Al Ulla Private School
Executive Summary
Al Ulla Private School is a co-educational Arabic-medium school located in Al Azra, Sharjah, following the Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum. Established in 1997, the school serves 1,055 students across Cycles 1, 2, and 3 (Grades 1-12). The school's overall effectiveness has been rated Acceptable for the 2024-2025 inspection cycle, consistent with its rating in the previous review.
Student achievement is rated Acceptable overall, with the exception of Cycle 3 (Secondary), where students perform at a Good level in Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Learning Skills. Personal development and students' understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture are rated Good across all phases. Teaching and assessment quality is Acceptable in Cycles 1 and 2, and Good in Cycle 3. Curriculum quality remains Acceptable across all phases.
Key strengths include the quality of student achievement in Cycle 3 across core subjects, strong personal and social development, and positive relationships with parents. Priority areas for improvement include raising achievement standards in Cycles 1 and 2, providing adequate challenge and support for all student groups including those with special educational needs and gifted learners, and improving fire drill procedures and maintenance management within the school.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Ulla Private School Overall Rating
Acceptable for 4+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 3 students with special educational needs. Provision for these students, as well as for gifted and talented learners, remains inconsistent. Teachers do not consistently differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs of all student groups, and higher-ability students do not always receive sufficient challenge. Students of DeterminationGifted and Talented
Students demonstrate positive attitudes toward school life and feel safe within the school community. Bullying is rare and dealt with promptly. Student attendance is 95%, rated Good, though a notable number of students arrive late daily. Most students understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and participate actively in physical education. Student WellbeingHealthy LifestylesAttendance 95%
The school participates in international benchmark assessments including the IBT (International Benchmark Test) and the Arabic Language Arts test (Tala'a). IBT results for October 2024 showed Weak attainment in Grades 3 and 5 for Mathematics, while Science results ranged from Acceptable to Very Good depending on grade. Assessment data does not yet consistently inform teaching and curriculum planning across all phases. IBTTala'aInternational Benchmarks
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Cycle 3 Achievement
Students in Cycle 3 (Secondary) achieve Good levels in Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Learning Skills, demonstrating strong academic performance at the senior level.
Personal Development
Students across all phases demonstrate positive attitudes, respectful relationships, and good self-discipline. Personal development is rated Good throughout the school.
Parent Partnerships
Relationships with parents and the wider community are rated Good, with positive communication and engagement noted as a key strength of the school.
Islamic Values Awareness
Students demonstrate a Good understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage across all phases, supported by morning assemblies and cultural events.
Student Safeguarding
Student protection and care procedures are in place and the school community is considered safe. Safeguarding arrangements are maintained with dedicated staff support.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is rated Acceptable. A persistent gap exists between inflated internal assessment data and actual observed classroom performance across all phases. External benchmark results (IBT October 2024) provide a more accurate picture of attainment.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
School leadership under Principal Ihab Taha maintains an acceptable level of effectiveness, with improvements noted in some areas since the 2023 review. Leaders use assessment data to monitor student progress but the data does not consistently inform teaching and curriculum planning at the classroom level. Partnership with parents is a recognised strength, and the school fosters a welcoming and respectful school community.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is rated Acceptable, with Cycle 3 students performing at a Good level in Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Learning Skills. A significant gap exists between internal assessment data, which consistently shows Outstanding levels, and actual observed classroom performance. External benchmark results (IBT) provide a more realistic picture of attainment, showing Weak results in lower grades for Mathematics.
Personal Development
Personal and social development is rated Good overall, with students demonstrating positive attitudes, respectful behaviour, and good self-discipline across all phases. Students show a Good understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture and heritage. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Acceptable in Cycles 1 and 2, and Good in Cycle 3, with project-based and entrepreneurial skills requiring further development.
Teaching Quality
Teaching and assessment quality is rated Acceptable overall, and Good in Cycle 3. Most core subject teachers have sound subject knowledge, but differentiation for individual student needs is inconsistent, particularly in Cycles 1 and 2. Questioning techniques tend to be closed, limiting opportunities for deeper thinking. In Cycle 3, teachers more effectively encourage critical thinking and student autonomy.
Protection & Care
Student protection and care is rated Acceptable overall. The school provides a safe environment and students report feeling secure. However, maintenance management and risk assessment procedures, including fire drill arrangements, require improvement. Access for students of determination to upper floors is limited. Student attendance is 95% (Good), though late arrivals are a recurring issue.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the quality of student achievement in all subjects across Cycles 1 and 2 to at least a Good level.
- •Raise the quality of teaching and learning in Cycles 1 and 2 to at least a Good rating by improving differentiation and the use of questioning to deepen student understanding.
- •Provide adequate support and challenge for all student groups in lessons, including students with special educational needs and gifted and talented students across all cycles.
- •Improve the effective management of school maintenance and risk assessment by leaders, including fire drill procedures and arrangements.