Gulf Model School, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings 2018
Last updated
Executive Summary
The overall quality of education at Gulf Model School is rated Acceptable for the 2023-2024 academic year. The newly appointed principal and senior leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to school improvement, fostering positive working relationships and a supportive atmosphere within the school community.
Students' achievements are broadly in line with curriculum expectations across all subjects and phases, with notable strengths in English in Secondary and science in Primary where attainment and progress are Good. Students exhibit Very Good personal and social development, alongside a strong understanding of Emirati and their own cultures and traditions.
While the school's curriculum aligns with CBSE requirements, it remains knowledge-focused, with underdeveloped adaptations for diverse student needs, including students of determination. The quality of teaching and assessment practices are acceptable but inconsistent, requiring further development in using assessment data to inform differentiated instruction and enhance learning skills.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Gulf Model School Overall Rating
Acceptable for 2+ 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.
Leaders at Gulf Model School are committed to fostering an inclusive ethos, with effective procedures for identifying students of determination. Specialist teachers provide intervention programs, but the quality of curriculum differentiation and in-lesson support remains variable and inconsistent across the school. students of determinationintervention programmescurriculum differentiation
The school demonstrates a strong commitment to student wellbeing, creating a caring environment where staff show genuine concern. Students feel safe and supported, with developing programs for physical and mental health, though professional development for teachers in this area is still underdeveloped. wellbeingcaring environmentphysical and mental health
Gulf Model School's performance in the National Agenda Parameter is Weak, primarily due to not meeting registration requirements for standardised literacy assessment. While PIRLS results improved, and benchmark attainment in mathematics significantly improved, the integration of literacy across subjects and consistent understanding of reading literacy requirements are lacking. National Agenda ParameterWeakPIRLSreading literacy assessment
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Personal Development
Students demonstrate a highly developed sense of responsibility, exemplary behavior, and mature attitudes towards school life, actively participating in activities and showing empathy.
Cultural Understanding
Students show strong appreciation for UAE heritage, actively participating in cultural events, and reflecting a good understanding of diversity and different cultures.
Committed Leadership
The newly appointed principal and senior leaders are deeply committed to school improvement, fostering strong working relationships and a positive atmosphere within the school community.
Academic Strengths
Students show good attainment and progress in science in the Primary phase due to investigative opportunities, and in English in the Secondary phase with well-developed speaking and literacy skills.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students’ achievements across all subjects and phases are broadly in line with curriculum expectations, with notable strengths in English in Secondary and science in Primary. Learning skills are good in KG but acceptable in other phases, with inconsistent opportunities for critical thinking and technology use.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The newly appointed principal and senior leaders are highly committed to school improvement, establishing strong working relationships and clear lines of accountability. They are making sound progress in addressing previous recommendations and enhancing students' personal and social skills, though the analysis and interpretation of assessment data are still developing.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievements are broadly acceptable across all subjects and phases, with good attainment and progress in English in Secondary and science in Primary. Learning skills are good in KG but acceptable elsewhere, with inconsistent opportunities for critical thinking and technology use.
Personal Development
Students' personal development is a significant strength, rated very good in Primary, Middle, and Secondary, and good in KG. They exhibit exemplary behavior, strong social responsibility, and a very strong understanding of Islamic values, Emirati, and world cultures.
Teaching Quality
The quality of teaching and assessment is acceptable across the school, with teachers creating positive classroom environments. However, differentiation is inconsistent, and the use of assessment data to inform teaching strategies and provide targeted support for all student groups is underdeveloped.
Protection & Care
Health and safety procedures, including child protection, are thorough and rated good across all phases, ensuring a safe and secure learning environment. Care and support are acceptable, with effective systems for identifying students of determination, though in-lesson support and challenge for gifted students need further development.
Areas for Development
- •accelerate students’ progress in all subjects by raising teachers’ expectations and providing consistent opportunities for independent and collaborative learning.
- •Improve the quality of teaching across the school by adjusting teaching strategies to meet the needs of different groups of students, including students of determination, and promoting and modelling best practices in teaching.
- •Improve the analysis of the school’s assessment information and ensure that teachers use it more effectively to meet the learning needs of different groups of students.
- •Provide teachers and school leaders with the required professional development to create a whole school reading programme which enhances learning.
- •Immediately implement a standardised reading literacy assessment that meets the KHDA requirements.
- •Provide targeted professional development and coaching for teachers to equip them with the required knowledge, understanding and skills to accelerate students’ progress.
- •Provide opportunities for students to use technology to support their learning, enabling them to make connections with the outside world and increase their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
- •Provide appropriate challenge and support for students with gifts and talents across all subjects and phases to enable them to excel.