Emirates National Schools - MBZ
Executive Summary
Emirates National Schools - MBZ has successfully maintained its Very Good overall rating in the 2024-2025 ADEK Irtiqa inspection. The school is recognized for its commitment to providing a high-quality American curriculum education, fostering a strong learning environment for its students.
Significant improvements were noted in students' achievement across both Arabic and English medium subjects. Progress in Arabic as a first language and Islamic Education reached Outstanding in some phases, while English and Science also saw overall improvement. Teaching and assessment in KG improved to Outstanding, contributing to excellent student progress.
The school demonstrates Outstanding provision for health and safety, and strong partnerships with parents and the community. Leadership and management are effective, with notable enhancements in facilities such as the Technology and Careers Center and The Dome for physical education activities, significantly enhancing the school's provision.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Emirates National Schools - MBZ Overall Rating
Very Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students demonstrate improved achievement across Arabic and English medium subjects, with notable progress in Arabic as a first language and Islamic Education reaching Outstanding in some phases. While internal assessments show high attainment, performance in international assessments like MAP and PISA indicates areas for further development, particularly in critical thinking and problem-solving. Arabic medium subjectsEnglish medium subjectsOutstanding progress
Students exhibit strong personal development, particularly in KG and Cycle 1, and an outstanding understanding of Islamic values, Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility across all phases. Innovation skills are also consistently Outstanding, though behavior policy implementation needs strengthening in the upper boys' section. Islamic valuesEmirati and world culturesinnovation skills
Teaching and assessment practices have improved significantly in KG to an Outstanding level, with highly effective strategies contributing to excellent student progress. Other phases maintain a Very Good standard, though consistency in challenging questioning and opportunities for deeper thinking in mathematics and science are areas for ongoing development. Outstanding in KGeffective teachingdifferentiated activities
The curriculum is well-designed and comprehensive, integrating cross-curricular connections effectively across all phases. Rigorous review processes ensure continuous improvement and relevance, with effective adaptation to meet student needs and enrich understanding. comprehensive curriculumcross-curricular connectionsrigorous review processes
The school maintains an Outstanding level of health and safety, including child protection, through rigorous policies and well-trained staff. Care and support for students are Very Good, with professional staff and systematic identification of diverse needs, though attendance monitoring and healthy eating promotion could be further refined. health and safetychild protectioncare and support
Leadership at all levels is Very Good, with marked improvement in KG leadership. Self-evaluation is effective, and partnerships with parents and the community have improved to Outstanding. Governance and management of resources are consistently Outstanding, supported by enhanced facilities. effectiveness of leadershipself-evaluationparents and communitygovernance
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
KG Student Outcomes
Student outcomes in all subjects have shown improvement in KG, reflecting highly effective teaching and assessment practices.
Islamic Values & Culture
Students demonstrate an outstanding understanding of Islamic values, Emirati, and world cultures, recognizing their daily relevance.
Staff Care & Support
School leaders and teachers show a high level of professionalism and commitment in providing care and support for all students.
Excellent Facilities
The school premises and facilities are of a very high standard, providing an environment conducive to high-quality learning.
Parent Partnerships
Communication with parents is maintained at a very high standard, effectively engaging them in their children’s education.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' learning skills have improved in Phase 1 (Primary) from Very Good to Outstanding, and remain Very Good in other phases. Rapidly developing learning skills are observed in KG, maintained through collaboration, real-life application, and technology use.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team demonstrates a Very Good effectiveness, with notable improvement in KG leadership. They are committed to continuous improvement, evidenced by strong self-evaluation and strategic planning, though a more critical review of Arabic subjects is needed. Partnerships with parents and the community are Outstanding, contributing significantly to school improvement.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate improved achievement across Arabic and English medium subjects, with strong internal assessment data often exceeding curriculum standards. However, performance in international assessments like MAP, PISA, and TIMSS indicates a need for further development in critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Personal & Social Development
Students consistently show outstanding personal development, a deep understanding of Islamic values, and strong awareness of Emirati and world cultures. Their social responsibility and innovation skills are also outstanding across all phases, though behavior policy implementation needs strengthening in the upper boys' section.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching and assessment practices are Very Good overall, with a significant improvement to Outstanding in KG due to highly effective strategies. Teachers effectively apply subject knowledge and engage students, but there is a need for more consistent challenging questioning and opportunities for deeper thinking in mathematics and science.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is Very Good across all phases, characterized by a comprehensive design and well-aligned framework that integrates cross-curricular connections. The school conducts rigorous review processes to ensure continuous improvement and relevance, effectively adapting the curriculum to enrich student understanding.
Protection, Care & Support
The school provides Outstanding health and safety, including child protection, through rigorous policies and well-trained staff. Care and support for students are Very Good, with professional staff and systematic identification of diverse needs, though attendance monitoring and healthy eating promotion could be further refined.
Areas for Development
- •Continue to promote high achievement in all subjects by strengthening grammar skills in Arabic, promoting oral fluency and the use of standard Arabic, developing students’ ability to make links to other areas of learning and real-world contexts, including UAE heritage and culture, and reviewing timetables and scheduling to ensure enough hours are completed to meet the requirements of the Colorado Common Core curriculum.
- •Expand the range of curriculum choices, including electives, especially in Phase 4 and AP course offerings. Enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment by ensuring consistently high-quality provision across all phases and subjects, providing differentiated instruction and support for diverse needs, allowing sufficient time for discussion and reflection, promoting student-centered learning, and implementing consistent and constructive feedback practices.
- •Improve student performance in international assessments by ensuring the curriculum aligns with international standards and benchmarks (TIMSS, PISA), tracking students’ progress in key assessed areas, ensuring all teachers are aware of test demands, and implementing a collaborative, school-wide strategy involving all stakeholders.
- •Further enhance care and support to ensure the well-being, positive behavior, and progress of all students by fully implementing rigorous systems to identify and support students with additional learning needs and those who are gifted and/or talented. Strengthen intervention programs for low attainers, improve students' understanding of regular attendance and punctuality, educate on healthy eating, and review behavior management systems, particularly in the boys’ section.
- •Further enhance leadership and governance to maximize their positive impact on school improvement and effectiveness by strengthening middle leadership effectiveness through targeted professional development. Integrate progress reporting into future versions of the School Development Plan, consistently using stakeholder input and previous inspection findings to inform and strengthen self-evaluation practices, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring the consistent integration of student voice into school-wide decision-making processes.