Al Salam Private School, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings 2019
Last updated
Executive Summary
The overall quality of education provided by Al Salam Private School is Good. The school maintains a strong sense of community, with students and adults working well together in a respectful atmosphere.
Students' achievement is mostly Good, with particular strengths in secondary mathematics and science, where attainment is Very Good. The school follows the National Curriculum for England, which is well-established across all phases, ensuring continuity and progression in learning.
Students demonstrate very responsible attitudes, a strong sense of personal and social responsibility, and an Outstanding understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. Leadership is highly committed, with improvements in middle leadership, and strong links developed with parents.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Salam Private School Overall Rating
Good for 11+ 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.
Al Salam Private School is a caring and inclusive school with strong commitment from leadership and the inclusion team. Identification for vocational programs is successful, but systems for less complex needs and gifts and talents lack rigor. Parents are highly involved in IEPs and appreciate clear communication. Students of DeterminationIEPsvocational programme
The school demonstrates a strong commitment to wellbeing, supported by an experienced team and a newly established program. Stakeholders feel valued, safe, and engaged, with high parent satisfaction. The wellbeing program is linked to the curriculum, fostering a positive classroom climate and addressing online safety. wellbeing teamwellbeing programmeonline safety
The school has exceeded PIRLS targets and shown significant improvements in benchmark assessments for both whole-school and Emirati cohorts, particularly in mathematics and science. Action plans are based on international assessment outcomes and monitored for impact, informing curriculum adaptation and teaching. PIRLSbenchmark assessmentsEmirati attainmentNational Agenda action plan
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Secondary Academics
Secondary students demonstrate high attainment in science and strong attainment and progress in mathematics, reflecting effective teaching and curriculum.
Strong Community Spirit
A respectful atmosphere fosters strong collaboration between students and adults, contributing to a positive school environment.
Responsible, Values-Driven Students
Students exhibit a strong sense of personal and social responsibility, coupled with a deep awareness and respect for Islamic values.
Innovative STEM Learning
Technology is effectively integrated to support project-based learning, particularly enhancing science, technology, and mathematics education.
Strong Parent Partnerships
Leadership has successfully fostered and maintained strong, collaborative relationships with parents, enhancing school-home communication.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students’ achievement is mostly Good, and Very Good in secondary mathematics and science. Attainment in English and mathematics in the Foundation Stage (FS), and in Arabic, for both first and additional language speakers, is mostly acceptable, although progress is good. Students in all phases have good learning skills.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leaders at all levels show a high level of commitment to the school and its students. The principal and senior leaders have improved middle leadership, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities and a clearer focus on raising student achievement. They communicate their vision successfully to all stakeholders and consult with them regularly, sharing a common purpose and strong support from parents.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievement is mostly Good, with Very Good attainment in secondary mathematics and science. Attainment in FS English and Arabic (first and additional) is mostly Acceptable, though progress is Good. Students in all phases exhibit Good learning skills, with critical thinking embedded in upper Primary and Secondary.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate very responsible attitudes, self-discipline, and sensitivity to others' needs, with bullying being rare. They show an Outstanding understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture, coupled with a strong sense of social responsibility and innovation skills, actively contributing to the school and local community.
Teaching Quality
Teaching for effective learning and assessment are rated Good across all phases. While Secondary teachers effectively use assessment, inconsistency exists in FS and Primary. The school focuses on developing critical thinking, with success in Secondary, and most teachers differentiate activities to meet student needs.
Protection & Care
Students are safeguarded through comprehensive policies and procedures, with very secure and well-maintained premises. Health and safety, including child protection, are Very Good. Care and support are generally effective, though consistency varies in Primary, and support for students of determination and those with gifts and talents is variable.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment throughout the school, particularly in lower Primary.
- •Increase the consistency with which assessment information is used by teachers to inform classroom organisation, the delivery of lessons and implementation of all-inclusive provision.
- •Ensure greater accountability for all aspects of the school’s provision and outcomes.
- •Apply greater rigour in identifying potential risks and taking action promptly to address them.
- •Improve the reading outcomes for all students, but particularly those in Primary.
- •Provide more support for Emirati students to improve their outcomes in the English benchmark tests.
- •Embed all wellbeing initiatives and practices more purposefully across the school.
- •Improve students’ skills in using appropriate references from the Holy Qur’an, Hadeeth, and Seerah to justify their opinions.
- •Raise teachers’ expectations and the level of challenge in learning tasks for all groups of students.
- •Improve students use of standard Arabic when speaking.
- •Improve students writing skills by providing them with more opportunities to write independently on a range of different topics.
- •Present students with more opportunities to initiate and maintain dialogues in Arabic.
- •Support students’ in improving their skills in writing.
- •Improve the attainment of Emirati students, and children in FS.
- •Improve students’ numerical fluency, ability to manipulate numbers and employ problem-solving skills, in FS and lower Primary.
- •Use assessment information to plan lessons which meet the mathematical needs of all students especially in FS and lower Primary.
- •Ensure that children in FS and early Primary have the necessary scientific and collaborative skills so that they maximise their learning in scientific investigations.
- •Apply the best practice in critical thinking, enterprise and use of enquiry from across the school into all subjects.
- •Extend opportunities for more students to contribute to the wider community, through volunteering activities.
- •Ensure more precision and use of assessment in planning learning activities for younger children and all groups of students.
- •Provide effective written feedback to children and students which enables them to know exactly what steps they need to take to improve their work further.
- •Review curriculum modifications to ensure maximum impact on teaching and learning, especially for students of determination and children in FS and lower Primary.
- •Ensure greater rigour in identifying potential risks and implementing prompt remedial action.
- •Improve the quality of assessment to support students of determination and those with gifts and talents.
- •Ensure that all IEP targets are relevant, achievable, closely linked to curriculum expectations and implemented successfully.