AL Ahliah Private School-Branch Al Yarmouk
Executive Summary
Al Ahliah Private School - Branch Al Yarmouk is a Ministry of Education curriculum school located in Al Yarmouk, Sharjah, established in 1982. The school serves students from KG through Cycle 2 (Grade 5) and was rated Good in the 2024-2025 inspection cycle, representing an improvement from its previous rating of Acceptable in January 2024.
The school's improvement is attributed to clear leadership vision and strategic direction at all levels. The impact of teacher training on classroom practice, improved teaching quality, and better use of assessment data have enabled the majority of students to achieve Good progress across most subjects. Student achievement is Good in Islamic Education, Arabic, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Other Subjects, while Science remains at Acceptable. English attainment is Acceptable in KG and Cycle 1 but Good in Cycle 2.
Students demonstrate positive attitudes toward learning, good behaviour, and a strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture. The curriculum is broad and balanced, meeting MoE requirements, though it is not always sufficiently adapted to meet the varying needs and abilities of all student groups. The quality of student protection, care, and support is rated Good, and the Board of Trustees provides good support to the school's efforts.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Ahliah Private School - Branch Al Yarmouk Overall Rating
Good
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 8 students of determination. Students of determination in art classes progress more slowly than their peers. The school provides some differentiated activities but does not consistently meet the needs of all student groups, particularly higher-attaining students and those with special educational needs. Students of DeterminationDifferentiation
Student attendance is 97%, which is Very Good and has improved since the previous review. Students demonstrate good understanding of healthy lifestyles and participate regularly in physical activities. Students lead initiatives such as 'Heart Day' and 'Diabetes Day' to raise health awareness, though a minority of students still consume unhealthy snacks. 97% AttendanceHealthy LifestylesStudent Wellbeing
IBT results for Grades 3-5 in English and Mathematics are below national expectations, while TIMSS results for Grade 4 align with national averages. Arabic language results from the Mubakkir and Tala' assessments show attainment significantly above national expectations. The school uses international benchmark data increasingly to inform development planning. TIMSSIBTPIRLSMubakkirTala'
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Overall Rating Improved
The school improved its overall effectiveness rating from Acceptable (January 2024) to Good (February 2025), reflecting meaningful progress across most performance standards.
Strong Arabic Performance
Students' Arabic language results in the Mubakkir and Tala' external assessments significantly exceed national expectations across KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2.
Positive Student Attitudes
Students across all phases demonstrate consistently positive and responsible attitudes toward learning, good behaviour, and strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage.
Effective Leadership Vision
Senior leadership demonstrates a clear vision and strategic direction, holding most staff accountable for student outcomes and supporting teachers' professional development effectively.
Student Safety & Care
The school maintains a strong commitment to student protection, health, and safety. Safeguarding arrangements are well established and the learning environment is safe and nurturing.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is rated Good in the 2024-2025 inspection, an improvement from Acceptable in 2023-2024. Arabic external assessment results (Mubakkir and Tala') significantly exceed national expectations, while IBT results in English and Mathematics remain below national averages.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Under the principal Ms. Wissam Hamad, the school has achieved a meaningful improvement from Acceptable to Good since the previous review. Senior leaders maintain a clear vision and strategic focus, supporting teachers through professional development and holding staff accountable for student outcomes. The leadership team is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive learning environment that promotes both academic progress and personal development for all students.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is rated Good, representing an improvement from the previous Acceptable rating. Achievement is Good in Islamic Education, Arabic, Social Studies, Mathematics, English (Cycle 2), and Other Subjects, while Science remains Acceptable. Arabic external assessment results significantly exceed national expectations, though IBT results in English and Mathematics are below national averages. Learning skills are rated Good across all phases.
Personal Development
The quality of students' personal, social development and innovation skills is rated Good. Students demonstrate consistently positive and responsible attitudes toward learning, good behaviour, and self-discipline. Attendance has improved to 97%. Students show strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage, and participate actively in community and environmental initiatives.
Teaching Quality
The quality of teaching and assessment is rated Good overall. Most teachers apply their subject knowledge consistently and understand how students learn, providing welcoming and stimulating learning environments. Assessment data is used more effectively to plan differentiated instruction, though higher-attaining students do not always receive sufficient challenge. Questioning techniques need further development to promote deeper thinking.
Protection & Care
The quality of student protection, care, guidance and support is rated Good. The school maintains robust safeguarding arrangements and a safe, nurturing environment. Students feel safe and secure, and bullying incidents are rare. The school promotes healthy lifestyles through physical education and student-led health awareness initiatives, though a minority of students still consume unhealthy snacks.
Areas for Development
- •Raise the quality of student achievement to at least Very Good in all subjects across all phases.
- •Develop teachers' skills and use of assessment results to support all students in achieving the best possible rates of academic progress.
- •Align the curriculum to better meet the needs and abilities of different student groups, including higher-attaining and gifted and talented students.
- •Strengthen the role of middle leaders in supporting teachers and increasing their impact on raising the quality of student achievement.