GEMS Founders School Mizhar, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
The overall quality of education provided by GEMS Founders School Mizhar is Good, reflecting substantial growth under a visionary principal and strong leadership team. The school maintains improving academic standards and high levels of community wellbeing, making it highly appreciated by families.
Students demonstrate at least Good progress across most of the curriculum, with notable improvements in English in Post-16 and mathematics in Primary. Their personal and social development is Very Good, with Post-16 students setting an Outstanding example in conduct and attitudes, actively engaging in leadership and community projects.
Teaching is generally Good, with frequent instances of Very Good or Outstanding practice, supported by strong subject knowledge. The curriculum is broad, balanced, and enhanced with innovative programs, while safeguarding and student protection are consistently Outstanding. The school also demonstrates Very Good inclusive education practices and care for students of determination.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
GEMS Founders School Mizhar Overall Rating
Good for 3+ consecutive years
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 shows a strong commitment to inclusivity, with a dedicated team and robust policies. Rigorous entry assessments and tailored individual education plans (IEPs) ensure comprehensive support, leading to most students of determination achieving progress beyond expectations. students of determinationIEPs
Wellbeing is a priority, integrated into the school ethos with a capable leadership team. The school proactively involves stakeholders, offering high-quality guidance and support, which fosters students' social skills, emotional awareness, self-discipline, and resilience across the community. wellbeingguidance and support
The school's overall standards in the National Agenda Parameter are good, with students sustaining very good judgments in benchmark assessments. Leadership effectively monitors the National Agenda action plan, focusing on improving reading literacy skills, particularly for Emirati students. National Agenda Parameterbenchmark assessmentsEmirati studentsreading literacy
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate very strong personal and social development, coupled with high innovation skills, actively engaging in creative projects and leadership roles.
School Management
The school benefits from outstanding day-to-day management, ensuring a safe, happy, and well-supported community for all students and staff.
Academic Achievement
The school consistently maintains good and improving standards of achievement across various subjects and phases, reflecting effective teaching and learning strategies.
Self-Evaluation & Planning
The school employs comprehensive and highly accurate approaches to self-evaluation and improvement planning, ensuring continuous development and strategic growth.
Inclusive Education & Wellbeing
Excellent inclusive education practices, combined with very strong care, guidance, and support, contribute to very high levels of wellbeing throughout the school community.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students make at least good progress across most of the curriculum, with notable improvements in English in Post-16 and mathematics in Primary. Attainment has improved in English, mathematics, and science in the Foundation Stage.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Run by a visionary principal with a strong leadership team, the school has seen substantial growth while maintaining good and improving academic standards and high levels of community wellbeing. They know the significant strengths and priorities for improvement well and promote excellence in inclusivity. Governance drives innovation in facilities and resourcing, securing a nurturing and forward-thinking educational environment.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students make at least good progress across most of the curriculum, with improved attainment in English, mathematics, and science in FS. They demonstrate very strong personal and social development, showing responsibility, respect, and a deep appreciation of Islamic and Emirati values.
Personal Development
Students exhibit very good personal development, with Post-16 students showing outstanding conduct and attitudes. They are proactive in leadership, community welfare, and sustainability projects, demonstrating strong empathy and care for their environment.
Teaching Quality
Teaching is at least good, with frequent very good or outstanding lessons, supported by strong subject knowledge. While internal assessments are thorough, differentiation in learning tasks and consistent diagnostic feedback are areas for further development.
Protection & Care
The school provides outstanding protection and care, with rigorous safeguarding policies, comprehensive staff training, and very well-managed transport. Students feel confident reporting concerns, and the school offers very good care and support, including specialized interventions for students of determination.
Areas for Development
- •Embed recent improvements in Islamic Education and Arabic so that standards of teaching, learning and achievement are at least good across all phases.
- •Develop further differentiated planning of learning to personalise provision more effectively for individual students in lessons - most notably for higher attainers.
- •Improve further students’ learning skills to optimise their achievements by: - providing more opportunities for them to undertake independent research, - improving teachers’ questioning skills so that they can lead and manage more perceptive discussions and reflection in lessons, and - ensuring teachers always provide comprehensive and diagnostic feedback to students about their learning - both orally and when marking their work.