Al Shohub Private School, Abu Dhabi

Al Shohub Private School follows the English National Curriculum (EYFS Framework for Nursery and FS2; National Curriculum for England for Years 1–6), blended with UAE Ministry of Education requirements covering Arabic, Islamic Studies, and UAE Social Studies. Since restructuring in 2023–24, the school operates exclusively as an EYFS-to-Year-6 primary, having discontinued its secondary and post-16 phases. This makes Al Shohub one of the few British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi designed specifically around the primary years, with no examination pathway beyond Year 6 on site. French is introduced in Years 5 and 6, and students in Years 2 and 6 sit UK SATs in Mathematics, Reading, and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar — providing a direct benchmark against England's national standards.

The school's academic identity is distinctive in one important respect: it was founded specifically to serve Emirati students, and 484 of its 542 enrolled students are UAE nationals, making it one of the most Emirati-focused British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi. Among 105 British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, very few carry this demographic profile. The curriculum is deliberately shaped around this community — Emirati cultural heritage, Islamic values, and Arabic language development sit alongside the rigour of the English National Curriculum, rather than being treated as supplementary add-ons.

The school's most recent Irtiqaa inspection, conducted in June 2024, awarded Al Shohub an overall rating of Good — an improvement from the previous cycle's Acceptable rating, following acquisition by Aldar Education and the appointment of a new senior leadership team. Inspectors noted that students make good progress across both EYFS and primary phases in Arabic and English medium subjects, and that teachers across both phases have strong subject knowledge and knowledge of how students learn. Teaching and assessment were both rated Good across EYFS and primary, and health and safety arrangements were rated Very Good in both phases — the highest sub-rating in the report.

Standardised assessment data, however, paints a more cautious picture of attainment. In PIRLS 2021, Year 5 students scored 515 — above the UAE average but below the school's own target of 535. In PISA 2022, results in reading literacy (451.8), mathematical literacy (426.8), and science literacy (442.8) all fell below international standards and set targets. In the GL Progress Test in English (PTE) administered in Fall AY2022/23, fewer than three-quarters of students in Years 4–6 attained levels in line with international standards. These figures indicate that while progress is broadly good, absolute attainment — particularly in English literacy and across STEM subjects — remains a work in progress relative to international benchmarks.

Inspectors identified several areas requiring improvement. Attainment in Arabic-medium subjects and science is rated Acceptable across both phases, and science progress in EYFS was also rated Acceptable — the only subject-phase combination to fall below Good on progress. The report flagged that assessment information is not yet fully embedded to differentiate learning effectively, particularly for higher attainers, and that identification and support for students of determination and gifted and talented pupils needs strengthening. Teacher talk time was cited as excessive in some lessons, and middle leadership capacity requires further development. Extended writing skills in both Arabic and English — across genres and with correct structure — were highlighted as a priority area for improvement across both phases.

Compared to peer British curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Shohub sits in the middle tier. Of the 105 British curriculum schools in the city, 18 hold an Outstanding rating and 24 are rated Very Good — meaning Al Shohub's Good rating places it in the largest single rating band for this curriculum type. The school's fee range of AED 26,720 to AED 54,580 sits below the British curriculum median of AED 49,630 at the lower end, positioning it as a more accessible entry point into British education in Abu Dhabi. The Read, Write, Inc. phonics programme and Accelerated Reader platform are notable structured literacy investments, and the library's collection of over 13,000 books — with dedicated reading areas and weekly library sessions — reflects a genuine institutional commitment to reading culture. The school's integration into the Aldar Education group provides access to group-level resources and professional development infrastructure that smaller independent schools cannot replicate.