Citizens School
Executive Summary
Citizens School, a UK curriculum school located in Al Satwa, has received a Good overall rating in its 2024-2025 KHDA inspection. Established in 2022, the school is recognized for providing a caring, nurturing, and welcoming learning environment.
The school's curriculum is innovative, focusing on preparing students for the world of business and enterprise through project-based learning. Students demonstrate good progress in Islamic Education, Arabic as an additional language, mathematics, and science in Primary, with the Foundation Stage showing good progress in English, science, and mathematics.
Key strengths include the excellent behavior and safeguarding of students, strong parental commitment, and the inclusive approach of governors, leaders, and staff. The school effectively promotes wellbeing and has comprehensive systems for students of determination.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Citizens School Overall Rating
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 effectively promotes an inclusive ethos with a well-qualified senior leader accountable for inclusive education. Comprehensive systems are in place for identifying students of determination, and interventions are supported by a collaborative inclusion team and mainstream staff. Most students of determination make good progress due to tailored support, modification, and differentiation strategies. students of determinationinclusive ethostailored support
Senior leaders prioritize wellbeing, actively promoting it through clear vision, policies, and effective communication. The school fosters a collaborative approach, involving students, staff, and parents, and provides counselling, peer mentoring, and tailored interventions to support social, emotional, and mental health needs. A positive classroom culture ensures students are confident, happy, and engaged. wellbeingcollaborative approachcounsellingpeer mentoringpositive classroom culture
The school's National Agenda Parameter standards are acceptable, with evidence of progress in mathematics and science from external benchmark assessments. Progress in English remains weak overall, though improving outcomes are noted from the New Group Reading Test. Leaders effectively analyze GL assessment data to identify and address skill gaps in action plans. National Agenda ParametermathematicsscienceEnglishGL assessment data
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Nurturing Environment
The school provides a caring, nurturing, and welcoming learning environment that fosters positive relationships and student well-being.
Innovative Curriculum
The curriculum is innovative and designed to prepare students for future challenges, particularly in business and enterprise, through project-based learning.
Excellent Behaviour & Safety
Students demonstrate excellent behavior and self-discipline, supported by secure safeguarding procedures and a safe, well-maintained environment.
Strong Parental Support
Parents are highly committed and actively participate in school life, contributing significantly to school improvement and community engagement.
Inclusive Leadership
Governors, leaders, and staff demonstrate strong respect, support, guidance, and inclusion for all members of the school community.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' attainment is acceptable across all phases and subjects, with good progress observed in specific subjects and phases, particularly in Foundation Stage and Primary. Literacy levels, however, negatively impact overall attainment.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leaders, including the owner and governors, embrace diversity and inclusion, fostering robust, collaborative, and data-driven self-evaluation and planning. The senior and middle leadership teams are strongly aligned with the school's vision, promoting inclusivity, innovation, and wellbeing, and driving continuous improvement through structured reviews and coaching.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' attainment is acceptable across all phases and subjects, though impacted by literacy levels. Good progress is observed in Primary for Islamic Education, Arabic (additional), mathematics, and science, and in FS for English, science, and mathematics. Students demonstrate maturity, respect, and responsibility, with strong appreciation for UAE heritage and culture, and developing entrepreneurship skills through project-based learning.
Personal Development
Students across all phases exhibit very good personal development, demonstrating maturity, respect, and responsibility. They show a secure understanding of Islamic values and a strong appreciation for UAE heritage and culture. Students actively engage in leadership roles, community projects, and develop entrepreneurship and sustainability skills through the curriculum.
Teaching Quality
Teachers possess secure subject knowledge and understand student learning, utilizing an accurate digital assessment system. While learning objectives are shared, teachers do not consistently use assessment data for lesson planning or to provide sufficient challenge for higher-attaining students. Opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, and peer/self-assessment are not consistently provided across all subjects.
Protection & Care
Student safety and protection are high priorities, with clear procedures and effective safeguarding practices. The school offers inspiring facilities, vigilant supervision, and promotes healthy lifestyles. Teachers know their students well, fostering mutual trust and respect. The school is inclusive, with comprehensive systems for students of determination, who generally make good progress, though support for gifted and talented students is less consistent.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ standards of literacy in all subjects and phases.
- •Ensure that teachers have access to all relevant data, to inform their lesson planning, and target interventions to improve student outcomes.
- •Implement integrated technology and differentiation strategies to address the learning needs of all learners.
- •Improve the capacity of middle leaders to drive improvement in their areas of responsibility.
- •Ensure that reports to parents include all aspects of their children’s academic and personal development.
- •Strengthen students’ reading, comprehension, and grammatical skills across both phases in Arabic as a First Language.
- •Increase the level of challenge in English for all students and across all phases.