ADNOC School - Ruwais
Executive Summary
ADNOC School - Ruwais has maintained its overall Good rating in the 2024-2025 ADEK inspection. Since the previous inspection in 2022, the school has demonstrated significant improvements in students' achievement, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects in the lower phases, and in English-medium subjects across various phases. The school's commitment to an inclusive environment and strong leadership has laid a firm foundation for future development.
Key strengths include improved student achievement in most subjects in phases 1 and 2, a secure understanding of Islamic values and national identity, and active participation in community activities. Teaching quality has improved significantly in the early phases, with effective lesson planning and assessment practices. The American curriculum is well-structured, flexible, and adapted to meet student needs, offering a wide range of choices in higher phases.
The school demonstrates rigorous safeguarding procedures and effective support systems for student well-being, including timely identification and support for students with additional needs. Leadership at all levels, supported by strong governance and owner oversight, has successfully established a highly inclusive school with a clear strategic direction, leading to improvements across many aspects of the school's operations.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
ADNOC School - Ruwais Overall Rating
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 has improved across most subject areas in phases 1 and 2, with significant gains in Arabic-medium subjects and consistent progress in English-medium subjects. Learning skills have also seen notable improvement in the lower phases due to increased student responsibility and development of inquiry and critical thinking skills. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectslearning skills
Students demonstrate a secure understanding of Islamic values and express pride in their UAE national identity, which is a significant strength. They participate actively in community and volunteer activities, showing strong social responsibility and innovation skills across all phases. Attitudes and behavior are very positive, though attendance and punctuality require attention. Islamic valuesUAE national identitysocial responsibilityinnovation skills
Teaching quality has improved to Very Good in phases 1 and 2, with teachers planning engaging lessons and effectively using resources. Assessment practices are coherent, utilizing MAP data to identify learning gaps, and assessment for learning is very effective in Phase 1. However, inquiry-based learning is not yet fully established in upper phases. engaging lessonsMAP dataassessment for learning
The curriculum design and implementation are Very Good, offering a well-structured, flexible, and inclusive program aligned with national priorities. Curriculum adaptation is Good, meeting the needs of almost all students and providing a wide range of choices in higher phases. Innovative practices in lessons are developing, particularly in higher phases. well-structuredflexibleinclusive curriculumnational priorities
The school maintains Very Good health and safety standards with effective safeguarding systems and protocols. Care and support for students are Very Good, characterized by strong staff-student relations and effective identification and support for students with additional needs, including students of determination. safeguardinghealth and safetycare and supportadditional needs
Leadership and management are Good overall, with effective leadership and self-evaluation. The principal has implemented new policies, showing strong evidence of improvement in phases 1 and 2. Partnership with parents, governance, management, staffing, and resources have all improved to Very Good, demonstrating a strong capacity for further school improvement. effective leadershipself-evaluationpartnership with parentsgovernance
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Achievement
Students' achievement has significantly improved across most subjects in the early phases (1 and 2), particularly in Arabic-medium subjects.
Strong Values & Identity
Students demonstrate a secure understanding of Islamic values, pride in UAE national identity, and active participation in community service.
Effective Teaching
Teachers, especially in Phase 1, plan engaging lessons and utilize time and resources effectively to promote student interaction and interest.
Inclusive Curriculum
The curriculum is well-planned, regularly reviewed, and offers a wide range of options that effectively meet the diverse needs of all students.
Robust Safeguarding
The school implements rigorous safeguarding procedures and effective support systems to ensure student safety, well-being, and timely identification of additional needs.
Strong Leadership
Leaders at all levels have successfully established a highly inclusive school with a clear strategic direction, leading to widespread improvements.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall, students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has remained Good, with significant improvement in phases 1 and 2. Achievement in English-medium subjects has remained Good overall, with improvements in attainment and progress in lower phases. However, standardized assessments (MAP, PISA, TIMSS) show attainment below international averages in English, Mathematics, and Science in higher phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, under a new principal, demonstrates a strong commitment to UAE priorities and inclusivity, with a focus on student wellbeing. They have successfully established a clear strategic direction, leading to significant improvements, particularly in the lower phases. Strong oversight from ADNOC, the owner, provides critical support and accountability.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students' achievement has improved across most subjects in phases 1 and 2, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects and learning skills. While internal assessments show strong attainment, standardized and international assessments indicate areas for development in English, Mathematics, and Science in higher phases.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate very positive attitudes and behavior, a strong understanding of Islamic values, and pride in Emirati and world cultures. They show strong social responsibility and innovation skills, actively participating in community and volunteer activities, though attendance and punctuality need improvement.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching quality has improved significantly in phases 1 and 2, with teachers planning engaging lessons and effectively using resources. Assessment practices are coherent, with effective use of MAP data and assessment for learning in early phases. However, inquiry-based learning is not fully embedded in upper phases.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is well-structured, flexible, and inclusive, aligning with national priorities and meeting student needs. Curriculum adaptation is effective, offering a wide range of choices in higher phases. However, innovative practices in lessons, especially in higher phases, are still at a developmental level.
Protection, Care & Support
The school maintains effective systems for safeguarding students, with well-planned health and safety protocols. Care and support for students are very strong, characterized by positive staff-student relations and effective identification and support for students with additional needs, including students of determination.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ achievement level in all core subjects and phases by improving reading and writing fluency, strengthening understanding of language structures and grammar, deepening conceptual understanding, expanding vocabulary, and developing problem-solving and inquiry skills.
- •Improve aspects of teaching, assessment, and curriculum by enhancing the use of digital tools, integrating innovation and enterprise activities, refining assessment practices to include higher-order thinking questions, and embedding innovative, cross-curricular approaches.
- •Improve the impact of school leadership further by ensuring the Self-Evaluation Form is analytical and linked to the School Development Plan, strengthening monitoring of teaching and learning, and enhancing collaborative processes between campuses.
- •Raise achievement in international assessments (TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS) by aligning daily teaching and curriculum planning with assessment frameworks, embedding systematic use of sample items, strengthening teacher capacity through professional development, and developing a clear PIRLS-focused plan.