Islamiya English School, Abu Dhabi
ADEK Inspection Report & Ratings
Last updated
Executive Summary
Islamiya English School has achieved an overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Good for the 2024-2025 academic year. This marks a significant improvement from its previous rating of Acceptable in 2021, demonstrating the school's strong commitment to continuous development and effective implementation of improvement strategies.
The school has shown notable strengths in Arabic-medium subjects, where student attainment has consistently improved across nearly all phases. Learning skills have also seen significant progress, with students actively engaging in collaborative learning. While English-medium subjects have experienced mixed outcomes, the school is actively working to embed the new Cambridge framework.
Key strengths include a strong sense of national identity and Islamic values, fostered by a caring leadership team. The school maintains high standards in health, safety, security, and behavior management. Areas for further development include enhancing support for students with additional learning needs and strengthening leadership accountability to ensure consistent progress across all areas.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Islamiya English School Overall Rating
Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has consistently improved and is now good across nearly all phases, with strong progress in Islamic Education, Arabic First Language, Arabic Second Language, and UAE Social Studies. English-medium subjects show mixed results, with some improvements in Mathematics and Science, but declines in English attainment in some phases. Learning skills have significantly improved across primary and middle phases. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectslearning skills
Personal development is rated Acceptable across all phases, primarily due to persistent attendance issues. However, students demonstrate a strong understanding of Islamic values, reflected in a Good rating for this indicator, and actively engage in social responsibility and innovation skills, which remain Good across all phases. Islamic valuessocial responsibilityinnovation skillsattendance
Teaching quality, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects, is Good and positively impacts student achievement. Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and plan engaging lessons. However, teaching in English-medium subjects is less consistent. Assessment practices are adequate but inconsistent in using internal and external data to inform instruction and differentiate for diverse student needs, leading to an Acceptable rating for assessment. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectsdifferentiationassessment data
Curriculum design and adaptation are rated Acceptable across all phases. The school offers multiple curricula and has recently introduced the Cambridge framework in English-medium subjects, which requires further embedding. The curriculum adequately reflects UAE culture and Islamic values, but a formal English subject offering in the senior secondary phase is lacking, limiting progression opportunities. Cambridge frameworkUAE cultureIslamic valuesEMS
Health and safety, including safeguarding, remain a key strength, consistently judged as Good, with enhanced infrastructure for mobility and effective safety protocols. However, overall care and support provision has declined to Acceptable, with the identification and tailored support for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and gifted learners, requiring significant improvement. health and safetysafeguardingadditional learning needsstudents of determination
The effectiveness of leadership has improved to Good, with leaders successfully raising standards in Arabic-medium subjects and cultivating a welcoming culture. However, self-evaluation, partnerships, governance, and management of staffing, facilities, and resources remain Acceptable. Consistent implementation of self-evaluation, improvement planning, and accountability is needed to ensure sustainable progress across all performance standards. effectiveness of leadershipIslamic valuesUAE national prioritiesself-evaluationimprovement planning
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
National Identity & Values
The school fosters a strong sense of national identity, with students demonstrating pride in UAE heritage and a deep appreciation for Islamic values.
Caring Environment
School leaders have cultivated a caring and nurturing environment, ensuring students feel a strong sense of belonging.
Improved Arabic Achievement
Student achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has consistently improved and is now good across nearly all phases.
Effective AMS Teaching
Teachers, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects, demonstrate strong subject knowledge, delivering engaging lessons that promote responsible student attitudes, respect, and collaboration.
Health & Safety
Health, safety, security, and behavior management procedures are well-established and effective, contributing to a safe and orderly learning environment.
Overall Performance Improvement
The school's overall performance has improved from Acceptable to Good since the previous inspection in 2021, reflecting a commitment to continuous development.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall, students' attainment in Arabic-medium subjects has strengthened, while English-medium subjects show mixed improvements and declines. Learning skills have significantly improved across primary and middle phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Guided by a principal and Board of Trustees who emphasize Islamic values and UAE national priorities, the leadership team cultivates a welcoming culture of kindness and belonging. They are increasingly inclusive in decision-making, engaging a wider range of stakeholders in shaping the school’s direction.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate strong attainment and progress in Islamic Education, Arabic First Language, Arabic Second Language, and UAE Social Studies, with significant improvements in many phases. English-medium subjects show varied performance, with some declines in attainment but generally maintained progress. Learning skills have notably improved across primary and middle phases.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit a strong understanding of Islamic values, and their social responsibility and innovation skills are good. However, personal development is impacted by persistent attendance issues across all phases, leading to an overall Acceptable rating.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching quality is good, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects, where engaging lessons and strong subject knowledge are evident. Teaching in English-medium subjects is less consistent. Assessment practices are adequate but inconsistent in using data for differentiation and addressing the full range of student needs, resulting in an Acceptable rating for assessment.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is Acceptable across all phases, reflecting UAE culture and Islamic values. The recent introduction of the Cambridge framework in English-medium subjects requires further embedding. A lack of formal English subject offering in the senior secondary phase limits progression opportunities for students.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including safeguarding, are consistently good, with enhanced infrastructure and effective protocols. However, care and support provision has declined to Acceptable, primarily due to insufficient identification and tailored support for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and gifted/talented learners.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ attainment and progress to a consistently good or better level in all core subjects and phases, by improving attainment in English-medium subjects and raising achievement in Arabic-medium subjects to a very good level.
- •Strengthen teaching, assessment, and curriculum provision, by developing Phase 1 teachers’ pedagogical approaches, improving lesson planning for differentiated instruction, and reviewing internal assessment systems for validity and reliability.
- •Improve the identification and support for students with additional learning needs, including students of determination and gifted and/or talented students, by strengthening identification processes, increasing effective screening tools, and improving the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
- •Improve the impact of school leadership, by strengthening leadership accountability at all levels, enhancing the monitoring of teaching and learning, and encouraging structured sharing of best practices.
- •Improve students' performance in the international assessment PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS by strengthening the use of inquiry-based learning and problem-solving activities, using detailed analysis of results to identify skill gaps, and aligning curriculum content more closely with assessment frameworks.