Abu Dhabi International Private School - Karamah
Executive Summary
Abu Dhabi International Private School - Karamah has maintained its overall ADEK rating of Very Good since its previous inspection in 2022. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to high-quality provision and learning, with notable strengths in student work ethic, positive attitudes, and well-maintained facilities. Leaders articulate a clear vision aligned with UAE national priorities.
The school's American curriculum is well-structured and aligned with national expectations, providing clear progression from kindergarten through Grade 12. Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects is largely Good to Very Good, with some areas of regression noted. English-medium subjects generally maintain Good to Very Good achievement, though some regressions in English and Mathematics were observed in specific phases. The school shows strong efforts towards meeting targets on international assessments like PISA, PIRLS, and TIMSS, with significant success in TIMSS 2023.
Leadership and management consistently perform at a Very Good level across all indicators, effectively engaging parents and benefiting from a positive influence from the Governing Board. The school's robust safeguarding procedures and strong relationships between staff and students contribute to a secure and supportive learning environment. Areas for development focus on enhancing higher-order thinking skills, improving teaching and assessment consistency, and further strengthening leadership impact.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Abu Dhabi International Private School - Karamah Overall Rating
Very Good for 2+ consecutive years
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' achievement is rated Very Good overall. While attainment and progress in Arabic and English-medium subjects are generally Good to Very Good, some regressions were noted in specific phases and subjects. The school demonstrates strong performance in international assessments, exceeding targets in TIMSS 2023 for mathematics and science. TIMSS 2023Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjects
Students' personal development is Very Good in most phases, demonstrating positive attitudes, maturity, and respect. Understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are consistently Good across all phases, with students actively participating in school life. positive attitudesIslamic valuesEmirati culture
Teaching for effective learning is Very Good in most phases, with teachers applying secure subject knowledge and effective strategies. Assessment practices are consistently Very Good across all phases, utilizing coherent internal processes and data analysis to identify trends and measure student performance effectively. secure subject knowledgeeffective strategiesdata analysis
Curriculum design and implementation, along with curriculum adaptation, are rated Good across all phases. The curriculum is well-structured, aligned with national expectations, and provides clear progression. While effectively adapted for most learners, consistent support and challenge across all student groups require further development. well-structurednational expectationsclear progression
Health and safety, including child protection, remain strong features with a Very Good rating across all phases, supported by robust safeguarding procedures and a secure environment. Care and support for students are also Very Good, with effective systems for students with additional learning needs, though provision for gifted and talented students needs improvement. robust safeguarding procedureseffective systemsgifted and talented students
Leadership and management maintain a Very Good rating across all indicators. Leaders articulate a clear vision, demonstrate secure knowledge of best practices, and engage effectively with parents and the community. The Governing Board positively influences strategic direction, and resources are appropriately managed, though further leadership capacity and monitoring rigor are recommended. clear visionbest practicesGoverning Board
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Exceeded TIMSS Targets
The school exceeded international averages and met its targets on TIMSS 2023 in both mathematics and science, demonstrating strong academic performance.
Strong Student Ethic
Students consistently demonstrate a strong work ethic and positive attitudes towards learning and the wider school community.
High Safety Standards
School facilities, including laboratories, canteen, and play areas, are maintained to high standards of cleanliness and safety, ensuring a secure learning environment.
Effective Parent Communication
Parents express high levels of satisfaction with the school’s communication, noting its clarity, timeliness, and responsiveness.
Positive Governance Influence
The Governing Board exerts a positive influence on the school’s leadership, effectively supporting its strategic direction and vision.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has remained broadly stable, with some regression in Islamic Education progress in Phase 3. English-medium subjects also show broad stability, with regressions in English achievement in Phase 3 and Mathematics achievement in Phase 4. Learning skills in Phase 3 also regressed.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team demonstrates a clear vision aligned with national priorities and possesses strong knowledge of curriculum and best practices. They maintain effective self-evaluation and improvement planning processes, fostering strong partnerships with parents and the community. The Governing Board provides positive strategic direction, ensuring effective management of staffing, facilities, and resources.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students generally achieve above curriculum standards in Islamic Education, Arabic, English, Mathematics, and Science. While most phases show Good to Very Good attainment and progress, some regressions were noted in specific subjects and phases, particularly in higher-order thinking and writing skills. The school performs strongly in international assessments like TIMSS.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate Very Good personal development, exhibiting positive attitudes, maturity, and respect. Their understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are consistently Good across all phases, with active participation in school activities.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is Very Good in most phases, characterized by secure subject knowledge and effective strategies, though consistency varies in Phase 3. Assessment practices are consistently Very Good across all phases, with coherent internal processes and data analysis effectively used to identify trends and measure student performance.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design, implementation, and adaptation are rated Good across all phases. The curriculum is well-structured, aligned with national expectations, and provides clear progression. While effectively adapted for most learners, there is a need to ensure more consistent support and challenge across all student groups.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection, are Very Good, supported by robust safeguarding procedures, clear policies, and regular staff training. Care and support for students are also Very Good, with strong relationships and effective systems for students with additional learning needs, though provision for gifted and talented students requires further development.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students' attainment and progress to reach consistently Very Good level or better, across all core subjects and phases by developing students’ ability in Phase 3 to interpret Qur’anic verses accurately and apply their meanings effectively in real-life contexts, strengthening students' reading comprehension and writing skills in Arabic as a First Language, developing students’ higher-order reading skills in Phase 3 English, and deepening higher-order mathematical thinking in Phase 4.
- •Improve the quality of teaching, assessment and curriculum in all phases by ensuring that lesson activities meet the needs of all students, reducing excessive teacher talk, consistently applying age-appropriate marking and feedback, ensuring teachers use assessment information effectively to plan lessons, and strengthening the implementation of the curriculum in subjects where students’ attainment is less strong.
- •Meet and exceed international averages and the school’s targets on all international assessments by embedding a consistent curriculum implementation to develop higher-order thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, strengthening the alignment of teaching, learning, and assessment practices with international benchmarks, and ensuring regular practice opportunities for complex reasoning and analytical thinking.
- •Strengthen the effectiveness of leadership and management by strengthening the impact of leadership on teaching and learning, developing further leadership capacity for innovation and improvement, strengthening the capacity of middle leaders to evaluate teaching accurately, enhancing monitoring systems to focus on impact, and strengthening resources including digital provision and dedicated middle leadership at this campus.