Abu Dhabi Indian - Al Wathba
Executive Summary
Abu Dhabi Indian School - Wathba has achieved an overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Very Good for the 2024-2025 academic year, demonstrating significant improvement from its previous 'Good' rating. The school, which follows the CBSE curriculum, is recognized for its commitment to student development and effective leadership.
Key strengths include improved student achievement in Arabic as a second language and consistently very good attainment in CBSE external examinations for Grades 10 and 12. Teaching for effective learning is rated Very Good across all phases, supported by teachers' strong subject knowledge and purposeful lesson planning. The school also maintains robust arrangements for student safety and security.
The principal provides clear leadership and vision, fostering professional relationships within the school community. However, areas for development include raising attainment in Arabic and Math, improving assessment quality, and consistently meeting the learning needs of all students, particularly students of determination and the more able.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Abu Dhabi Indian - Al Wathba Overall Rating
Very Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students generally demonstrate very good attainment and progress across core subjects, with notable improvements in English and Arabic as a second language. CBSE external examination results for Grades 10 and 12 show very good to outstanding attainment. However, internal assessment data does not always align with observed classroom performance, and IBT results indicate weak attainment in some phases for Arabic and Math. Very Good attainmentCBSE external examinationsArabic as a second language
Students exhibit positive attitudes, responsible behavior, and respectful relationships with peers and teachers. Personal development is very good, with students being self-reliant and responsive to feedback. However, understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are acceptable, and opportunities for social responsibility and innovation outside the student council are limited. Positive attitudesResponsible behaviorRespectful relationships
Teaching for effective learning is very good across all phases, with teachers demonstrating strong subject knowledge and purposeful lesson planning. They effectively manage lesson time and use varied approaches to support learning. Assessment practices are generally good, but there is a need for more consistent use of questioning strategies and systematic tracking of individual student progress over time. Very Good teachingStrong subject knowledgePurposeful lesson planning
The curriculum design and implementation are generally good, aligning with CBSE standards and catering to a range of abilities. Curriculum adaptation is also good, ensuring relevance for students. However, there is a need to enhance opportunities for independent learning, collaboration, and research skills, particularly using digital technology. Curriculum designCurriculum adaptationCBSE standards
The school provides very good health and safety arrangements, including robust child protection and safeguarding. Student care and support are also very good, with students feeling safe and well-cared for. However, the level of challenge and support for specific groups, such as students of determination and more able students, can be inconsistent, particularly in meeting their diverse learning needs. Very Good health and safetyChild protectionStudent care and support
Overall leadership and management are good, with the principal providing clear vision and effective communication. The effectiveness of leadership has improved to very good. However, self-evaluation and improvement planning, management of staffing, facilities, and resources are rated good, with a need to improve the quality of the learning environment, especially in Phase 1. Clear leadership and visionEffective communicationSelf-evaluation and planning
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Arabic Attainment
Students' achievement in Arabic as a second language has shown significant improvement across all phases, with progress now rated good.
Strong CBSE Results
Results from CBSE external examinations for Grades 10 and 12 consistently indicate very good to outstanding levels of student attainment.
Positive Student Behavior
Students exhibit positive attitudes and behavior across the school, fostering strong and respectful relationships with peers and teachers.
Robust Safeguarding
The school has established robust arrangements to ensure the safety and security of all students, maintaining a very good rating.
Clear Leadership
The principal provides clear leadership and vision, supported by the senior leadership team, ensuring professional and effective communication.
Effective Teaching
Teaching for effective learning is very good across all phases, with teachers demonstrating strong subject knowledge and purposeful lesson planning.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Student achievement has improved in English across all phases and Math in Phase 1. Progress in Arabic as a second language has improved in all phases to good. However, IBT results show weak attainment in Arabic and Math in some phases, and internal assessment data does not always align with observed classroom performance.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The principal provides clear leadership and vision, supported by the vice-principal and senior leadership team, ensuring professional and effective communication. The effectiveness of leadership has improved to very good, driving the school's overall performance improvement. However, there is a need to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and planning procedures, and improve the quality of the learning environment and resources.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate very good attainment and progress in most subjects, particularly in English and Islamic Education. CBSE external examination results are strong. However, internal assessment data does not consistently reflect classroom observations, and IBT results show areas of weak attainment in Arabic and Mathematics across some phases.
Personal & Social Development
Students show very good personal development, positive attitudes, and respectful relationships. Attendance is very good. However, their understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are acceptable, and opportunities for developing social responsibility and innovation skills beyond the student council are limited.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is very good, characterized by strong subject knowledge, purposeful planning, and effective lesson management. Assessment is good, but needs to improve consistency in questioning strategies and the systematic use of assessment outcomes to track individual student progress and inform planning.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is well-designed and implemented, aligning with CBSE standards and adapted to meet student needs. However, there is a need to systematically develop students' independent learning, collaboration, and research skills, including the consistent integration of digital technology for inquiry.
Protection, Care & Support
The school maintains very good health, safety, and safeguarding arrangements, ensuring a secure environment. Student care and support are also very good. However, the provision for students of determination and more able students needs to be more consistent in terms of challenge and support to ensure all learning needs are met effectively.
Areas for Development
- •Raise the attainment of students mainly in Arabic and Math so that it is consistently at least very good by ensuring teachers address key recommendations for improvement identified within their subject areas to move achievement to the next level or better.
- •Improve student outcomes in the IBT assessments so that they are more closely aligned with the high standards attained by the students in the CBSE assessments.
- •Review how students' independent learning and collaboration skills are developed systematically and include them more consistently within the teachers’ lesson planning.
- •Improve students' research skills using various sources, including digital technology.
- •Improve the quality of assessment to a consistently very good level by ensuring teachers' use of questioning strategies is more consistent and require students to give extended responses in lessons that promote students’ language and critical thinking skills.
- •Ensure teachers, and senior leaders, are using assessment outcomes more systematically to track the progress of individual students and groups of students over time.
- •Meet the learning needs of all students, particularly the students of determination and the more able by analyzing internal assessment data and ensuring that teachers use it to plan and deliver learning activities for students of all abilities.
- •Provide teachers with professional development on effective strategies for differentiating lessons to meet students’ learning needs within the classroom.
- •Embed strategies for more effective teaching and learning by providing professional development for teachers in phases 1, 2 and 3 to enhance teaching strategies that support emerging learning in students.
- •Provide more opportunities for students to investigate, explore and conduct Independent research.
- •Provide a classroom environment that is stimulating and conducive to learning.
- •Provide appropriate resources to support students' developing fine and gross motor skills in early years.
- •Provide appropriate classroom teaching support for teachers in phase 1.
- •Strengthen the school’s procedures for monitoring, evaluation and planning by using the analysis of assessment outcomes to inform detailed improvement planning for subjects.
- •Link procedures for monitoring the effectiveness of teaching more explicitly to learning outcomes for students and groups of students in lessons and revising the current observation checklist to include a greater emphasis on students’ attainment and progress in the lesson, aligning this to the inspection framework.
- •Provide training for all leaders in evaluating learning in lessons.
- •consult more widely with all stakeholders on their views of where the school needs improvement.
- •Generate action plans for each area for improvement which are time-bound and have measurable outcomes.