Jumeirah English Speaking School

1. Identify the correct year group and intended start. JESS uses a debenture-based system to hold places and manage waiting lists, with corporate debentures no longer available for purchase and personal debentures used to secure a place. Personal Debentures are AED 20,000 and are not payable until a place is offered; they remain in place while the child is enrolled and are refunded when the child leaves, subject to policy. 2. Choose the waiting-list route. Waiting lists are open to Corporate Debenture Holders or Emirati Nationals, and FS1 and Year 7 siblings can apply for waiting-list consideration. If a place is not yet available, the waiting list remains in place according to the applicable route. 3. Check current year-group availability. For 2025-26, all year groups are stated as full with over-subscribed waiting lists. Sixth Form Year 12 2025/26 is closed to new applications, with information available for Year 12 2026/27. 4. Learn how to apply to waiting lists. FS1 and Year 7 for personal applications are two years in advance of enrolment; Personal Debenture applications are opened only when waiting lists fall below a threshold. Corporate Debenture or Emirati National applications can be submitted when the relevant waiting lists are open; check the monthly admissions updates for openings. 5. Understand the offer process. The timing of an offer depends on the year group and whether the place starts at the beginning of the academic year or mid-year; the offer procedure and required documentation differ by year group and are detailed in the offer letter and Admissions Policy. 6. Complete KHDA registration if an offer is accepted. To register with KHDA, a Transfer Certificate from the current school must be provided, with attestation guidelines applicable for the country of origin; the original TC must be submitted before attendance. 7. Confirm the debenture and deposit payments. If a Personal Debenture place is offered, the school deposit must be paid within 5 days and the Personal Debenture paid in full before starting; Debentures remain in place while the child is enrolled and are refunded when the child leaves, subject to terms. Corporate Debentures are no longer available; a separate debenture is required for each child. 8. Review the fees and payment options. An application/non-refundable fee of AED 500 applies; annual and term-based fee amounts are published for Foundation 1, Primary, Secondary, and Sixth Form, with payment options and banking details available. 9. Contact the Admissions team for confirmation or questions.

The school uses waiting lists for most year groups. Waiting-list entry is available for Corporate Debenture Holders (all years except Years 10–13) and Emirati Nationals, and FS1 and Year 7 siblings may join waiting lists. Due to high application volumes, responses are limited to Emirati Nationals or Corporate Debenture Holders, and response time for other categories may be limited. FS1 and Year 7 personal applications are two years in advance of enrolment; Personal Debenture waiting lists operate when waiting lists fall below a threshold. For 2025-26, most year groups are reported as full with oversubscribed waiting lists, and Sixth Form Year 12 2025/26 is closed to new applications. Offers and waiting-list status are managed per year group, with monthly updates guiding when personal debentures may reopen. The team can be contacted via the Admissions page for current waiting-list openings and eligibility.