GEMS World Academy
Executive Summary
GEMS World Academy, located in Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, has maintained its Very Good overall rating in the latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2023-2024 academic year. The school has undergone significant changes since its previous inspection in 2021, including a relocation to a new purpose-built campus with extensive, high-quality facilities and a doubling of its school roll. The curriculum now encompasses both the National Curriculum in England and the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework.
Key improvements include progress and attainment in Arabic as a first and second language in the Primary Years Program (PYP), and improved progress in PYP Islamic education. Assessment practices have strengthened across Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and PYP, leading to robust tracking systems. The school's curriculum design and implementation are rated Outstanding, with curriculum adaptation being Very Good. Health and safety, including child protection, remain an Outstanding feature, with strong care and support for students of determination and English Language Learners.
A new, experienced leadership team, including a principal/CEO, has implemented innovative programs impacting student achievement, often in partnership with globally recognized educational organizations. Governance has improved to an Outstanding level, focusing on accountability and student outcomes. Management, staffing, facilities, and resources are also rated Outstanding, reflecting significant enhancements to the learning environment.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
GEMS World 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' attainment and progress are generally very good across most subjects and phases, with notable improvements in Arabic and Islamic Education in PYP. However, some groups, particularly students of determination and high-attainers in specific subjects, show weaker progress, and external assessment results in English and Science indicate areas for improvement. Arabic languagesIslamic EducationPYP
Students demonstrate outstanding personal development, exhibiting very positive attitudes, self-reliance, and strong engagement in their learning. Social responsibility and innovation skills are outstanding, while understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are rated good. Self-relianceInnovation skillsPositive attitudes
Teaching for effective learning and assessment practices are consistently very good across all phases. Robust whole-school processes for assessing and tracking student progress are in place, leading to improved assessment quality. However, consistency in differentiated work, quality of written feedback, and effective use of lesson time require further improvement. Robust assessmentDifferentiated workWritten feedback
The curriculum design and implementation are outstanding, providing a relevant and comprehensive framework that promotes innovation and challenges students. Curriculum adaptation is very good, ensuring learning is connected across subjects and to real-life situations, supported by the IB framework's trans-disciplinary approach. Curriculum designIB frameworkInnovation
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, are outstanding across all phases. Care and support for students are very good, particularly in identifying and supporting students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and English Language Learners. Child protectionSafeguardingStudents of determination
Leadership and management are outstanding, driven by an experienced new team and highly effective governance. The principal and his team foster a purposeful learning climate, and significant improvements in facilities and resources have enhanced the learning environment. Partnerships with parents and external organizations are highly successful. Effective leadershipGovernanceFacilities and resources
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Outstanding Facilities
The school has relocated to a new purpose-built campus with extensive, high-quality specialist facilities and resources that significantly support student learning.
Strong Leadership & Governance
A new, experienced leadership team and an outstanding governing board ensure a purposeful learning climate, focusing on accountability and student outcomes.
Innovative Curriculum
The school's curriculum design and implementation are outstanding, promoting innovation and challenging students to transfer learning between subjects.
Excellent Safeguarding
Rigorous protocols and arrangements for health and safety, including child protection, are an outstanding feature across all phases.
Positive Student Attitudes
Students exhibit very positive attitudes, self-reliance in lessons, and readily take on and manage their own projects and enterprise activities.
Successful Partnerships
Highly successful partnerships with parents and national/international organizations make significant contributions to the school's overall effectiveness.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall, students' achievement is very good, with strong internal assessment data. However, external benchmark tests in English and Science show areas of weakness in attainment for certain year groups. Progress for students of determination and high-attainers requires more consistency across subjects and phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, under a new principal/CEO, is highly experienced and has successfully implemented innovative programs that positively impact student achievement. Supported by an outstanding governing board, they foster a purposeful learning climate, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement through effective self-evaluation and strategic resource management.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students generally achieve above curriculum standards in Islamic Education, Arabic, and UAE Social Studies. While internal data shows strong progress, external assessments in English and Science indicate weak attainment in some year groups. Progress for students of determination and high-attainers is inconsistent.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate outstanding personal development, including positive attitudes, self-reliance, and innovation skills. They are enthusiastic learners who take responsibility for their learning and collaborate effectively. Understanding of Islamic values and Emirati/world cultures is good.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning and assessment are very good across all phases, with robust systems for tracking student progress. However, there is a need for more consistent differentiation, improved quality of written feedback, and more effective use of lesson time to promote student ownership of learning.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum design and implementation are outstanding, offering a relevant and comprehensive program that promotes innovation and challenges students. Curriculum adaptation is very good, with strong cross-curricular links and connections to real-life situations, supported by the IB framework.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, are outstanding. The school provides very good care and support, particularly in identifying and assisting students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and English Language Learners.
Areas for Development
- •Improve students’ achievement further to a consistently high level by providing more opportunities for extended writing across the curriculum with accuracy and proper grammar in both Arabic and English languages.
- •Improve students’ achievement further by ensuring more challenge in mathematics and science in EYFS and MYP lessons.
- •Improve students’ achievement further by providing students with additional learning needs, including students of determination, with more interventions and support, especially in English medium subjects.
- •Improve teaching and assessment by ensuring teachers consistently plan well-differentiated work to meet the needs of all groups of students, particularly in the extension of high-attainers, including those with gifts and/or talents.
- •Improve teaching and assessment by ensuring that best practice in teaching is consistent across all subjects and phases.
- •Improve teaching and assessment by improving the quality of written feedback in books to provide students with feedback that is well focused.
- •Improve teaching and assessment by ensuring all teachers use time effectively in lessons, so that students can actively take ownership of their learning.
- •Improve leadership by redefining roles and responsibilities within senior leadership to reflect the central importance of Arabic medium subjects within the curriculum.
- •Improve leadership by strengthening the impact of monitoring teaching and learning by ensuring that the monitoring that takes place leads to improvements in students' academic and personal outcomes.
- •Improve leadership by strengthening inter-phase collaboration, ensuring that all staff are fully aware of the knowledge, skills and understanding students need as they progress through the school.