Liwa International School - Al Ain - Falaj Hazza'
Executive Summary
Liwa International School - Falaj Hazaa has maintained its overall performance rating of Very Good since its previous inspection in 2022. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to UAE national education priorities, with leaders at all levels showing a clear strategic vision and accountability for continuous improvement.
Students' achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has generally improved or remained Very Good across phases, while English-medium subjects show mixed results with some declines. Learning skills are consistently Very Good across all phases, supported by effective professional development. The American curriculum is well-designed and aligned with national priorities, though modifications for gifted and talented students require further consistency.
Health and safety provisions are an Outstanding feature, ensuring robust safeguarding and student well-being. Teaching and assessment are consistently Very Good, with effective lesson planning and strengthened assessment practices. While care and support are Very Good, student attendance and punctuality remain an ongoing concern requiring further intervention.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Liwa International School - Al Ain - Falaj Hazza' Overall Rating
Very Good for 3+ consecutive years
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 improved or remained Very Good across phases, particularly in Arabic as a First Language and Islamic Education. English-medium subjects show mixed results, with some declines in attainment in science (Phase 1, 4) and English (Phase 4), and mathematics progress (Phase 2). Learning skills are consistently Very Good across all phases. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjectsLearning skills
Personal development is rated Acceptable in Phases 1, 3, and 4, and Good in Phase 2, primarily due to low attendance and punctuality. However, students' understanding and application of Islamic values are Very Good, and innovation skills and social responsibility are Good, reflecting engagement in enterprise and community involvement. Islamic valuesinnovation skillssocial responsibilityattendance and punctuality
The quality of teaching and assessment is consistently Very Good across all phases. Teachers effectively plan lessons, embedding active learning strategies across subjects. Assessment practices have been strengthened, with consistent approaches that effectively inform teaching and drive student progress. active learningassessment practicesstudent progress
Curriculum design and adaptation are rated Very Good across all phases. The curriculum is broad, balanced, and well-aligned with national priorities, addressing students' academic, personal, and social well-being. However, curriculum modifications to support gifted and/or talented students remain inconsistent across phases, indicating an area for further adaptation. broad, balanced curriculumnational prioritiesgifted and/or talented students
Health and safety are an Outstanding feature of the school, with robust safeguarding policies, comprehensive health and safety measures, and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students are Very Good, though attendance and punctuality remain an ongoing concern requiring further intervention. Health and safetysafeguarding policiesCare and supportattendance and punctuality
The effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, governance, and management of staffing and resources are all Very Good. Leaders demonstrate a clear strategic vision and strong accountability, committed to continuous school improvement aligned with UAE priorities. Partnerships are Good, with strong parental support, though broader parental participation is an area for development. strategic visionaccountabilityUAE prioritiesparental participation
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Islamic Values & Culture
Students demonstrate a strong understanding of Islamic values and respect for UAE culture and heritage.
Coherent Assessment
Assessment processes are well-structured, linked to the curriculum, and actively involve students in their learning journey.
Structured Curriculum
The curriculum is well-structured, ensuring smooth and progressive learning through a coherently arranged scope and sequence.
Robust Safeguarding
The school has robust procedures in place for safeguarding students, ensuring their protection and well-being.
Leadership Commitment
Leaders are deeply committed to embedding UAE national and Emirate priorities into all aspects of the school's work.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Learning skills are consistently Very Good across all phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leaders at all levels demonstrate a clear strategic vision, strong accountability, and a commitment to continuous school improvement in alignment with UAE priorities. The school employs a systematic and data-driven approach to self-evaluation, ensuring informed decision-making and effective oversight.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students generally attain levels above curriculum standards in Islamic Education, Arabic First Language, and UAE Social Studies. While English and Mathematics show good attainment and very good progress in some phases, there are declines in science attainment in Phases 1 and 4, and mathematics progress in Phase 2. International assessment results (PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) are generally below international averages and school targets, indicating areas for improvement in critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Personal & Social Development
Students' personal development is rated Acceptable to Good, primarily impacted by inconsistent attendance and punctuality. However, students demonstrate a Very Good understanding and application of Islamic values and a Good level of innovation skills and social responsibility, actively engaging in enterprise and community involvement.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching and assessment are consistently Very Good across all phases. Teachers effectively plan lessons to embed active learning, and assessment practices have been strengthened to consistently inform teaching and drive student progress. However, there are inconsistencies in challenging higher-ability students and ensuring appropriate differentiation.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum is rated Very Good across all phases, being broad, balanced, and aligned with national priorities, addressing academic, personal, and social well-being. However, curriculum modifications to support gifted and/or talented students are inconsistent, limiting their opportunities for advanced learning and challenge.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety provisions are Outstanding, with robust safeguarding policies, comprehensive health and safety measures, and well-equipped facilities. Care and support for students are Very Good, but attendance and punctuality remain a significant concern, requiring further intervention and emphasis across the school community.
Areas for Development
- •Further improve student’s achievements to a consistently high level by strengthening practical scientific enquiry skills and Arabic speaking skills in Phase 1, enhancing challenges for higher abilities and those with gifts and/or talents (G/T) across all phases, and strengthening students’ independent learning, innovation, and research skills across all phases.
- •Further strengthen teaching and assessment by ensuring teachers deliver lessons effectively to meet the needs of higher-ability students in elementary and middle school, enhancing differentiated instructional strategies to ensure all students are appropriately challenged, actively engaged, and provided with opportunities for higher-order thinking, and ensuring that teachers use assessment information consistently to support student learning.
- •Further strengthen the impact of leadership by strengthening inter-phase collaboration so that all teachers are fully aware of the knowledge, skills, and understanding that students need as they progress across the school, continuing to engage parents on the importance of their children attending school and maintaining higher levels of attendance, and ensuring that the end-of-day dismissal timings across all phases are structured to prevent the loss of student learning opportunities.
- •Improve outcomes in PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS international assessments and aim to meet the set targets by further aligning curriculum and instruction with the cognitive demands of international assessments, enhancing teacher professional development to ensure effective instructional strategies that improve conceptual understanding, application of knowledge, and literacy across subjects, encouraging inquiry-based and application-oriented learning in science and mathematics, and ensuring continuous exposure to higher-level questioning and reasoning tasks.