Cranleigh, Abu Dhabi

From Nursery to Year 13, Cranleigh is an inclusive school for kids ages 3 to 18.

Similar to its sister school in the UK, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi follows the same educational philosophy. It attempts to strike a balance between the extensive range of extracurricular activities and the academic programme.

At Cranleigh, students can study:

• Social Studies
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Drama
• Dance
• Latin
• Arabic
• Science
• Islamic Studies
• History/Geography
• English
• Design Technology
• Art
• The Libraries
• Music

PRE PREP (NURSERY, FS2, YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2) 

Students in the pre-prep level are welcome and are taught according to the Early Years Foundation level curriculum. At Cranleigh, kids successfully strike a balance between unstructured play and teacher-guided instruction. The curriculum itself includes an organised method for encouraging children's natural curiosity and learning through play.

This curriculum incorporates foundational courses including science, math, and English as well as specialised instruction in swimming, music, and physical education. Additionally, nursery pupils are exposed to Arabic through a weekly session of 30 minutes for non-native speakers.

Children in FS2 learn Arabic for one hour each week in addition to learning about ICT, the library, the arts, and focused activities. Islamic Education is provided for Muslim students.

PREP SCHOOL (YEAR 3 TO 8)

Cranleigh attempts to lay solid foundations for the more complicated concepts of Senior school in prep school. The class teacher in Years 3 and 4 instructs pupils in mixed-ability classrooms with the aid of a teaching assistant. Classes in theatre, music, sport, art, languages, Arabic, and Islamic Studies are taught by specialised teachers. In Year 3, French is introduced.

The learning environment switches to specialised instruction in Years 5 and 6. In years 7 and 8 students study the Common Entrance 13+ curriculum. At Cranleigh, pupils are adequately prepared to sit the internal Common Entrance test in maths, English, french and science courses (physics, chemistry and biology) after year eight.

The Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) has established high standards for these tests.

Non-Muslim pupils in Year 7 have the option of taking either Latin or Spanish as a second language. Arabic is also taught to all students at the institution. While Arabic speakers are taught the Arabic A curriculum by MoE, non-native speakers of Arabic study the fundamental Arabic B syllabus.

SENIOR SCHOOL (YEAR 9 TO 11):

Students are equipped with the knowledge and credentials they will need to attend college in senior school. In this curriculum, students can choose the disciplines that best suit their interests and goals.

Students at Cranleigh have a variety of clubs, athletics, and leadership opportunities available to them.

At least eight (I)GCSEs must be taken by students.

English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, and a mix of Sciences are required disciplines. The entire (I)GCSEs in biology, chemistry, and physics will be studied by capable students. Less scientifically inclined students might choose to study two of the three sciences or Dual Award Science. From the list of options shown above, other topics are chosen. The ADEK demands proficiency in Arabic.

SIXTH FORM (YEAR 12 AND 13)

When compared to other institutions, Cranleigh offers a distinctive sixth form.

Cranleigh Abu Dhabi uses a dialogue-based method of instruction called the Harkness style. With this method, classes are taught in a tutorial format around an oval table, helping pupils to develop autonomous thought.

A-Levels and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are studied by sixth-formers. Though delivered more thoroughly, the EPQ and IB Extended Essay have a similar conceptual framework. During the two years of sixth form, it is finished.

A programme for work experience is a component of the sixth form. Additionally, this programme offers a recognised pre-college course in innovation and entrepreneurship taught by Dr. Jack McGourty, PhD, at the esteemed Columbia Business School of the elite Ivy League. The Sixth Form is covered in further detail here.

The links to the admission form are only active for a short time due to the great demand. Once the links are available on the website, parents who want to enrol their kids should submit an application right away.

Before October 15th (of the current academic year), students in Abu Dhabi who wish to transfer to Cranleigh during the current academic year may do so.

The school invites parents to schedule a visit and meet with the admissions staff. Three easy stages may be used to outline the admissions process:

Registration

On the website, there are buttons that allow students to register. The identical procedure is followed by all candidates. Siblings and kids who are most likely to succeed at Cranleigh, as determined by evaluations, are given preference for admission. Children who are still suitable but cannot be seated because there are no seats available will be put in a waiting pool. In order to apply to the appropriate year groups, parents must also be aware of age equivalents.

Cranleigh establishes the age for each year group using the UK method. Age should be as of August 31.

• 3 years old- FS1
• 4 years old- FS2
• 5 years old- Year 1
• 6 years old- Year 2

Parents must upload the following documents with this form:

• Passport with a valid UAE residence visa of the candidate (1 copy)
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Birth certificate of the candidate (1 copy, in Arabic or English)
• Emirates ID of the candidate (1 copy, both sides)
• Latest academic record
• Immunisation record (1 copy)
• Original transfer certificate (if applicable)
• Records indicating special needs (1 copy, if applicable)

Children who apply will be contacted for an evaluation. For each year a student applies, Cranleigh has a separate evaluation strategy with predetermined goals.

The following is the overall forecast for each year's evaluation plans:

FS1, FS2, YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2

The school invites pupils for a "taster session" at this pre-prep stage.

The growth of the students' social, emotional, and behavioural skills as well as their reading and numeracy abilities are assessed.

Parents are required to produce an academic report for Year 1 and Year 2 that demonstrates the child's level of achievement in all areas, including English, Maths, and Science. In order to make sure that students have a positive attitude towards learning and their peers, the school evaluates these reports. The child's prior school is also asked to provide a private reference for the school.

YEAR 3 TO YEAR 13

The candidate must pass the assessment test, which is based on a brief piece of English writing and an online review, from Year 3 through Year 10.

Candidates for the sixth form must complete two topic papers of their choosing as well as an online assessment.

Depending on the year group, the tests' precise layout changes. However, they are made to give the school information on three types of cognitive abilities: verbal, non-verbal, and numerical.

Candidates from Abu Dhabi must travel to the institution for a quick, casual interview with a member of the admissions team. The purpose of the interview is to give the school a chance to learn a little bit more about each kid and their unique academic and extracurricular interests.

Assessments might be scheduled at the existing school for international candidates. Additionally, candidates may be required to participate in Skype interviews.

The findings of evaluations assist the school in understanding pupils' present performance levels and their capacity for adjusting to the rigorous curriculum.

Please be aware that there is no special preparation that can be done for the exams, but parents may support their children by encouraging them to read, work quietly on their own, and finish any assigned homework. Children should be encouraged to attempt to find solutions on their own by doing research.

The fee structure is mentioned in the table below: 

Parents are expected to drop off and collect their children.

The PE programme at Cranleigh offers a variety of sports. A complete division of physical education professionals is devoted to assisting pupils in expanding and cultivating their sporting interests.

Boys' and girls' football, cricket, dancing, athletics, badminton, basketball, swimming, hockey, gymnastics, martial arts, netball, riding, rounders, rugby, sailing (at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club), tennis, and volleyball are among the main sports offered.

The school's sporting facilities include the following:

• A big sports hall, two basketball courts, and a dance studio are all part of an indoor sports complex.
• Two shady pools: a 10-meter starter pool and a 25-meter competitive pool with six lanes.
• two shady grass fields for both football and cricket
• There are two courts for younger schools and three for seniors for netball and tennis.
• Additionally, the school offers indoor cricket nets to augment its cricket instruction.

The school has established a number of channels of contact because it recognises how crucial parent communication is.

The main resource for informing parents is the official website. Parents may view individualised reports and information about their children on the school's parent portal. The school also maintains a blog where details on forthcoming activities are shared. The school also offers a lot of workshops for parents on how they can actively support their kids development.

The school arranges the following to discuss a child’s progress in detail each academic year:

• Meet the Tutor Evening (start of term)
• Interims (just before half-term)
• Parents’ Evening (second half of term)
• Interims (just before the end of term)
• Exam Report (just before the end of term)

Telephone Number:

• Reception: +971-2-497-0000
• Headmaster’s PA: +971-2-497-0101
• Admissions: +971-2-497-0000
• Arabic Secretary: +971-2-497-0114
• Uniform Shop: +971-2-497-0218