General Information

Thank you for your interest in Sarh Al Jaameah Private School (SAPS). We look forward to assisting you through the application and admissions process.

Please note that admission is not automatic. The Admissions Process is designed to ensure that the students who attend have the capacity to thrive from the offerings of the SAPS program.

Each applicant should meet the following minimum criteria:

• Age appropriate fluency in English language (speaking, reading, writing and comprehension)
• A supportive family who will engage with the school in promoting their child’s education, personal development and English language development
• Individual learning needs which can be largely met within the mainstream classroom and without significant additional adult support

Assessment and interviews are a fundamental part of the admissions process, designed to ensure the student’s educational needs can be met within a mainstream school setting and in an age appropriate class. Where there is some evidence of additional educational need, opportunities will be provided to discuss the child’s educational development in more detail, and for the school to carry out appropriate assessments, before an offer of a place can be made.

All prospective students will take entrance assessments in core subjects, math and literacy (English and Arabic). These assessments help to determine whether the students have attained the minimum expected standards for these subjects. Students will also complete an interest inventory with the aid of a parent or guardian. The school will use each of the entrance tools to make any final placement decisions.

Students will be placed in the appropriate age group taking account of their age on the 1st of September. It is the policy of the school to place pupils within their appropriate age group, although the school reserves the right to place pupils in a different age group if it is deemed more suitable for the needs of that pupil.

Outcome of Application: If a student is accepted by SAPS, the school will follow the procedures outlined in this Admissions Policy. Parents should refer to this document, as well as to the details found in “Fees” and “Terms & Conditions”.

We may take into account factors including an applicant's prior educational and linguistic background for purposes of admission in order to fulfill the school's mission of providing education in the English and Arabic language to the international community.

Eligibility

Language Ability

English and Arabic are the languages of instruction in all grades, and the ability to successfully access the curriculum within a reasonable time and to thrive in our school.

Learning Needs

We uphold the principles of a balanced education rooted in the firm belief in inclusion. Academic excellence is reflected in our philosophy of supporting and celebrating the diversity of learning needs within the school community. We endeavor to accommodate students with diverse learning needs to achieve their highest potential while celebrating their unique learning strengths and needs.

Please note that any learning needs or social/emotional, physical or behavioral issues must be fully disclosed and described in detail in the application for admission. Reports of professional assessments, along with details of extra support the applicant is receiving, must also be provided at the time of application. Failure to fully disclose such information at this time may result in revocation of admission or, if discovered after enrollment, require withdrawal from school. Should significant social/emotional/behavioral issues or learning differences become apparent following enrollment in the school, we reserve the right to review a student’s progress and determine the appropriateness of his/her continued enrollment in the school within the context of our learning support resources and capabilities and in consideration of the overall classroom environment. This review will include close consultation with parents but may also involve requiring parents to obtain external assessments. If we determine that we are unable to accommodate a student's learning needs, or if parents are unwilling to obtain requested external assessments, the student will not be able to continue enrollment at SAPS.

Admissions Decisions

Admission decisions are made after careful evaluation of the candidates. Results of entrance assessment testing and previous school records are considered on a case-by-case basis. Additional criteria for admission include motivation, social and emotional development, willingness to work hard, and the ability of SAPS to accommodate the needs of the candidate.

Please note that, in order to complete the registration, the above mentioned documents should be presented upon initiation of the admission process.

Once accepted and the required fees are paid, a place for the student is reserved.

Waiting List

When the number of eligible applicants exceeds the availability of spaces for a particular grade year, students may be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available. Students with siblings already enrolled at SAPS are given priority status within the wait pool, we consider various other criteria in selecting students from the wait pool,

When placing an applicant in a wait pool, we try to provide the candidate with a realistic assessment of the chances and possible timing for admittance. We periodically contact parents of applicants in the wait pool to update them on enrollment status and to confirm whether they wish to remain in the wait pool.

Confirmation of Offer and Enrollment

Applicants that are accepted for admission to SAPS are asked to accept or decline the offer within one (1) week of receiving notice by contacting the school via the email provided or by visiting the school directly.