Al Manhal International Private School, operating under the MoE (UAE) curriculum, has received an overall Acceptable rating in its latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks a regression from its previous Good rating in 2022, indicating a decline in overall performance, particularly in leadership effectiveness and the quality of teaching and learning.
Students' achievement has declined across most subjects and cycles, with attainment and progress in Islamic Education, Arabic as a First Language, UAE Social Studies, English, and Science regressing to Acceptable. Mathematics in Cycle 3, however, sustained its Good rating. While students demonstrate appropriate conceptual understanding in some areas, critical thinking, inquiry, and application skills remain underdeveloped. Personal development is rated Good, reflecting positive relationships and attendance, but understanding of Islamic values, Emirati, and world cultures, along with social responsibility and innovation skills, are Acceptable.
The quality of teaching and assessment, curriculum design and adaptation, and protection, care, guidance, and support for students have all declined to Acceptable. Lessons often rely on teacher-led instruction, with inconsistent differentiation and limited use of technology. Leadership and management, while maintaining Good partnerships with parents, have regressed to Acceptable in effectiveness, self-evaluation, governance, and resource management, impacting the school's capacity for sustained improvement.
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Manhal International Private School Overall Rating
Acceptable
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' overall attainment and progress have regressed to Acceptable across most subjects and cycles, with internal assessments often not aligning with observed classroom performance. While Grade 12 MoE national examinations show Outstanding attainment, performance in standardized IBT, PISA, and TIMSS assessments remains below international benchmarks and school targets. Learning skills, including independence, critical thinking, and creativity, are also Acceptable. MoE national examinationsIBTPISATIMSS
Personal development is rated Good across all cycles, supported by high attendance and positive staff-student relationships. However, students' understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, along with their social responsibility and innovation skills, are Acceptable. Opportunities for student initiative, creativity, and leadership are limited. attendancerelationshipsIslamic valuesEmirati culture
Teaching for effective learning and assessment practices have both declined to Acceptable across all cycles. Lessons frequently rely on teacher talk and closed questioning, with inconsistent differentiation, active learning, and technology integration. Assessment practices are developing but lack sufficient challenge, varied questioning, and effective use of formative strategies to inform planning and measure learning. differentiationactive learningformative assessment
Curriculum design and implementation, along with curriculum adaptation, are rated Acceptable. The curriculum aligns with MoE requirements, offering a clear rationale and broad balance. However, curriculum pathways in Cycle 3 are restricted, subject options are limited, and modifications are insufficient to cater to all learners. Enrichment opportunities and links to Emirati culture and the wider UAE context are not fully integrated. MoE requirementscurriculum adaptationEmirati culture
The protection, care, guidance, and support of students have declined to Acceptable. While the school provides a safe environment, gaps exist in risk management and monitoring, including irregular fire drills and weak dismissal procedures. Support for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination, is in place but lacks consistent review and monitoring. risk managementdismissal proceduresstudents of determination
Leadership and management have regressed to Acceptable in effectiveness, self-evaluation, governance, and resource management, though partnerships with parents and the community remain Good. Senior leaders articulate a vision aligned with national priorities, but middle leaders have limited opportunities to monitor and improve teaching. Self-evaluation lacks rigor, and improvement planning is descriptive, with insufficient monitoring of impact. parent partnershipsself-evaluationdistributed leadership
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Students in Grade 12 consistently achieve Outstanding results across all subjects in the national MoE external examinations.
Students in Cycle 3 consistently achieve Good levels of attainment and progress in mathematics.
Attendance rates are high across all cycles, supported by effective monitoring systems and regular communication with parents.
The curriculum is fully compliant with MoE requirements, ensuring appropriate time allocations and subject coverage.
The school has clear systems for managing behavior, which promote respect, discipline, and a positive atmosphere throughout the school.
The school demonstrates a significant disparity between its internal assessment data, which often indicates Very Good or Outstanding attainment and progress, and its external standardized and international assessment results (IBT, PISA, TIMSS), which are predominantly Weak or below international benchmarks. The Grade 12 MoE national examinations are a consistent strength, achieving Outstanding results across all subjects.
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership aims to align with national priorities but struggles with effective implementation and monitoring. While parent engagement is strong, internal systems for self-evaluation, accountability, and resource management require significant strengthening to drive consistent improvement in teaching quality and student outcomes.
Students' attainment and progress have largely regressed to Acceptable across most subjects and cycles, with a notable disparity between internal assessment results and external standardized test performance. While Grade 12 MoE exams are Outstanding, students across other phases struggle with higher-order thinking, inquiry, and application of knowledge, particularly in Arabic, English, Science, and Social Studies. Mathematics in Cycle 3 maintains a Good rating.
Personal development is rated Good, reflecting positive relationships and high attendance. However, students' understanding of Islamic values, Emirati, and world cultures, along with their social responsibility and innovation skills, are Acceptable. Opportunities for student initiative, creativity, and leadership are limited, impacting their engagement in broader community and environmental activities.
Teaching for effective learning and assessment practices are Acceptable. Lessons often rely on teacher-led instruction and closed questioning, with inconsistent differentiation for diverse learners. Active learning strategies, technology integration, and the use of formative assessment to inform planning and provide constructive feedback are underdeveloped, limiting student engagement and progress.
Curriculum design and implementation, and curriculum adaptation, are Acceptable. The curriculum aligns with MoE requirements but lacks sufficient breadth in Cycle 3 pathways and subject options. Modifications are inadequate to meet the needs of all learners, and enrichment opportunities, especially those linking to Emirati culture and the wider UAE context, are not fully integrated.
Protection, care, guidance, and support for students are Acceptable. While the school provides a safe environment, there are gaps in risk management, including irregular fire drills and weak dismissal procedures. Support for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination, is in place but lacks consistent review and monitoring to ensure effectiveness.