Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana, Sharjah
Ministry of Education School in Al Hazana, Sharjah
Last updated
Curriculum
Ministry of Education
SPEA
Acceptable
Location
Sharjah, Al Hazana
Fees
AED 2K - 9K
The Executive Summary
Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana Sharjah is a Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum school serving students from KG1 through Grade 9 in the Al Hazana area of Sharjah. Established in June 2014, the school carries a SPEA rating of Acceptable - a rating it has held since at least its 2019 inspection cycle, signalling that while minimum standards are being met, meaningful improvement has remained elusive. With school fees in Sharjah ranging from approximately AED 5,000 to AED 8,000 annually, Al Bayan sits firmly at the budget end of the private school spectrum, making it one of the more accessible options among Al Hazana schools. For families seeking an Arabic-medium MoE curriculum school at an affordable price point, it serves a genuine community need - particularly for the large Sudanese and Syrian student populations it predominantly serves.
The honest picture, however, is one of a school that has not yet translated its leadership's clear vision into consistently improved classroom outcomes. Student attainment remains Acceptable across all subjects and all phases, and a teacher turnover rate of 50 percent at the time of the 2023 inspection is a serious structural concern that disrupts continuity of learning. The principal, Fatina Mamdouh Al Bitar, has demonstrated capable stewardship under difficult conditions, and there are genuine bright spots - particularly in KG, where improvements in Islamic Education, Arabic, and English were noted by inspectors. This is a school that suits budget-conscious families who prioritise an Arabic-medium MoE environment and proximity to Al Hazana, but parents seeking strong academic outcomes or a stable teaching workforce should look carefully before committing.
MoE Arabic-Medium CurriculumBudget-Friendly FeesKG to Grade 9SPEA Acceptable Rating
“The school is close to home and the fees are manageable for our family. The principal seems to care, but we do notice that teachers change quite often which affects the children.”
— Grade 4 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana follows the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum, delivered entirely in Arabic as the primary medium of instruction. The school covers the full MoE framework across Islamic Education, Arabic Language (as a first language), Social Studies, English Language, Mathematics, Science, and a suite of specialist subjects including Art, Music, Physical Education, and Computing and Creative Design and Innovation (CCDI). The school operates from KG1 through to Grade 9, meaning families will need to plan for a secondary school transition at Grade 10.
In terms of academic outcomes, the SPEA inspection found that student attainment is Acceptable across all subjects and all phases - from KG through to the intermediate cycle. This is a consistent finding: no subject area or phase achieved a Good or above rating during the observed lessons and student work samples. A recurring and concerning pattern identified by inspectors is the significant gap between internal assessment data - which frequently showed Outstanding or Very Good levels - and what was actually observed in classrooms. Inspectors noted that internal data for Islamic Education, Arabic, Mathematics, and Science all indicated Outstanding attainment, yet classroom observations and student work reflected only Acceptable performance. This discrepancy raises questions about the robustness of the school's internal assessment processes.
External benchmark data reinforces the concern. Results from the International Benchmarking Test (IBT) were described as weak in Arabic and English for Cycles 1 and 2, and weak in Science for both cycles as well. Mathematics IBT results were broadly Acceptable. The school also participates in TIMSS and PIRLS international assessments, which provide further external reference points, though detailed results were not published in the inspection report. There is no sixth form or post-Grade 9 provision, so university destinations are not applicable for this school.
In English language specifically, inspectors noted that KG students typically arrive with very limited English skills and make acceptable progress in building vocabulary and phonics. However, reading fluency, extended writing, and confident spoken English remain underdeveloped across all cycles. In Mathematics, students in Cycles 1 and 2 demonstrate adequate understanding of fractions, geometry, and algebra, but struggle with word problems and logical reasoning - particularly in Cycle 2. Science practical skills and independent investigation are identified as areas requiring development. The school's approach to learning skills is traditional and worksheet-heavy, with limited use of digital technology in lessons and insufficient opportunities for student-led inquiry and critical thinking.
Acceptable
Student Attainment - All Subjects, All Phases
SPEA 2023 inspection finding
Weak
IBT External Results - Arabic & English (Cycles 1 & 2)
International Benchmarking Test outcomes
KG1-Grade 9
School Age Range
No secondary beyond Grade 9
MoE
Curriculum Framework
Arabic-medium, Ministry of Education
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
The SPEA inspection report and the school's own website provide very limited detail on extracurricular provision at Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana. The school website's student life page returned a 404 error at the time of this review, meaning no structured ECA programme is publicly documented. From what can be gleaned from the inspection report, the school offers Physical Education as part of the timetabled curriculum, with students participating enthusiastically in a limited range of sports including basketball. Inspectors noted that students show enthusiasm and competitive spirit in PE lessons, though opportunities to play a wide range of sports and develop coordination skills are described as limited.
In the arts, students participate in Music lessons where they sing a range of songs with musical harmony and play various instruments, demonstrating acceptable skills in rhythm, notation, and melody. Art classes develop basic technical skills such as pencil control and brushwork, though the range of media explored is narrow. The school's Computing and Creative Design and Innovation (CCDI) subject introduces students to programming concepts - by Grade 5, students can use simulation software to build electronic circuits - but the application of these digital skills across other subject areas is described as limited.
There is no publicly available information on after-school clubs, competitive sports teams, performing arts productions, enrichment trips, community service programmes, or any equivalents of Duke of Edinburgh or Model UN. For families who place significant value on a rich extracurricular life, this is a meaningful gap. The school's low fee point partly explains the limited ECA infrastructure, but parents should set their expectations accordingly and explore supplementary activities outside of school.
Limited
Documented ECA Programme
No public ECA listing available; student life page unavailable
PE with Competitive SpiritMusic and Instrument PlayingCCDI Computing ProgrammeArt and Creative Skills
Pastoral Care & Well-being
The SPEA inspection recorded a notable improvement in the quality of student health, safety, and child protection measures since the previous 2019 inspection, with this area now rated Good - one of the few areas to exceed the school's overall Acceptable rating. This is a meaningful development and reflects deliberate effort by the school leadership to strengthen safeguarding frameworks. The physical learning environment is described as being maintained in appropriate condition, and inspectors noted that the environment facilitates the inclusion of all student groups.
Student personal and social development is rated Good overall, with students demonstrating positive attitudes towards learning, respect for Islamic values and UAE cultural traditions, and an improving sense of social responsibility - the latter having risen from its previous rating to Good since the 2019 review. Students in KG, for example, demonstrate understanding of Islamic values such as compassion for animals, and across all phases students make meaningful connections between their learning and UAE society and culture.
However, student support and care provision remains Acceptable, indicating that while basic welfare needs are being met, the depth of counselling, learning support, and differentiated pastoral intervention is not yet at the level parents of students with additional needs would hope for. The school has 12 students of determination (as per the SPEA quick facts), and the inspection report notes that the learning environment supports inclusion of all groups. There is no publicly available information about a formal house system, student council, or structured student leadership programme. The school does not appear to have a dedicated guidance counsellor listed in the SPEA quick facts, which is a gap worth noting for families with children who may need additional emotional or academic support.
“The teachers know the children by name and the school feels safe. We appreciate that they take Islamic values seriously and the children learn good manners here.”
— KG2 Mother(representative)Campus & Facilities
Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana is located in the Al Hazana district of Sharjah, a residential neighbourhood situated in the eastern part of the emirate. The school was established in June 2014 and is assigned SPEA school number 204. The campus serves a community of approximately 697 students across KG1 to Grade 9, with the school contact reachable at 065656596.
Detailed campus specifications - including total floor area, number of classrooms, or specific facility counts - are not publicly documented on the school's website, which has several broken pages at the time of this review. From the SPEA inspection report, the facilities are described as being maintained in appropriate condition, and the learning environment is noted as facilitating the inclusion of all student groups. This suggests a functional but not expansive campus.
The inspection report references science laboratories (with Cycle 2 students conducting practical work), computing facilities (students use simulation software and programming tools in CCDI lessons), music rooms (students play instruments), and art studios where basic art media are used. Physical education takes place on what appears to be a sports area, though the range of sports is described as limited. There is no publicly available information about a library, auditorium, swimming pool, or dedicated maker space. Technology infrastructure appears modest - digital devices are used in some lessons but not consistently across the school, and the inspection specifically noted that student use of digital technology in lessons is not consistent.
For a school in the AED 5,000 to AED 8,000 fee bracket, the facilities appear adequate for delivering the MoE curriculum, but families accustomed to more comprehensively equipped campuses at higher fee schools should calibrate their expectations. The Al Hazana location offers reasonable access for families living in the surrounding residential communities of eastern Sharjah.
2014
Year Established
School ID 204, SPEA registered
697
Total Students Enrolled
KG1 through Grade 9
Al Hazana LocationScience Lab AccessCCDI Computing RoomsMusic Instrument FacilitiesArt Studios Available
Teaching & Learning Quality
Teaching quality at Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana is one of the most pressing concerns identified in the SPEA inspection. The overall quality of teaching and assessment was rated Acceptable, with inspectors observing 173 lessons across four days - 15 of which were conducted jointly with school leadership. The picture that emerges is of a teaching workforce that is managing the basics but has not yet developed the pedagogical depth to consistently challenge and stretch students.
The most significant structural challenge is the school's teacher turnover rate of 50 percent at the time of the 2023 inspection. This is an extremely high figure and represents a fundamental barrier to improving teaching quality - continuity of relationships, institutional knowledge of individual students, and coherent curriculum delivery are all compromised when half the teaching staff changes each year. The principal and her deputy are credited by inspectors with managing this challenge appropriately, but the impact on students is unavoidable.
The school employs 48 teachers and 2 teaching assistants for a student body of 697, giving a teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:14 - a reasonable ratio for class sizes. The majority of teachers are Egyptian nationals. No data is available on the percentage of staff holding postgraduate qualifications.
Inspectors identified several specific weaknesses in teaching practice. Teaching strategies do not consistently meet the diverse learning needs of students. Formative and summative assessment is not used effectively enough to inform lesson planning and differentiation. In many lessons, students rely heavily on worksheets and textbook activities rather than engaging in inquiry-based or discovery learning. Critical thinking, research skills, and independent investigation are underdeveloped across all phases. The use of digital technology in teaching is inconsistent. On the positive side, inspectors noted that KG provision has improved, and teachers in that phase are delivering more effective early years practice. Professional development culture and structures are not described in detail in the available inspection data.
50%
Teacher Turnover Rate
Recorded at 2023 SPEA inspection - extremely high
1:14
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
48 teachers for 697 students
173
Lessons Observed by SPEA Inspectors
Over 4-day inspection, 15 joint with leadership
Leadership & Management
The school is led by Principal Fatina Mamdouh Al Bitar, who was relatively recently appointed at the time of the 2023 SPEA inspection. Despite her short tenure, inspectors noted that she has established a clear vision and good strategic direction for the school. She and her deputy work collaboratively as a team and have handled the school's significant staff turnover challenge with appropriate management. This is a meaningful endorsement from SPEA inspectors and suggests that the school's leadership is a genuine strength in an otherwise challenging context.
The school operates under the governance of a board of trustees, chaired by Sheikh Faisal Al Qasimi, which provides the school with a governance structure appropriate to its status as a private institution in Sharjah. The school is registered with SPEA as school number 204 and is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education.
However, the inspection also identified that the roles and responsibilities of the newly appointed senior and middle leadership teams lack sufficient clarity - a finding that is understandable given recent appointments but which needs to be addressed to drive school improvement effectively. Self-evaluation processes and development planning are in place but have not yet produced the consistent improvement in outcomes that the school requires. Parent communication channels are not described in detail in the available data, and the school's website has significant technical issues with multiple broken pages, which limits the school's digital transparency with families. The overall quality of leadership and management is rated Acceptable by SPEA, reflecting a leadership team with genuine capability that has not yet had sufficient time or stability to translate its vision into measurably improved outcomes.
SPEA Inspection Results (Decoded)
The most recent publicly available SPEA inspection of Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana was conducted in February 2023 by a team of six inspectors. The school's overall effectiveness rating is Acceptable - the same rating awarded in the previous inspection cycle of 2019. This means the school has held the same rating for at least two consecutive inspection cycles, indicating that while it is not deteriorating, it is also not achieving the improvement trajectory that SPEA and parents would hope to see.
The inspection framework assessed six performance standards across 17 indicators. The breakdown by standard reveals a nuanced picture. Student attainment and progress are Acceptable across all phases and subjects. Student personal and social development is rated Good, as is students' understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture. Social responsibility has improved to Good since 2019. Health, safety, and child protection have also improved to Good - a meaningful step forward. Teaching and assessment quality remains Acceptable. Curriculum design and implementation is Acceptable. Student care and support is Acceptable. Leadership and management overall is Acceptable, though the principal's leadership is specifically highlighted as a strength.
A critical recurring finding is the disconnect between internal school data and observed reality. Across multiple subjects, the school's own assessment data claimed Outstanding or Very Good performance, but inspectors observed only Acceptable attainment in lessons and student work. This is a credibility issue for the school's self-evaluation processes and must be addressed for genuine improvement to occur. The strategic recommendations from SPEA focus on raising student achievement to at least Good across all cycles, improving the alignment of teaching strategies to student learning needs, using formative and summative assessment more effectively, and clarifying the roles of the recently restructured leadership team.
Improved Safeguarding and Child Protection
Health, safety, and child protection measures have improved to Good since the 2019 inspection, reflecting deliberate leadership effort to strengthen student welfare frameworks.
Strong Personal and Social Development
Student personal and social development is rated Good, with students demonstrating positive attitudes, respect for Islamic values, UAE cultural awareness, and an improving sense of social responsibility.
Principal's Leadership Under Pressure
Despite a 50 percent teacher turnover rate, the principal has maintained educational service standards and established a clear strategic vision in a short period of tenure - recognised by inspectors as a genuine strength.
Student Attainment Must Reach Good
SPEA's primary recommendation is that student achievement must improve to at least Good across all cycles and subjects. The current Acceptable rating across the board, combined with weak IBT external results, represents the school's most urgent improvement priority.
Assessment and Teaching Strategies Need Strengthening
Teaching strategies must better meet individual student learning needs, and both formative and summative assessment must be used more effectively to drive progress. The gap between inflated internal data and observed outcomes must be closed through more rigorous self-evaluation.
Inspection History
2018-2019
Acceptable
2022-2023
Acceptable
2024-2025
Acceptable
Fees & Value for Money
Al Bayan National School – Branch Al Hazana offers a structured fee schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year, covering students from KG1 through Grade 9 (both General and Advanced tracks). The fees listed represent the total school fees inclusive of tuition and books, providing families with a transparent all-in cost for core academic provision. A separate uniform cost is also clearly defined for each year group.
JOD 5,255
Annual Fees From
JOD 8,936
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG1
JOD 5,255KG2
JOD 5,276Grade 1
JOD 6,729Grade 2
JOD 6,769Grade 3
JOD 6,769Grade 4
JOD 7,837Grade 5
JOD 7,827Grade 6
JOD 7,822Grade 7
JOD 8,835Grade 8
JOD 8,835Grade 9 (General)
JOD 8,931Grade 9 (Advanced)
JOD 8,936Fees are tiered by stage, starting at JOD 5,255 for KG1 and rising to JOD 8,936 for Grade 9 Advanced, reflecting the increasing complexity and resources required at higher year levels. The uniform fee is JOD 252 for KG through Grade 8, and JOD 200 for Grade 9 students. This transparent pricing structure allows families to plan ahead with confidence across all stages of their child's education.
As a national school operating under Jordanian curriculum standards and regulated by SPEA, Al Bayan National School – Branch Al Hazana offers competitive fees relative to the breadth of academic provision available. Families should note that the fees quoted cover tuition and books as a combined figure, and the uniform is listed as an additional cost.
Additional Costs
Uniform (KG1–Grade 8)252(annual)
Uniform (Grade 9)200(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
Al Bayan National School - Branch Al Hazana occupies a specific and honest niche in the Sharjah education landscape: it is an Arabic-medium MoE curriculum school at a genuinely accessible price point, serving a predominantly Arab expatriate community in eastern Sharjah. Its SPEA Acceptable rating - held across two consecutive inspection cycles - tells a story of a school that meets minimum standards but has not yet found the formula for sustained improvement. The principal's leadership is a genuine asset, and the improvements in safeguarding and student social development are real and meaningful. But the 50 percent teacher turnover rate and the persistent gap between internal assessment claims and actual classroom outcomes are structural problems that cannot be wished away.
For the right family, this school makes sense. For others, it will not. Parents should go in with clear eyes: this is a school where active parental involvement, supplementary tutoring, and realistic expectations about academic outcomes are not optional extras - they are necessities. The low fee point does reflect the level of provision, and families who can stretch their budget to a school with a Good or Very Good SPEA rating are likely to see better academic returns. That said, for families for whom Arabic-medium MoE instruction, proximity to Al Hazana, and affordable school fees in Sharjah are the primary criteria, Al Bayan serves a genuine purpose in the community.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Families seeking an Arabic-medium MoE curriculum school in Al Hazana at a budget-friendly fee of AED 5,000 to AED 8,000, particularly those from Arab expatriate backgrounds who prioritise cultural and linguistic alignment and are prepared to supplement the school's provision with home support.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families who prioritise strong, externally validated academic outcomes, a stable teaching workforce, or a rich extracurricular programme - or those who expect the school's provision alone to prepare students for competitive secondary school admissions without additional tutoring support.
“
For the price we pay, we understand this is not a premium school. But we wish the teachers would stay longer - every year there are new faces and the children have to start over building trust.
— Grade 7 Parent
Strengths
- Among the most affordable MoE private schools in Sharjah at AED 5,000 to AED 8,000
- Arabic-medium instruction ideal for Arab expatriate families
- Safeguarding and child protection improved to Good rating
- Student personal and social development rated Good by SPEA
- Principal provides clear vision and capable leadership under difficult conditions
- Reasonable teacher-to-student ratio of 1:14
- Conveniently located in Al Hazana for eastern Sharjah families
Areas for Improvement
- 50 percent teacher turnover rate severely disrupts learning continuity
- Student attainment Acceptable across all subjects and phases - no subject rated Good or above
- IBT external benchmark results weak in Arabic, English, and Science
- Significant gap between inflated internal assessment data and observed classroom outcomes
- Limited extracurricular provision with no publicly documented ECA programme