Al Mawakeb School - Al Garhoud, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
Al Mawakeb School - Al Garhoud provides a Good quality of education, maintaining its rating for the 2023-2024 academic year. The school demonstrates strengths in students' personal and social development, which is consistently Outstanding across all phases, and fosters strong partnerships with parents and the local community.
Students' academic achievement ranges from acceptable to Outstanding, with particular strengths in the high school and improved progress in the elementary and middle schools. The curriculum, aligned with US standards and MoE requirements, is broad and balanced, offering Advanced Placement (AP) courses to prepare students for university.
The school excels in ensuring students' health and safety, with very effective procedures in place. While leadership shares a clear vision, there is a need to refine self-evaluation processes and ensure more consistent teaching and curriculum adaptation, particularly in the Kindergarten phase.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Mawakeb School - Al Garhoud Overall Rating
Good for 8+ consecutive years
Dubai Focus Areas
These three pillars represent the Dubai education authority's priorities: ensuring inclusive practices, prioritizing student wellbeing, and meeting UAE National Agenda targets.
The school promotes an inclusive ethos with appropriate assessment systems for students of determination. While individual education plans (IEPs) are in place for higher needs, the implementation of support strategies in lessons is inconsistent, and identification processes could be more rigorous. individual education plans (IEPs)support strategies
Wellbeing is a school priority, reflected in its vision and ethos, with a committed leadership team. Students' views are valued, and various initiatives promote wellbeing awareness. However, more formal assessment systems for data analysis and equipping all students with independent wellbeing strategies are areas for development. wellbeing teamwellbeing strategies
The school's performance in international assessments, such as PIRLS 2021, places it in the high international benchmark, exceeding targets. Progress against the National Agenda Parameter is good for the whole school in English, mathematics, and science, and acceptable for Emirati students. There is a growing reading culture, but literacy assessment data could be used more broadly across subjects. PIRLS 2021high international benchmarkreading literacy
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Student Health & Safety
The school has highly effective procedures to ensure the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors, including robust safeguarding policies and well-maintained facilities.
Parent & Community Partnerships
Strong partnerships with parents and the local community are a significant strength, with parents actively engaged and satisfied with communication and their children's progress.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate excellent personal and social development, showing positive attitudes, strong leadership skills, and high awareness of Islamic values and Emirati culture.
High School Achievement
Students' achievement in the high school is a particular strength, with many subjects rated Very Good or Outstanding in attainment and progress.
Improved Progress
Students are making improved progress in the elementary and middle schools, indicating positive trends in learning outcomes in these phases.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' achievement levels range from acceptable to outstanding across key subjects, with specific strengths in the high school and improved progress in the elementary and middle schools. Learning skills are Good in KG and Elementary, and Very Good in Middle and High School.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The principal effectively shares the school's vision and values, fostering a positive and professional environment where staff feel valued. Leaders monitor teaching and evaluate its impact, showing progress in addressing previous recommendations, though self-evaluation could be more realistic.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievement varies from acceptable to outstanding, with notable strengths in high school outcomes and improved progress in elementary and middle schools. Students are engaged, use technology for research, and apply learning to real-world contexts, demonstrating strong learning skills.
Personal Development
Students consistently show outstanding personal and social development, with positive attitudes, very good behavior, and a secure understanding of Islamic values, UAE culture, and world cultures. They demonstrate strong social responsibility, initiate projects, and contribute significantly to the school and wider community.
Teaching Quality
Teaching quality ranges from acceptable in KG to very good in high school, with teachers demonstrating excellent subject knowledge and effective use of time. Assessment systems are comprehensive and reliable, though the consistent use of data and focused feedback to meet individual student needs is still developing.
Protection & Care
The school has very effective processes for health and safety, including robust safeguarding policies and well-maintained facilities. Care and support for students are good, with a caring ethos and effective behavior management. Wellbeing is a key priority, and targeted academic and career support is offered, especially to high school students.
Areas for Development
- •Ensure that teaching and curriculum adaptation are more effective in enabling children in KG to improve their outcomes, especially in English and science.
- •Ensure that leaders, at all levels, have systems in place to improve the quality and consistency of teaching in the lower three phases.
- •Use the self-evaluation process to produce a more realistic view of the school’s performance and to identify the school’s priorities for improvement planning.
- •Ensure that improvement planning has a more substantial impact on provision and outcomes.
- •Ensure that information from literacy assessments is used by teachers in all subjects to ensure improvement in reading literacy.
- •Develop more formal assessment systems and methods of data analysis to inform action planning and school wellbeing plans.
- •Ensure that all students are equipped with the knowledge of wellbeing strategies that will enable them to manage their own wellbeing.
- •Ensure that support strategies for students of determination and those with gifts and talents are implemented consistently in all lessons.