, reinforcement of learning and improved exam results. In lower secondary years, students gain valuable soft skills, including time management, self-efficacy and problem solving, as well as setting up effective long-term study habits.” And far from parents thinking that they may be off the hook when it comes to their involvement in reading some of the relevant content and discussing key concepts to encourage their child to view the work in a positive light,” Waller explains adding that: “When parents engage it sends a clear message to their child that homework has value.” But what about downtime? Waller explains that finding a balance between ‘work and play’ is vital, but also says: “Part of the balance is students being able to plan and manage their time effectively. Part of their daily plans should include downtime and especially time to relax in the lead up to going to bed.” A firm believer in the benefits of homework, Waller dismisses schools implementing a no homework policy. “We never know what is just around the corner, but while the real benefits of homework can be reaped by students I don’t think it is going anywhere,” Waller says. And with that final comment, we can hear your collective moan from here. “The key thing is not to make homework into a battle” homework tasks, Waller says that’s not the case. “There should always be lots of parent support, but homework should always be completed independently by the student to ensure that they are developing in line with the expectations of the teacher. It also allows the teacher to understand the progress of learning based on the level of performance seen in the task.” Engagement seems to be a key focus in home learning, regardless of the age of the student. “Parents can look to engage with their child by Next >