Welcome to the Raffles World Academy (RWA) website. I hope that what you find here gives you a flavour of life in our vibrant school community, as well as the information about us that you are seeking.
Our Guiding Statements are critical to understanding what we are about and why we do things the way we do. Take a good look at our Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Core Values.
When we talk about ‘world class’ education, our parent community, students and teachers have ‘unpacked’ what this means in terms of measurable outcomes and characteristics that ensure that the Raffles experience meets the highest international standards.
When we say that we ‘empower students’, we mean that students have a real voice that drives school improvement and makes a difference to their development as rounded and broadly-based global citizens, who understand the values and traditions of their own cultures.
Student development is at the centre of all school decisions and we have a thriving partnership with our parent community which is recognized as a reservoir of professional expertise and commitment. Our motto is: ‘Towards Excellence’ – and the accent is on moving forwards through achievement and pushing the envelope of what may yet be achieved. We are a young school but we are committed to exceed our expectations.
When we embrace ‘international-mindedness’, we are looking at our world through the eyes of others. A school of over 85 different nationalities provides us with ample opportunity wear each other’s skin, to celebrate the diversity within our community.
RWA is an independent, co-educational KG – G12 (pre-school – Year 13) IB World School. We offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP), up to G5 (Year 6), International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) in G6 -10 (Years 7 -11) and the IB Diploma and Courses in G11 -12 (Years 12 -13). We offer a hybrid curriculum taking the best from the IB Examinations. We provide a personalized education, acknowledging that every student is different, as a person and as a learner. We have a dedicated Learning Support team that can meet the needs of students with mild – moderate learning difficulties and also those who face the challenges of being gifted and talented. We seek to challenge students whatever their abilities to reach their full potential. Our aim is to develop young people who exemplify the attributes of the IB Learner Profile which is central to the ethos of our school.
The school is located in a residential area close to Jumeirah Beach Road, within close proximity to the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel and within a few minutes of the Sheikh Zayed arterial road and the Mall of the Emirates. We have a purpose-built site that boasts 3 atria (cool and naturally lit meeting and display areas), two swimming pools, a sports field, sports hall, gym, dance and black box studios, specialist science laboratories, IT suites, classrooms, cafeteria and dedicated play areas to meet the needs of over 2,000 students. We are an accredited member of the Council of International Schools (CIS).
The student voice is expressed through the Student Representative Council (SRC), Interact Club, Wellness Committee (anti-bullying), Model United Nations (MUN), the Learning Council, among other groups. The school is active with the World Scholar’s Cup and sent a team to the finals at Yale University in November 2015. RWA is also active in Inter-School Sport, including athletics, basketball, cricket, soccer, swimming, and tennis, including table tennis. The school also offers a wide range of sporting and cultural co-curricular activities, including drama, talent show, ‘X’ Factor, re-cycled fashion show, eco-teams and others.
The parents’ voice is active through the Parents Association (PARWA) and there is an open door approach to communications with teachers and school leaders. RWA began as a family-oriented school and is proud that this has remained the case. Parents also make up our Advisory Council.
Please enjoy exploring our website. Whether you are a prospective student, parent or teacher I hope you find what you need to know about our school. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have, and if you are in the locality we would be delighted to welcome you and give you a tour of the campus. My office is located in the on the first floor above the main entrance, so please call in. I look forward to meeting you in person.
Sincerely,
Timothy Roberts
Principal