Al Shohub Private School
Executive Summary
Al Shohub Private School, now part of the Aldar Education group, has achieved an overall ADEK rating of Good for the 2023-2024 academic year, marking an improvement from its previous acceptable rating. This positive shift follows the appointment of a new senior leadership team and principal, who have implemented a clear action plan for school improvements, including a transition to focus on EYFS and Primary phases.
The school's strengths include good progress across both phases and subjects, supported by teachers with strong subject knowledge. Students demonstrate good personal and social development, and innovation skills. However, attainment in some Arabic-medium subjects and science in EYFS has regressed to acceptable, primarily due to recent restructuring.
The school provides a very safe, hygienic, and secure environment within its well-maintained, spacious, and modern buildings. Effective leadership and management are providing clear direction, fostering strong parental and community support, and contributing to the school's positive trajectory.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Shohub Private School Overall Rating
Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students make good progress across both phases and subjects, though attainment has regressed to acceptable in some Arabic-medium subjects and EYFS science due to restructuring. The school is working to improve attainment and progress, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects and science, by using assessment data more effectively and enhancing higher-order thinking skills. good progressArabic-medium subjectsEYFS science
Children's and students' personal, social development, and innovation skills are now of a good standard overall. However, understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, along with social responsibility and innovation skills, are rated acceptable, indicating areas for further development. personal, social developmentinnovation skills
Teaching and assessment have improved to a good standard overall, with teachers demonstrating strong subject knowledge. While assessment information is analyzed more rigorously, its use for differentiation, especially for higher attainers, needs further embedding. Inconsistency in teaching quality between English-medium and Arabic-medium subjects persists. strong subject knowledgedifferentiationhigher attainers
Curriculum design and implementation are good across both phases. Curriculum adaptation is stronger in EYFS (Good) than in the primary phase (Acceptable), requiring further improvements in using assessment to design modifications for all student groups, particularly in primary. Curriculum designCurriculum adaptationEYFSprimary phase
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, remain very good. While the number of students of determination has increased, further improvements are required in their identification and support, resulting in an overall good level of care, guidance, and support. Health and safetychild protectionsafeguardingstudents of determination
Leadership and management are effective, providing clear direction and improving from acceptable to good with new ownership and leadership. Systems of accountability and monitoring have strengthened, accelerating school improvement planning and fostering strong support from parents and the community. effective leadershipnew ownershipaccountability and monitoring
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Overall Performance Improvement
The school's overall performance has improved from acceptable to Good, driven by new ownership and leadership.
Strong Student Progress
Students demonstrate good progress across both EYFS and Primary phases in both Arabic and English medium subjects.
Effective Leadership
Leadership and management are effective, providing clear direction and fostering strong support from the school community.
Safe & Secure Environment
The school provides a very safe, hygienic, and secure environment within its well-maintained, spacious, and modern buildings.
Teacher Expertise
Teachers across both phases possess strong subject knowledge and understanding of how students learn effectively.
Student Communication & Tech
Primary students communicate well with peers and adults and effectively use digital technology to support their learning.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The regression in attainment across several subjects is primarily due to school restructuring, which caused instability in leadership and staff retention. However, overall progress has remained good in most subjects.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
With new ownership and a recently appointed principal, the school's leadership has significantly improved from acceptable to Good. They have implemented a clear action plan, strengthened accountability and monitoring systems, and fostered strong support from parents and the community, driving continuous school improvement.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students make good progress across both phases and subjects, with most primary students attaining above curriculum standards in Islamic Education and Arabic, though observed knowledge and skills don't always align with internal data. Attainment in Arabic, UAE Social Studies, and EYFS Science has regressed, while progress remains good in most areas.
Personal & Social Development
Students' personal and social development and innovation skills are generally good. However, their understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are rated acceptable, indicating areas for further development.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching and assessment practices have improved to a good standard overall, with teachers demonstrating strong subject knowledge. While assessment data is rigorously analyzed, its application to differentiate learning and effectively challenge higher attainers is inconsistent, particularly between English-medium and Arabic-medium subjects.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and implementation are good across both EYFS and Primary phases. Curriculum adaptation is stronger in EYFS (Good) than in the primary phase (Acceptable), highlighting a need for more effective use of assessment to modify the curriculum and meet the diverse needs of all student groups.
Protection, Care & Support
The school maintains very good standards for health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding. While there has been a significant increase in students with additional learning needs, further improvements are required in their identification and support, resulting in an overall good level of care, guidance, and support.
Areas for Development
- •Improve students’ attainment and progress in all subjects and phases, by: raising attainment in all subjects, especially in the Arabic-medium subjects and in science.
- •Improve the quality of teaching for learning and assessment to ensure all groups of children and students make the progress of which they are capable, by: personalizing learning strategies more effectively to challenge the higher achievers, including the gifted and/or talented.
- •Improve the school leadership to raise effectiveness by: developing the capacity and capability of middle leaders to build an effective distributive leadership model.
- •Improve the school leadership to raise effectiveness by: establishing the school as a community hub by strengthening partnerships with parents and the local district for mutual benefit and educational enrichment.