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Rosary Private School Branch Abu Dhabi Al NahyanMinistry of Education Curriculum, Subjects & Qualifications

Curriculum
Ministry of Education
ADEK
Very Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Al Nahyan
Fees
AED 8K - 19K
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Curriculum & Academics

Very Good
Irtiqaa Inspection Rating (2024–25)
Sustained across two consecutive inspections (2022 & 2025); most MoE-curriculum private schools in Abu Dhabi are rated Good or Acceptable
510
PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 Reading Score
Above the international average of 500 — the school's strongest international benchmark result
465.2
PISA 2022 Mathematics Score
Below the international average of 472 and the school's own target of 476.5; improvement plans are in place
1:17
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
Higher than the Abu Dhabi city average of 1:13.6 across 204 schools with ratio data
AED 8,480–18,570
Annual Fee Range (KG–Grade 12)
Well below the MoE-curriculum city median; among the most affordable private school options in Abu Dhabi
UAE MoE KG–Grade 12Irtiqaa Very GoodGifted & TalentedStudents of DeterminationPISA TIMSS PIRLS ParticipantScience & Arts Streams

Rosary Private School Branch Abu Dhabi Al Nahyan has delivered the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum continuously since 1969, spanning KG through Grade 12 across four cycles: KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. In secondary, students choose between science and arts streams before sitting the UAE public secondary examination (Tougehe) in Grade 12 — a pathway that keeps graduates aligned with UAE university entry requirements. Instruction is delivered in both Arabic and English, reflecting the school's dual-language identity and its commitment to Arabic literacy alongside English-medium learning.

The school's most recent Irtiqaa inspection, conducted in February 2025, awarded an overall rating of Very Good — a result maintained consistently since the previous inspection in 2022. This places Rosary Private School among a relatively select group: across Abu Dhabi's 17 MoE-curriculum private schools, the city index shows that the majority are rated either Good or Acceptable, making a sustained Very Good rating a meaningful distinction within this curriculum cohort. Teaching quality, assessment, curriculum design, and leadership are all rated Very Good across every cycle, and inspectors noted that teaching in KG improved from Good to Very Good since the last cycle — a concrete sign of upward momentum.

Student achievement in Islamic Education, Arabic as a first language, and UAE Social Studies is rated Very Good in attainment and progress across all cycles, with internal MoE assessment data showing consistently outstanding results over three years. In English, mathematics, and science, KG performance is rated Very Good, while Cycle 1 attainment sits at Good — an acknowledged gap. The school participates in the IBT international benchmarking program for Grades 3–9, and these results reveal a more challenging picture: IBT results for AY2023/24 indicate weak attainment in Arabic, mathematics, and science across cycles when measured against international standards, despite strong internal MoE scores. This divergence between internal and external benchmarks is a candid finding that parents should weigh carefully.

On international assessments, the school's PIRLS 2021 Grade 4 reading score of 510 exceeded the international average of 500 — a genuine strength. However, PISA 2022 results showed students scoring 474 in reading (international average: 476), 465.2 in mathematics (international average: 472), and 469.7 in science (international average: 485) — all below both international averages and the school's own targets. TIMSS 2023 results were similarly mixed: Grade 8 science reached 497.91, above the international average of 478, but Grade 4 and Grade 8 mathematics fell short of international benchmarks. The school has responded with structured action plans, integration of PISA- and TIMSS-style questions into classwork, and stakeholder communication of improvement targets — steps inspectors acknowledged positively.

Distinctive academic features include a Gifted and Talented program, Students of Determination support for 19 enrolled students, and a well-developed reading culture encompassing two school libraries, classroom mini-libraries, digital platforms including ReadTheory, Storyline Online, and British Council Teens, book fairs, and an annual month of reading. The school actively promotes Arabic literacy through competitions such as I Read to Excel and My Story is from Emirates.

Inspectors identified several areas requiring attention. Key recommendations include strengthening Arabic speaking skills for lower-attaining students, improving English reading and speaking in Cycles 1 and 2, increasing practical and inquiry-based science learning, and ensuring lesson pacing meets the needs of all learners. The Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students of determination were flagged as requiring improvement, and the school was advised to increase specialist inclusion staffing, reduce staff turnover, and strengthen attendance systems. Compared to peer MoE-curriculum schools, the gap between strong internal results and weaker international benchmarking performance is a shared sector challenge, but one Rosary Private School is actively addressing through structured international assessment preparation.