Arzana Private School, Abu Dhabi
ADEK Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
Arzana Private School received a Weak overall rating in the 2023-2024 ADEK Irtiqa inspection. The school follows an American curriculum, catering to students from KG to Grade 8.
Strengths include students' adequate achievement in Mathematics across all phases and in Arabic in KG and Cycle 3. Students also demonstrate a sound appreciation of Islamic values and UAE heritage and culture. The school maintains sound facilities and adequate safeguarding procedures.
However, the report identifies significant areas for development, particularly in improving the quality of teaching and students' achievements, strengthening assessment practices, enhancing curriculum adaptation, and improving the overall effectiveness of leadership.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Arzana Private School Overall Rating
Weak
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' attainment and progress are generally Weak across most subjects and phases, with internal assessment data often not aligning with observed lesson performance. While adequate achievement is noted in Mathematics across all phases and in Arabic in KG and Cycle 3, overall academic outcomes require significant improvement. MathematicsArabic
Students' personal development, social responsibility, and innovation skills are Weak, marked by a lack of self-reliance, occasional disorderly behavior, and limited community involvement. However, students show an Acceptable understanding of Islamic values and appreciation for UAE culture. Islamic valuesUAE culture
The quality of teaching for effective learning and assessment practices are consistently Weak across all phases. Teachers often do not differentiate effectively, and assessment processes lack robustness, with insufficient use of data to inform instruction or track student progress. differentiationassessment data
Curriculum design, implementation, and adaptation are Weak, failing to consistently meet the needs of all student groups, including students of determination and gifted students. Opportunities for play-based learning in KG, cross-curricular links, and building on prior knowledge are limited. play-based learningcross-curricular links
The school provides Acceptable health and safety arrangements, including child protection and safeguarding procedures. However, the overall care and support for students are Weak, with limited awareness of student needs and differences. health and safetychild protection
The effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, and improvement planning are Weak, lacking a robust strategic direction and effective monitoring of teaching and learning. While parents and governance show Acceptable contributions, overall management, staffing, and resources require improvement. strategic directionself-evaluation
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Mathematics Achievement
Students demonstrate adequate achievement in Mathematics across all phases.
Arabic Achievement
Students show adequate achievement in Arabic in KG and Cycle 3.
Cultural Appreciation
Students have a sound appreciation of Islamic values and respect for UAE heritage and culture.
Facilities & Safeguarding
The school maintains sound buildings and equipment, with adequate safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Parental Engagement
Parents and governors are actively involved and make positive contributions to school improvement.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Attainment in most subjects across all phases is weak, with internal assessment data often not aligning with observed student performance. Progress is also generally weak, particularly in English, Islamic Education, Arabic as a second language, and UAE Social Studies. Mathematics shows acceptable attainment and progress across all phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership approach is currently weak, lacking a robust strategic direction and effective self-evaluation processes. While parents and governors contribute positively, there is a need for stronger monitoring of teaching and learning, improved staff deployment, and better resource management to raise student achievement.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Attainment and progress are generally weak across most subjects, with internal data often misaligned with observed performance. While some subjects show adequate achievement, there's a need to raise expectations and improve skills across the board.
Personal & Social Development
Students' personal responsibility, self-reliance, and innovation skills are weak, with occasional disorderly behavior and limited community involvement. However, they show acceptable understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching quality and assessment practices are weak, characterized by insufficient differentiation, lack of robust internal assessment, and ineffective use of data to inform instruction or track individual and group progress.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is weak in meeting diverse student needs, particularly for students of determination and gifted students. There are limited opportunities for play-based learning, cross-curricular links, and building on prior knowledge.
Protection, Care & Support
Health, safety, and child protection arrangements are acceptable. However, the overall care and support for students are weak, with limited awareness of individual needs and differences, and issues with punctuality and healthy choices.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the quality of teaching and students’ achievements to a consistently good or better level in all subjects and phases.
- •Improve the quality of assessment to reach at least a good level by ensuring robust processes and effective use of data.
- •Improve the curriculum to meet the needs of all groups of students, including those with additional learning needs and gifted students.
- •Improve the effectiveness of leadership to reach at least a good level by establishing a robust leadership team, improving self-evaluation, and enhancing monitoring.