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Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Schools across UAE celebrate record-breaking A Level & BTEC results
Schools and students across the UAE began receiving their A-level results today, with this year's cohort achieving strong performances. In Dubai College, 77 per cent of students made expected or better-than-expected progress across all subjects. The school's A-Level results for 2025 include a 74 per cent A-A rate, matching last year's high, and a record 93.6 per cent of grades at A-B. Notably, 25 students earned three or more A* grades, with 15 of them achieving four A*s. Ateka Tarajia, Head of Sixth Form said, 'Dubai College is proud to announce an outstanding set of A Level results, as a staggering 74% of all examinations were awarded an A* or A, reflecting the exceptional hard work and talent of our students. Students have secured places on highly sought after courses, such as in Medicine, and many have confirmed places at Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. Taleem In Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP), 25 per cent of entries have been awarded A* or Distinction*, 50 per cent achieving grade A or above, and 85 per cent at grade B or higher. With a 96 per cent pass rate, this year also saw a number of graduates across the UAE securing places at prestigious Russell Group universities and top international institutions. DBSJP Principal Rebecca Coulter said, 'These outstanding results reflect the talent, dedication, and resilience of our students, the expertise of our teachers, and the strength of our school community. We are equally proud of every individual journey, whether academic or vocational, and we look forward to watching our graduates thrive on the global stage.' Some high-achievers at DBSJP recalled their experience. Maxwell said, ' Today I got the highest grades I could have achieved on my course. I could not be happier seeing the last few years of hard work pay off. I am going to miss DBSJP so much and all the teachers who have helped me along the way.' Amelia noted, ' Two years ago I started A Levels, feeling nervous and unsure, but today all my hard effort and patience have paid off – achieving higher grades than predicted.' Alisha added, ' My time at DBSJP has provided many opportunities for growth. I am incredibly happy to see all of my hard work paying off, and can't wait to see what the next step in my journey is.' Jebel Ali School In Jebel Ali School, 55 students sat for 162 A-Level exams and 5 BTEC qualifications. School Headboy, Kye Raikundalia earned A* Maths, A Further Maths, A Economics, A EPQ, B Computer Science He said, 'I am thrilled at the prospect of studying Economics at King's College London, with the ambition of pursuing a career in Sales and Trading within Investment Banking. JAS has provided me with an excellent foundation, enabling me to work towards my goals.' Raikundalia added, 'The support of my teachers has helped me strengthen my skills and consistently strive for the best. I believe they have placed me in a strong position to succeed in the next chapter of my life.' Jebel Ali School Principal, Simon Jodrell said, 'Our Year 13 students have achieved the best Post-16 results in the school's history. With 62 per cent of all entries achieving the top grades of A* - B and 32 per cent of all grades awarded at A*- A (or equivalent). This year's outcomes reflect the exceptional hard work, dedication, and resilience of our Sixth Form students.' Repton Schools Repton AbuDhabi's 43 per cent of all A-Level entries secured A*–A grades and 72 per cent of all entries at A*-B. Repton Dubai also recorded a strong performance, with 31 per cent of entries receiving A*–A grades, and 62 per cent of grades awarded A*–B. Repton Abu Dhabi students have secured offers from prestigious universities around the world, including the University of St Andrews, New York University, the University of Western Australia, the University of New South Wales and University College Cork. Among the school's high achievers is Wahyu Wijaksono, who achieved an outstanding three A* grades and one A. Another standout student, Sandra Li, will be heading to New York University in the USA after achieving one A*, two A grades, and one B. Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, Steven Lupton, said, 'We are immensely proud of our students for their exceptional achievements this year. Their results are a testament to their determination, resilience, and passion for learning, supported by the dedication of our teachers and the encouragement of their families. We are confident they will thrive at university and beyond, shaping their futures and making a positive impact on the world around them.' Repton Dubai also celebrated impressive university placements, with students securing offers from prestigious institutions including Imperial College London, UCL, LSE and Queen Mary University of London. High achievers this year include Zain Junadi, who achieved three A* grades and two As and will be joining UCL and Yilan Shi, who earned two A* grades and two As and will reading Computer Science at Imperial College London. Michael Bloy, Principal of Repton Dubai, said, 'This cohort has shown exceptional resilience and commitment to their goals throughout their academic journey. We are thrilled to see them succeed and take their next steps towards fulfilling and ambitious futures.' At Horizon International School in Dubai this year, A-level students achieved an average of +1 grade above their expected outcomes across all subjects. In English Literature, the average Value-Added was +1.12 grades, in Biology the Value-Added was +0.8 of a grade and in Chemistry, the Value-Added was +0.75 of a grade. In addition, the Value-Added in Geography and Business was +2 grades and in Media, the Value-Added was +1 grade. 54 per cent of HIS students achieved grades A* to B, in addition to 50 per cent of long tenure students achieving A*-B grades across 2+ subjects. Horizon International School, Principal, Stephen Quinn, said, "We are very proud of the remarkable progress our A-level students have made, consistently outperforming expectations and growing into confident, independent learners. As they venture into the next phase of their academic and professional paths, we are confident that they will carry forward the spirit of Horizon – continuing to excel and make meaningful contributions to their chosen fields.' Other schools in Abu Dhabi Meanwhile, Brighton College Abu Dhabi is also celebrating its pupils' Summer 2025 A-Level results, with A being the most commonly awarded grade, a value-add of almost two-thirds of a grade, and one quarter of pupils receiving A* or A grades in all of their subjects. The College achieved 17 per cent of grades at A*, 44 per cent at A*–A grades, and 68 per cent at A*–B. Standout subject performance included 100 per cent A* grades in Computer Science and Art, 100 per cent of grades in Geography, and 75 per cent A*–B in English Literature, Design Technology, Biology and Physics. The Class of 2025 holds 149 offers from Russell Group Universities, with seven pupils receiving all five of their offers from these prestigious institutions. Pupils here also set to join leading universities including Imperial College London, University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), King's College London and the University of Manchester, as well as top US and other global destinations, with several earning scholarships. 21 pupils achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades. In Dubai College, 77 per cent of students made expected or better-than-expected progress across all subjects. The school's A-Level results for 2025 include a 74 per cent A-A rate, matching last year's high, and a record 93.6 per cent of grades at A-B. Notably, 25 students earned three or more A* grades, with 15 of them achieving four A*s. Ateka Tarajia, Head of Sixth Form said, 'Dubai College is proud to announce an outstanding set of A Level results, as a staggering 74% of all examinations were awarded an A* or A, reflecting the exceptional hard work and talent of our students. Students have secured places on highly sought after courses, such as in Medicine, and many have confirmed places at Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. GEMS Education At GEMS education 1,999 students sat 5,379 A-level exams across its 22 schools in the UAE and Qatar. The results show sustained strong performance, with 32 per cent of grades at A*-A and 58 per cent at A*-B. The GEMS-wide results also reflect significant year-on-year grade improvements, with the number of A* grades awarded rising by two percentage points to 11 per cent, A*-A performance improving from 26 per cent in 2024 to 32% this year, as well as A*-B performance rising six percentage points to 58 per cent. Additional highlights include GEMS Cambridge International Private School – Sharjah, whose A-level students achieved a nine percentage point growth in A* grades awarded, as well as GEMS Wesgreen International School – Sharjah, where the number of students achieving an A*-A grade rose by 16 percentage points year-on-year. Across the GEMS network a total of 412 students took BTEC Level 3s — double the cohort of last year, demonstrating the increasing popularity of this vocational pathway.
The National
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Gerard Pieterse goes back to the future to help UAE's Rugby World Cup bid
Gerard Pieterse laughs at the idea that he looks a little older than the last time he was here. 'A little bigger, more like,' he says, with a smile. Twelve years later, and around 3kms straight down Abdullah Omran Taryam Street, Pieterse is back on a rugby field in Dubai. It is just along the road from where he started out a pursuit of top tier rugby. That journey has come full circle, and ended up with him becoming a key figure in what the UAE hope will be a continued ascent of the world rankings. Pieterse is one of the finest products of Dubai College (DC), a school of great rugby heritage. Back at the start of 2013, just after ticking the box that all aspiring schoolboy rugby players in the UAE aim for by playing in the Dubai Sevens, he left for pastures new. Age 16, he moved to South Africa to complete his schooling, and try to catch the eye of rugby's professional game. He left Dubai with a growing reputation as a centre with quick feet and clever skills, but not knowing where to measure himself exactly against his age-group peers in South Africa. It was a rapid learning process. 'I had just finished a rowing season,' Pieterse said of his first game for Bishops, his new school side, after leaving DC. 'I weighed 70kgs, and my opposite number weighed 107. You would be very hard pressed to find a centre in Dubai who weighs 107kgs at 17 years old. That was certainly a step up.' Much has changed in the time since. Pieterse certainly fills out the UAE's team issue singlet with a lot more confidence than he would have done when he left. The path to the top in rugby has been a potted one. He embraced the extra physicality of South African schoolboy rugby, and was glad of the grounding he had had in Dubai, with its focus on skills. He made the age-grade programme at Western Province, played in the Junior Curry Cup, as well as Varsity Cup rugby. But badly timed injuries counted against his pursuit of a pro career. Then when Covid hit, he opted to move to the UK to study for a master's degree instead. He now works in the finance industry in central London, and his rugby career has stalled. 'It was challenging,' Pieterse said. 'I was in a position where I was without a contract in South Africa in my last couple of years, and wanted to give it another go. 'I tried to stay around for one more Varsity Cup season and was finding some good form. You obviously don't know what would have happened, but when Covid hit, I decided to pursue a career over in the UK. 'At that point, if something came up with rugby, so be it, but I wasn't as actively pursuing that anymore.' In the recent past, he has focused on sevens rather than XVs, until the call came from the UAE. Apollo Perelini, his former coach in Dubai and the performance manager of the UAE Rugby Federation, asked if Pieterse would consider a comeback for the country where he first learnt the game. He started school at Jebel Ali Primary, before going on to excel at DC. So, despite being born in Pretoria and living in the UK, Pieterse qualifies to play on the basis of having lived for more than 10 years in the UAE. The national team have been the biggest climbers in World Rugby's rankings in the recent past. It has reached the point where they are targeting qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, via the Asia Rugby Championship. Even since he has been back in the UAE, injuries have been a frustration. After a blockbuster start in his debut against Hong Kong, where he made one huge, last-ditch tackle which lifted his side, he soon suffered a hamstring strain. He nursed it through that game, as well as the ensuing win in South Korea, but it limited the influence he was able to have on the attack. He should be fit enough to play the crucial final match against Sri Lanka, and Jacques Benade, the national team coach, is thrilled to be able to call on him. 'He is an outstanding player," Benade said. 'We are lucky to have players like him and Jack [Stapley, another UAE-raised, UK-based back in the national team ]. 'We haven't seen him 100% fit yet because he has been struggling with a hamstring injury. For him to stay on the field, with his defensive [organisation] and his attacking threat, was a great help. 'I can't wait to see him fit and playing rugby. We know what he can bring, and seeing what he can do even when he isn't 100% fit is just outstanding.' Pieterse works for a financial consultancy firm in London, which has, he says, a lot of ex-sportspeople on staff. As such, they were understanding when he asked if he could jet off to aid the UAE's push for a place at the World Cup. 'They understand how important this is for me personally, and also how exciting it is for anyone who gets given this opportunity,' Pieterse said. 'They have been very understanding, letting me work remotely for this period while I am out here. They are as excited about making this opportunity happen for me as I am. I am incredibly grateful about that.' And he is thankful for the shot he has been given at a belated crack at international rugby. The UAE face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday needing a win to keep alive their qualification ambitions. 'This whole tournament has felt like play-off rugby from the beginning,' Pieterse said. 'It has been very high stakes. 'We knew that the team that automatically qualifies would have to win three games. That first bump in the road against Hong Kong has meant that every game has been a must-win match. 'Every week of prep we have had going into a weekend fixture feels like play-off rugby. It helps focus the mind. It helps ensure that we train hard. 'It is a massively exciting opportunity. For a lot of these guys who might have had previous rugby ambitions, this is another opportunity that a lot of people would not have expected. 'It is something we are all embracing and enjoying, and looking forward to making the most of.'
The National
05-06-2025
- General
- The National
Jacques Benade ends stint as Dubai Exiles coach after decade of excellence at UAE's oldest rugby club
Jacques Benade says he is 'going to miss it so badly' but added now is the right time to end his highly successful stint as head coach of Dubai Exiles. The South African has been in charge of the UAE's oldest rugby club for nine years. During that time, they have been the most consistently competitive side in the country. He took them to three West Asia Premiership finals, winning in 2017, while they also won three UAE Premiership titles on his watch, as well as the Dubai Sevens in 2017 and 2021. Benade is also the UAE coach. He is currently readying the national team for a tilt at World Cup qualification via the Asian Rugby Championship, which starts with a fixture against Hong Kong in Dubai on Saturday June 14. 'It will feel strange to sit at home on Saturday – my wife will love it, I'm sure,' Benade said of his decision to step down from the Exiles. 'It will feel strange not to see the boys but I'm sure I will be there supporting all the teams. 'I am going to miss the boys, but I do think it will be good for them to get someone new in, and rebuild, and see where we want to go. 'The club is in a good place at the moment. There are a lot of good players there, and I wish all the best to whoever is going to take over as they are good quality people.' Benade, who first started coaching when he was 31, remains in charge of rugby at Dubai College, and is grateful to coach for a living. 'It has been 25 years and this is what I love,' Benade said. 'I think I am very fortunate to be able to do something that I love every day. 'School is getting tougher, there is more competition, and rugby overall in the UAE is getting better. There are very good coaches everywhere. 'I am going to miss it so badly, but I think it is the right time. With every coach, I think they need to realise there is a time to move on and look at something different.' Typically, rugby clubs in the region have enjoyed waves of success but found it difficult to sustain over long periods of time. Dubai Hurricanes, for example, are the reigning UAE and West Asia champions after a remarkable end to last season, but two years earlier they had been playing second tier rugby. Benade himself took over an Exiles team in 2016 who had just won a double of trophies, having been on their knees not long before. I do think it will be good for them to get someone new in and rebuild Jacques Benade In 2012, the Exiles had been forced to withdraw from the top flight of domestic rugby while the season was running due to a lack of numbers. Jan Venter, Benade's predecessor as coach, got the club back on a successful footing, but he handed over a side who were again set for transition. 'I'll never forget when I first arrived and got a list of players from Jan Venter at the Exiles,' Benade said. 'I phoned them all, and finished up with 12 boys who were still playing rugby. Everybody else had just left. 'From not knowing what was going on, we started recruiting, got an unbelievably good team together, and to win the double in my first year was just immense.' It was a feature of Benade's spell at the Exiles that their standards rarely slipped, and they consistently challenged for trophies. Whether they can maintain that after he has left remains to be seen, but he believes they are a club in good health. 'We have an old team at the moment,' Benade said. 'Matt Mills [the UAE co-captain] and some of those boys started with me 10 years ago. It is unbelievable. 'They have been really good working together but it is also sometimes hard to recruit when you have a really settled team. [Other players] can't see a way in and they don't want to leave other clubs. 'Also, you work so hard, and we really wanted to go for the double this year, but we lost at the end against a Hurricanes team who just never stop playing rugby. 'But I had an unbelievable 10 years, and I absolutely love the club. It is a great club.' Jon Ebbitt, the club's former general manager, said Benade had left behind 'an incredible legacy' at the Exiles. 'Arguably Jacques' most important legacy at the club is the structure and player pathway that he implemented during his tenure as the Exiles' director of rugby,' Ebbitt said. 'Owing to [that], many Exiles' mini and youth, boys and girls, as well as men and women, have come through the pathway to represent the UAE on the international stage.' Ebbitt pointed out that, during the 2022-23 season, 34 Exiles represented the UAE at Under 18, Under 20, or senior levels in competitions across Asia. Benade said that player development has been one of the highlights of the job, while it is 'most rewarding seeing players go into coaching as well, from what they have learnt from you'.
Gulf Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
4get-me-not transforms lives of traumatised people
Ask for wisdom from the elderlies and thou shall get lots. Be involved in community with them, and thou shall get more. Julia, since age 13, began accompanying her grandfather to periodic events meant for those who, at least, have gone through the onset of neurodegenerative diseases that have, according to most recent data, soared to over 55 million since the notorious Novel Coronavirus 2020. Turned volunteer caregiver four years henceforth, Julia told Gulf Today: 'Gratitude is a very big thing because we do not realise the changes that happen with age until we are actually around people. The difference with my grandpa when I was 10 to now. He is a different person especially now that he has dementia.' 'Spending time with his friend Tony (name changed) even now that my grandpa is back in Italy, with these activities. I see Shush (name changed) who used to actively dance. She is now on wheelchair. We realise how many things in our daily life that we do not think about. We like to walk. Then, we would be unable to. These have changed my perspective,' she continued. Concerning community involvement, Julia who plans of expanding her group of volunteers, presently composed of her Dubai College clique – Eve, Molly, Sofia, and Tara – replied: 'It is important especially in Dubai where there is a mix of cultures. We have our own communities. I never would have thought to be a part of this. Make friends with people much older than me from other nationalities. I learn.' Prior to the conversation, on the grand piano for three classical pieces – 'Fur Elise' by German Ludwig van Beethoven and 'Minute Waltz' by Polish Frederic Chopin – as well as the score for the 2004 Japanese animated photoplay 'Howl's Moving Castle,' – 'Merry-Go-Round-Of-Life' by Japanese Joe Hisaishi, was Jia Loh Kumar. The Singaporean, trained since age five, was hopeful that the classical pieces 'offered a moment of peace or sparked a memory for everyone. Music has a unique way of reaching people beyond words. Being a part of an initiative that brings comfort and connection, especially to those living with Alzheimer's, is very meaningful to me. It reminds me that even the smallest efforts may have a quiet but lasting impact.' Incidentally, glee immediately registered on the face of one of two wheelchair-bound ladies, when she was already near Kumar – upon her request. Both teenagers were at a Bingo-Dance Socials for people exhibiting Alzheimer's Disease. It was part of a year-long project by the not-for-profit social enterprise, 4get-me-not and the Dusit Thani-Dubai's 'Tree of Life' philosophy; which, hotel general manager Prateek Kumar, explained, is inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement in action 'built on authenticity, intention, and care.' 'Oh yes. Some of the over 150 members we have since the beginning are still with us. One is already in the late '70s. Expats. Professionals. Business owners. Most had traumatic experiences. Some have diabetes. Some with heart problems. Through the years they have become talkative. Some, more talkative. They sleep better now. That is what we want,' said 25-year Dubai resident Desiree Vlekken. Their numbers astronomically spiked during the pandemic because of isolation and depression. Vlekken established with her husband and their young child, 4get-me-not for Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia/Aging/Support for Caregivers awareness, in 2013. Two years after her father in the Philippines had been diagnosed with deteriorating memory loss. The first two elderly homes that welcomed the Vlekken Family for their mission and vision of awareness and proactive measures against Alzheimer's Disease were the ones in 'Ajman and Sharjah.' Vlekken acknowledged the elderlies' pro-activeness: 'It has been by word-of-mouth that we have grown. They talk about their bonding experiences with others.' First timer Victoria who heard about 'them at the church would definitely return.' From the clinical standpoint, Al Zahra Hospital (Dubai) Neurology consultant Dr. Miguel Nacher, commented: 'Music-based interventions, proved to reduce agitation, improve mood and enhance quality of life. It is a meaningful tool in both the prevention and management of cognitive decline. It is non-invasive, accessible and cost-effective. Bingo, when non-commercially played, is a valuable tool to support brain wellness as we age.'
