Dhahran British Grammar School

Haven’t seen the school in 16 years (and counting) but still have fond memories of my formative years there. I don’t know if any of the faculty from my time there are still but if so I would like to say hello from a former student of theirs and thank you for all you did for me. The school itself has no doubt changed a great deal in the intervening time but I hope that the pep rally’s are still as much fun as I remember. I enjoyed them so much the song we used back then still gets my heart racing to this day

Uhhh hello I am reviewing this school and it is uhhh.

Hmmm what word was it?

Ah yes amazing.

Not too happy with the biased teachers against boys but students can't have their own voice though!

It's not in my character to write negative reviews, but the lack of opportunity for feedback regarding this school's shortcomings leaves me without option. My intention is to provide an authentic review to enable prospective parents and/or staff considering this school to make an informed decision. It is worth noting that DBGS provides a British curriculum education. Many parents, myself included, chose this school as the only option for ex-pat families from the UK. We were led to believe that DBGS provides an independent school experience. We have since discovered that DBGS' position, as one of only two providers of a British curriculum in the area, allows them a monopoly position meaning they can operate at a UK school 'special measures' level without fear of reproach. Fees are extortionate considering the standard of learning, the facilities and the staff quality. Several classroom teachers are unqualified, as in they have had absolutely zero experience teaching before, let alone a post graduate qualification or BEd. There is zero provision for adequate learning support. Senior staff members are grossly under-qualified for their positions. ISG (the group that owns DBGS along with 5 other schools in the region) is finding it increasingly impossible to recruit new staff for good reason, the housing provided is new and below standard due to new school premises being delayed possibly never to be completed. ISG have heavily invested in a new campus which they are unable to pay for due to gross financial mis-management. Attempts are being made to recoup some of the money from parents fees and also repay the debt of their previous over spend in the Dammam campus. An enormous exodus of over 30 members of staff left DBGS at the end of the 2018 Summer term due to a wide variety of issues. No attempts are made to retain staff by HR despite the location in an extremely difficult and expensive region to recruit staff. Qualified staff left and were replaced by whomever was available locally. Students are being failed by this school and its management. Money is not being spent on core staff (teachers) it is being spent on more management positions. Directors are being recruited while the school fails to provide qualified teachers, teaching assistants or professional development opportunities. Parents are unaware of what is happening within the organisation. Still this term no fees have been collected from parents, no invoices have been produced due to an understandable dispute by the Ministry of Education (they are unhappy with the ridiculous fees) yet leadership thought it good practice to head to Athens on a team building exercise. The level of incompetence and disregard for the parents is staggering. A townhall meeting took place earlier in the year and descended into farce. Teachers and principals have mysteriously disappeared before commencing their posts, for alleged inappropriate behaviour, quite startling behaviour given the schools' location. A failure to provide adequate background checks on staff has lead to one member of staff taking his own life due to accusations catching up from a previous international school position. The children are left without competent teachers and are expected to pay for provisions. The teachers no longer have laptops provided. The schools rely on cheaply paid local hire staff. It is unknown how long this institution will continue to survive. A new CEO is being recruited, but surely must be unaware of the extent of serious issues at play. Until very recently the governing group was operating without a legal board for some time, possibly up to two years. Hasty attempts have been made to cobble together a 'board'. It is an utter travesty of the teaching profession, a money-making outfit that exploits teachers, parents and the students that it knows have no alternative. In previous years the school was exemplary, unfortunately this is no longer the case. I urge any parent with another schooling option to take it and urge any prospective hired teacher not to accept.

Last year 2017-2018 most of the teachers are women and most of them pregnant, they spent their time caring about them self rather than caring about the students.this year is getting better, new men teachers joint the school, hope this year will be better.principal should think about the parent who pay a lot of money to educate their kids, by choosing high quality teachers and be with them step by step.principal should do survey with the parent to get their feedback about the teachers. I can see some teachers are over loaded.