Dubai: It's difficult to find old and traditional private institutions with a long-established record in a place like Dubai. One such icon in the city is the International Cambridge School.
It is one of the oldest international private education schools in the country with a student population of over 2,100 from over 100 nationalities.
According to David John McLaughlin, the school's principal, "Part of what parents want here is to be part of a tradition, which frankly there is not much of in Dubai. There is something about being a Cambridge student. We are taking about generation of students. It is fascinating that in a new place like Dubai and with the constant change, people can identify Cambridge as it has generations of students graduating from the school."
The school was established in October 18, 1983 with only 34 students from 20 nationalities. It is presently celebrating its 25th anniversary. It was then situated in the old Karama area and comprised 30 portacabins and a playground. Today, it occupies a spacious location in Al Garhoud with state-of- the-art facilities. The shift was made during 1986. Back then its name was Cambridge. Its current name was changed in 2003.
In the beginning the school had 20 teachers trained from the UK. Now it has over 130 teachers, 100 supporting staff, and 24 administration staff, said Kurian George, administration officer and an employee for 23 years.
The school was recently accorded the 'Cambridge International Fellowship Centre' by the University of Cambridge International Examinations. This status is given to educational institutions showing exemplary practice in the conduct of examinations, quality of teaching and consistent with high level of results at the IGCSE, AS (Advanced Subsidiary) and A-level examinations.
There are only around 60 schools worldwide, including three in the GCC, that have been given the Fellowship Centre status.
According to Mclaughlin, the Cambridge International Fellowship Centre (CIFC) status is awarded by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), the world's largest provider of international qualifications to students in the 14-19 age group. CIE is part of the University of Cambridge and a non-profit organisation.
International accreditation
The school is also taking its first steps towards international accreditation. "In an international context, schools need to point to some form of externally verified quality assurance. There are a number of ways to do that. Gems [Global Eduction Management Society] schools decided to do that through the Council of International Schools," he said.
The institution is moving towards finding out how far they can be compared with international standards. "We are bringing in a form of assessment next year to all Gems schools that is internationally recognised. It's the Australian system of the International Schools' Assessment [ISA]," said McLaughlin.
Next month, he said, "All the Gems schools, including the Asian schools and American schools within the group, are going to be part of an assessment system," he said while adding test will examine students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9; in the English context, years 4, 6, 8, and 10 in English and Maths.
"We are confident that when our children take these tests, we will do as well if not better than students from other parts of the world," said the principal.
It is fascinating that in a place like Dubai, people can identify Cambridge as it has generations of students."
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter