Al Marifa International Private (G.C.S.E) School - branch Al Yarmouk logo

Al Marifa International Private (G.C.S.E) School - branch Al YarmoukPrincipal & Leadership Team

Curriculum
American / British
SPEA
Very Good
Location
Sharjah, Al Yarmouk
Fees
AED 15K - 28K
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Leadership & Governance

Good
SPEA Leadership & Management Rating
Improved from Acceptable (2018); 22 of 42 American curriculum schools in Sharjah also rated Good
1:15
Student-Teacher Ratio
Slightly above the Sharjah city average of 1:13.6 across 204 schools with ratio data
7%
Annual Teacher Turnover Rate
Low turnover signals a stable, experienced staff — a positive indicator for teaching continuity
Samer Serhane
Principal
Leads a team of 230 teachers across a school of 3,378 students; tenure start date not published
COGNIA & AIAA
International Accreditations
Dual accreditation provides external quality validation beyond the SPEA inspection process
Good Leadership Rating7% Staff TurnoverCOGNIA AccreditedAIAA AccreditedAcceptable → Good230 Teaching Staff

Al Marifa International Private School (American) is led by Principal Samer Serhane, operating under the governance of a Board of Governors chaired by Sheikh Dr. Fisal Bin Khaled Bin Khalid Al Qassimi. The 2023 SPEA School Performance Review rated leadership and management as Good, with inspectors specifically highlighting the vision and strategic direction of the leadership team as a key strength. Notably, the school's overall effectiveness improved from Acceptable in 2018 to Good in 2023 — a meaningful upward trajectory that reflects sustained leadership commitment over a five-year period. [MISSING: Principal Serhane's tenure start date and prior background]

The school employs 230 teachers supported by 3 teaching assistants, serving a student body of 3,378 pupils. This produces a student-teacher ratio of 1:15, which is slightly above the Sharjah-wide average of 1:13.6 across the 204 schools for which ratio data is available — meaning classes at Al Marifa are modestly larger than the city norm. Among American curriculum schools in Sharjah, this ratio sits within a competitive range given the school's scale as one of the larger campuses in the emirate. [MISSING: Staff qualification levels — percentage holding Masters or above]

Staff stability is a positive signal for prospective families. The inspection recorded a teacher turnover rate of just 7%, which is low and suggests a settled, experienced workforce. The main teacher nationality is Jordanian, reflecting the school's long-established community ties in Al Yarmouk. Inspectors noted that teachers are enthusiastic and dedicated, with effective strategies for meeting student needs — though the review also identified a need to continue improving teaching and learning to serve all groups more inclusively, and to build leadership capacity at all levels.

On parent and community engagement, the 2023 review assessed partnerships with parents and the community under Performance Standard 6. Parent surveys were conducted as part of the review process, and inspectors met with governors, senior leaders, and parents during the four-day visit. [MISSING: Specific parent satisfaction scores or engagement rating from SPEA review.] Governance quality was assessed as part of the overall Good leadership rating, with the governing body noted as promoting improvement effectively through strategic planning. The school holds dual accreditation from COGNIA and AIAA, providing an additional layer of external quality assurance beyond the SPEA inspection framework.