Al Dhaid Private School - branch Al Dhaid
Executive Summary
Al Dhaid Private School is a Ministry of Education curriculum school located in the Central Region of Sharjah. The school received an overall effectiveness rating of Good in the 2023-2024 inspection cycle, reflecting an improvement from the previous Acceptable rating recorded in 2022-2023 and 2018.
The school serves approximately 1,100 students from KG through Grade 12, with Egyptian and Syrian nationalities being the most prominent among the student body. Leadership has implemented the self-evaluation model and school development plan effectively, resulting in improved student achievement across most subjects. Teaching and assessment quality is rated Good, with teachers demonstrating solid subject knowledge and positive interactions with students.
A team of six reviewers conducted 181 classroom observations, 41 of which were joint observations with school leadership. Key strengths include improved student achievement in most subjects, students' positive attitudes and application of Islamic values, and the school's focus on student protection and wellbeing. Areas requiring further development include improving attainment in English and Science in KG and Cycle 1, and strengthening the use of assessment data to accelerate student progress.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Dhaid Private School Overall Rating
Good
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has updated its policies and procedures for identifying students with special educational needs and has appointed a specialist child psychologist and a special education teacher. In higher-quality lessons, teachers adapt tasks to support students with additional needs, though these practices are not consistently applied across all classes. Gifted and talented students receive opportunities through extracurricular activities but do not receive sufficient challenge in lessons to accelerate their learning. Special Educational NeedsChild PsychologistGifted and Talented
The school effectively promotes healthy lifestyles, with students actively participating in physical activities during morning assembly and lessons. Student attendance across all cycles is good at 94%, and students arrive punctually, contributing to smooth learning delivery. Relationships between staff and students are respectful and courteous, and behaviour management strategies are applied effectively. Healthy Lifestyles94% AttendanceBehaviour Management
IBT (International Benchmark Test) results for 2023 indicate that student attainment in Mathematics is above average in Grades 3, 4, and 7, while English results are at or above average in most grades except Grade 9. The school participated in PISA and TIMSS 2023 but has not yet received results. Curriculum review processes have not yet been fully reflected in English and Science outcomes in KG and Cycle 1. IBTPISATIMSSInternational Benchmarks
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Student Achievement
Student achievement has improved across most subjects since the previous inspection, reflecting the positive impact of the self-evaluation model and school development plan implemented by leadership, teachers, and the board of trustees.
Positive Attitudes & Values
Students demonstrate responsible attitudes toward learning, good behaviour, and a strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage across all sections of the school.
Student Protection Focus
The school has comprehensive policies and procedures for student protection, child safeguarding, and behaviour management, with regular safety inspections and evacuation drills conducted systematically.
Clear Leadership Vision
The principal and leadership team possess a clear strategic vision that is shared with the school community, and leadership has effectively addressed barriers to learning by improving phonics opportunities and mathematics learning experiences.
Good Teaching Quality
Most teachers have good subject knowledge and understanding of how students learn. Teachers plan detailed lessons with clear learning objectives and provide a positive learning environment that encourages student engagement.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Good. Improvement is evident across most subjects compared to the previous Acceptable rating. English and Science in KG and Cycle 1 remain areas requiring further development.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The principal and leadership team demonstrate a clear and shared strategic vision focused on continuous improvement and national priorities. Leadership has successfully addressed previous weaknesses by improving phonics instruction, mathematics learning experiences, and teaching quality across the school. The implementation of the self-evaluation model and school development plan has resulted in measurable improvements in student achievement across most subjects since the previous inspection.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Student achievement is Good overall, representing an improvement from the previous Acceptable rating. Progress ratings are Good in most subjects across all cycles, with Mathematics in Cycle 3 and Social Studies in Cycles 2 and 3 reaching Good attainment. English and Science in KG and Cycle 1 remain at Acceptable for both attainment and progress. IBT results indicate above-average performance in Mathematics in Grades 3, 4, and 7, and Science results exceed the average across all participating grades.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate responsible attitudes toward learning and behave well in lessons and throughout the school. They show a good understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage, participating respectfully in morning assemblies and national celebrations. Student attendance is good at 94%, and students arrive punctually. Social responsibility skills are developing, with students volunteering in charity fundraising and environmental activities including participation in COP28-related sustainability projects.
Teaching Quality
Teaching and assessment quality is Good overall across all cycles. Most teachers have good subject knowledge and plan detailed lessons with clear learning objectives. Teachers encourage interaction and dialogue, and most students engage appropriately in activities. In higher-quality lessons, teachers plan tasks that meet the needs and abilities of different student groups. Critical thinking and innovation skills are less developed and not consistently promoted across all lessons. Written feedback to students does not always identify how they can improve their work.
Protection & Care
Student protection and care arrangements are Good overall. The school has comprehensive child protection policies and behaviour management procedures that are shared with staff, parents, and students. Regular safety inspections and evacuation drills are conducted, and students are supervised appropriately at all times. The school promotes healthy lifestyles effectively through physical activities and health workshops. Guidance and counselling provision is Good, with well-established transition arrangements and individual career guidance for secondary students.
Areas for Development
- •Further improve student attainment and achievement across all sections of the school, particularly in English and Science in KG and Cycle 1.
- •Further develop the use of assessment in teaching to enable students to make the best possible progress.
- •Improve the capabilities of the middle leadership team to strengthen monitoring systems.