Al Ittihad National Private School - Khalifa

Curriculum
American
ADEK
Very Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City
Fees
AED 22K - 45K

Executive Summary

Al Ittihad National Private School - Khalifa has maintained its overall ADEK rating of Very Good since its previous inspection in 2022, demonstrating a sustained commitment to high performance and continuous improvement. The school successfully fosters a positive learning environment and strong student engagement.

Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has improved overall, with attainment and progress in Arabic as a first language now rated Very Good across most phases. Performance in Islamic Education and Social Studies remains consistently Very Good. While English-medium subjects generally maintain strong performance, there has been a slight decline in English attainment in KG and Science in Phase 4 (Cycle 3). Mathematics achievement remains consistently Very Good across all phases.

The school excels in students' personal and social development, with Outstanding attitudes and behavior, and a strong sense of national identity, aligning with its vision of 'Heritage Guardians and Global Thinkers'. Curriculum design and implementation are rated Outstanding, providing a well-structured and inclusive learning experience. Safeguarding, health, safety, and student care and support are also consistently Outstanding, ensuring a secure and nurturing environment for all learners.

Overall School Performance

Inspection Year 2024-2025

Outstanding

Very Good

Good

Acceptable

Weak

Very Weak

Al Ittihad National Private School - Khalifa 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' Achievement
Very Good

Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has improved to Very Good across phases, with Islamic Education and Social Studies maintaining Very Good performance. English-medium subjects generally remain strong, though English attainment in KG and Science in Phase 4 (Cycle 3) have seen slight declines. Mathematics achievement is consistently Very Good. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectsMathematicsScience

Students' Personal & Social Development
Good

Personal development is rated Good, with students demonstrating Outstanding attitudes and behavior. Understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are all Outstanding, reflecting the school's vision of 'Heritage Guardians and Global Thinkers'. Outstanding attitudes and behaviorHeritage Guardians and Global ThinkersIslamic valuesEmirati and world culturesinnovation skills

Teaching & Assessment
Very Good

Teaching quality remains Very Good across all phases, supported by teachers' strong subject knowledge and effective instructional approaches. Assessment judgments are also Very Good, with valid and reliable data used to track students' academic, personal, and social development. effective approachesassessment datatracking systems

Curriculum
Very Good

Curriculum design and implementation are Outstanding, offering a well-structured, flexible, and inclusive program aligned with national priorities. Curriculum adaptation is Very Good, successfully meeting the diverse learning needs of most students, with an excellent range of choices in later phases. well-structured, flexible, and inclusive curriculumnational prioritiescurricular choices

Protection, Care, Guidance & Support
Outstanding

Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, remain Outstanding. The school maintains rigorous systems, well-planned protocols, and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students, including those with additional learning needs, are also Outstanding, though attendance rates require further improvement. safeguardinghealth and safety protocolscare and supportadditional learning needs

Leadership & Management
Very Good

Leadership effectiveness, self-evaluation, and governance are Very Good, while partnership with parents, management, staffing, facilities, and resources are Outstanding. Leaders demonstrate thorough knowledge of curricula and implement systematic self-evaluation, supported by an informed Board of Trustees and high-quality resources. clear strategic directionsystematic and rigorous self-evaluationhigh-quality learning environment

Key Highlights

Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.

Improved Arabic Achievement

The school has successfully raised students' achievement in Arabic across all phases to a Very Good level, while maintaining strong performance in other subjects.

National Identity & Vision

Students demonstrate strong pride in their UAE national identity and actively embrace the school's vision of fostering 'Heritage Guardians and Global Thinkers'.

Expert Teaching & Learning

Expert teachers foster a positive learning environment, encouraging student participation and developing strong learning skills and responsible attitudes.

Expert Curriculum Planning

The curriculum is expertly planned and consistently reviewed, effectively preparing students for their subsequent stages of learning.

Outstanding Safeguarding & Care

The school maintains very effective arrangements for safeguarding, health, safety, and behavior, alongside robust care and support for all students, including those with additional learning needs.

Strong Strategic Leadership

Leadership, including the principal and Board of Trustees, provides a clear strategic direction, fostering a highly inclusive school environment and sustaining strong performance.

Academic Performance Breakdown

KGKG1-KG2
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Very Good
English
Good
Mathematics
Very Good
Science
Very Good
Learning Skills
Very Good
PrimaryGrades 1-5
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Very Good
UAE Social Studies
Very Good
English
Very Good
Mathematics
Very Good
Science
Very Good
Learning Skills
Very Good
MiddleGrades 6-8
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Good
UAE Social Studies
Very Good
English
Very Good
Mathematics
Very Good
Science
Very Good
Learning Skills
Very Good
SecondaryGrades 9-12
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Good
UAE Social Studies
Very Good
English
Very Good
Mathematics
Very Good
Science
Very Good
Learning Skills
Very Good

The school actively tracks student progress using ACER IBT for Arabic and MAP assessments for English, Mathematics, and Science. Standardized assessment results for AY2023/24 indicate Weak attainment and progress in MAP English reading, language use, mathematics, and science for most grades (2-9), with some exceptions in Grade 9. ACER IBT for Arabic also shows Weak attainment for grades 3-9. International assessments (PISA 2022, TIMSS 2023, PIRLS 2021) show student performance below international standards in most domains, highlighting areas for further improvement in critical thinking, problem-solving, and literacy skills.

Leadership & Management

Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.

The effectiveness of leadership
Leaders at all levels demonstrate thorough knowledge of curricula and effective practices.
Very Good
School self-evaluation and improvement planning
A systematic and rigorous self-evaluation process is established and implemented.
Very Good
Parents and the community
Parents' support for children's learning is strong, contributing to maintained standards.
Outstanding
Governance
The Board of Trustees is well-informed and actively seeks feedback from stakeholders.
Very Good
Management, staffing, facilities and resources
The school offers a high-quality learning environment and modern resources.
Outstanding

Leadership Approach

Leaders at all levels, including the principal and vice principal, demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the American Common Core and MoE curricula, with a clear understanding of effective teaching, learning, and assessment practices. A systematic and rigorous self-evaluation process is established and implemented by senior leaders, utilizing valid internal and external assessment data and lesson observations.

Inspection Findings

Students' Achievement

Students generally attain levels above curriculum standards in Islamic Education, Arabic, UAE Social Studies, English, Mathematics, and Science. Progress is mostly better-than-expected, though variations exist among student groups and phases. External assessment results (MAP, IBT, PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) indicate areas for improvement in meeting international benchmarks.

Personal & Social Development

Students' personal development is Good, characterized by Outstanding attitudes and behavior. They show remarkable pride in their UAE national identity and demonstrate Outstanding understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and strong social responsibility and innovation skills.

Teaching & Assessment

Teaching quality and assessment judgments are Very Good across all phases. Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and employ highly effective approaches to consolidate learning. Assessment data provides valid and comprehensive measures of student development, supported by coherent and effective tracking systems.

Curriculum Design & Adaptation

Curriculum design and implementation are Outstanding, offering a well-structured, flexible, and inclusive program aligned with national priorities. Curriculum adaptation is Very Good, successfully meeting the diverse learning needs of students and providing an excellent range of curricular choices in later phases.

Protection, Care & Support

Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, are Outstanding. The school maintains rigorous systems, well-planned protocols, and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students, including those with additional learning needs, gifted and talented, and students of determination, are also Outstanding.

Areas for Development

  • Raise students’ achievement to a consistently Outstanding in all core subjects and phases by ensuring regular practice of Holy Quran recitation with Tajweed, strengthening understanding of Prophet Seerah, enhancing critical analysis skills for historical events, improving speaking and extended writing in Arabic and English, enhancing reasoning skills for advanced mathematical problems, deepening understanding of mathematical concepts, enhancing scientific investigation skills, and engaging students in collaborative activities for innovation and enterprise skills.
  • Improve aspects of teaching, assessment, and curriculum by ensuring consistent implementation of Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs), applying teaching strategies to develop innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial skills, including high-level challenges in lesson planning, engaging students in self- and peer assessment, providing consistent formative written feedback, and offering opportunities for inquiry-based and independent learning.
  • Improve the impact of school leadership by enhancing procedures for promoting and monitoring attendance, reviewing accountability processes to focus on student achievement, ensuring the Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) is more focused and analytical and linked with the School Development Plan (SDP), and ensuring all middle leaders understand the UAE inspection framework for evaluating teaching and learning.
  • Improve students' performance in the international assessment PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS by aligning the curriculum with real-world contexts, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and inquiry-based learning, introducing diverse reading material, planning activities emphasizing analysis, evaluation, and creation, providing professional development for teachers on assessment frameworks, and engaging parents in supporting learning at home.