The International Schools Review Forum

I'm looking into one of the new GEMS schools in Asia. Does anyone have experiences about what it's like working for this company? Are they run like a business, or do the genuinely focus on the education (and supporting teachers to be able to teach well)? Thanks!

I'm also interested in the one opening in Singapore next year. Any info on this one? Package looks really good according to the Search database.

The Singapore school is just breaking ground now. They are opening with the former head of school and director of operations from GEMS World Academy in Dubai.

I would say that for the most part, you don't feel the corporate side of GEMS on a day to day basis. But when you do feel it, it's frustrating. It's for-profit and ultimately, the bottom line dictates the decision making no matter how much they talk about education first. In Dubai, they are jamming new students into the school on a daily basis. There are several classes that are conducted in the hallways. And the shared spaces are very tight: auditorium, cafeteria, gym are all woefully insufficient. I doubt that things will be very different in Singapore after the school has been open for a few years.

The admin are mostly competent and trustworthy (mostly) but they have corporate breathing down their necks.

I wouldn't highly recommend GEMS, but you certainly could do worse.

I agree 100% with the previous reviewer. You tend to not notice the corporate elements but when you do it is very frustrating.

Thanks for that feedback. One of my big concerns is "filling the seats" without thinking about classroom dynamics/balance. The classroom management issues that result are exactly what make my current school so frustrating.

My thought for now, though, is that this would be a short-term (2-year) job, and then I would move on again. I wonder if things would be fine in those first couple years while the school's reputation is still being established.