Admissions Process
GEMS Winchester School Dubai is an inclusive school committed to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to thrive.
Our vision for Inclusive Education is to achieve excellence together by creating a learning environment where all students can:
- Feel a meaningful sense of belonging within the school and wider community.
- Feel valued and recognized for their individual strengths and contributions.
- Engage purposefully in learning.
- Experience academic, cultural, social and emotional success.
- Learn alongside their similarly aged peers in a common learning environment.
At GEMS Winchester School Dubai, we welcome students with a diverse range of learning preferences and needs, including Students of Determination (students with special educational needs and disabilities), Gifted and Talented students, and English Language Learners.
Our dedicated staff work to ensure that all students can participate fully in school life and access the curriculum through appropriate adjustments, inclusive teaching strategies and targeted support based on their individual needs.
We recognize diversity as a strength and strive to foster a culture where respectful relationships are continually developed, and every student is supported to achieve their potential.
We believe that every child has a valuable contribution to make, and we are committed to creating an environment where all students can learn, participate, belong and succeed together.
Required Documents
The following documents are required to be uploaded or emailed to the Admissions Office:
- Student Passport, Visa and Emirates ID
- Father Passport, Visa and Emirates ID
- Mother Passport, Visa and Emirates ID
- Student Birth Certificate copy
- Student Immunization record (Birth Vaccination card)
- Student, father and mother Passport size photo
- Nursery report card copy – For FS
- Latest report from previous school including any learning support document pertaining to applicant’s educational need, if any.
- Transfer certificate from the previous school –
- Students coming from Schools in Dubai – Copy of Transfer Certificate (FS1 to Year 13)
- Students coming from Emirates other than Dubai – Attested by the Ministry of Education
- Students coming from GCC – Attested by the Ministry of Education
- Students coming from Asia/Africa – Attested by Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign affairs and the UAE Consulate in the country of origin.
- Students coming from UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe – School stamp with Principal’s signature.
- If the child is joining WSD in Year 10 and above, from a different curriculum other than UK curriculum, equivalency certificate required from MOE (Ministry of Education). You may apply online on https://www.moe.gov.ae/en/EServices/Pages/ServiceCatalog.aspx
Note:
Admission will be confirmed upon submission of the required documents to the school and is subject to approval by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Admission Process Overview: To Apply
Step 1
Submit an Online Enquiry.
Step 2
Please check the email address provided when submitting your enquiry. A confirmation email containing your Enquiry Number will be sent to you. Kindly keep this number safe, as it will serve as your reference for all further application-related communication with the school.
Step 3
Pay the Application Fee of AED 525 (500/- Application + 25 VAT) Please note that the application fee does not guarantee a seat and is refundable only if no seat is offered.
Step 4
The Admissions Team will contact you regarding the assessment, subject to seat availability. Students may be referred to the Inclusion Support Team or EAL Team if additional support is required.
Step 5
Bring your child at the scheduled time for their interview and/or assessment test.
Step 6
Upon completion of the interview and/or assessment test, If a seat is offered, an Offer Letter will be emailed to the parent. The offer must be accepted within the stated expiry period
Step 7
Once a seat is offered, all required primary documents must be submitted to the Admissions Team for verification and completion of the enrolment process.
Registration Deposit
The registration deposit is payable after a student has been offered a place and the parents have accepted the offer.
The registration deposit is 10% of the total tuition fees for the academic year and is deductible from the total tuition fees.
Please note that the registration deposit is non-refundable.
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Parents are requested to share full details of any Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and any available specialist reports, including reports from an Educational Psychologist, Pediatrician, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or other relevant specialists.
Sharing the student's educational history with GEMS Winchester School Dubai before a place is offered is essential. This enables our staff to understand the students’ individual educational needs and ensures that appropriate assessment, educational planning, support and resourcing can be considered.
Admission is not conditional upon the submission of a medical diagnosis, and we have effective transition processes in place to support all children joining the school.
Students are not refused admission solely based on experiencing SEND or having a disability. Sibling priority for admission is given to students who experience SEND, in line with the school's admissions arrangements.
Our staff follow KHDA guidance and procedures when considering individual cases. In very rare circumstances, it may be determined that placement at GEMS Winchester School Dubai may not be in the best interests of the child. Where this applies, the relevant information will be shared with KHDA in accordance with the expected procedures.
Assessment Tests
Our assessment tests are conducted by our trained education team, who work with students to understand their individual abilities, needs and readiness for our curriculum.
As an international school, GEMS Winchester School Dubai welcomes students from diverse backgrounds and does not discriminate based on nationality, ethnicity, gender or other personal characteristics.
Please note that completing an assessment successfully does not guarantee admission. Places are offered based on a combination of the assessment outcome, previous school reports and the availability of places in the relevant year group.
We also have a designated number of places available for students with additional educational needs. Parents are encouraged to provide details of their child's individual requirements when submitting an application. This information enables our team to make appropriate arrangements and, where required, adapt the assessment process to support the child's needs.
Preference
Preference will be given to siblings of students currently enrolled in GEMS Winchester School.
Transfer Certificate
Transfer Certificates and Withdrawals
Parents wishing to transfer their child to another school or withdraw from GEMS Winchester School Dubai must submit a formal Transfer Certificate (TC) or withdrawal request.
In accordance with KHDA regulations, fee calculations are based on the date the formal withdrawal request is submitted, rather than the student's last day of attendance. Where a future withdrawal date has been agreed and the student continues to attend school, the applicable leaving date will be used for fee calculation purposes in accordance with KHDA's approved fee refund and pro-rata billing policy.
Parents must provide written notice of withdrawal to the Registrar.
The registration deposit is refundable when the required notice is provided at least 60 calendar days before the start of the academic year. If less than 60 calendar days' notice is provided, the registration deposit is non-refundable.
School fee refunds are processed in accordance with the applicable KHDA Registration and Refund Policy, available at : KHDA_Parent_Guide_School_ENG
Transfer Certificate (TC) Request Process
To request the Transfer Certificate (TC), kindly follow the steps below using the GEMS Connect app:
- Go to Communications → Service Request → Transfer Certificate.
- Complete the required fields and submit the request.
- Go to Fee & Payment and clear the TC fee of AED 126.
Please note: The TC process will only begin once clearance has been received from Finance, STS, and the library.
Once the TC request has been submitted and all the required clearances are completed, the Transfer Certificate will be issued as a PDF and sent to the primary email address registered with the school.
Terms and Conditions
- When a student is offered a place, all required documentation must be submitted in full within the specified timeframe.
- The registration deposit is payable after the student has been offered a place and the parents have accepted the offer. The deposit is 10% of the total tuition fees for the academic year and is deductible from the total tuition fees. Please note that the registration deposit is non-refundable.
- The school reserves the right to withhold examination results where there are outstanding fees or other financial obligations.
- The School Management reserves the right to make exceptions to the above terms and conditions on compassionate grounds, at its discretion.
