Al Dhia Scientific Private School - branch Al Ghubaiba
Executive Summary
Al Dhia Scientific Private School, located in Al Ghubaiba, Sharjah, follows the Ministry of Education curriculum and was inspected by SPEA from 27 to 30 January 2025. The school's overall effectiveness was rated Acceptable, maintaining the same rating as the previous inspection cycle (2023-2024). The school serves 870 students across KG through Cycle 3 (Grade 9), with Arabic as the medium of instruction.
Most students achieve attainment levels in line with curriculum expectations across subjects, with Good attainment noted in Islamic Education, Arabic (First Language), and Social Studies in KG and Cycle 3. Students' personal development and understanding of UAE heritage is rated Good, while the quality of teaching and assessment, curriculum, and school leadership are all rated Acceptable. Teachers generally focus more on knowledge building than skill development, and assessment data is not consistently used to inform teaching.
Key strengths include students' respect for UAE culture and Islamic values, positive staff relationships and morale, and effective parent and community partnerships. The school has an acceptable capacity for improvement, and leaders are working to strengthen parent partnerships and improve the learning environment. Priority areas for development include raising teaching quality and student achievement across all subjects and cycles, developing students' independent learning and critical thinking skills, and improving the use of assessment data to meet the needs of all learner groups.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Dhia Scientific Private School - branch Al Ghubaiba Overall Rating
Acceptable for 3+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has a highly effective system for identifying students of determination and operates an open admissions policy. Very good support is provided by special education teachers, shadow teachers, and teaching assistants. The school has a strong reputation for its care and attention to students with special educational needs, with 52 such students enrolled. Students of DeterminationOpen AdmissionsSpecial Education Support
The school provides a safe, clean environment with regular safety inspections and effective student supervision at all times. Student attendance has improved significantly, reaching 96%, and relationships between staff and students are respectful and courteous. Social workers provide counselling sessions in coordination with parents, and the school actively promotes healthy lifestyles through PE, moral education, and morning assemblies. 96% AttendanceSafe EnvironmentCounselling Support
The school participates in PISA, TIMSS, and IBT international benchmark assessments. IBT results for 2023-2024 show most students in English achieving above curriculum levels, while Mathematics IBT results indicate performance below the Middle East average for Grades 3-7 and above average for Grades 8-10. TIMSS 2023 results for Grades 4 and 8 show Weak performance in both Mathematics and Science. PISATIMSSIBTInternational Benchmarking
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
UAE Cultural Awareness
Students demonstrate strong respect for UAE culture and heritage, applying Islamic values in daily life and participating in national celebrations and Quran recitation competitions.
Positive Staff Morale
Good relationships among staff members and high positive morale contribute to a positive school environment and support student behaviour and learning.
Parent Partnership
Effective partnership relationships with parents and the community positively support the school and reinforce a shared sense of responsibility for student outcomes.
Students of Determination
The school's identification procedures and educational services for students of determination are a significant strength, with very good support provided by specialist staff.
Improved Attendance
Student attendance has improved significantly to 96%, reflecting better engagement and the school's effective systems for monitoring attendance and punctuality.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Acceptable. Internal assessment data consistently shows higher levels than observed in classrooms and student books. TIMSS 2023 results indicate Weak performance in Mathematics and Science for Grades 4 and 8.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
School leadership under the principal Khuloud Fahmi Mustafa maintains an Acceptable overall effectiveness rating. Leaders focus on building stronger parent partnerships and maintaining a positive school culture, with good staff relationships and morale contributing to a supportive environment. Self-evaluation processes are in place but need to be more precise in setting measurable improvement targets that translate into better student outcomes.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is Acceptable. Most students attain levels in line with curriculum expectations, with Good attainment in Islamic Education, Arabic, and Social Studies in KG and Cycle 3. Internal data shows higher levels than observed in classrooms, and TIMSS 2023 results indicate Weak performance in Mathematics and Science for Grades 4 and 8. Student learning skills are adequate, though innovation and critical thinking skills are less developed.
Personal Development
Personal development is rated Good overall. Students demonstrate positive, polite attitudes and take responsibility, with self-discipline well established and bullying rare. Students show Good understanding of Islamic values and UAE heritage, participating in national celebrations and Quran competitions. Attendance has improved significantly to 96%, though consistent adoption of healthy lifestyles and volunteer participation among younger students need further development.
Teaching Quality
Teaching and assessment quality is rated Acceptable. Teachers generally have adequate subject knowledge and plan purposeful lessons, but focus more on knowledge transmission than skill development. Differentiation does not consistently meet the needs of higher and lower attaining students. Assessment data is not always used effectively to plan differentiated activities, and written feedback to students is often too general to guide next steps in learning.
Protection & Care
Student protection, care, and support is rated Good. The school has clear child protection procedures known to all staff, students, and parents, and provides a safe, clean environment with regular safety inspections. The school is highly inclusive with a very effective system for identifying and supporting students of determination, who receive very good support from specialist staff. Guidance counsellors provide counselling sessions in coordination with parents and colleagues.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the quality of teaching and student achievement across all subjects and cycles.
- •Develop students' independent learning skills, particularly critical thinking, problem-solving, inquiry, research, and innovation skills.
- •Use assessment tools to track student progress and meet the needs of all individuals and groups in lessons, especially gifted and talented students.
- •Strengthen leadership at all levels so that accurate self-evaluation processes contribute to setting clear, measurable development goals that lead to improved student outcomes.