Aldar Academies-Al Yasmina School, Abu Dhabi

Yasmina British Academy follows the English National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through to Sixth Form (Year 13), culminating in IGCSE and A-Level examinations - the internationally portable British qualifications that open doors to universities in the UK, across the GCC, and globally. The curriculum is enriched by a deliberate STEAM framework (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), which the school describes as an access point for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking rather than a standalone subject. This positions YBA firmly in inquiry-based, application-led learning rather than rote instruction. The most compelling evidence of academic quality is the examination track record. The 2020 cohort - the most recent publicly published data on the school's website - achieved A-Level A*-A of 45.1%, compared to the UK national average of 27.9% in the same year. At A*-B, YBA students achieved 68.0% versus 54.3% nationally. At GCSE, 96.9% of students achieved grades 9-4 (the equivalent of the old A*-C pass), against a UK average of 76.0%. Grade 9 attainment stood at 20.9% versus just 6.3% nationally - a striking three-fold outperformance at the very top grade. These figures place YBA comfortably among the strongest performing British-curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi education. The 2025 ADEK Irtiqa report provides a more granular, phase-by-phase picture. Mathematics attainment is Outstanding in Cycles 1, 2, and 3 (Years 1-13), with progress Outstanding across all phases. English attainment is Outstanding in Cycle 2, Very Good in other phases, with progress Outstanding across all phases. Science attainment is Outstanding in Cycles 1 and 2, Very Good in KG and Cycle 3, with progress Outstanding throughout. The ADEK inspection noted that in Cycle 3, science attainment regressed from Outstanding to Very Good - a candid finding worth noting for parents of GCSE and A-Level science students. Learning skills are rated Outstanding across all four phases, reflecting students' exceptional engagement, collaboration, and independent thinking. International benchmarking adds further context. In PISA 2022, YBA students scored 526 in scientific literacy (above the international average of 485 and within the high proficiency benchmark), 489 in mathematical literacy (above the international average of 472), and 467 in reading literacy (slightly below the international average of 476). In TIMSS 2023, Year 5 mathematics scored 547 and Year 5 science scored 540, both within the high proficiency benchmark and above international averages. Year 9 mathematics (533) and science (539) were above international averages but below school targets - an area ADEK has flagged for improvement. The school uses the GL Assessment Progress Tests (GL-PT) in Years 4-10 for internal benchmarking, with results showing Very Good to Outstanding attainment and progress in English, mathematics, and science. In terms of subject breadth, the school offers the full range of IGCSE subjects and a wide A-Level subject menu through Sixth Form. Arabic as a first and second language, Islamic Education, and UAE Social Studies are all delivered in compliance with MoE requirements. The ADEK report notes improvement in Arabic-medium subjects - a historically weaker area - with Arabic First Language attainment now Very Good in Cycles 1-3 and progress Outstanding in Cycle 3. However, ADEK's key recommendations include raising Arabic-medium attainment to consistently Outstanding and improving Phase 1 listening and speaking skills in Arabic - an honest signal that Arabic provision, while improved, is not yet at the same level as English-medium subjects. The school's library holdings are substantial: 31,000 titles across primary and secondary libraries, including fiction, non-fiction, and multilingual reference texts. Whole-school reading initiatives including DEAR (Drop Everything and Read), Read-vember, and Reading Ambassador programs signal a genuine reading culture rather than a box-ticking exercise. The inclusion provision is described by ADEK as highly effective, with 181 students of determination supported within the mainstream setting - a significant number that speaks to the school's commitment to inclusion. Gifted and Talented identification and support are also rated highly effective.