Al Itqan American School
Executive Summary
The overall effectiveness of Al Itqan American School has remained Good since the previous review. The new leadership team has implemented changes in senior and middle leadership, focusing on strategic planning and a whole-school approach to improvements. These actions have successfully enhanced students’ achievement from Acceptable to Good in mathematics in Elementary and Middle phases, and in science in the Middle phase.
Students’ personal and social development, alongside their innovation skills, continue to be Good. Teaching, assessment, and curriculum adaptation are now rated Good overall. The school maintains Very Good procedures for safeguarding and protecting all students, complemented by a well-maintained learning environment and facilities that effectively support student learning.
Governors actively support the school’s initiatives. Under the guidance of the new leadership team, the school demonstrates a strong capacity to improve further, indicating a positive trajectory for future development.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Itqan American School Overall Rating
Good for 3+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
Provision for students with special educational needs (SEN) is acceptable. While some progress is made, SEN students do not always achieve their best possible progress, particularly noted in Mathematics and Islamic Education. Higher-attaining and gifted and talented students also require more challenging tasks to accelerate their progress. special educational needsgifted and talented
The school demonstrates a very good quality of protection, care, guidance, and support for students. Rigorous safeguarding procedures are in place, with all staff trained in child protection policies. Students exhibit positive attitudes towards healthy living, participate in fitness activities, and show a good awareness of personal hygiene and healthy eating practices. safeguardingchild protectionhealthy living
Students show a very good understanding and appreciation of Islamic values and Emirati culture, which is evident across all phases. They are knowledgeable and respectful of UAE traditions and heritage, celebrating national and Islamic events with pride. The curriculum also supports learning about wider cultural diversity through various activities and subjects. Islamic valuesEmirati cultureUAE heritage
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Math & Science
Students' achievement in mathematics in Elementary and Middle phases, and in science in the Middle phase, has improved from acceptable to good.
Islamic & Emirati Culture
Students demonstrate a strong understanding of and respect for Islamic values and Emirati culture.
Conducive Learning Environment
Teachers consistently provide a learning environment that is supportive and effective for students.
Student Welfare & Safety
The school prioritizes students’ welfare, health, and safety with very good procedures and support systems.
Effective Day-to-Day Management
The day-to-day management of the school and its operational processes are highly effective.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' achievement is good overall, with notable improvements in mathematics in Elementary and Middle, and science in Middle. However, international benchmarking examination results across all subjects and phases remain an area for improvement. Higher-attaining and gifted and talented students are not consistently challenged to accelerate their progress.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, including new senior and middle leaders, adopts a strategic, whole-school approach to improvement. They prioritize enhancing student achievement, ensuring effective day-to-day management, and fostering a supportive learning environment. The leadership demonstrates a strong capacity for continuous improvement.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievement is rated Good overall, with improvements noted in mathematics in Elementary and Middle, and science in Middle. Students demonstrate good progress in most subjects, but external assessment results indicate areas for further development, particularly for higher-attaining students.
Personal Development
Students' personal and social development, and their innovation skills, are Good overall. They exhibit positive attitudes, responsible behavior, and respect for Islamic values and Emirati culture. Students engage in voluntary work and show awareness of sustainability, though opportunities for innovation and enterprise in lessons could be stronger.
Teaching Quality
The overall quality of teaching and assessment is Good. Teachers apply subject knowledge effectively and use varied strategies and technology to engage students. However, the quality of teaching and the use of assessment need further enhancement across all subjects and phases, particularly in challenging high-attainers and supporting new teachers.
Protection & Care
The protection, care, guidance, and support of students are Very Good. Rigorous safeguarding procedures are in place, and all staff are trained in child protection. Students feel safe, incidents of bullying are rare, and there is a strong focus on healthy living and personal hygiene.
Areas for Development
- •Improve students’ achievement in international benchmarking examinations in all subjects and phases.
- •Enhance the quality of teaching and the use of assessment in all subjects and phases.
- •Strengthen leadership’s role in further supporting and training new teachers and middle leaders, and consider ways to reduce the level of teachers’ rates of turnover in the school.