Darul Huda Islamic School
Executive Summary
Darul Huda Islamic School received an overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Acceptable for the 2023-2024 academic year, maintaining its performance since the previous inspection. The school follows an Indian curriculum and serves a diverse student body, primarily from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Students demonstrate Good achievements in Islamic Education and Social Studies across all phases, and in English in KG and the middle phase. However, attainment and progress in English and Mathematics in the secondary phase, and Science in the middle and secondary phases, have regressed to an Acceptable level. This is largely attributed to teachers setting low expectations and a curriculum that is often textbook-driven and insufficiently differentiated.
The school's strengths include Very Good health and safety protocols, effective child protection, and a bullying-free environment. Students exhibit respectful behavior and a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. Leadership is committed to national priorities, including inclusive education, though improvements are needed in self-evaluation and strategic planning.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Darul Huda Islamic School Overall Rating
Acceptable for 2+ consecutive years
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students achieve well in Islamic Education and UAE Social Studies across all phases, and in English in KG and the middle phase. However, attainment and progress in English and Mathematics in the secondary phase, and Science in the middle and secondary phases, have regressed to an acceptable level, primarily due to low teacher expectations and limited differentiation. Islamic EducationUAE Social StudiesEnglish in KG
Students consistently demonstrate respectful behavior towards peers and teachers, along with a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. While personal development is good, social responsibility and innovation skills are currently acceptable. respectful behaviorIslamic valuesEmirati culture
Teaching and assessment practices are acceptable overall. Key areas for development include implementing effective lesson planning, differentiated learning, and skillful questioning techniques. Teachers need to raise expectations for students and ensure consistent, accurate assessment data tracking. differentiated learningskillful questioningassessment data tracking
The curriculum design, implementation, and adaptation are rated as acceptable. While teachers plan detailed lessons with links to UAE culture, the curriculum is often textbook-driven and does not consistently meet the diverse needs of all student groups. curriculum designcurriculum adaptationtextbook-driven
The school demonstrates very good provision for health, safety, and child protection, ensuring a safe and bullying-free environment. Care and support for students, including those with additional learning needs, are good, with effective systems in place to promote healthy lifestyles. child protectionhealth and safetyhealthy lifestyles
Leadership and management are acceptable. While committed to national priorities, the leadership needs to improve the accuracy of self-evaluation, strategic planning, and the effectiveness of middle leaders in monitoring teaching, learning, and curriculum modification to raise student achievement. self-evaluationstrategic planningmiddle leaders
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Islamic & Social Studies
Students achieve well in Islamic Education and Social Studies across all phases, demonstrating strong knowledge and understanding.
Respectful Student Behavior
Students consistently show respectful behavior towards peers and teachers, applying school values and resolving conflicts independently.
Effective Child Protection
The school has rigorous child protection protocols and processes, ensuring students feel safe in a bullying-free environment.
Commitment to National Priorities
School leadership is committed to UAE national priorities, including inclusive education, and has invested in new resources and facilities.
Improved KG English
Attainment and progress in English for KG children have improved to a good level since the previous inspection.
Academic Performance Breakdown
While students show good attainment and progress in Islamic Education and UAE Social Studies across all phases, and in English in KG and the middle phase, there has been a regression to acceptable levels in English, Mathematics, and Science in the secondary phase, and Science in the middle phase. This is largely due to low teacher expectations and a lack of differentiated learning, hindering the progress of higher-attaining students and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills across the school.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership is committed to UAE national priorities, including inclusive education, and has made investments in school resources. However, the effectiveness of leadership is acceptable, with a need to enhance accurate self-evaluation, implement more strategic planning for improving classroom teaching, and ensure middle leaders effectively monitor learning and curriculum modification.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate good attainment and progress in Islamic Education and UAE Social Studies across all phases, and in English in KG and the middle phase. However, attainment and progress in English, Mathematics, and Science in the secondary phase, and Science in the middle phase, have regressed to acceptable levels, hindering the development of higher-order skills.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit good personal development, characterized by positive attitudes, respectful behavior, and a strong understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture. They demonstrate high self-control and resolve conflicts independently, contributing to a harmonious school environment. Social responsibility and innovation skills are acceptable.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching and assessment are acceptable. While teachers plan detailed lessons, there is a need to improve effective lesson planning, differentiated learning, and skillful questioning to ensure all students make good progress. Consistent use of reliable assessment data and effective use of time and resources are also areas for development.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and adaptation are acceptable. The curriculum is integrated with reading activities and links to UAE culture and society. However, it is often textbook-driven and not sufficiently modified to meet the diverse needs of all learners, particularly those with additional learning needs and higher-attaining students.
Protection, Care & Support
The school provides very good protection, care, and support for students, with effective and rigorous child protection protocols and systems for promoting healthy lifestyles. Care and support, including provision for students of determination, are good, ensuring students feel safe and well-supported.
Areas for Development
- •Improve students’ attainment and progress to at least good in all subjects across the school by enhancing skills in interpretation of divine meaning, fluency in speaking and extended writing, complex mathematical problem-solving, independent scientific experimentation, and innovation, creativity, and critical thinking.
- •Improve teaching and assessment to at least good levels by implementing effective lesson planning, differentiated learning, skillful questioning, raising teachers' expectations, ensuring effective use of time and resources, and establishing coherent and consistent internal assessment tracking systems.
- •Improve the effectiveness of leadership to at least a good level by accurately assessing all aspects of school performance, implementing strategic planning for improving classroom teaching, ensuring leaders are aware of improvement priorities, and enhancing middle leaders’ monitoring of teaching, learning, and curriculum modification.