Al Qemah Private School - Khorfakkan - Al Qadisiya
Executive Summary
Al Qemah Private School is a Ministry of Education curriculum school located in Khorfakkan, Al Qadisiya, Sharjah's Eastern Region, established in May 2005. The school serves 690 students across KG through Cycle 3 (Grades 1-9), with Arabic as the language of instruction. The school's overall effectiveness has been rated Acceptable in the 2024-2025 inspection cycle, maintaining the same rating as the previous review.
The quality of students' attainment remains Acceptable overall, though notable improvement has been observed in Cycles 2 and 3, where attainment in Mathematics and Science has risen to Good. Personal development and students' understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture remain rated Good across all cycles. Teaching quality is Acceptable overall, with improvement to Good in Cycles 2 and 3. The curriculum, student protection and care, and school leadership all remain at the Acceptable level.
The inspection team of five reviewers conducted 123 lesson observations, 35 of which were carried out jointly with school leaders. Key challenges include a high staff turnover rate of 20%, shortages of key personnel, and a sudden increase in student numbers after the start of the academic year, all of which have negatively impacted the school's capacity for development. The school has shown progress since its 2018 inspection, moving from Weak to Acceptable, and has maintained this level through subsequent reviews.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Qemah Private School - Khorfakkan - Al Qadisiya Overall Rating
Acceptable for 3+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 8 students of determination. Identification and support services for students with special educational needs remain underdeveloped. The inspection recommends further development of inclusion services to better meet the needs of all learners. Students of DeterminationInclusion Services
Students demonstrate positive attitudes and responsible behaviour throughout the school. Attendance is very good at 96.27%, and students show a good understanding of healthy lifestyles, participating in sports and health awareness activities. Relationships between students and teachers are respectful and supportive. Healthy LifestylesPositive Behaviour96.27% Attendance
The school participates in international benchmark assessments including IBT, TIMSS, and PISA. IBT results for 2024 show Very Good attainment across all cycles in Mathematics and Science, and TIMSS 2023 results were above average. However, no external benchmarking is available for Arabic language, and overall attainment as observed in lessons remains Acceptable. IBTTIMSSPISA
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Student Achievement
Student achievement in Cycles 2 and 3 has improved to Good in Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, reflecting meaningful progress since the previous inspection.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate good personal and social development, showing respect for Islamic values and UAE culture, and participating actively in school and community activities.
Leadership Communication
School leaders demonstrate clear vision and a good understanding of best practices in teaching and learning, with strong communication and relationships with staff and parents.
Student Safeguarding
The school maintains effective child protection procedures, with all staff trained in safeguarding policies and students aware of who to contact if they have safety concerns.
Benchmark Performance
IBT 2024 results show Very Good attainment across all cycles, and TIMSS 2023 results were above average, indicating stronger performance in external assessments than observed in lessons.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Acceptable. Improvement is most evident in Cycles 2 and 3 across Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Arabic. English attainment remains Acceptable across all cycles. Internal assessment data consistently overestimates performance compared to lesson observations.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
School leaders demonstrate a clear vision and good understanding of effective teaching and learning practices. They have provided significant professional development for teachers and developed new approaches to support staff and improve achievement across subjects. However, high staff turnover and resource constraints continue to limit the school's overall development capacity.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is Acceptable, with notable improvement in Cycles 2 and 3 where attainment in Mathematics and Science has reached Good. Attainment in English remains Acceptable across all cycles, and internal assessment data consistently overestimates performance compared to what is observed in lessons. IBT 2024 results show Very Good attainment and TIMSS 2023 results were above average.
Personal Development
Students' personal and social development is Good across all cycles. Students demonstrate positive attitudes, respectful behaviour, and a good understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture. Attendance is very good at 96.27%. Social responsibility and innovation skills remain Acceptable, with students participating in volunteer activities and sustainability projects but often relying on adult guidance.
Teaching Quality
Teaching quality is Acceptable overall, improving to Good in Cycles 2 and 3. Most teachers have good subject knowledge and plan purposeful lessons, but differentiation for high and low attaining students is inconsistent. Assessment practices are Acceptable across all cycles, with internal data analysis not yet sufficiently detailed at the individual student level. Opportunities for students to self-assess or provide peer feedback remain limited.
Protection & Care
Student protection and care is Acceptable overall. The school has effective child protection procedures in place, with all staff trained in safeguarding policies. Students know who to contact if they have safety concerns. The school provides a safe environment with appropriate supervision, though the absence of teaching assistants in KG limits supervisory capacity.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the quality of children's achievement in KG and raise attainment levels for students across all subjects and cycles.
- •Continue to deliver effective teaching across all cycles and subjects, ensuring consistent high expectations and differentiation for all learners.
- •Develop inclusion services for students of determination to better identify and support their individual learning needs.
- •Strengthen the role of the Board of Trustees in ensuring appropriate staffing levels and resources are available to support school improvement.