Admissions Process

The Winchester School, Jebel Ali is an inclusive school. The GEMS vision for Inclusive Education is that we achieve excellence together by all students receiving the support they need to meaningfully belong to their school and wider community, feel valued for their contributions, engage purposefully in learning and experience academic, cultural, social and emotional success in a common learning environment. 

At The Winchester School, Jebel Ali we welcome children with a range of learning preferences, including students of determination (students with special education needs and disabilities), students who are gifted and talented and students who are English Language Learners. Our staff are committed to educating all students in a common learning environment with similar-aged peers. At The Winchester School, Jebel Ali diversity is made visible as a strength, respectful relationships are continually enhanced, and all children fully participate in learning through adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet the diverse range of learners reflected in wider society.

Application 2027-2028

Applications Open: 6 October 2026

Applications for admission to The Winchester School, Jebel Ali for Academic Year 2027-2028 is open on 6 October 2026.

At The Winchester School, our vision that Every Child Matters underpins a fair, transparent, inclusive and child-centred admissions process. We welcome applications from students of all nationalities, cultures, languages, backgrounds, abilities and learning profiles.

Admission is subject to:

• availability following completion of the re-enrolment process;
• KHDA-approved capacity;
• age eligibility and appropriate year-group placement;
• complete and authentic documentation;
• completion of registration requirements;
• curriculum, subject and pathway availability;
• appropriate placement; and
• the school's ability to provide a safe and suitable educational programme.

Sibling Priority

Siblings of students currently enrolled at The Winchester School receive priority consideration when places become available. Sibling priority does not guarantee admission and remains subject to availability and completion of all admissions requirements.

To be considered for sibling priority for 2027-2028, parents must complete the application by 30 October 2026 and:

• enter the Fee ID of the sibling also enter the same primary contact details of the current student enrolled at The Winchester School;
• complete all required application information accurately;
• upload the required documentation; and
• complete the applicable application process.

Each sibling must have a separate completed application and complete the full admissions process.

Availability and Waiting Lists

Places for new applicants are considered after existing students have completed the re-enrolment process.

Where a place is not immediately available, an application may remain under consideration or on the waiting list for the relevant year group.

Placement on a waiting list does not guarantee admission.

The waiting list is dynamic and may change as a result of re-enrolment, withdrawals, sibling and multi-child applications, approved capacity, staffing, rooming, inclusion resourcing and subject availability. For this reason, a fixed numerical waiting-list position may not always provide an accurate representation of availability.

Priority for Available Places

Existing students who complete re-enrolment within the published deadline are considered before places are released to new applicants. Where eligible applications exceed available places, priority will normally be considered in the following order:

1. Siblings of students currently enrolled at The Winchester School.
2. Siblings of new applicants being considered concurrently, where places are available across the relevant year groups.
3. UAE National students.
4. Children of eligible staff of The Winchester School or GEMS Education, in accordance with applicable policy.

Priority consideration does not constitute or guarantee an offer of admission.

Application Fee and Refunds

In accordance with KHDA's current Registration and Refund Policy for all Dubai Private Schools, schools may charge up to AED 525/- (inclusive of VAT) to process a new student's application. The fee covers standard assessment and administrative costs and is separate from tuition fees.

Application Fee Refund

The application fee is:

• refundable if the student is not offered a place following the assessment process;
• non-refundable where the school makes a formal offer of a place and the parent chooses not to accept it; and
• not deductible from tuition fees.

Payment of an application fee does not guarantee admission. The school's admissions policy similarly makes clear that payment does not guarantee an assessment, waiting-list position or admission.

Our Commitment to Inclusive Admissions

The Winchester School is committed to an inclusive and non-discriminatory admissions process.

We welcome students with diverse learning profiles and additional needs. A student will not be refused admission solely because they experience a special educational need or disability. The school works in partnership with families to understand individual needs, identify reasonable adjustments and plan appropriate provision.

A formal diagnosis is not, in itself, required for inclusive consideration. Providing relevant educational and specialist information enables the school to understand the child appropriately and plan the support and resources required.

Parents are therefore asked to share all relevant information available to support continuity of learning and effective transition, including, where applicable:

• current and previous school reports;
• CAT4 and other standardised assessment information;
• Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and support plans;
• Educational Psychologist reports;
• Speech and Language Therapy reports;
• Occupational Therapy or other specialist reports;
• medical reports;
• English-language support information;
• previous intervention or provision plans; and
• other relevant educational, developmental, medical or wellbeing information.

The school's admissions policy provides for previous reports, assessment information, IEPs, support plans, therapy, medical and psychological or educational reports to support appropriate review and planning.

All information should be complete, accurate and current so that the school can plan appropriate assessment, transition, reasonable adjustments and educational provision from the outset.

Admissions Assessment and Placement

Assessment is used to support appropriate educational placement and provision planning.

Depending on the child's age, year group and individual profile, the school may undertake appropriate screening, assessment or placement review. The school's current admissions policy references CAT4, reading, writing and numeracy assessment, with additional review where appropriate.

An application may result in:

• a formal offer;
• placement on a waiting list;
• continued consideration;
• referral to another suitable school with parent consent; or
• a non-offer.

Foundation Stage Admissions

Children applying for Foundation Stage participate in an age-appropriate, play-based assessment or observation designed to support appropriate placement, school readiness and transition.

The school considers age-appropriate development across areas such as:

• communication and language;
• personal independence;
• listening and following age-appropriate instructions;
• social interaction and cooperative play;
• confidence in separating from a parent or caregiver;
• attention, engagement and curiosity; and
• readiness to participate positively in an Early Years learning environment.

The purpose of the process is to understand each child's starting points and support a positive, appropriately planned transition into school.

Steps to Apply

1. Complete the Online Application

Complete the online application for the appropriate academic year and year group, ensuring that all information submitted is complete and accurate. Select Enrol Online under the Admissions tab on the home page of The Winchester School. Once you complete the form, you will receive an acknowledgement with an online Opportunity reference number.

2. Submit the Required Documentation

Upload all required documents and provide relevant information regarding the child's previous education, learning profile and support requirements. Incomplete applications may not be processed.

3. Complete the Application Process

Complete the application-fee requirement where applicable and in accordance with current KHDA requirements.

4. Assessment / Placement Review

Where appropriate, applicants may participate in an age-appropriate assessment, observation, meet-and-greet or educational placement review.

5. Admission Outcome

Where a place is available and the admissions and placement requirements have been completed, the school will communicate the outcome and required next steps.

A formal offer will identify the year group, academic year, acceptance deadline, applicable deposit, outstanding documentation, registration requirements and start arrangements.

6. Registration and Securing the Place

Under the current KHDA policy, a registration deposit may be requested only after a formal offer has been made and accepted. It may not exceed 10% of the annual tuition fees and is deducted from tuition fees for the term of enrolment.

If a parent accepts an offer but subsequently decides not to proceed, the current KHDA policy provides that the registration deposit is refundable where the school is formally notified at least 60 calendar days before the student's start date, and non-refundable where notification is received less than 60 calendar days before the start date, subject to the policy's applicable provisions. Registration and Refund Policy for all Dubai Private Schools

Required Documents

Parents should provide, where applicable:

• completed online application;
• student passport;
• parent/sponsor passport;
• valid UAE residence visa documentation;
• student and sponsor Emirates IDs;
• birth certificate;
• recent passport-size photographs;
• vaccination record and relevant medical information;
• latest school report and previous school reports where available;
• attendance record;
• Transfer or Withdrawal Certificate and required attestation;
• relevant CAT4 or other standardised assessment information;
• IEPs and other learning-support plans;
• relevant educational, psychological, medical or therapy reports;
• subject choices, examination results and pathway information for senior-school applications; and
• any other documentation required by KHDA, the UAE Ministry of Education, GEMS Education or the school.
• In the case of overseas transfer, the Original Transfer Certificate should also be duly attested by:

Admission is confirmed only once the applicable documentation, fees, registration requirements and Parent-School Contract requirements are complete.

Senior School Admissions

Admission to senior year groups is additionally dependent on curriculum continuity and pathway availability.

• Year 10: subject to academic readiness, subject availability, timetable feasibility and continuity of the two-year IGCSE programme.
• Year 12: requires appropriate IGCSE or equivalent outcomes for the selected pathway and published subject-entry requirements.
• Year 13: progression is dependent upon appropriate AS Level performance and pathway suitability.
• Alternative approved pathways may be considered where available and educationally appropriate.

Existing GEMS Families

Existing GEMS families should ensure that their child's current Fee ID and accurate contact details are included in the application to support accurate identification and processing.

School Tours

We warmly welcome prospective families to visit The Winchester School and experience our learning environment, facilities and inclusive school community.

Bespoke school tours are available on weekdays by appointment. A school tour provides an opportunity to learn more about our curriculum, values, facilities and admissions process; it does not reserve or guarantee a place.

To arrange a tour:

• complete the school's Get a Call Back form; or
• contact the school on 04 882 0444.

Families are encouraged to book in advance.

Concerns and Complaints

We are committed to communicating admissions decisions professionally, transparently and respectfully.

Parents who have a concern regarding an application or admissions decision should first contact the school's Admissions Team / Admission Officer so that the matter can be reviewed against the published admissions criteria and relevant records.

Important Admissions Notice

Submission of an application, payment of an application fee, completion of an assessment, sibling priority or placement on a waiting list does not guarantee admission.

All offers remain subject to actual availability, KHDA-approved capacity, age and placement requirements, documentation, curriculum and subject availability, staffing and provision, applicable registration requirements and completion of the Parent-School Contract.

The Winchester School will administer admission decisions fairly, consistently, transparently and without discrimination, in alignment with applicable UAE and KHDA requirements and the school's published Admission Policy.

Withdrawal Form

Please click to download the withdrawal form

Terms and Conditions 

• There are 3 terms per year. The total amount of fees payable in a year will be collected in 3 installments. Fees will not be collected in the months of July and August. 
• Reports / Examination results of the defaulters are liable to be withheld. 
• The school management reserves the right to make any exceptions to the above policy for compassionate reasons, at their discretion.
• Please note that Application Fee is AED 525, this is not deductible and non refundable if the school has not declined the application. The application fee is valid only for a year. Paying the application fee is only to place the child/ren on the waiting list, it does not guarantee admission.
• Parent is responsible to provide correct information and apply in the correct year group, any discrepancy or incorrect information will result in cancellation of child’s application/ offer/enrolment at any stage, and the school will not be held responsible for any consequences arising such discrepancies. For any such query check with the admissions team.