Dear AG2015, thanks for your question. This is a tough one to answer. A change of curriculum will not necessarily guarantee a change of quality of education. There are many US curriculum schools in Dubai that are not accredited with the various Schools Associations in the US and this may have an impact on the standard of education they provide. The KHDA requires that all schools go through the accreditation process and I would suggest that you check with yours as to where they are in this respect. You don’t mention why you unhappy with the current school, but generally my first suggestion would be that if you have not done so, you should meet with them to discuss your concerns and see what action they are able to offer.

There are some fundamental differences between the 2 curricula, the most significant of which is that the IB curriculum is the same wherever you go in the world. A student studying in an IB school here, should be able to transfer to an IB school outside of the UAE, and provided the same subjects are available, should be able to transfer seamlessly. The teaching methodology and subject matter should be identical. This is a major benefit for families who relocate on a regular basis, or who do not know where their children will finish their schooling. The IB Diploma programme is recognised and highly valued by universities worldwide, particularly because of its focus on independent learning.

There is no national US curriculum. Every state has a different curriculum as set out by the local school Board and although there are basic subjects and standards laid down by the Federal government (US common core standards/no child left behind), the way in which they are taught, monitored and reported varies. This is the reason why children going on to college or university in the US are required to sit additional tests such as the SATS tests.

My suggestion would be that if you plan for your children potentially to go to college in the US, sticking with the US curriculum, but perhaps looking at your school options, may be one way to go. If you think your children are likely to go to college in other parts of the world, or that you may be moving countries, IB may be a better alternative. Be aware though that the IB was designed for the children of high-flying UN diplomats and if your children are not academic, they may find the IB too challenging – it does not suit every student. You can find out more about the way the IB works via their website http://www.ibo.org.