AL Ahliah Charity Private School-Branch Al Qadisiya
Executive Summary
AL Ahliah Charity Private School - Branch 2 is a girls' secondary school located in Al Qadisiya, Sharjah, following the Ministry of Education curriculum and serving students in Grades 9 through 12. The school received an overall effectiveness rating of Good in the 2024-2025 inspection cycle, maintaining the same rating as the previous review in 2022-2023, which itself represented an improvement from the Acceptable rating recorded in 2018.
The quality of students' outcomes remains Good across all subjects. Since the previous review, improvements have been noted in students' critical thinking skills and their use of technology to enhance learning. The quality of personal and social development has improved to Very Good overall, while social responsibility and innovation skills remain Good. Teaching and assessment quality is Good, with teachers demonstrating appropriate subject knowledge and employing effective strategies that engage students and create a positive learning environment.
The school's leadership maintains a Good standard, with the new principal and middle leadership team demonstrating a clear vision and strong capacity to drive improvement. The school excels in fostering students' appreciation of Islamic values and UAE heritage and culture, and maintains effective safeguarding procedures. Key areas for development include consistently applying differentiated teaching strategies, strengthening cross-curricular links, and improving the quality and availability of resources and facilities.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
AL Ahliah Charity Private School - Branch 2 (Al Qadisiya) Overall Rating
Good for 2+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 13 students of determination. These students generally achieve expected progress levels, but do not always receive sufficient in-class support to enable them to exceed expectations. Strategies to consistently meet the needs of lower-attaining students and those with special educational needs are less common across most subjects. Students of Determinationdifferentiated support
Students demonstrate very good personal and social development, displaying positive attitudes toward learning and showing self-reliance and responsibility. Relationships between students and staff are respectful and caring, bullying incidents are very rare, and students show appropriate understanding of healthy and safe lifestyles. Attendance is good at 95.1%. positive attitudeshealthy lifestylesattendance 95.1%
Students participate in IBT, PISA, and EmSAT assessments. IBT results for Grade 9 show outstanding attainment in Mathematics and Science, while PISA 2022 results were below national and international averages. Ministry of Education external examination results for Grade 12 were outstanding across subjects, demonstrating strong performance at the end of secondary education. IBTPISAEmSATGrade 12 external exams
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Student Engagement & Collaboration
Students demonstrate high-quality participation, interaction, and collaboration skills in lessons across all year groups, contributing to productive and purposeful learning.
Islamic Values & UAE Culture
Students show deep appreciation for Islamic values and respect for UAE heritage and culture, actively participating in national and Islamic events and winning first place in the Sheikha Latifa Quran competition.
Clear Leadership Vision
School leaders demonstrate a clear strategic direction and appropriate understanding of best teaching and learning practices, with the new principal and middle leadership showing strong capacity to drive improvement.
Improved Critical Thinking
Since the previous review, students have shown improvement in critical thinking skills and use of technology to enhance learning, reflecting the impact of targeted professional development.
Safeguarding & Student Safety
The school maintains accurate records and conducts thorough risk analyses to ensure the safety of all students, with effective and robust child protection procedures well understood by staff, students, and parents.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school operates only at the secondary level (Cycle 3, Grades 9-12). Internal assessment data consistently shows higher ratings than those observed in lessons, indicating a discrepancy between internal grading and actual classroom performance.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The school's leadership, under the new principal Maysaa Al-Qatrawani, maintains a clear and shared strategic vision focused on continuous improvement. Leaders demonstrate appropriate understanding of effective teaching and learning practices and have successfully established a culture of learning. The middle leadership team shows strong capacity to support and develop teachers, though further empowerment of middle leaders to share expertise through co-teaching, modelling, and coaching is identified as a priority.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
The quality of students' outcomes is Good across all subjects in Cycle 3 (Grades 9-12). The majority of student groups achieve better-than-expected progress, and Grade 12 Ministry of Education external examination results are outstanding. However, internal assessment data overstates actual classroom performance, and higher-attaining students are not always sufficiently challenged to reach their full potential.
Personal Development
The quality of personal and social development is Very Good overall, representing an improvement since the previous review. Students display positive attitudes, mutual respect, and strong awareness of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage. Social responsibility and innovation skills are Good, with students participating in community initiatives, though student-led community activities need further development.
Teaching Quality
Teaching and assessment quality is Good overall. Teachers demonstrate appropriate subject knowledge and create positive, engaging learning environments. In the best lessons, probing questions promote dialogue and higher-order thinking. Differentiation strategies to consistently meet the needs of all learner groups, particularly lower-attaining students and those with special educational needs, are less consistently applied.
Protection & Care
The quality of student protection, care, and support is Good. Staff, students, and parents demonstrate full understanding of child protection procedures, and designated safeguarding staff are confident in their responsibilities. The school maintains accurate records and conducts thorough risk analyses. Student wellbeing is prioritised, with effective behaviour management and health awareness programmes organised by the Student Council.
Areas for Development
- •Consistently apply teaching strategies that meet the needs of all students, both as individuals and in groups, including lower-attaining students and those with special educational needs.
- •Strengthen cross-curricular links within the curriculum to enable students to make connections between different areas of learning.
- •Provide adequate resources and improve the quality of facilities to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning and student wellbeing.