Liwa International School For Girls - Al Ain - Al Bateen
Executive Summary
Liwa International School for Girls, an American curriculum school in Al Ain, has maintained its overall Very Good rating in the latest ADEK Irtiqa inspection for the 2025-2026 academic year. The school demonstrates a consistent commitment to high-quality performance, ensuring continuity in learning despite recent leadership transitions.
Students' achievement is generally Very Good, with strong performance in Arabic-medium subjects and learning skills. While English-medium subjects show some declines in attainment across certain phases, progress remains strong. The school's teaching for effective learning is Very Good, though assessment practices require improvement to ensure consistency and accuracy.
The school excels in safeguarding and student welfare, with Outstanding health and safety provisions and Very Good care and support. Governance is also rated Outstanding, providing effective oversight and strategic direction, contributing to the school's sustained high performance and continuous improvement.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Liwa International School For Girls - Al Ain - Al Bateen Overall Rating
Very Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Overall student achievement is Very Good, with strong performance maintained in Arabic-medium subjects and learning skills across all phases. However, attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science has seen declines in some phases, indicating inconsistencies in vocabulary, writing, and application of scientific and mathematical skills. Arabic-medium subjectsLearning SkillsEnglishMathematicsScience
Personal development is Very Good, with students demonstrating positive attitudes, strong self-discipline, and effective collaboration. Understanding of Islamic values, awareness of Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good, with opportunities for deeper understanding and student-led initiatives. Personal DevelopmentIslamic valuesEmirati and world culturesSocial responsibility and innovation
Teaching for effective learning is Very Good across all phases, characterized by strong subject knowledge, positive relationships, and differentiated lesson planning. However, assessment has declined to Good due to inconsistencies in moderation processes, impacting the reliability and accuracy of data and the alignment with external benchmarks. Teaching for effective learningAssessmentmoderation processes
Curriculum design is Very Good in KG and Good in other phases, effectively planned to support academic and personal development with clear alignment to UAE priorities. Curriculum adaptation is Good, meeting the needs of most students, but the range of options and consistent integration of innovation and challenge for higher-attaining students require improvement. Curriculum designCurriculum adaptationUAE prioritiesinnovation and enterprise
Health and safety, including child protection, is Outstanding, with rigorous safeguarding procedures and inclusive facilities. Care and support are Very Good, underpinned by strong relationships and effective wellbeing systems. Provision for students of determination is increasingly thorough, and career guidance has strengthened, though clarity on American High School Diploma credit requirements is needed. Health and safetyChild protectionSafeguardingCare and supportStudents of determinationCareer guidance
The effectiveness of leadership and self-evaluation are Very Good, driven by clear strategic planning and a shared vision. Partnerships with parents and the community have improved to Very Good. Governance is Outstanding, demonstrating strong commitment and effective challenge. Management of staffing, facilities, and resources is Very Good, sustaining high performance despite a vacant principal post. Effectiveness of leadershipSelf-evaluation and improvement planningParents and the communityGovernanceManagement, staffing, facilities and resources
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Sustained Achievement
Students' overall achievement has been maintained at a Very Good level, reflecting consistent academic effort and progress.
Positive Student Attitudes
Students demonstrate responsible and positive attitudes, strong self-discipline, and consideration for others, fostering a conducive learning environment.
Effective KG Provision
Teaching and curriculum provision in the KG phase are highly effective, offering well-planned learning experiences that support holistic student development.
Outstanding Safeguarding
The school implements rigorous safeguarding and child protection procedures, ensuring students' safety and well-being, complemented by effective support for students of determination.
Strong Leadership & Governance
Senior leaders effectively ensure continuity and a shared commitment to improvement, while governance is highly effective in overseeing school development and providing strategic support.
Academic Performance Breakdown
While internal assessment data often indicates attainment above curriculum standards, external standardized assessments (MAP, PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) show attainment and progress as Weak or below international averages in English, Mathematics, and Science across multiple phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leadership is characterized by clear strategic planning and a shared vision that fosters stability and a consistent focus on improvement. Despite a vacant principal post, the senior leadership team has effectively maintained high-quality performance and is committed to systematic self-evaluation and stakeholder engagement.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students' achievement is Very Good overall, with strong progress in Arabic-medium subjects and learning skills. However, attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science has declined in some phases, and performance in international assessments (MAP, PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) is consistently below targets and international averages.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit Very Good personal development, displaying positive attitudes and strong self-discipline. Their understanding of Islamic values, Emirati and world cultures, and social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Good, with room for deeper engagement and student-led initiatives.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is Very Good, with teachers demonstrating strong subject knowledge and effective differentiation. However, assessment practices have declined to Good due to inconsistent moderation, leading to discrepancies between internal and external assessment outcomes and affecting the reliability of data.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design is Very Good in KG and Good in other phases, aligning with UAE priorities and preparing students for the next stage of education. Curriculum adaptation is Good, but the range of curricular options, depth of review, and consistent integration of innovation and challenge for gifted students need enhancement.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection, is Outstanding, with rigorous safeguarding and inclusive facilities. Care and support are Very Good, supported by strong relationships and effective wellbeing systems. Provision for students of determination is increasingly thorough, and career guidance has improved, though clarity on American High School Diploma requirements is an area for development.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ attainment and progress to consistently Very Good or better across all core subjects and phases by deepening conceptual understanding, improving speaking, reading, and writing skills in Arabic and English, strengthening mathematical and scientific reasoning, and promoting consistency in developing innovation and enterprise skills.
- •Improve students’ understanding and appreciation of Islamic values and Emirati culture and their innovation and social contribution skills by deepening understanding and application of Islamic values, enhancing exposure to global cultures, extending participation in volunteering and sustainability initiatives, and promoting leadership and project-management skills.
- •Improve the consistency and impact of teaching, assessment, and curriculum implementation by promoting consistently high expectations, ensuring robust assessment procedures, enhancing the range and flexibility of curricular options for older students, and expanding innovation and enterprise opportunities within the curriculum.
- •Strengthen leadership capacity and accountability to drive sustained improvement by embedding a distributive leadership model, aligning self-evaluation and development plans with measurable KPIs, enhancing the rigor of teacher monitoring and feedback, and appointing a permanent principal and expanding the senior leadership team.
- •Improve students’ performance in international assessments (TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS) by aligning daily teaching and curriculum planning with assessment frameworks, using detailed analysis of results to identify gaps, integrating mock assessments systematically, and enhancing teachers’ capacity through regular training in higher-order thinking skills and data interpretation.