GEMS American Academy
Executive Summary
GEMS American Academy has maintained its overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Very Good for the 2024-2025 academic year, sustaining the judgment from the previous inspection in 2021. The school continues to provide a strong educational environment, particularly noted for its American curriculum and commitment to student development.
Academically, the school shows sustained performance in Arabic-medium subjects, with notable improvement in Islamic Education and Arabic as a first language. While English-medium subjects exhibit variable performance across phases, students' learning skills are generally strong. The school's curriculum design is rated Outstanding, aligning with national priorities and international best practices.
The inspection highlights Outstanding provision in KG, exceptional health and safety, and highly effective well-being programs. Leadership and management are also rated Outstanding, providing clear strategic direction. Areas for development include consistently raising student achievement, enhancing international assessment performance, and refining teaching and assessment quality, particularly for diverse learner groups.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
GEMS American Academy Overall Rating
Very Good for 2+ consecutive years
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' achievement is rated Very Good overall, with sustained performance in Arabic-medium subjects and notable improvements in Islamic Education and Arabic as a first language. English-medium subjects show variable performance across phases, with some regressions attributed to a significant influx of students and English Language Learners. Learning skills are Outstanding in KG but Very Good in other phases. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectsOutstandingVery Good
Students' personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and awareness of Emirati culture are rated Very Good. Their social responsibility and innovation skills are judged as Outstanding, reflecting a strong commitment to community engagement and creative thinking. OutstandingVery Goodinnovation skillssocial responsibility
Teaching has improved to Outstanding in KG (Phase 1) and remains Very Good in other phases, characterized by engaging and student-centered lessons. Assessment practices are consistently Very Good, with effective use of data to inform instruction and provide targeted support, though opportunities for reflective dialogue and consistent challenge for all student groups could be enhanced. OutstandingVery Gooddata-driven instructionstudent-centered learning
Curriculum design and implementation are rated Outstanding, offering a highly structured and flexible American curriculum that aligns with national priorities and integrates international best practices. Curriculum adaptation is Very Good, effectively meeting diverse student needs and fostering appreciation for UAE heritage and culture. OutstandingVery GoodAmerican curriculumUAE heritage
The school demonstrates Outstanding provision for health, safety, and safeguarding, with exemplary protocols and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students are also Outstanding, though provision for gifted and talented students requires further development to match the comprehensive support offered to students of determination. Outstandingsafeguardingwell-beingstudents of determination
Leadership and management are rated Outstanding, providing clear strategic direction and fostering an inclusive, high-performing environment. Self-evaluation and improvement planning are Very Good, with ongoing efforts to integrate middle leaders into monitoring and evaluation processes to strengthen instructional consistency and refine the school development plan. OutstandingVery Goodstrategic directionself-evaluation
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strategic Leadership
The principal, board of governors, and senior leadership team provide an exceptionally clear strategic direction, fostering an ambitiously high-performing, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment.
KG Provision & Teaching
The school offers exceptional provision in KG (Phase 1) with teachers demonstrating very strong subject expertise and pedagogical skills, ensuring students develop foundational skills effectively.
Student Learning Skills
Students exhibit highly effective learning skills, fostered by embedded critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving, leading to very good achievement and preparing them for future challenges.
Social Responsibility
The school effectively nurtures students’ social responsibility, environmental awareness, and leadership skills, encouraging active engagement in sustainability and community service initiatives.
Health & Safety
The school maintains exceptional arrangements for health, safety, security, and student behavior, ensuring a safe, supportive, and nurturing school environment for all.
Student Well-being
Highly effective well-being programs, pastoral care, and student support services ensure that students' social, emotional, and academic needs are comprehensively met.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school's performance in standardized and international assessments (MAP, TIMSS, PISA) shows mixed results, with some areas below expectations and school targets, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, including the principal and board of governors, provides an exceptionally clear strategic direction, fostering an ambitious, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment. They are committed to continuous improvement, actively engaging with parents and the community, and ensuring effective management of resources. While self-evaluation and improvement planning are strong, there is a focus on further integrating middle leaders to enhance instructional consistency.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate varied attainment and progress across subjects and phases. While Arabic-medium subjects show sustained or improved performance, English and Science have experienced some regression in certain phases, largely due to a significant influx of students and English Language Learners. Performance in international assessments like TIMSS and PISA indicates areas for targeted improvement.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit Very Good personal development, understanding of Islamic values, and awareness of Emirati and world cultures. Their social responsibility and innovation skills are Outstanding, actively engaging in sustainability and community service initiatives.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching is Outstanding in KG and Very Good in other phases, characterized by engaging, student-centered lessons that promote critical thinking. Assessment practices are consistently Very Good, with effective use of data for targeted support, though opportunities for reflective dialogue and consistent challenge for diverse groups, such as ELLs, could be further developed.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum design is Outstanding, offering a highly structured and flexible American curriculum that aligns with national priorities and international best practices. Curriculum adaptation is Very Good, effectively meeting the diverse needs of all students while fostering a deep appreciation for UAE heritage and culture.
Protection, Care & Support
The school maintains Outstanding health, safety, and safeguarding arrangements, with comprehensive protocols and well-being initiatives. Care and support for students are also Outstanding, though provision for gifted and talented students is not as comprehensive as the systematic support for students of determination, requiring strengthening of equitable support systems.
Areas for Development
- •Provide more opportunities for students to practice reading comprehension and extended writing skills in both English and Arabic languages.
- •Plan regular opportunities for students to enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving, inquiry and independent learning skills in lessons and beyond the classroom.
- •Address specific areas of underperformance identified in TIMSS and PISA results and strengthen the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices with international benchmarks.
- •Engage students in routine self- and peer-assessment to reflect on their progress and develop metacognitive skills.
- •Ensure teachers consistently plan well-differentiated work to meet the needs of different groups of learners.
- •Integrate subject heads of departments into lesson monitoring and evaluation to strengthen instructional consistency across all subjects.
- •Refine the SEF process to clearly summarize strengths, areas for improvement, and targeted actions to inform school development planning.