Good Will Children Private School
Curriculum
British
ADEK
Acceptable
Location
Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Zayed City
Fees
AED 19K - 32K
Good Will Children Private School
The Executive Summary
Good Will Children Private School Abu Dhabi occupies a specific and honest niche in the Mohamed Bin Zayed City schools landscape: it is an established, community-rooted British curriculum school offering genuinely affordable education to a diverse, predominantly South Asian and Arab student body. Founded in 1993 and now serving over 500 students from KG1 through Grade 9, the school operates under the ADEK rating Acceptable - a rating it has held since its 2018-19 downgrade from Good and has been unable to escape through successive inspections including the 2024 Irtiqa cycle. School fees Abu Dhabi parents will find the fee structure among the most accessible in the capital, ranging from AED 25,050 to AED 32,360 annually per ADEK-approved rates for 2025-26, making it a genuinely mid-range option in a city where British curriculum fees routinely exceed AED 70,000. The British curriculum Abu Dhabi framework here runs from EYFS through Cambridge Primary and Secondary, with Urdu offered as a third language - a notable differentiator for Pakistani families that few Abu Dhabi schools can match.
British Cambridge CurriculumUrdu as Third LanguageAED 25K-32K FeesADEK Acceptable 2024Est. 1993 MBZ City
“The fees are very reasonable and the teachers genuinely care about the children. It is not a premium school, but for our family it has been a good, safe place for our children to grow.”
— Grade 5 Parent(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
Good Will Children Private School follows the British curriculum from KG through Grade 9, structured across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Cambridge Primary, and Cambridge Secondary frameworks. The curriculum is designed to provide a structured and rigorous academic framework aligned with international standards, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and a well-rounded education. In practice, the ADEK Irtiqa 2024 inspection found that the curriculum has breadth and balance, but with a greater focus on knowledge than skills - a meaningful distinction that parents should note. The school currently does not offer IGCSE or A-Level qualifications, as provision ends at Grade 9 (Cambridge Checkpoint level), meaning families must plan for a secondary school transition at this stage.
In terms of standardized assessment performance, the school participates in Granada Learning (GL) assessments in English, mathematics, and science for students in Years 4 to 9. The 2023-24 GL results paint a candid picture: attainment in English (GL-PTE) was rated Weak in both Phase 2 and Phase 3, though progress in Phase 2 was rated Good. Mathematics (GL-PTM) showed Weak attainment in both phases, with Weak progress in Phase 2 but Good progress in Phase 3. Science (GL-PTS) similarly showed Weak attainment, but notably Outstanding progress in Phase 3 science - a genuine bright spot. In international benchmarking, TIMSS 2023 results showed Year 5 mathematics at 508.94 (above the international average of 503) and Year 9 mathematics at 498.19 (above the international average of 478), though both fell short of the school's own targets. Year 5 science scored 486, below the international average of 494. PIRLS 2021 placed Year 5 students at 537.6, within the intermediate international benchmark for reading literacy. Arabic as a first language ABT results were rated Very Good in Phases 2 and 3, representing a genuine strength. The school offers Urdu as a language option alongside Arabic, a distinctive feature for the school's predominantly Pakistani community. Academic support for students of determination is in place but the ADEK inspection noted that recent inclusion team appointments have not yet improved the rigor of identification and provision. There is no published university destinations data, as the school currently does not offer post-Grade 9 education.
508.94
TIMSS 2023 Year 5 Maths Score
Above international average of 503
537.6
PIRLS 2021 Year 5 Reading Score
Intermediate international benchmark
Outstanding
Phase 3 Science Progress (GL-PTS)
Standout result in 2023-24 standardized assessments
Very Good
Arabic First Language ABT Attainment
Phases 2 and 3, AY 2023-24
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
Good Will Children Private School offers a notably broad extracurricular program for a school of its size and fee bracket. The school has structured its ECA provision across several distinct categories, reflecting an ambition to develop students beyond the academic timetable. Sports clubs include football, karate, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis - six competitive sports options that provide students with both recreational and competitive outlets. The STEAM cluster is particularly well-developed for a mid-range school, encompassing Lego Robotics, Coding, 3D Printing, filmmaking (Create a Short Movie), Science, Eco-Environment, and Construction clubs. This STEAM emphasis is consistent with the school's stated goal of developing students for a technology-driven future and aligns with ADEK's broader Abu Dhabi education priorities.
The performing arts and language enrichment offering includes English Drama, English Debate, Quran Recitation, English Spelling Bee, Arabic Reading, Spanish, French, Urdu, and Phonic Reading Games - a linguistically rich menu that reflects the school's multicultural community. Cultural awareness is addressed through Board Games, Chess, Cold Cooking, Bracelet Making, Painting, and UAE Heritage clubs. The ADEK inspection noted that students are provided with opportunities to further social responsibility skills through community service and volunteering. However, inspectors also flagged that students rarely get the opportunity to present the outcomes of group cooperative tasks, meaning that structured project-based enrichment and presentation skills development remain areas requiring deliberate attention. There is no evidence of Duke of Edinburgh, Model UN, or equivalent international enrichment programs at this stage.
20+
Extracurricular Clubs Offered
Across sport, STEAM, arts, language, and culture
Lego Robotics & Coding6 Competitive SportsSTEAM ClubsMultilingual ECA ProgramCommunity Service
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care is one of the more encouraging dimensions of Good Will Children Private School's profile, and the ADEK 2024 Irtiqa inspection rated the school's care and support as Good across all phases - an improvement from the previous inspection cycle. The school has sound behavior management systems in place, and the promotion of high attendance is a recognized strength. Students demonstrate self-discipline, with the inspection noting respectful relationships that reflect Islamic values and positive interactions between students and teachers across all phases. Students in all phases demonstrate a strong commitment to Islamic values, and they show appreciation of UAE heritage, culture, and traditions while maintaining confidence in their own identity.
The school's health and safety and safeguarding arrangements are rated Very Good - the highest-rated element of the entire inspection. Frequent and thorough safety checks, close monitoring of health and safety concerns, and awareness of child protection procedures ensure that students feel safe and supported. The principal's open-door policy and regular communications are cited as contributing to positive morale across the school community. Wellbeing is now tracked for all students, a meaningful step forward. However, the ADEK inspection flagged that partnerships with parents have declined to Acceptable from a previously Good rating - a notable regression during a period of school growth that leadership must address. There is no formal house system or student leadership council documented in the inspection report, and mental health counselling provision details are not publicly disclosed.
“The school feels safe and the teachers know my child by name. The principal is always available when I have a concern. I appreciate the Islamic values that are woven into the daily routine.”
— Grade 3 Parent(representative)Campus & Facilities
Good Will Children Private School has been operating from purpose-built accommodation since 2010, located at 13 Al Widad Street, Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. The campus is purpose-designed rather than adapted from a residential or commercial building, which gives it a functional coherence appropriate for its student population. The school serves students from KG1 through Grade 9, and the physical environment is organized to accommodate this broad age range, with a dedicated KG library separate from the main school library - a thoughtful provision for younger learners.
The school maintains two libraries housing approximately 14,000 books in English, Arabic, and Urdu, reflecting the linguistic diversity of its community. The KG library includes big books, reading books for young readers, reading posters, soft seating areas, and designated reading corners in classrooms. The main library is functional and desk-focused, though the ADEK inspection noted the absence of soft furnishings to encourage reading for pleasure, and critically, no computers are available in the library for research or e-book access - a significant gap in 2026. Classrooms are equipped with interactive smartboards, and the school has an ICT laboratory. The school also references STEAM facilities including resources for Lego Robotics, Coding, and 3D Printing within its ECA program. Sports facilities support football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis. The campus is accessible from multiple Abu Dhabi residential communities, with school transport available across Abu Dhabi locations for an annual fee of AED 4,500. Mohamed Bin Zayed City is a well-established residential district with good road connectivity, making the school accessible for families across the western Abu Dhabi corridor.
14,000
Books Across Two Libraries
English, Arabic, and Urdu collections
2
Dedicated Libraries on Campus
Separate KG and main school libraries
Purpose-Built Since 201014,000-Book Dual LibraryICT & Robotics LabSmartboard ClassroomsBus to All Abu Dhabi Areas
Teaching & Learning Quality
Teaching quality is the central challenge at Good Will Children Private School, and the ADEK 2024 Irtiqa inspection was candid in its assessment: Teaching for Effective Learning and Assessment are both rated Acceptable across all phases. The quality of teaching is described as variable, with new teachers not yet confidently establishing the classroom management strategies needed for a productive learning environment. In less successful lessons, there is too much teacher talk and limited time for students to engage in hands-on activities - a pattern that directly suppresses the critical thinking and problem-solving outcomes the British curriculum is designed to develop.
The school has 49 teachers and 12 teaching assistants supporting 512 students, yielding an approximate teacher-to-student ratio of 1:10 - a genuinely favorable ratio that, if leveraged effectively, should enable meaningful differentiation. Teacher nationalities span Pakistan, India, and Egypt. The inspection noted that teachers exhibit secure subject knowledge and follow structured lesson planning. However, the use of assessment information to extend learning for all identified groups - particularly higher attainers - is inconsistent. Differentiated activities for higher attainers were observed in Phase 3 science lessons specifically, but this practice is not yet embedded school-wide. The school has invested in professional development, training teachers in sharing best practices, varied teaching strategies, and technology use, but the inspection noted these changes need to become more fully embedded. Staff stability and remuneration policies were flagged in the ADEK recommendations as requiring review to improve staff retention - a signal that teacher turnover may be a contributing factor to the inconsistency in teaching quality. The use of a more comprehensive external data set (GL assessments) has improved the identification of learning gaps, which is a positive structural development.
1:10
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
49 teachers for 512 students - a favorable ratio
49
Teaching Staff
Plus 12 teaching assistants
Acceptable
ADEK Teaching Quality Rating
Across all phases, Irtiqa 2024
Leadership & Management
Good Will Children Private School is led by Principal Charmaine Margaret Raghuraman, who has been in post since 2018 and is the most significant continuity factor in the school's recent development. The ADEK 2024 inspection describes her as having a warm, welcoming approach, an open-door policy, and maintaining regular communications that ensure positive morale across the whole school community. The principal has worked hard to ensure the entire school community is clear and committed to the school's vision - articulated as "Enable All" - with a goal of empowering students to become global citizens with moral grounding, educational achievement, and cultural awareness.
Leadership and management overall are rated Acceptable across three indicators: effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation and improvement planning, and governance. However, management, staffing, facilities and resources is rated Good - a meaningful distinction. The appointment of new middle managers has established a more effective, distributive leadership structure designed to foster accountability and continuous improvement. The school's ADEK ESIS number is 9023, and it communicates with ADEK through the registered email 9023@adek.gov.ae. The school's website (goodwillschooluae.com) has historically been the primary parent communication channel, though the ADEK inspection noted that parent partnerships have declined to Acceptable, suggesting that communication systems require strengthening. The inspection recommended formalizing parental feedback processes and building partnerships with external organizations. There is no publicly documented board or advisory council structure. The school's recent growth - now at 512 students - has brought leadership challenges, and the ADEK recommendations specifically call for reviewing remuneration and performance management policies to improve staff stability.
ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)
The ADEK Irtiqa 2024 inspection (conducted 5-8 May 2025, covering AY 2024/25) confirmed Good Will Children Private School's overall rating as Acceptable - a position it has maintained since being downgraded from Good in 2018-19. The school has not regressed further, but it has also not made the breakthrough to Good that its leadership is targeting. This is a school in a holding pattern: some genuine improvements are evident, but systemic weaknesses in teaching quality and student attainment in core Cambridge subjects continue to anchor the overall rating.
The most significant positive development since the previous inspection is in students' personal and social development, which is now rated Good across all phases - a new evaluation category that was not assessed in the prior cycle. Students demonstrate positive attitudes, high attendance, self-discipline, and strong Islamic values. Health and safety and safeguarding remain the school's highest-rated performance standard at Very Good. English progress in Phase 2 improved from Acceptable to Good, and Phase 3 science progress is rated Good. These are real, evidence-based improvements.
On the challenging side, Islamic Education in KG (Phase 1) has regressed to Weak in both attainment and progress - a notable deterioration. Science attainment in Phases 1 and 2 has regressed from Good to Acceptable. GL standardized assessment results show Weak attainment in English, mathematics, and science in Phases 2 and 3. The school's TIMSS 2023 scores are above international averages in mathematics but below the school's own targets, and Year 5 science falls below the international average. The key ADEK recommendations center on raising achievement across all subjects, improving teaching consistency, strengthening international assessment alignment, and improving leadership impact - a comprehensive improvement agenda that will require sustained, multi-year commitment to deliver.
Health & Safety: Very Good
The school's safeguarding and health and safety arrangements are the strongest-rated element of the entire inspection. Frequent safety checks, robust child protection awareness, and a secure physical environment ensure students feel genuinely safe.
Personal & Social Development: Good
Students across all phases demonstrate positive attitudes, high attendance, self-discipline, and strong Islamic values. Their social responsibility is supported through community service and volunteering opportunities.
English Progress Phase 2: Good
Student progress in English improved from Acceptable to Good in Phase 2 - a genuine, measurable gain that reflects improved reading programs and more structured language teaching in the middle school years.
Teaching Consistency Across All Phases
The quality of teaching remains variable and is rated Acceptable across all phases. New teachers are not yet embedding effective classroom management, and assessment data is not being used consistently to personalize instruction for different learner groups, particularly higher attainers.
Student Attainment in Core Subjects
GL standardized assessment results show Weak attainment in English, mathematics, and science in Phases 2 and 3. Islamic Education in KG has regressed to Weak. The school must raise achievement across all subjects and phases to reach the Good threshold.
Inspection History
2016-17
Good
2018-19
Acceptable
2021-22
Acceptable
2024
Acceptable
Fees & Value for Money
Good Will Children Private School offers a British curriculum education in Abu Dhabi, with tuition fees for the 2026–2027 academic year ranging from AED 19,000 for KG1–KG2 up to AED 22,600 for Grades 7–8. The school has published a discounted fee structure that is notably lower than the ADEK-approved maximum fees, providing families with meaningful savings while maintaining the quality of a British-curriculum private school education.
AED 19,000
Annual Fees From
AED 22,600
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
KG1
AED 19,000KG2
AED 19,000Grade 1
AED 21,000Grade 2
AED 21,000Grade 3
AED 21,000Grade 4
AED 21,000Grade 5
AED 21,000Grade 6
AED 21,000Grade 7
AED 22,600Grade 8
AED 22,600The fees cover tuition, and optional add-ons include books (ranging from AED 800 to AED 1,400 depending on grade), a uniform package at AED 400, and school transportation at a flat annual rate of AED 4,500 per child, available to all Abu Dhabi locations. For reference, the ADEK-approved ceiling fees for 2025–2026 range from AED 25,050 at KG level to AED 32,360 at secondary level, meaning the school's advertised discounted rates represent a significant reduction from the regulatory maximum.
The school currently covers Kindergarten through Grade 8, making it well-suited for families seeking a consistent British-curriculum environment from early childhood through lower secondary. Prospective families are encouraged to review the official ADEK fee approval letter, available for download on the school's website, for full transparency on the approved fee structure.
Additional Costs
Books & Materials800(annual)
Books & Materials1,100(annual)
Books & Materials1,250(annual)
Books & Materials1,400(annual)
Uniform400(annual)
Bus (Two-Way)4,500(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
Good Will Children Private School is a school that deserves an honest assessment rather than either dismissal or unwarranted praise. It is a long-established, community-serving institution in Mohamed Bin Zayed City that provides a structured British Cambridge curriculum education at fees that are genuinely accessible for Abu Dhabi. Its safeguarding is Very Good, its pastoral environment is warm and values-driven, and its principal has built a committed school community. The STEAM extracurricular program and the unique offering of Urdu as a language option are genuine differentiators. However, the school has carried an Acceptable ADEK rating since 2018-19, and the 2024 Irtiqa inspection found no overall improvement. Standardized assessment results in English, mathematics, and science are rated Weak in attainment for Phases 2 and 3, and teaching quality remains variable. Parents making a long-term educational investment - particularly those with ambitions for competitive secondary school placement or university entry - must weigh these factors carefully.
The school is actively working to improve: new middle leaders are in place, professional development is ongoing, and the principal's commitment is evident. But improvement in schools takes time, and the current inspection evidence does not yet support a claim that Good Will Children Private School is on the cusp of a Good rating. It is a school in progress, and the value it offers is real - but it comes with the honest caveat that academic outcomes, as measured by ADEK and international benchmarks, currently sit below the standard that the British curriculum framework is capable of delivering when implemented at full effectiveness.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Families for whom fee affordability is a genuine priority, who value a safe, Islamic-values-aligned environment, and whose children are in the KG to Grade 6 range where the school's pastoral strengths and improving English provision are most evident. Pakistani and South Asian families will find the Urdu language offering and multicultural community particularly welcoming.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families prioritizing top-tier academic attainment, competitive secondary school preparation, or IGCSE/A-Level outcomes - the school does not offer post-Grade 9 education, and current standardized assessment results in core subjects are rated Weak by ADEK inspectors.
“
We chose this school because of the fees and the proximity to our home. The teachers are caring and the school is safe. Academically, I think it could push the children harder, but for the price, we are satisfied.
— Grade 7 Parent
Strengths
- Among the lowest British curriculum fees in Abu Dhabi (AED 25K-32K)
- Health and safety and safeguarding rated Very Good by ADEK
- Pastoral care and student well-being rated Good across all phases
- Unique Urdu language offering for South Asian families
- Broad STEAM extracurricular program including robotics and coding
- Favorable teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 1:10
- English progress in Phase 2 improved to Good in 2024 inspection
- Established since 1993 with purpose-built campus since 2010
Areas for Improvement
- Overall ADEK rating has been Acceptable since 2018-19 with no improvement to Good
- GL standardized assessment attainment rated Weak in English, maths, and science (Phases 2 and 3)
- School does not offer post-Grade 9 education - families must transition elsewhere for IGCSE/A-Level
- No computers available in the school library for research or e-book access
- Parent partnership rating declined to Acceptable from previously Good