Parent Information

The DESC Community would like to welcome you and your family to our school. This area is dedicated to our new parents and here you will find everything you need in preparation for your child’s first day at DESC. Below are some important reminders and links to areas that we hope you will find useful.

Absence Reporting

Absence  

Rachael Gritt is our Absence Coordinator.  If your child is going to be late or absent due to sickness or for any other reason, please email:

Year 7-11: [email protected]

Sixth Form: [email protected]  

Please report absence via the iSAMS Parent App as follows:  Select > Information tab > Scroll down to Useful Websites & Absence Reporting  > Select > Reporting My Child Absent tab.  Complete the details and submit the form.  If the absence is not sickness related, please email before 8:00am confirming your child’s details and the reason for absence.  A message can also be left on the College telephone by calling the main number and selection option 1; two further options will be given:  Option 1 will be for Sixth Form reporting and option 2 for Year 7 to 11.

Bus Services

More than 650 of our students currently use our bus service every day, on routes from as far as Jebel Ali to as close as Dubai Silicon Oasis. 

We have a dedicated Bus Coordinator; Ms Ansie Coetzee, who ensures that all RTA regulations for school buses are adhered to. She is responsible for all aspects of the bus service, including applications for using the service and route planning and is the primary contact between our bus users and the bus company. 

Safety on the buses is a primary concern and it’s always important we know who is travelling on the buses at any given time. Therefore, our Bus Coordinators will also authorise students wishing to change buses or use ECA buses.

We hope you will find answers to any queries you may have in our Frequently Asked Questions section below.  Our Bus Coordinators will be more than happy to address any other questions or concerns that you you may have.  Please email [email protected].

DESC Bus Information

Below you will find links to information about our Bus Routes, Late Buses, Transport Service Guidelines and Code of Conduct.  In addition, you will also find a link to our request form if you would like your child(ren) to sign up to use the bus service and the link to notify us of a change of address.

Bus Routes

Bus Fees

ECA Late Buses

Transport Guidelines

Student Transport Code of Conduct

Bus Service Request

Bus Service Frequently Asked Questions

Moving House Form

Catering

Harness Foods are our catering provider. For further details on their provision please click here.

Should you have any enquiries or feedback relating to our catering provision at DESC please contact Harness Foods.

Email:  [email protected]

DESC Parent Handbook 2023/2024

The Parent Handbook contains lots of useful information for new parents. We advise all parents to read and familiarise themselves with the document.

Parent Handbook 2023-2024 (pdf version)

DESC Prospectus
DESSC Parent Portal and iParent App

This is our primary source of communication with parents.  Please check daily for updates, as all information is posted here and not emailed to parents. Parents will be provided with their unique activation information when you children join DESSC. For more information, please use the links below

DESSC Parent Portal and iParent App Sign-Up Instructions

DESSC Parent Portal and iParent App Frequently Asked Questions

DESSC Parent Portal Guide

DESSC iParent App Guide

Documents

All the documents to be submitted as part of the application must be up to date. If any documents have been renewed since your initial application, please ensure that copies of these are submitted to the Registrar as soon as possible at [email protected]. 

We must be in receipt of any renewed documents by the first day of term. Students in the UAE should also submit copies of their UAE ID and visa.

Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs)

We have a range of exciting sporting, creative, cultural and aesthetic activities that will help all students to develop their talents. It is expected that every student participates in at least one ECA per term.

At the start of each term, the ECA timetable is advertised on tutor notice boards, the College website and published on the Parent Portal/App. The students will receive information from their tutors during the first week of term, then during the second week of term they will be given information and links to allow them to ‘Sign Up’ for their choice of ECAs. 

If you have any queries related to our ECA programme, please contact [email protected].

GCSE Options 2022

Introduction

Dear Year 9 Parents,

Welcome to the GCSE Options at DESC. 

On this page you will find out more information on the individual subjects offered via their respective presentations.  

We look forward to being part of your child’s journey into GCSEs here at DESC.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Fallon

Deputy Headteacher

 

Options Guide

To assist students and parents in the decision-making process, we have produced an Options Guide that contains information on each of the GCSE courses that are available next September.

GCSE Options Guide 2022

Following on from the GCSE evening please find the subject presentations below:

Information Technology

Computer Science

 

Parent-School Contract

The KHDA requires that a Parent contract be signed by all parents. Our Arabic Secretary, Mr Kabalan will be able to assist you with this.  His office is in the reception area.

Please bring your ID card, your children’s ID cards and your mobile phone with you, which you will need to access the verification code that is generated when the contracts are signed.

Payment Options

Fees can be paid by credit card on the SKIPLY mobile app or via Bank Transfer/Bank cash deposit.  Please visit our Fees section of the website for more information.

In order to register, your child's Student ID is required (found on any invoice document). If you are a new starter, please wait until you receive your first tuition invoice. If cannot find the Student ID, please call our Accounts department to assist you.

For further information on the SKIPLY app, please view our Guide to SKIPLY.

Policies and Procedures

Please find below a list of our policies and procedures which can be viewed by clicking on each title.

School Hours

Monday to Thursday – 7:30am to 3:00pm

Friday – 7:30am to 12:00pm

The DESC BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy

DESC operates under a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy. During some lessons, students are allowed to use their own devices.

The DESC BYOD Policy can be viewed here and contains an agreement for the use of these devices in school. Please complete and return this document to reception

Transfer Certificates/Notice

Please ensure that you request a Transfer Certificate/Letter from your current school if you are arriving from outside Dubai. Students transferring from Dubai Schools should give notice to the current school that your child will be transferring to DESC.

A sample leaving certificate is available below.

Sample Leaving Certificate - PDF | 466KB

Uniform

At DESC, uniform is a very important part of school life as we believe that it gives our young people a sense of belonging to the DESC community, a focus for the school day ahead and an overall sense of pride.

As a school, the quality of uniform is something that matters to us. We also want to know that you are getting a good standard of service – in short, that you can get what uniform you want, when you want it and when you need it; we believe that being in control of our own shop, working with partners we rate highly, enables us to do this. For our part, we see this as an important development in our ongoing efforts to provide our parents and their children with the best of everything.

Such is the value we place on school uniform, we have partnered with Trutex to launch two dedicated uniform shops; one at our primary school and one here at DESC, with convenient hours to suit parents, easy access and an online pre-ordering service to help parents with purchasing. Trutex have trained staff to assist with any sizing questions you may have.

To contact the shop, please use the information below:

DESC Uniform Shop +971 50 629 7793

For general enquiries, feedback or comments, please email: [email protected]

Uniform Guide

Please view the uniform guide for more details.

Opening Hours*

Monday to Thursday, 7.30am - 4pm

Location: Dubai English Speaking College (DESC), Academic City

New long sleeve shirts are now available. Please click here for more information.

*An appointment must be made before you visit the uniform shop. A guide to booking your appointment can be found here.  Should you have any issues booking online, please call +971 50 629 7793. 

Ordering Online

If you would like to purchase uniform online, this can be done by visiting www.trutex.ae.  Please follow the how to guide for more details. The unique school code to use when setting up your account is DESC-0006. If you have any questions, please call +971 50 629 7793.

Uniform Shop Information

For all enquiries and feedback, please contact [email protected] or call +971 50 629 7793.

Use of Student Images at DESC

At DESC, we like to capture images of our students participating in daily lessons, extra-curricular activities, sporting events and to recognise outstanding achievements.  These images may be used on our website, in our weekly newsletters, on our social media or in DESC publications.  Howerever we understand that some parents may object to images of their children being used. 

If you object to your son/daughter being photographed or videoed at DESC, can you please complete our online Use of Student Images Form and we will update their file to confirm that their image should not be used.  If we do not receive notification, we will assume that you are happy for your son/daughter’s images to be used. 

Online Use of Student Images Form

Who to Contact?

Admissions

Aisling Hubert is our Admissions Manager and is responsible for all matters in connection with student admissions.  

Email:  [email protected]

Headteacher’s Personal Assistant

Tina Skerritt is the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant.  Please use this email address for any other issues that are not covered in this section, including contacting the Headteacher. 

Email:  [email protected]  

Parent Portal

Smitha Philip will be able to assist you with any issues regarding the Parent Portal and Parent App.

Email: [email protected]

Extra Curricular Activities

Candice Gerber is the ECA Coordinator and will be able to assist you with any queries that you may have about our lunchtime and after-school ECA provision.

Email: [email protected]

Buses

Ansie Coetzee is our Bus Coordinator, who will assist with any issues relating to the College bus service. 

Email: [email protected]

Accounts

For invoice enquiries, please email Karen Robinson [email protected]  or [email protected]

For receipt enquiries, please email Elsie Salgado [email protected]

Communications & Marketing

Lisa Henry is the Head of Marketing and handles all matters relating to both the internal and external communications and marketing activities of the College. 

Email: [email protected]

Catering 

Harness Foods are our catering provider. Should you have any enquiries or feedback relating to our catering provision at DESC please contact Harness Foods.

Email:  [email protected]

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Ben Wormald is the DofE Coordinator and will be able to assist you with any queries that you may have relating to the DofE Award.

Email:  [email protected]

Examinations

Niki Stannard is the College Examination Officer and is responsible for external examinations (GCSE, A level and BTEC), including certification.

Email:  [email protected]  

Music & Instrumental Lessons

Emma Gemlik is the Music Administrator and handles all queries regarding Music.  

Email:  [email protected]  

Our Instrumental Administrator and handles all Instrumental enquiries.

Email:  [email protected]  

Nurses & Doctor

We have a full-time Doctor and three full-time Nurses who are available during the College day from 7:30am to 4:30pm. You are welcome to contact our Medical Team to discuss any health concerns regarding your child.

Email:  [email protected] 

Parents’ Evening Appointment Bookings

Nicky Kinirons oversees the Year 7 to Year 11 Parents’ Evening Bookings.  If you experience any issues with logging in, please contact her on the email below.

Email: [email protected]

Pastoral & Academic Support (Year 7 to Year 11)

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s well-being, please contact us via the House Parent Liaisons using the email address below for your child’s House and they will direct your enquiry to the appropriate place:

Desert - Candice Gerber – [email protected] 

Earth - Aisling Creaney – [email protected]

Sky - Ben Wormald – [email protected]

Coast - Julie Arnup – [email protected]

Pastoral & Academic Support (Sixth Form)

Lisa Goodall is our Sixth Form Parent Liaison and is the first point of contact for parental enquiries about any aspect of the Sixth Form.

Email:  [email protected]  

Parent/School Contract

Shadi Kabalan, our Arabic secretary will be able to assist you with any queries regarding Parent/School Contracts.  His office is in reception.

Email: [email protected]

 

For all other enquiries, please use our Contact page for a full list of contact address

Your Contact Details

Please ensure that we have the correct contact details for you at all times. If your email address, phone number or location address changes at any time please inform the College so we can keep your information correct.

Please email your updated contact details to [email protected].