Al Dhafra Private Schools - MBZ
Executive Summary
Al Dhafra Private Schools - MBZ has maintained its Very Good overall rating in the latest ADEK inspection for the 2024-2025 academic year. The school follows an American curriculum, which emphasizes critical thinking and prepares students for a range of international assessments.
Key strengths include strong performance in Advanced Placement examinations and high achievement levels in KG core curriculum subjects. Students demonstrate a clear appreciation for Islamic values and an awareness of Emirati culture, supported by a well-developed curriculum with strong cross-curricular links that promote UAE national identity.
The school's health and safety protocols are rigorous and remain Outstanding, a strong feature of the school's provision. Leadership is effective, characterized by a clear vision and direction, ensuring a positive and supportive learning environment.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Dhafra Private Schools - MBZ 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 demonstrate strong performance in AP exams and KG core subjects. While internal data often shows attainment above curriculum standards, external assessments like MAP and PISA indicate areas for improvement in English, Mathematics, and Science. Progress is generally better than expected across phases, though inconsistencies exist for lower attainers and students of determination. Advanced Placement examinationsKG core curriculum subjects
Students exhibit positive attitudes towards learning, increasing self-confidence, and self-reliance. They are polite, respectful, and actively contribute to school life, with a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. Attendance is very good at 97%. Islamic valuesEmirati culture97% attendance
Teaching remains Very Good across most phases, with effective assessment practices consistently rated Very Good. However, inconsistencies in teaching strategies and opportunities for independent learning in the middle phase have led to a regression in teaching quality in that phase. effective assessment practicesinconsistent teaching strategies
Curriculum design, implementation, and adaptation are consistently Very Good across all phases. The curriculum in core subjects is well-developed, effectively aligned, and incorporates clear cross-curricular links that promote UAE national identity. well-developed curriculumcross-curricular linksUAE national identity
The school provides outstanding health and safety protocols, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements. Care and support for students are also outstanding, reflecting a strong commitment to student wellbeing and provision for students of determination. health and safety protocolschild protectionsafeguardingstudent wellbeing
Leadership is effective, characterized by a clear vision and direction, maintaining a Very Good rating across all indicators. The school continues to work on improving internal evaluation processes and stakeholder engagement to enhance overall performance. effective leadershipclear visioninternal evaluation processesstakeholder engagement
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong AP Performance
Students demonstrate strong performance in Advanced Placement examinations, showcasing high academic capabilities.
KG Core Subject Achievement
Achievement levels of students in Kindergarten across core curriculum subjects are a significant strength of the school.
Cultural Understanding
Students show a clear appreciation and understanding of Islamic values, as well as an awareness of Emirati culture.
Curriculum Alignment
The curriculum in core subjects is well-developed and effectively aligned, incorporating clear cross-curricular links that promote UAE national identity.
Outstanding Safeguarding
Protocols and arrangements for health and safety across all educational phases are rigorous and rated Outstanding.
Effective Leadership
The principal exhibits effective leadership, characterized by a clear vision and direction for the school's continuous improvement.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' learning skills remain Very Good across Primary, Secondary, and High School phases, but have regressed to Good in the Middle phase.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The principal exhibits effective leadership, characterized by a clear vision and direction for the school. The leadership team maintains a Very Good performance across all indicators, focusing on continuous improvement of internal evaluation processes and stakeholder engagement to enhance overall school performance.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate strong performance in Advanced Placement examinations and KG core subjects. While internal data often shows attainment above curriculum standards, external assessments like MAP and PISA indicate areas for improvement in English, Mathematics, and Science. Progress is generally better than expected across phases, though inconsistencies exist for lower attainers and students of determination.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit positive attitudes towards learning, increasing self-confidence, and self-reliance. They are polite, respectful, and actively contribute to school life, with a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. Attendance is very good at 97%.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching remains Very Good across most phases, with effective assessment practices consistently rated Very Good. However, inconsistencies in teaching strategies and opportunities for independent learning in the middle phase have led to a regression in teaching quality in that phase.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design, implementation, and adaptation are consistently Very Good across all phases. The curriculum in core subjects is well-developed, effectively aligned, and incorporates clear cross-curricular links that promote UAE national identity.
Protection, Care & Support
The school provides outstanding health and safety protocols, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements. Care and support for students are also outstanding, reflecting a strong commitment to student wellbeing and provision for students of determination.
Areas for Development
- •Continue to improve student achievement in all core subjects across all phases to a consistently very good or better level by providing more opportunities for extended speaking and writing practice across the curriculum, focusing on specific purposes with accuracy and proper grammar in Arabic, both as a first and second language in the elementary and middle phases, ensuring that there is more challenge in English medium subjects in elementary and middle school lessons, and identifying and providing further individualized support for low-attaining students and those with additional learning needs in all subjects.
- •Further strengthen teaching and assessment processes by differentiating learning tasks to meet students’ needs, developing the systems and processes for the use of internal and external data to effectively plan and deliver customized learning activities for students of all abilities, implementing the marking and feedback policy consistently, ensuring all students receive personalized feedback, both in written and verbal formats, and detailing specific areas for improvement, ensuring teacher talk is reduced and student thinking and learning time is optimized, and improving the identification systems for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and those with gifts and/or talents, across the school.
- •Further improve school leadership to a consistently very good or better level by strengthening the internal evaluation and improvement planning processes with rigorous analysis of internal and external data, specifically focusing on enhancing achievements in Arabic medium subjects in phases 2, 3 and 4, ensuring that both the SEF and SDP are accurate, and strengths and areas for improvement are identified, improving stakeholder engagement and participation, including parents, ensuring the governing body holds the school leadership accountable for student outcomes, and optimizing the deployment of staff, especially in specialized provisions, to better meet student needs, particularly in the support of students with additional learning needs.