Manarat Al Sharjah Private School
Executive Summary
Manarat Al Sharjah Private School is a co-educational Arabic-medium school following the Ministry of Education curriculum, serving students from KG1 through Grade 12 in the Samnan area of Sharjah. The school received an overall effectiveness rating of Good in the 2024-2025 inspection cycle, maintaining the same rating as the previous review in 2022-2023, which itself represented an improvement from the Acceptable rating recorded in 2018.
Student achievement remains Good overall, with notable improvements in Cycles 2 and 3 since the previous review. Personal and social development, along with students' understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture, improved to Very Good. Student protection and care also improved to Very Good, reflecting the school's robust safeguarding procedures. Teaching and learning quality and the curriculum remain Good overall, with teaching rated Very Good in Cycle 3.
School leadership remains Good and demonstrates strong capacity for continued improvement. Key areas for development include raising attainment in Mathematics, Science, and English in Cycle 2 and Science in Cycle 3, improving the consistency of teaching effectiveness across all cycles, and ensuring that students of determination and high-attaining students receive appropriately differentiated support and challenge in lessons.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Manarat Al Sharjah Private School Overall Rating
Good for 2+ consecutive years
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school has 29 students of determination enrolled across all phases. Support for students of determination and lower-attaining students is not always consistently effective, and these students do not always achieve the progress levels expected of them. The school plans five differentiated activities in response to learning needs, though these are not always individually tailored to each student's specific requirements. Students of DeterminationDifferentiated Support
Student protection and care improved to Very Good since the last review, with robust safeguarding procedures in place. Students demonstrate a strong understanding of healthy lifestyles, participate enthusiastically in physical activities, and bring healthy food to school. Attendance is Very Good at 96%, and students consistently arrive on time. SafeguardingHealthy Lifestyles96% Attendance
The school participates in IBT, TIMSS, PIRLS, and PISA international benchmark assessments. In PISA 2022, students achieved below national and international averages in both English and Science, though Mathematics results were above the national average. IBT results for 2023 showed outstanding attainment in grades 3 through 9 in English and Science, indicating a gap between external benchmark performance and classroom-observed levels. IBTTIMSSPISAEmSAT
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Student Achievement
Student achievement in Cycles 2 and 3 improved significantly since the previous review, with both cycles now rated Good and Very Good respectively across most subjects.
Personal Development Excellence
Students' personal and social development and their understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture improved to Very Good across all phases, with students demonstrating mature, responsible attitudes.
Strong Safeguarding
The school's firm procedures for maintaining student safety and wellbeing were highlighted as a key strength, with student protection and care rated Very Good.
Inspirational Leadership
School leadership demonstrates a deep understanding of best teaching and learning practices, with senior leaders actively participating in joint classroom observations and driving school-wide improvement.
Strong External Results
IBT results show outstanding attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science for grades 3-9, and Ministry of Education Grade 12 exams show outstanding results in Arabic, English, and Science.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Good. Significant improvement was noted in Cycles 2 and 3 since the 2022-2023 review. IBT 2023 results show outstanding attainment in grades 3-9 across core subjects. PISA 2022 results were below national and international averages.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
School leadership is collaborative and operates effectively at most levels, with senior and middle leaders working toward shared priorities. The principal and senior leadership team actively participate in joint classroom observations and drive continuous improvement across all phases. The school has a dedicated data team that analyses individual student results to inform teaching adjustments, and leadership demonstrates strong capacity to sustain and build on the school's improvement trajectory.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Overall student achievement is Good, with notable improvements in Cycles 2 and 3 since the previous review. Islamic Education, Arabic, Social Studies, and Other Subjects are rated Very Good in Cycles 1 and 3. English, Mathematics, and Science attainment in Cycle 2 remain Acceptable and are the primary areas requiring further development. External IBT results show outstanding attainment in grades 3-9, while PISA 2022 results were below national and international averages.
Personal Development
Personal and social development improved to Very Good across all phases. Students demonstrate mature, responsible attitudes, positive behaviour, and respectful relationships with staff and peers. Bullying is rare. Students show a deep understanding of Islamic values, Emirati heritage, and global cultures, participating actively in national events, Quran competitions, and community service activities including beach clean-ups and collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent.
Teaching Quality
Teaching quality is Good overall, rated Very Good in Cycle 3 where teachers consistently apply subject knowledge and understanding of how students learn. Teachers employ effective strategies to engage students and encourage critical responses, particularly in Cycle 3. Lesson plans are detailed and aligned with curriculum standards; however, differentiation for individual student needs is not always consistently implemented, and the development of independent learning skills is less evident across all cycles.
Protection & Care
Student protection and care improved to Very Good since the last review. The school has robust safeguarding procedures and child protection arrangements in place. The school environment is safe and well maintained. Student attendance is Very Good at 96%, and students consistently arrive on time. Older students lead campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles, including diabetes awareness initiatives.
Areas for Development
- •Raise the level of attainment achieved by students in Mathematics, Science, and English in Cycle 2, and in Science in Cycle 3.
- •Improve the consistency of teaching effectiveness across all cycles and subjects.
- •Ensure consistent quality of support and levels of challenge provided to students of determination, gifted and talented students, and high-attaining students in lessons.