Ajyal International School - Falah
Executive Summary
Ajyal International School - Falah, an American curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, has received a Good overall rating in its latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2023-2024 academic year. The school, established in 2016, serves a large student body and is known for its commitment to a well-rounded education.
While the school maintains a Good overall rating, the inspection noted a decline in Students' Achievement and Teaching Quality since the previous inspection. Attainment and progress in many English medium subjects have regressed, though Arabic medium subjects generally maintained their good performance, with some improvement in Arabic attainment in the high phase.
Key strengths include rigorous safeguarding policies, strong parent relationships, and effective support from the Board of Trustees. However, the report highlights the need for improved leadership impact, enhanced teaching strategies for differentiation, and better support for students with additional learning needs, particularly given an influx of new students.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Ajyal International School - Falah Overall Rating
Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Attainment and progress have generally declined in English medium subjects across most phases, with mathematics and science showing significant regression. Arabic medium subjects, including Islamic Education and Arabic as a first language, have maintained good progress, with some attainment improvement in high phase Arabic. decline in attainmentregression in English medium subjectsgood progress in Arabic medium subjects
Students demonstrate good personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and social responsibility. However, care and support systems have regressed, impacting attendance, punctuality, and behavior, and the identification and provision for students of determination are less rigorous. good personal developmentregressed care and supportattendance and punctuality issues
Teaching quality has regressed to good, directly impacting overall achievement. While assessment data is collected, its accurate analysis and use for personalized learning and differentiation are inconsistent, particularly for students with additional learning needs. regressed teaching qualityinconsistent data analysisdifferentiation
The American curriculum is well-designed and implemented, with good adaptation across all phases. The school integrates UAE culture, national identity, and Islamic values effectively, and has mapped international assessment targets into the curriculum. American curriculumgood adaptationUAE culture and national identity
Health and safety arrangements, including child protection and safeguarding, are very good. However, overall care and support have regressed to good due to less effective systems for attendance, punctuality, and behavior management, and insufficient rigor in identifying and supporting students of determination. Very Good health and safetyregressed care and supportstudents of determination
The effectiveness of leadership has declined to good, primarily due to the regression in student achievement. While the principal and SLT provide clear direction, leadership failed to adequately address emerging achievement issues, and self-evaluation judgments were inaccurate with limited middle leader input. declined leadership effectivenessinaccurate self-evaluationlimited middle leader input
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Rigorous Safeguarding
The school maintains rigorous safeguarding policies and provides a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
Strong Parent Relationships
Well-established relationships with parents enhance students’ respect for Islamic values and the UAE identity, culture, and society.
Board Support & Oversight
The Board of Trustees provides strong support for the school's expansion and ensures accountability through regular monitoring and KPIs.
Effective Operations & Resources
Day-to-day operations are managed smoothly, supported by pleasant facilities, a range of resources, and qualified staff that promote effective teaching and learning.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall achievement has declined from Very Good to Good since the previous inspection, with significant regression in attainment and progress across most English medium subjects.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
While the principal and senior leadership team (SLT) set a clear direction, leadership failed to adequately understand and act on emerging achievement issues. Self-evaluation processes were inaccurate, and middle leaders lacked sufficient involvement and capacity to fully support the school's improvement vision.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Attainment and progress have declined in English medium subjects across most phases, with mathematics and science showing significant regression. While Arabic medium subjects maintained good progress, the school's internal data often does not align with observed knowledge and skills in lessons, and progress for students of determination and G&T is inconsistent.
Personal & Social Development
Students generally demonstrate good personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and social responsibility. However, the effectiveness of care and support systems has declined, leading to issues with attendance, punctuality, and behavior incidents.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching quality has regressed, directly impacting overall achievement. While teachers incorporate international assessment strategies and vocabulary development, there is a need for improved differentiation, more effective use of digital technology for personalized learning, and consistent analysis of assessment data to provide targeted challenge and feedback.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The American curriculum is well-designed and implemented, with good adaptation across all phases to promote UAE culture, national identity, and Islamic values. The school has integrated international assessment targets into the curriculum and provides professional development for teachers on relevant strategies.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety arrangements, including child protection and safeguarding, are very good. However, the overall care and support for students have regressed, with systems no longer as effective for managing attendance and punctuality. The identification and provision for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination, are not as rigorous as expected.
Areas for Development
- •Raise standards of achievement in all subjects to at least Very Good by extending good practice in reading Arabic, reviewing phonics teaching, encouraging extended writing skills, enhancing English speaking skills, improving Islamic Education recitation, deepening social studies discussions, extending problem-solving skills in mathematics, improving inquiry skills in science, and ensuring students are more self-reliant and punctual.
- •Embed strategies for effective teaching, learning and support for groups, to accelerate students’ progress in lessons to Very Good by providing professional development on differentiation, improving the effectiveness of digital technology, ensuring accurate analysis of assessment data for personalized challenge, and consistently using support plans like IEPs and ALPs.
- •Improve the impact of school leadership to a Very Good level by providing high-quality professional development and support for middle leaders, empowering them in self-evaluation and development plans, and revising the teacher observation process for consistency and accurate judgments aligned with the American curriculum.