Al Andalus Private Academy
Executive Summary
Al Andalus Private Academy, operating under the MoE (UAE) curriculum, has maintained its overall Very Good rating in the latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2025-2026 academic year. The school demonstrates a consistent commitment to quality education, building on its previous inspection findings from February 2022.
The academy shows particular strengths in Islamic Education and Arabic as a First Language, with many students achieving above curriculum standards and demonstrating strong progress. Early literacy skills in KG are notably strong, and there is a well-structured reading culture across all cycles. Students' personal development is also rated Very Good, reflecting respectful behavior and self-discipline.
While maintaining high standards in many areas, the inspection highlights the need for further development in areas such as consistent differentiation in teaching, precise use of assessment information, and strengthening students' performance in international assessments like TIMSS and PISA. Leadership is effective, but self-evaluation and governance require more precision and systematic monitoring to ensure sustained impact on student outcomes.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Andalus Private Academy Overall Rating
Very Good for 2+ consecutive years
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students consistently demonstrate strong attainment and progress in Islamic Education and Arabic as a First Language, with early literacy skills in KG being particularly strong. While English and Mathematics show good performance in some cycles, there is a need to raise achievement to consistently Very Good or better across all core subjects, particularly in extended writing, problem-solving, and practical science. Islamic EducationArabic as a First Languageearly literacy
Students exhibit very good personal development, characterized by respectful behavior, self-discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility. Their understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, along with social responsibility and innovation skills, are rated as Good, reflecting pride in UAE identity and active participation in community projects. personal developmentIslamic valuesEmirati culturesocial responsibility
Teaching for effective learning is Very Good in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 3, with teachers generally engaging students positively. However, assessment practices are rated Good across all cycles, indicating a need for teachers to use assessment information more precisely to guide support and next steps, and to strengthen differentiation to meet diverse learning needs consistently. differentiationassessment practices
The curriculum is well-structured with meaningful links and integration between subjects. Curriculum adaptation is also Good, with established provision for gifted and talented students. However, more consistent modification is required to better support students of determination and to integrate higher-order thinking skills more systematically across subjects. curriculum adaptationgifted and talented studentsstudents of determination
The school provides a very safe, hygienic, and secure environment, maintaining strong safety systems and a positive safeguarding culture. Care and support for students are Good, reflecting effective systems for monitoring wellbeing, providing academic guidance, and supporting pathways to higher education, though further development in specific areas is noted. health and safetychild protectionsafeguardingcare and support
The effectiveness of leadership, partnerships with parents and the community, and management of staffing, facilities, and resources are rated Very Good, driven by clear strategic direction and strong stakeholder engagement. Self-evaluation, improvement planning, and governance are Good, with a need for greater precision in monitoring impact and more systematic performance management processes. effectiveness of leadershipstakeholder engagementself-evaluationgovernance
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Reading Culture
The school has developed a well-structured reading culture in both Arabic and English, embedded in the School Development Plan and daily practice, promoting fluency, comprehension, and enjoyment.
Safe & Secure Environment
The school provides a very safe, hygienic, and secure environment, supported by systematic risk assessments, regular drills, and effective supervision.
Respect for UAE Culture
Students show strong respect for UAE culture, traditions, and values, which are well integrated into daily school life and curriculum experiences.
Effective Leadership
Leadership and governance teams demonstrate a clear dedication to national priorities and ensure the school's active role within its local community.
Student Cooperation
Students behave and cooperate well, supporting one another to create a productive and positive school environment.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school demonstrates strong performance in Islamic Education and Arabic as a First Language across all cycles. While improvements have been noted in some subjects and cycles, there are areas requiring further development, particularly in UAE Social Studies and Science in Cycle 3, and consistent attainment in English and Mathematics in Cycles 1 and 2.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team demonstrates a clear strategic direction and inclusive ethos, fostering strong engagement with parents and the community. While effective in many operational aspects, there is a recognized need to enhance the precision of self-evaluation, improvement planning, and governance to ensure sustained impact on student outcomes.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students consistently achieve above curriculum standards in Islamic Education and Arabic as a First Language. Strong early literacy skills are evident in KG. However, there is variability in attainment and progress across other core subjects and cycles, with some areas needing to strengthen extended writing, problem-solving, and practical investigation skills.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate very good personal development, exhibiting respectful behavior, self-discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility. Their understanding of Islamic values, Emirati culture, and world cultures, along with social responsibility and innovation skills, are rated as Good, reflecting active participation in community projects and growing appreciation of diversity.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is generally Very Good, particularly in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 3, with positive student engagement. However, assessment practices are consistently Good, indicating a need for teachers to use assessment information more precisely to guide support and next steps in learning, and to ensure greater consistency in differentiating instruction.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is appropriately structured with meaningful links and integration between subjects, rated as Good. Curriculum adaptation is also Good, with established provision for gifted and talented students. However, there is a need for more consistent modification to better support students of determination and to embed higher-order thinking skills more systematically.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, are Very Good across all cycles, maintaining strong safety systems and a positive safeguarding culture. The care and support of students are Good, reflecting effective systems for monitoring wellbeing, providing guidance, and supporting pathways to higher education.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ achievement to consistently Very Good or better across all core subjects and cycles by strengthening extended writing and spoken Arabic and English, increasing challenge in mathematics through inquiry-based tasks, expanding science opportunities for practical investigation, and ensuring higher-attaining students receive consistent stretch.
- •Improve teaching for effective learning, assessment, and curriculum by strengthening differentiation, embedding systematic use of assessment information in planning, improving the quality and consistency of feedback, and expanding the use of technology and inquiry strategies.
- •Improve the effectiveness of school leadership and governance to ensure sustained impact on students’ outcomes by strengthening middle-leadership accountability and the precision of self-evaluation, ensuring improvement plans include measurable success criteria, implementing systematic stakeholder consultation, and enhancing learning spaces and resources.
- •Improve students’ performance in international assessments (TIMSS, PISA, PIRLS) by integrating cognitive domains of international assessments into curriculum planning, providing teachers with targeted professional development on interpreting assessment frameworks, embedding cross-curricular inquiry and real-world problem-solving, and strengthening parental engagement.