Ain Al Khaleej Private School
Executive Summary
Ain Al Khaleej Private School has achieved an overall Good rating in its latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2023-2024 academic year. This marks a significant improvement from its previous Acceptable rating, reflecting the school's commitment to enhancing educational quality.
The school demonstrates strong academic performance, with attainment and progress in Islamic Education and Social Studies sustained at a Good level across all phases. Notably, Arabic as a first language, English, Mathematics, and Science have seen improved attainment and progress to Good in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2, with progress also improving to Good in Cycle 3.
Key strengths include consistent and effective teaching, rigorous health and safety protocols, and a strong partnership with parents. The leadership, supported by governors, has been a powerful driver for these improvements, demonstrating a clear capacity for ongoing development.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Ain Al Khaleej Private School Overall Rating
Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students demonstrate Good attainment and progress in Arabic medium subjects across all phases. English, Mathematics, and Science have seen improved attainment and progress to Good in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2, with progress also Good in Cycle 3. However, attainment in these subjects remains Acceptable in Cycle 3, and external assessment results are weak despite internal data. Arabic medium subjectsEnglishMathematicsScienceGood progress
Students exhibit Good personal development, positive attitudes, and a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. However, Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Acceptable, indicating areas for further development in student initiative and independent work. Personal developmentIslamic valuesEmirati cultureSocial responsibilityinnovation skills
Teaching across the school has improved to Good, characterized by consistent and effective practices that foster positive learning environments. However, Assessment practices remain Acceptable, requiring improvements in the accuracy of internal judgments and differentiation for higher-attaining students. TeachingAssessmentconsistent and effective practices
Curriculum design and implementation are Good, offering a broad range of learning experiences. However, Curriculum adaptation is rated Acceptable, highlighting a need for further development to effectively meet diverse student needs and enhance innovation and entrepreneurship skills. Curriculum designCurriculum implementationCurriculum adaptation
Health and safety arrangements are Good, with rigorous protocols in place. Care and support for students are rated Acceptable, though the school has increased its focus on supporting students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and gifted and talented individuals. Health and safetyCare and supportadditional learning needsstudents of determinationgifted and talented
Overall Leadership and Management have improved to a Good level, with governors and senior leaders effectively driving quality. Governance is particularly strong, rated Very Good, demonstrating a clear capacity for sustained school improvement. Leadership and ManagementGovernorsSenior leadersGovernance
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Academic Performance
Students demonstrate strong achievement in Arabic subjects across all grades, and in English, Mathematics, and Science in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2. Cycle 3 students also show good progress in these subjects.
Positive Personal Development
Students exhibit positive attitudes that enhance learning, coupled with a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture.
Consistent Effective Teaching
Teaching practices are consistently effective, fostering positive and motivating classroom environments where students are encouraged to excel.
Rigorous Health & Safety
The school maintains rigorous health and safety protocols with comprehensive systems to ensure the well-being of all students across all phases.
Strong Parent Partnership
Parents are actively engaged as partners in their children's education, collaborating closely with staff to support students and uphold the school's 'students first' vision.
Strong Leadership for Improvement
Effective leadership from the principal, vice principal, and senior team, supported by governors and high staff morale, significantly drives continuous school improvement.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school provides two curricula (American and MoE). While internal assessments often suggest attainment above curriculum standards, external assessments (MAP, IBT, PISA) show weaker results, particularly in Cycle 3 English, Mathematics, and Science attainment. However, progress in these subjects in Cycle 3 has improved to Good.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership, including the principal, vice principal, and senior team, in collaboration with governors, has effectively driven school improvement initiatives. They foster strong relationships among staff and maintain high morale, which are key to supporting ongoing development.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate good attainment and progress in Arabic medium subjects across all phases. In English, Mathematics, and Science, attainment and progress are good in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2, with progress also good in Cycle 3. However, attainment in these subjects remains acceptable in Cycle 3, and external assessment results are weak, despite internal data suggesting higher attainment.
Personal & Social Development
Students show good personal development, positive attitudes, and a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. However, social responsibility and innovation skills are acceptable, with students not always taking initiative or developing independent work habits in all cycles.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching has improved to a good level across the school, characterized by consistent and effective practices that create positive learning atmospheres. However, assessment practices remain acceptable, with a need to improve the accuracy of internal assessment judgments and differentiation for higher-attaining students.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and implementation are good, providing a broad range of learning experiences. However, curriculum adaptation is acceptable, highlighting a need for further development to effectively meet the diverse needs of all student groups and foster innovation and entrepreneurship skills.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety arrangements are good, with rigorous protocols in place. Care and support for students are acceptable, though the school has increased its focus on supporting students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and gifted and talented individuals.
Areas for Development
- •Improve children's and students’ achievement, teaching, and assessment to become at least very good by: raising attainment in Cycle 3 in English, mathematics and science to at least a good level; ensuring that teachers address key areas within all of the subject areas to move the current good achievement in subjects to a very good level across the school in both the American and MoE sections; ensuring that teachers consistently plan well-differentiated work to meet the needs of the higher-attaining and gifted and talented children and students across the school; ensuring that teachers work to increase the accuracy of all internal assessment judgments, particularly the overall summative judgments; engaging students in well-planned group work to develop their innovation, creative and enterprise skills; providing more opportunities for students to practice extended writing with accurate grammar and spelling in both English and Arabic medium subjects; improving students' results in international assessments.
- •Improve aspects of the leadership to raise the effectiveness to at least very good level by: ensuring middle leaders are fully trained to support teachers in making internal assessments as accurate as possible; ensuring full integration of the school development plan with the school self-evaluation and that fully accurate internal assessment information is used to inform school self-evaluation; reinforcing current processes for identifying and supporting children and students with additional learning needs, ensuring that no students of determination and gifted and talented individuals remain undetected; adapting the curriculum to effectively meet the needs of all groups of students in and out of classrooms and develop their enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship skills; moving ahead with the plans made by the governing body to improve school facilities and resources.