Al Noor International School - Sharjah - Al Ghubaiba
Executive Summary
Al Noor International School, located in Al Ghubaiba, Sharjah, is a well-established Arabic-medium school following the Ministry of Education curriculum. Founded in 1985, the school serves 2,881 students across Cycles 1, 2, and 3 (Grades 1-12). The school's overall effectiveness has been rated Good in the 2024-2025 inspection, maintaining the same rating as the previous review cycle in 2022-2023.
The leadership team has focused on strategic planning with a whole-school approach to development, resulting in improved student achievement across most subjects in Cycle 2, and an improvement in English language attainment in Cycle 3 from Good to Very Good. Students' personal development is now rated Very Good, and the school's partnership with parents and the community has also improved to Very Good. The school continues to implement effective safeguarding procedures and maintains a well-supported learning environment.
The inspection team of 8 reviewers observed 189 lessons, 99 of which were conducted jointly with school leaders. Key areas for further development include raising student achievement to at least Very Good across all subjects and cycles, improving the impact of teaching and assessment on high-achieving and gifted students, and strengthening the influence of leadership roles on student outcomes.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Noor International School - Sharjah - Al Ghubaiba Overall Rating
Good for 2+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 36 students of determination who receive support sessions outside of class provided by the learning support team. Teachers use a range of strategies to engage all students, including those with special educational needs, though planning for gifted and high-achieving students lacks consistency. Students of determination sometimes do not achieve sufficient progress in Mathematics. Students of DeterminationLearning Support Team
Students demonstrate very positive attitudes toward learning and exhibit disciplined, respectful behaviour throughout the school. Attendance is outstanding at 98%, and students arrive punctually to lessons. The school prioritises student health, safety, and wellbeing, and students participate actively in health-related events such as Health Day and Heart Day. 98% AttendanceHealth DayHeart Day
The school participates in IBT, PISA, TIMSS, and Arabic language assessments (Tala' and Mubakkir). IBT results for Grades 3-9 show student attainment exceeding national expectations in English and Mathematics, while PISA results indicate below-average performance. TIMSS data from previous cycles showed mixed results. The school uses assessment data to monitor and adjust teaching plans. IBTPISATIMSSTala'Mubakkir
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Student Achievement
Student achievement improved from Acceptable to Good in most subjects in Cycle 2, and English attainment in Cycle 3 rose from Good to Very Good since the previous review.
Outstanding Attendance
Student attendance stands at an outstanding 98%, with students arriving punctually and transitioning between lessons in an orderly manner.
Effective Learning Environment
Teachers provide a welcoming and well-structured learning environment, using technology and varied resources effectively to engage students across all cycles.
Strong Parent Partnerships
The school's partnership with parents and the community improved from Good to Very Good, supported by an active Board of Trustees that considers stakeholder views.
Robust Safeguarding Procedures
The school continues to implement effective and good procedures to ensure the safety and protection of all students, with bullying cases reported as rare.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Good. The school maintained its Good rating from the previous cycle. Internal assessment data consistently shows Outstanding levels, which does not fully align with observed classroom performance. IBT results for Grades 3-9 exceed national expectations in English and Mathematics.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team at Al Noor International School adopts a strategic and comprehensive approach to school development, with a clear focus on improving student achievement and learning skills. Under the current management team, the school demonstrates strong capacity for continuous improvement, having successfully raised performance levels from Acceptable to Good in most subjects in Cycle 2 and improved English attainment in Cycle 3 to Very Good. Leadership roles and their impact on student outcomes require further strengthening.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is Good across all cycles and subjects. Significant improvement was noted in Cycle 2 across most subjects, and English attainment in Cycle 3 improved to Very Good. The majority of student groups achieve progress that exceeds expectations over time, though gifted and high-achieving students do not consistently receive sufficiently challenging tasks to maximise their potential.
Personal Development
Students' personal development is rated Very Good across all cycles, with students demonstrating very positive and responsible attitudes toward learning. Attendance is outstanding at 98%, behaviour is disciplined, and students build respectful relationships with teachers and peers. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good, with creativity skills in lessons still requiring further development.
Teaching Quality
The quality of teaching and assessment is Good overall, with Very Good teaching observed in English in Cycle 3. Most teachers have good subject knowledge and plan lessons systematically, sharing learning objectives clearly. Teachers use questioning effectively to engage students and correct misconceptions. Planning for gifted and high-achieving students and student involvement in self and peer assessment remain areas for improvement.
Protection & Care
The school continues to implement effective and good procedures to ensure the safety and protection of all students. The learning environment and school facilities are well-maintained and support student learning effectively. Students report that bullying is rare, and the school prioritises student health and wellbeing through active participation in health-related events and physical activities.
Areas for Development
- •Raise the level of student achievement to at least Very Good in all subjects and across all cycles.
- •Improve the impact of teaching and assessment processes on the achievement of all students, particularly high-achieving students and those who are gifted and talented.
- •Strengthen leadership and management roles and increase their impact on student outcomes.