German International School Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings 2018
Last updated
Executive Summary
The German International School Dubai provides a Very Good quality of education, with notable improvements observed in the Kindergarten (KG) and Primary phases, particularly in Arabic, mathematics, and science. The school's overall performance reflects effective leadership and a commitment to student outcomes.
Students consistently achieve well across all subjects and phases, demonstrating at least good, and often better, attainment and progress. Learning skills are consistently Very Good, with children in KG showing Outstanding curiosity. The curriculum is broad, balanced, and comprehensive, effectively preparing students for the Abitur.
Personal and social development, alongside contributions to sustainability and social awareness, are now Outstanding across almost all aspects. The school maintains highly effective health and safety provisions, ensuring a secure environment for its community. Leadership is effective in driving change and fostering positive relationships with parents and the Advisory Board.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
German International School Dubai Overall Rating
Very Good
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.
Leaders and governors are highly committed to inclusive education, with well-directed leadership ensuring improving provision and student outcomes. Accurate identification of barriers to learning leads to effective action plans and support, resulting in a large majority of students of determination making better than expected progress. Students of DeterminationIndividual Education Plans
The overall quality of wellbeing provision and outcomes is good, with informed and effective leadership guiding practical provision, especially in KG where children thrive. Wellbeing teams support staff and students, and students actively participate in healthy activities, though a shared vision for wellbeing across the entire school community is still developing. Wellbeing provisionKG children's wellbeing
Students demonstrate a strong understanding of Islamic values and their positive impact on life in the UAE, recognizing the country's culture of tolerance. Awareness of UAE heritage and culture has significantly improved this year, with students speaking knowledgeably about Emirati history, cuisine, and tourist attractions. Islamic valuesEmirati cultureUAE heritage
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Leadership Improvement
The principal and senior leaders have successfully implemented actions that have led to overall school improvement.
Facilities & Wellbeing
High-quality facilities, resources, and health and safety arrangements significantly contribute to the wellbeing of the school community.
Parent & Board Support
Strong involvement and support from parents and the Advisory Board are key strengths, fostering a collaborative school environment.
Student Responsibility
Students demonstrate high levels of personal and social responsibility, contributing positively to the school and wider community.
Early Years & Primary Progress
Children in KG make a very positive start, and students in Primary show very good progress, particularly in Arabic.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students achieve well across all phases and subjects, with consistent very good progress and attainment, especially in KG and Primary. Learning skills are a particular strength, rated outstanding in KG.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, guided by a strong vision for wellbeing and inclusivity, effectively drives school improvement. They promote a personalized learning approach, maintain transparent communication, and have successfully aligned with KHDA requirements, fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students achieve well across all subjects and phases, with attainment and progress consistently at least good, often better. Learning skills are very good, with outstanding curiosity in KG. Improvements were noted in KG and Primary, especially in Arabic, mathematics, and science.
Personal Development
Almost all aspects of students' personal and social development, including contributions to sustainability and social awareness, are outstanding. Students demonstrate a very good understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture, showing strong leadership skills and positive attitudes.
Teaching Quality
Teaching for effective learning is very good across all phases, positively impacting student outcomes. Teachers effectively apply their knowledge, differentiate learning activities, and foster strong relationships. Assessment systems are improving, with reliable data informing planning, though peer and self-assessment practices are underdeveloped.
Protection & Care
Safeguarding and child protection are extremely high priorities, supported by comprehensive staff training and robust policies. Health and safety provisions are highly effective, and provision for students of determination is very effective, ensuring a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all students.
Areas for Development
- •Consolidate leaders’ and teachers’ shared understanding of assessment practice, in all phases of the school.
- •Review and update the school’s improvement plans, based on the outcomes of the self-evaluation process, and ensure that planned actions are having a positive impact on students’ outcomes.
- •Engage all groups of stakeholders in creating a vibrant and exciting vision for wellbeing.
- •For every initiative planned and implemented, devise measurable success criteria in order to evaluate its contribution to the wellbeing of all in the school community.
- •Improve students' recitation skills with more practice using Tajweed rules, particularly in the higher phases.
- •Enhance students' understanding of Seerah through increased references to the life of the Prophet (PBUH).
- •Provide opportunities for students to reflect and consolidate their learning at the end of lessons.
- •Extend students’ vocabularies and their use of modern standard Arabic.
- •Introduce diverse listening activities to enhance students’ language acquisition.
- •Improve attainment in Secondary 1 to match that in the other phases.
- •Increase the level of challenge in the work provided for the more able students.
- •Improve, even further, students’ reading comprehension and writing skills.
- •Provide more opportunities for students to engage in open-ended mathematical tasks to develop their critical thinking skills further.
- •Ensure that the application of science to technology in more creative and innovative ways to deepen understanding.
- •Expand the scientific vocabulary of all students so that they can more easily access all aspects of the science curriculum.
- •Encourage students to reflect and consolidate their learning.
- •Support the development of students’ innovation, enterprise, and entrepreneurial skills, by encouraging them to develop and pursue their own ideas.
- •Enhance cultural awareness through activities comparing students' own cultures with other world cultures.
- •Develop clear and consistent approaches for tracking the progress of different groups of students.
- •Establish peer-and-self-assessment practices to consolidate learning in lessons.
- •Develop additional pathways from Grade 9 for students in the Hauptschule and Realschule streams.
- •Further embed opportunities to promote enterprise, creativity and innovation across all subject areas and phases.
- •Ensure that systems to support students’ behaviour are fully implemented in Primary and Secondary 1.
- •Work with parents to ensure that all students are in regular attendance.
- •Strengthen partnerships with parents and ensure that full account is taken of any of their concerns.