Al Nahda National Schools - Branch-girls
Executive Summary
Al Nahda National School for Girls maintains its overall ADEK rating of Good for the 2025-2026 academic year, reflecting consistent performance since the previous inspection in 2022. The school, which offers both British and American curricula, demonstrates a strong commitment to students' well-being and a deep respect for Islamic values and Emirati culture.
Academic achievement shows notable improvements, particularly in Phase 3, where progress in English, Mathematics, and Science, along with learning skills, has risen to Very Good. The school actively prepares students for international assessments like PISA and TIMSS, with British curriculum students performing above international averages in PISA Reading, Mathematics, and Science literacy. However, assessment practices require strengthening to ensure reliability and consistent use for personalized learning.
Leadership and management remain stable and Good, with new senior appointments supporting sustained performance across key indicators. The school's rigorous safeguarding procedures and effective safety protocols are a strong feature, ensuring students' safety and well-being are consistently rated Very Good.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Nahda National School for Girls Overall Rating
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 is rated Good overall, with significant improvements in Phase 3 for English, Mathematics, and Science. Students demonstrate strong attainment in Arabic-medium subjects, consistently achieving Very Good in Arabic as a First and Second language, and Good in Islamic Education and Social Studies across all phases. Phase 3 improvementsArabic-medium subjects
Students' personal development is rated Good across all phases. Their understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are Very Good, reflecting deep respect and appreciation. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good. Islamic valuesEmirati culture
Teaching for effective learning is Good in most phases, improving to Very Good in Phase 3 due to better lesson planning and critical thinking support. However, assessment has declined to Acceptable across all phases, with procedures needing strengthening for reliability and consistent use in personalized learning. Assessment declinePhase 3 teaching improvement
Curriculum design and implementation are Good in Phases 1, 2, and 3, and Acceptable in Phase 4. The curriculum is well-structured and inclusive, aligned with national priorities. Curriculum adaptation is consistently Good across all phases, though Phase 4's American curriculum needs full alignment with High School Diploma requirements. Curriculum adaptationAmerican High School Diploma
Protection, care, guidance, and support for students remain Very Good. The school maintains rigorous safeguarding procedures and effective safety protocols, ensuring a strong focus on students' health and safety. Care and support for students are consistently rated Good across all phases. Safeguarding proceduresHealth and safety
Leadership and management are rated Good overall, maintaining stability despite significant leadership changes. The effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, improvement planning, partnership with parents, and management of staffing and resources are all Good. Governance is rated Very Good. Leadership stabilityGovernance
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Academic Progress in Phase 3
Students' achievement in Mathematics and Science, along with progress in English and Science, significantly improved in Phase 3.
Strong Islamic & Emirati Values
Students across all phases demonstrate a deep understanding of Islamic values and a strong awareness of Emirati heritage, culture, and national identity.
Rigorous Safeguarding
The school implements rigorous safeguarding procedures and effective safety protocols, ensuring students’ safety and well-being.
Effective Governance
Governance provides informed and constructive strategic oversight, contributing positively to the school's direction.
International Assessment Success
British curriculum students achieved scores above PISA international averages in Reading, Mathematics, and Science literacy.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has remained consistent, with improvements noted in English-medium subjects, particularly in Phase 3. Standardized assessment results (MAP, GL) show Weak attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science across Phases 2, 3, and 4, though progress varies. International assessments (PISA, TIMSS) show British curriculum students performing above international averages, while American curriculum students are above school targets but below international averages in some areas.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The school's leadership, including a new Director General, Board Chair, and principal, has maintained stable and Good performance. Leaders are committed to meeting international assessment targets, embedding literacy goals, and strategically monitoring assessment processes, though systematic evaluation of impact and accountability measures require further development.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate strong attainment in Arabic-medium subjects, with Islamic Education and Social Studies rated Good, and Arabic as a First and Second language rated Very Good across all phases. English-medium subjects show improvements in Phase 3, with attainment and progress in Mathematics and Science, and progress in English, rising to Very Good. However, standardized assessment results (MAP, GL) indicate Weak attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science across several phases, highlighting a disparity with internal assessments.
Personal & Social Development
Students' personal development is Good across all phases. They show a Very Good understanding of Islamic values and a strong awareness of Emirati and world cultures. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good, reflecting students' positive attitudes and engagement within the school community.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is Good in most phases, improving to Very Good in Phase 3 due to more effective lesson planning and purposeful hands-on experiences. However, assessment practices have declined to Acceptable across all phases. While assessment information is beginning to support personalized learning, procedures need strengthening to ensure reliability, accuracy, and consistent use for appropriate challenge and identification of student needs.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and implementation are Good in Phases 1, 2, and 3, offering a well-structured, inclusive, broad, and balanced curriculum aligned with national priorities. However, in Phase 4, the American curriculum is Acceptable as it does not fully comply with the requirements of the American High School Diploma. Curriculum adaptation is consistently Good across all phases, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to student needs.
Protection, Care & Support
The school's protection, care, guidance, and support for students are Very Good. Health and safety arrangements, including child protection and safeguarding, are a strong feature. The care and support provided to students are Good across all phases, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for all learners.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ achievement to consistently Very Good or better across all core subjects and phases by improving students’ independent reading and writing skills, as well as their fluency in speaking, in both Arabic and English across all phases.
- •Develop higher-order thinking, analytical, and reasoning skills so that students can explain causes and effects, analyze information, justify conclusions, and apply reasoning to unfamiliar problems across all subjects.
- •Improve teaching for effective learning, assessment, and curriculum by ensuring that teachers use reliable and accurate assessment information effectively to adapt strategies and activities to meet the needs of all students and to provide appropriate challenge for higher achievers.
- •Enhance planning of the American curriculum in Phase 4 to ensure full alignment with the requirements of the American High School Diploma, providing a wider range of elective courses for students, and ensuring that career guidance is aligned with these requirements.
- •Improve the impact of school leadership on students’ outcomes by enhancing the effectiveness of middle leaders so they more consistently drive accurate assessment practices, curriculum implementation, and raise the quality of teaching and students’ achievement across all phases.
- •Improve students’ performance in international assessments (TIMSS, PISA, PIRLS) by strengthening students’ reasoning, analytical, and interpretive skills in mathematics, science, and reading, ensuring they can apply concepts to unfamiliar contexts and demonstrate the cognitive demand required by international benchmarks.