Dubai Exchange 2018

The DXB School Campus…

About Repton Dubai Repton Dubai opened in 2007 to coincide with Repton School’s 450th anniversary, and it is a premier British curriculum school and was the first boarding school in the Middle-East. Repton Dubai is a school of over 2,000 pupils and it has a thriving Infant and Junior School and a Senior School which continues to grow. It has state of the art, modern facilities, a huge campus in the desert, and previous exchange students have enjoyed taking full advantage of things like the large library and great sports facilities.

About the Exchange… As part of our partnership with Repton Dubai, every year we take a group of between 10 -14 A Block pupils on an exciting exchange trip in the Lent Term. Pupils will partner with a pupil from Repton DXB, and they will also visit us here in the UK. While in Dubai, UK pupils follow a full academic programme, closely linked in terms of subjects to the subjects you study back home in the UK. Whilst many things about the school will seem familiar (The Arch, House names and the uniform), this is a great opportunity for pupils to experience and learn from a new and different culture. Its also an opportunity to form new friendships, experience what Dubai has to offer, and take part in a range of amazing days out, such as skiing in a shopping mall, going to the top of the tallest building in the world, and going on desert safari.

Staff… GLH is leading the Exchange this year, having gone to Dubai on the exchange since it’s inaugural trip in 2010. It’s one of Miss Hill’s favourite places, and has enjoyed watching Repton DXB grow and develop. A second member of staff will also be accompanying the trip, JDS. This will be Mr Swanston’s second year on the trip, he very much enjoyed his first visit to the UAE last year, and is experienced in overseas trips.

UK Leg… March 2018 Last year, after a carefully thought out process of matching exchange partners from each of the schools, Repton DXB visited the UK first. It’s likely the same this year. This is great for us, as you will get to know each other before we head out to the desert! DXB pupils will stay with their UK exchange partners in the Boarding Houses, sharing and taking part in the full experience of a British boarding school. There will be lessons, visits and activities too. We also encourage you to take partners home with you over an (extra/free) PW weekend. Our pupils pride themselves on making their partners feel very much at home. Activities during the DXB’s pupils time in the UK usually include things such as sports matches, days out to places like Alton Towers, Chester Zoo, the cinema, the snowdome and meals out. We’re working hard to make this year’s programme a good one!

Dubai Leg… April 2018 Last year, a month after we waved the DXB pupils off back to the UAE, we then descending on the desert. Pupils stayed with their exchange partners. Many of these pupils may be lucky enough to have drivers, chefs, lovely homes in exciting parts of the city... We are very lucky as the UK pupils are treated to some fantastic hospitality by their host families. GLH and the other staff will be based at Repton Dubai throughout, and you will see them daily in lessons, for trips out, meals and other events. Weekends are spent doing lots of great things with host families!

Twitter Miss Hill tweeted updates for the entire duration of the Exchange, using #DXBExchange2017…we’ll be doing the same again!

Gallery…

Key Dates…2017 UK Leg (10 days approx) Dubai Leg (10 days approx) Mrs Tennant is currently liaising with Repton Dubai on this year’s (2018’s) dates, they are likely to be very similar to last year, and we hope to have them confirmed very shortly: UK Leg (10 days approx) 12th March – DBX pupils arrived in Repton 21st March – DBX pupils returned to Dubai Dubai Leg (10 days approx) 8th April – UK pupils arrived in DBX 17th April – UK pupils returned to Repton

What to do next… Talk to your parents about this exciting opportunity. (And they may email me at any time) Formally register your interest in the Exchange by emailing Miss Hill. This is not a binding commitment to the trip but allows us to write to parents with more information. Talk to the pupils who previously went on the Exchange about what they enjoyed! To apply for the Exchange: Explaining, in no more that 750 words, “How I would benefit from visiting Repton Dubai and taking part in the Exchange programme.” Make your application stand out, and think carefully! This will need to be submitted by email to glh@repton.org.uk

Any questions?