Al Saad Indian Private School
Executive Summary
Al Saad Indian School has achieved an overall rating of Very Good in its latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the AY 2024/25, marking an improvement from its previous 'Good' rating in 2021. This reflects significant enhancements across core areas of the school's performance.
The school demonstrates strong academic achievement, particularly with overall improvement in Arabic-medium and English-medium subjects. Notably, attainment in English and Science in Phase 4 is now Outstanding, with students meeting their PISA targets. Students also show strong personal development, positive behavior, and a good understanding of Islamic values and UAE heritage.
Key strengths include the quality of health and safety arrangements, effective leadership in fostering a positive learning environment, and strong partnerships with parents. However, areas for development include raising achievement standards to at least Very Good in all subjects, improving teaching quality with better differentiation, and strengthening leadership and management through more evaluative self-evaluation and robust monitoring of the school development plan.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Saad Indian Private School Overall Rating
Very Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' achievement has shown overall improvement, particularly in Arabic-medium and English-medium subjects. Attainment in English and Science in Phase 4 is now Outstanding, driven by high performance in external assessments and meeting PISA targets. However, Mathematics attainment and progress regressed in Phases 3 and 4 due to lesson activities not aligning with learning needs. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectsPISA targetsexternal assessments
Students' personal development is rated Very Good across all phases, reflecting positive attitudes, respectful behavior, and punctuality. Understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and global cultures, and social responsibility are rated Good, with students demonstrating appreciation for UAE heritage and engaging in diverse cultural activities. positive attitudesIslamic valuesUAE heritagesocial responsibility
Teaching quality varies, with improvements to Very Good in Phases 1 and 4, while Phases 2 and 3 maintain a Good level. Teachers effectively engage students, especially in English-medium subjects, but efficient use of time and effective differentiation for diverse learning needs are not consistently evident. Assessment practices are Good in Phases 1 and 2, and Very Good in Phases 3 and 4, with data now incorporated into lesson plans for Grades 1-12. differentiationClassKlap programcritical thinking
Curriculum design and adaptation are rated Good across all phases, providing varied learning opportunities that prepare students well for further study. Curricula are systematically reviewed based on assessment results, but there is insufficient adaptation to extend all learners and cater to diverse student needs. varied learning opportunitiesinsufficient adaptationsystematically reviewed
Health and safety arrangements remain Outstanding, with robust systems for safeguarding, comprehensive protocols, and well-equipped facilities. However, care and support for students regressed to Good due to the absence of in-school support services (ISSS) for students with additional learning needs and a relatively low identification rate. health and safetychild protectionsafeguardingin-school support services (ISSS)
Leadership effectiveness and self-evaluation have improved to Very Good, reflecting successful initiatives to enhance student learning. Partnerships with parents and governance maintain Very Good ratings, while management is Good. Improvements are attributed to new leadership appointments, strategic staffing increases, and investments in facilities and community partnerships. new Vice Principalstaffingcommunity partnershipsself-evaluation
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Student Achievement
Students' achievement has shown overall improvement across most subjects, with notable progress in Phase 4.
Positive Personal Development
Students demonstrate strong personal development, positive behavior, and respectful relationships within the school community.
Outstanding Health & Safety
The school maintains excellent health and safety arrangements, including robust measures for child protection and safeguarding.
Strong Cultural Understanding
Students show a good understanding and appreciation of Islamic values, UAE heritage, and culture.
Effective Leadership
Leadership is effective in cultivating a positive learning environment, supporting staff development, and driving school improvement.
Productive Parent Partnership
The school benefits from a strong and productive partnership with parents and the wider community.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' achievement has shown overall improvement in Arabic and English medium subjects, with notable progress in Phase 4. However, Mathematics attainment and progress have regressed in Cycles 2 and 3.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leadership has improved to Very Good, driven by the appointment of a new Vice Principal and strategic increases in staffing, including additional inclusion teachers and KG classroom adults. Leaders demonstrate a clear understanding of benchmarking academic achievement and have made significant investments in sports facilities and community partnerships to enrich student opportunities.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate high attainment in Islamic Education, Arabic as a second language, UAE Social Studies, English, and Science, particularly in higher phases. External assessment results for Grade 12 in MoE exams and CBSE are outstanding. However, internal data for some subjects does not always align with observed lesson performance, and Mathematics has shown regression in Cycles 2 and 3.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit very good personal development, positive attitudes, and respectful behavior. They show a good understanding of Islamic values, Emirati and global cultures, and social responsibility, actively engaging in cultural activities and supporting one another. Students demonstrate strong appreciation for UAE heritage.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching quality is Very Good in KG and Cycle 3, and Good in Cycles 1 and 2. Teachers effectively engage students and promote critical thinking, especially in English-medium subjects. Assessment is Good in KG and Cycle 1, and Very Good in Cycles 2 and 3, with data now integrated into lesson plans for Grades 1-12. However, efficient use of time and effective differentiation for all student needs are inconsistent.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and adaptation are rated Good across all phases, offering varied learning opportunities that prepare students well for future studies. The curricula are systematically reviewed using assessment results. However, there is insufficient adaptation to extend high-attaining learners and cater to the diverse needs of all students.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, are Outstanding, with robust systems and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students are Good, but this is a regression from previous outstanding. This decline is attributed to the absence of in-school support services (ISSS) for students with additional learning needs and a low identification rate for students of determination.
Areas for Development
- •Raise the standards of achievement to at least Very Good in all subjects by ensuring activities are sufficiently challenging for high attainers and gifted students, expanding opportunities for technology-supported independent research, encouraging interdisciplinary projects, and providing more real-world problem-solving activities in mathematics.
- •Further improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment by providing more opportunities for independent research, innovation, creativity, and problem-solving, improving the quality of marking and feedback, and making more efficient use of time in lessons.
- •Strengthen leadership and management by ensuring the Self-Evaluation Form (SEF) is evaluative rather than descriptive, improving the school development plan for robust monitoring, and ensuring attendance and punctuality improve to be at least Very Good across all phases.