Bilingual French International School, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
The Bilingual French International School provides a Very Good quality of education, as determined by the 2023-2024 KHDA inspection. The school is recognized for its commitment to bilingualism, inclusivity, and student wellbeing, fostering a strong sense of trust among students, parents, and staff.
Academic achievement has significantly improved, particularly in Maternelle where children demonstrate high levels in key subjects and learning skills. Students' achievement across a large majority of subjects is Very Good, with notable progress in Islamic Education and Arabic in Primaire and Collège. The school's curriculum ensures seamless progression and effectively prepares students for their future education.
Beyond academics, students exhibit Outstanding personal development, work ethic, and attitudes to learning in Maternelle and Lycée, showing high levels of innovation and creativity. The school maintains excellent arrangements for student safety and security, complemented by strong partnerships with parents, owners, and governors, all contributing to a supportive and effective learning environment.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Bilingual French International School Overall Rating
Very Good
Dubai Focus Areas
These three pillars represent the Dubai education authority's priorities: ensuring inclusive practices, prioritizing student wellbeing, and meeting UAE National Agenda targets.
The school's inclusion governor actively promotes inclusion, ensuring the policy is implemented across all classes. Students with barriers to learning are identified through teacher referrals, observations, and assessments, leading to the development of intervention plans in collaboration with parents. Teachers maintain high expectations and provide differentiated learning activities with support from the inclusion team. inclusion governorstudents of determinationdifferentiated learning activities
The school's wellbeing provision and outcomes are rated as Good, with a dedicated leader integrating wellbeing into the school's culture through a new policy. Collaboration between wellbeing and inclusion teams, alongside the school clinic, supports effective provision. Curricular and extra-curricular programs promote wellbeing development, emphasizing self-care strategies and fostering a positive community connection. wellbeing leaderwellbeing policyself-care strategiescommunity connection
UAE social studies and moral education are taught as integrated subjects from Grades 1 to 10, adopting a multi-disciplinary approach with diverse resources and field trips. Students develop a deep appreciation for Islamic values and Emirati culture, which is reflected in various school activities. Strong links with Emirati culture and UAE society are evident in Arabic and social studies. UAE social studiesMoral EducationIslamic valuesEmirati culture
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Ambitious Vision
The governors and senior leaders share an ambitious vision focused on optimizing student achievement within an inclusive environment that highly values and promotes bilingualism.
Improved Maternelle Achievement
Children in Maternelle have shown significant improvement in achievement across key subjects and in their learning skills, reaching a high level.
Strong Personal Development
Students consistently demonstrate a very strong work ethic, excellent personal development, and positive attitudes towards learning across all phases of the school.
Excellent Safeguarding
The school maintains excellent arrangements and rigorous procedures to ensure the safety and security of all students, meeting all statutory requirements.
Strong Partnerships
The school benefits from excellent partnerships with parents, owners, and governors, fostering a collaborative environment for school development and student support.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students’ achievement in a large majority of key subjects is very good and much improved. Students' learning skills are generally very good across all phases of the school.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The principal and senior leaders have successfully established a school that actively promotes bilingualism, inclusivity, and wellbeing, earning the trust of the entire school community. Their innovative approach, supported by the owners and governors, focuses on developing high-quality bilingual education through proven research and strategic direction.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Children’s achievement and learning skills in Maternelle have significantly improved to a high level. Across most key subjects, students' achievement is very good and much improved, with progress in Islamic Education and Arabic enhancing in Primaire and Collège. Students' learning skills are consistently very good across all phases.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate excellent personal development, work ethic, and attitudes to learning in Maternelle and Lycée, exhibiting high levels of innovation and creativity. They consistently show respect and empathy towards others, actively supporting their school community and developing maturity.
Teaching Quality
The quality of teaching has improved to a very high level across most of the school, with teachers possessing excellent subject knowledge and making learning relevant. Teachers effectively adapt teaching to students' needs, and assessment processes are well-structured and consistent, benchmarking attainment against national averages.
Protection & Care
The school implements rigorous procedures and policies for student safety and security, meeting all statutory requirements with frequent and thorough safety checks. Wellbeing and personal development are high priorities, with academic and career guidance for older students, and effective identification and monitoring of students of determination.
Areas for Development
- •Ensure assessment information is used effectively to influence teaching and the curriculum, to identify and meet the learning needs of all groups of students.
- •Improve the effectiveness of subject leadership in Islamic Education and implement the best practices in teaching and assessment.
- •Improve leadership skills and the monitoring of middle leaders by developing KHDA School Inspection Framework derived performance management criteria and providing targeted personalised professional development.
- •Improve the current methods of data collection, including tailored surveys, to inform wellbeing planning for initiatives and curriculum integration.
- •Ensure that teachers systematically promote critical thinking, problem-solving and independent learning, particularly in Primaire.
- •Ensure that the curriculum in Arabic, as an additional language, is fully aligned with the MoE expectations.
- •Improve even further the processes for the identification of, and support for, students who are gifted and talented.