Maple Wood International School

Curriculum
Canadian
ADEK
Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Zayed City
Fees
AED 38K - 46K

Maple Wood International School

The Executive Summary

Maple Wood International School Abu Dhabi - formally known as Maplewood Canadian International School (MCIS) - is one of the few schools in Mohamed Bin Zayed City offering a full Canadian curriculum Abu Dhabi pathway from KG1 through Grade 12. Rated Good by ADEK in its 2024 Irtiqa inspection, the school has held this rating since at least 2022, demonstrating consistency rather than dramatic upward trajectory. With 475 students on roll and an annual fee range of AED 38,000 to AED 46,000 - among the most affordable full-cycle international school fees Abu Dhabi has to offer - MCIS positions itself as a genuine value proposition for families who want a recognized Western curriculum without the premium price tag of larger, more established campuses. The school's standout strength is its student-centered, inquiry-based Canadian approach, emphasizing creativity, critical thinking, and real-life problem-solving, and its PISA 2022 results - where students outperformed both school targets and international averages in reading, mathematics, and science - provide meaningful evidence that this philosophy delivers measurable outcomes.
Canadian Curriculum KG-Grade 12ADEK Good 2024PISA Above International AverageAED 38K-46K FeesMohamed Bin Zayed City

The fees are genuinely reasonable for what you get - a full Canadian curriculum, caring teachers, and a community where the school actually knows your child's name. It doesn't feel like a factory.

Grade 5 Parent(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Maplewood Canadian International School follows the Alberta Curriculum - one of Canada's most rigorous provincial frameworks - integrated with UAE Ministry of Education standards for Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Studies. The school's stated philosophy centres on a student-centered approach that prioritises creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving over rote memorisation, which aligns well with the Alberta model's emphasis on competency-based learning. According to the ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 report, curriculum design and implementation are rated Good across all phases, with inspectors noting coherent application of the Alberta framework and effective planning that supports progression and cultural integration. In terms of measurable academic outcomes, the picture is genuinely encouraging in English-medium subjects. The Irtiqa report confirms that English, Mathematics, and Science are all rated Good across KG through Cycle 3, with Mathematics progress reaching Very Good in Cycle 3 and Science achieving Very Good in Cycles 2 and 4. Most significantly, MCIS students who sat the PISA 2022 international assessments outperformed both the school's own targets and the PISA international averages: a reading score of 504 against an international average of 476, mathematics at 496 against 472, and science at 523 against 485. TIMSS 2023 results were similarly solid, with Grade 4 and Grade 8 students exceeding international averages in both mathematics and science, even if falling marginally short of the school's own ambitious internal targets. However, the MAP (NWEA Measures of Academic Progress) standardised assessments paint a more sobering picture. MAP attainment in English reading, language use, mathematics, and science was rated Weak across Phases 1, 2, and 3 in AY2023/24, with progress rated Acceptable or Weak. This divergence between strong PISA/TIMSS performance and weak MAP scores is a genuine analytical puzzle - it may reflect curriculum alignment issues with the MAP framework rather than absolute underperformance, but parents should probe this directly with the school. In Arabic-medium subjects, performance is more mixed. Arabic as a First Language and Arabic as a Second Language are both rated Acceptable across most phases, with only Cycle 1 Arabic First Language reaching Good. Islamic Education follows a similar pattern. These are not unusual results for a school whose primary offering is a Canadian English-medium curriculum, but families for whom Arabic attainment is a priority should weigh this carefully. The school does not yet offer a formal IB, A-Level, or AP pathway - Grade 12 students complete the Canadian secondary credential, which is widely recognised for North American university entry but may require additional steps for UK or European university applications. University destination data was not publicly available at the time of this review. Admissions criteria are not formally published; the school accepts applications via an online registration portal and advises prospective families to contact the admissions team directly - there is no published entrance exam requirement, suggesting a relatively open admissions process consistent with the school's inclusive positioning.
504
PISA 2022 Reading Score
Above international average of 476 and school target of 438.7
523
PISA 2022 Science Score
Above international average of 485 and school target of 456
524
TIMSS 2023 Grade 4 Science Score
Above school target of 504.4 and international average of 494
Very Good
Mathematics Progress - Cycle 3
ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 - improved from Good in previous inspection

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

The ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 report notes that students' increasing involvement in extracurricular activities and student-led events has been a meaningful driver of personal development, teamwork, and creativity across the school. Inspectors specifically highlighted that the school's ECA programme has contributed to students' social responsibility and innovation skills being rated Good across all phases - a positive signal that life beyond the classroom is taken seriously. The school's fees page references a swimming pool on campus, and the presence of a pool at a school of this size and fee level is a notable facility advantage. The school operates a structured three-term academic calendar with clearly defined term dates, suggesting organised scheduling of co-curricular activities. While the school website was inaccessible at the time of this review due to a technical issue, the Irtiqa report references anti-bullying programs and sustainability projects as active student-led community initiatives, indicating that social responsibility programming is embedded rather than tokenistic. The school's PIRLS preparation strategy includes a structured reading programme integrated across grade levels, and monthly Classical Arabic speech and Literary Creations events provide performing arts and literary enrichment opportunities. The school also promotes reading through various digital and in-person initiatives. However, the Irtiqa report is candid that extracurricular reading connections remain limited, and that opportunities for reading beyond lesson-based tasks are not consistently embedded. For a school of 475 students, the ECA breadth is not yet fully documented in publicly available sources - parents should request a current ECA schedule during the admissions process. The school's student demographics include 55 Emirati students and a diverse international cohort spanning Canadian, South African, and Egyptian teacher nationalities, which suggests a multicultural community environment that enriches the co-curricular experience.
Good
Social Responsibility & Innovation Skills
ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 - rated Good across all phases
On-Campus Swimming PoolAnti-Bullying ProgramsSustainability ProjectsStudent-Led EventsClassical Arabic Literary Events

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care is, unambiguously, one of Maplewood Canadian International School's strongest suits - and the ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 inspection data backs this up with hard ratings. Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding, is rated Very Good across all phases - KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3 - making it the highest-rated domain in the entire inspection. Care and support is equally rated Very Good across all phases, a result that places the school above many of its peers in Mohamed Bin Zayed City on this critical dimension. Inspectors noted that the school has a clear and consistently applied behaviour management system, combined with rigorous safeguarding policies, providing a safe, secure, and orderly environment conducive to learning. Students across all phases demonstrate positive behaviour, respectful relationships, and a clear understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture - a finding that speaks to effective pastoral programming rather than simply good luck. The school has also established well-regarded processes for identifying and supporting students of determination, with 28 such students currently enrolled. Inspectors confirmed that identification and support procedures are rigorous and ensure effective provision both in and out of the classroom. Where the pastoral picture is less complete is in provision for gifted and talented students, which the Irtiqa report explicitly flags as not consistently effective. This is a meaningful gap: families with academically high-achieving children should ask specific questions about what structured challenge and enrichment looks like for their child beyond standard classroom differentiation. The school's community initiatives - including anti-bullying programmes and sustainability projects - give students meaningful vehicles for developing empathy and social responsibility, and the Irtiqa report confirms these are active rather than performative. Student voice and formal leadership structures (such as a student council or house system) are not detailed in available public sources, and this is worth exploring at open day.

The school genuinely knows my daughter. When she was going through a difficult patch, the class teacher reached out before I even had to call. That kind of pastoral attentiveness is rare at this price point.

Year 7 Parent(representative)

Campus & Facilities

Maplewood Canadian International School is located at 40 Al Heefah Street, Mohamed Bin Zayed City - a well-established residential district in the southern reaches of Abu Dhabi that is home to a large proportion of the emirate's middle-income international families. The area offers reasonable road connectivity to central Abu Dhabi and is served by the school's own transportation network, with bus fees set at AED 6,000 per annum - a competitive rate by Abu Dhabi standards. The school's campus location in MBZ City places it within easy reach of the communities it primarily serves, reducing commute burden for most enrolled families. The most notable facility confirmed by the school's own admissions page is an on-campus swimming pool - a genuine differentiator for a school at this fee level. The school also references a science lab (visible in admissions imagery), and the Irtiqa report notes that the school provides Google Chromebooks to students from Grade 2 through Grade 12, with digital devices also provided to Grade 1 and 2 students as part of the books and digital resources package. This represents a meaningful commitment to technology infrastructure, though students are not required to purchase a new Chromebook each year - existing devices can be retained provided they remain functional. The school maintains a single library containing approximately 10,000 books, including over 2,000 in Arabic - a reasonable collection for a school of this size, though inspectors noted the space is limited and presents challenges for accommodating older students in individual or small-group activities. The library is described as supporting reading to a certain extent but not yet fully utilised for broader literacy development. Science resources were specifically flagged by the Irtiqa report as insufficient, with inspectors recommending a review of the adequacy of learning resources, particularly for science. This is a meaningful concern for families with STEM-focused children. Overall, the campus is described as clean, safe, and largely secure - functional and appropriate for its student population, but not a prestige facility by Abu Dhabi private school standards.
10,000
Library Books
Including 2,000+ Arabic titles; single library serving all phases
AED 6,000
Annual Bus Fee
Per student; competitive rate for Abu Dhabi school transport
On-Campus Swimming PoolChromebooks Grade 2-1210,000-Book LibraryScience LabSchool Bus ServiceMBZ City Location

Teaching & Learning Quality

The ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 report rates Teaching for Effective Learning as Good across all phases - KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3 - with Assessment equally rated Good across all phases. This is a stable and consistent finding, maintained from the previous 2022 inspection. Inspectors acknowledged that teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for sharing it with students, and that systems are in place to gather assessment data through both internal and external assessments. The school employs 41 teachers supported by 10 teaching assistants, giving a total teaching staff of 51 for 475 students - a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 11.6:1 (or roughly 9.3:1 including teaching assistants), which is favourable by Abu Dhabi private school standards and consistent with the school's community-feel ethos. Teacher nationalities span Canada, South Africa, and Egypt, bringing genuine international perspective to the classroom. However, the Irtiqa report is pointed in its criticism of several teaching quality dimensions that parents should not overlook. Inspectors found that assessment data is not used effectively to plan lessons that meet the needs of all student groups - particularly high attainers and gifted and talented students. There is excessive teacher talk, with insufficient opportunities for students to engage in active, independent, and collaborative learning. Formative assessment strategies are not used consistently to identify misconceptions during lessons. Written feedback to students lacks clear guidance on how to improve. And peer and self-assessment opportunities are limited. These are systemic pedagogical weaknesses that sit in tension with the school's stated Canadian student-centered philosophy. Teacher retention and turnover data is not publicly disclosed, but the Irtiqa report raises a significant concern: persistent staffing shortages, particularly in senior and middle leadership roles, have been flagged as contributing to a decline in the management indicator from Good to Acceptable. This suggests that teacher recruitment and retention is an active operational challenge, which can affect teaching consistency and programme delivery. The school's professional development culture is referenced in the context of PISA/TIMSS preparation - leaders and staff are described as well-informed about international assessment targets and implementing evidence-based interventions - but the depth of formal CPD structures is not detailed in available sources.
41
Qualified Teachers
Plus 10 teaching assistants; 475 students on roll
~11.6:1
Student-to-Teacher Ratio
Favourable ratio; approx. 9.3:1 including teaching assistants
Good
Teaching for Effective Learning
ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 - rated Good across all four phases

Leadership & Management

The school is led by Principal Terry Wade Burwell, whose name appears in the ADEK Irtiqa 2024/25 inspection report. Beyond the name, detailed biographical information about Principal Burwell's background, tenure, and prior leadership experience is not available in publicly accessible sources - a transparency gap that prospective parents may wish to address directly during the admissions visit. The school operates as a private institution under ADEK oversight, registered as Maplewood Canadian International School LLC. The ownership structure is not publicly detailed on the school's website. Critically, the Irtiqa 2024/25 report identifies Governance as Weak - a significant regression from Good in the previous 2022 inspection. Inspectors attribute this directly to the absence of an active governing board and, consequently, the lack of effective accountability measures. This is the most serious finding in the entire inspection report and deserves frank acknowledgement: a school without a functioning board of governors lacks the external oversight mechanism that holds leadership accountable for outcomes, resource allocation, and strategic direction. Leadership effectiveness itself is rated Good, as are School Self-Evaluation and Improvement Planning, and Partnerships with Parents. The school has established a positive partnership with parents, with communication and reporting described as consistently effective - a genuine strength in an area where many schools struggle. Management, staffing, facilities, and resources have declined from Good to Acceptable, driven by the staffing shortages in senior and middle leadership already noted in the Teaching section. The school's development plan exists but inspectors recommend it be updated more regularly to reflect emerging priorities. Parent communication channels include WhatsApp-based admissions support, an online portal (ETH Digital Campus), and a detailed academic calendar published annually - practical tools that support day-to-day parent engagement even if governance structures require strengthening.

ADEK Inspection Results (Irtiqa - Decoded)

The most recent ADEK Irtiqa inspection of Maplewood Canadian International School took place from 19 to 21 May 2025, covering the academic year 2024/25, and confirmed an overall rating of Good - the same rating the school held in its previous inspection in 2022. This stability is a double-edged signal: it demonstrates that the school has not deteriorated, but equally that it has not broken through to Very Good despite three years of operation under the same framework. The inspection framework evaluated six principal strands. Students' Achievement is Good overall, with notable strengths in English, Mathematics, and Science across English-medium phases, and a particularly impressive uplift in Mathematics progress (now Very Good in Cycle 3) and Science (Very Good in Cycles 2 and 4). Arabic-medium subjects remain Acceptable across most phases - a persistent pattern that reflects the school's English-medium curriculum orientation. Students' Personal and Social Development is rated Good across all phases and indicators, reflecting the school's strong community culture. Teaching and Assessment is Good across all phases, though with pointed recommendations about formative assessment, differentiation, and feedback quality. Curriculum Design and Implementation is Good across all phases, with the Alberta framework coherently applied. Protection, Care, Guidance and Support is the standout performer, rated Very Good across all phases - the only domain to exceed Good in the inspection. Leadership and Management presents the most concerning picture: while Leadership Effectiveness, Self-Evaluation, and Parent Partnerships are Good, Governance has regressed to Weak and Management/Staffing/Facilities has declined to Acceptable. For parents navigating this report, the honest summary is: this is a school that takes excellent care of its students, delivers solid English-medium academic outcomes, and has a warm community feel - but requires meaningful improvement in governance accountability, teaching differentiation, and Arabic-medium attainment before it can credibly aspire to a Very Good rating.
Exemplary Safeguarding & Care
Health and safety, safeguarding, and care and support are all rated Very Good across every phase - the highest-rated domain in the inspection and a genuine differentiator for the school.
Strong PISA & TIMSS Performance
Students outperformed both school targets and international averages in PISA 2022 reading (504), mathematics (496), and science (523), demonstrating that the Canadian curriculum delivers internationally competitive outcomes for English-medium learners.
Positive Parent Partnership
Inspectors confirmed that communication and reporting to parents are consistently effective, with the school maintaining a positive and well-regarded partnership with its parent community across all phases.
Governance Rated Weak - No Active Board

The most serious inspection finding: governance has regressed from Good to Weak due to the absence of an active governing board. Without effective external accountability, the school lacks the oversight mechanism needed to challenge leadership and safeguard long-term outcomes.

Teaching Differentiation for High Attainers

Inspectors identified a persistent gap in provision for gifted and talented students, with assessment data not being used effectively to personalise instruction. Excessive teacher talk and limited formative assessment are constraining student progress, particularly at the upper end of the ability range.

Inspection History

2024/25
Good
2022
Good

Fees & Value for Money

Maplewood Canadian International School's fee structure is one of its most compelling attributes. School fees Abu Dhabi at MCIS range from AED 38,000 for KG1 and KG2 through to AED 46,000 for Grade 12 - a total tuition span of just AED 8,000 across the entire K-12 journey. By the standards of Abu Dhabi's international school market, this is genuinely affordable: comparable Canadian or North American curriculum schools in the emirate typically charge AED 50,000-80,000 for secondary years. MCIS sits firmly in the value-for-money tier of Abu Dhabi private schools, making it particularly relevant for families seeking a recognised Western curriculum without the financial burden of premium-tier institutions. Additional costs are transparent and published. Books and digital resources range from AED 500 (KG) to AED 1,500 (Grades 10-12). The school provides Google Chromebooks to students in Grades 1 and 2 as part of the digital resources package, and from Grade 2 onwards students retain their Chromebook year-on-year rather than purchasing a new device annually - a cost-saving that parents will appreciate. Bus transport is priced at a flat AED 6,000 per year across all grades, which is competitive. Uniform costs range from AED 350 (KG) to AED 700 (Grades 9-12). A one-time, non-refundable registration fee of AED 1,000 is payable prior to entry and is included as part of the total tuition fee rather than charged separately - a transparent practice. The school offers a corporate discount to selected partner entities, though the specific terms require direct inquiry. Term fees are paid in advance across a three-term structure aligned with the academic calendar (Term 1: August-December; Term 2: January-March; Term 3: March-July). Payment methods and instalment flexibility beyond the term structure are not detailed in publicly available sources - families should clarify this during the admissions process. No formal scholarship or bursary programme is publicly documented, though the corporate discount mechanism suggests some fee flexibility exists for qualifying families. The value-for-money verdict is clear: at these fees, with a Good ADEK rating, an on-campus pool, full Chromebook provision, and PISA scores above international averages, MCIS delivers strong academic infrastructure at a price point that undercuts most comparable international schools in Abu Dhabi by a significant margin. The caveat is that facilities - particularly science resources - are acknowledged as needing investment, and governance weaknesses introduce an element of institutional risk that parents should factor into their assessment.
AED 38K-46K
Annual Tuition Fees 2025-26
AED 6,000
Annual Bus Fee
PhaseAnnual Fee
Kindergarten
38,000
Kindergarten
38,000
Primary
39,000
Primary
39,000
Primary
40,000
Primary
40,000
Primary
41,000
Middle School
41,000
Middle School
42,000
Middle School
42,000
Secondary
43,000
Secondary
43,000
Secondary
44,000
Secondary
46,000

Additional Costs

Registration Fee (non-refundable, included in tuition)1,000(one-time)
Books & Digital Resources - KG1/KG2500(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 1/Grade 21,900(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 3/Grade 42,000(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 5/Grade 62,100(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 7/Grade 82,200(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 92,300(annual)
Books & Digital Resources - Grade 10/Grade 11/Grade 122,300(annual)
School Bus Transport6,000(annual)
Uniform - KG1/KG2350(annual)
Uniform - Grade 1/Grade 2400(annual)
Uniform - Grade 3/Grade 4550(annual)
Uniform - Grade 5/Grade 6600(annual)
Uniform - Grade 7/Grade 8650(annual)
Uniform - Grade 9 through Grade 12700(annual)

Discounts & Concessions

Corporate Discount

Scholarships & Bursaries

No formal scholarship or bursary programme is publicly documented on the school's website or ADEK records. A corporate discount is available for employees of selected partner organisations. Families seeking fee flexibility should contact registrar@maplewood.school directly.

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Maplewood Canadian International School is a school that does more right than its modest profile might suggest. The Canadian Alberta Curriculum is a genuinely rigorous framework, the pastoral care is exemplary by any standard, and the PISA results demonstrate that students are developing real, internationally benchmarked competencies. At fees between AED 38,000 and AED 46,000, it is difficult to find a comparable full-cycle international school in Abu Dhabi that offers this combination of curriculum pedigree, care quality, and affordability. For families based in or near Mohamed Bin Zayed City who are seeking an English-medium education with a Western pedagogical philosophy, MCIS deserves serious consideration. That said, the school is not without meaningful limitations. The Weak governance rating is a structural concern that goes beyond annual inspection scores - it speaks to accountability and long-term institutional stability. The MAP standardised assessment results are weak, creating a genuine tension with the stronger PISA/TIMSS outcomes that requires explanation. Provision for gifted and talented students is inconsistent, and Arabic-medium attainment remains Acceptable across most phases. Families with high-achieving children who need structured academic challenge, or for whom Arabic language development is a priority, may find better-matched options elsewhere in Abu Dhabi's private school landscape. The school is also relatively small at 475 students, which brings community warmth but may limit subject breadth and ECA variety at the senior secondary level.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Families based in Mohamed Bin Zayed City seeking an affordable, caring, Canadian curriculum school with strong English-medium academic outcomes and an inclusive, community-oriented environment - particularly those with children in KG through middle school.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Academically high-achieving students who need structured gifted provision and consistent challenge; families for whom Arabic language attainment is a primary goal; or parents who require the reassurance of a school with a functioning governing board and established governance track record.

It's not the flashiest school in Abu Dhabi, but it's real. The teachers care, the fees don't break the bank, and my son is genuinely learning. For our family, it was the right call.

Grade 9 Parent

Strengths

  • Pastoral care and safeguarding rated Very Good across all phases by ADEK
  • PISA 2022 scores above international averages in reading, maths, and science
  • Affordable fees: AED 38K-46K for full KG-Grade 12 Canadian curriculum
  • Chromebooks provided to all students from Grade 2 upwards
  • Favourable student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 11.6:1
  • On-campus swimming pool - rare at this fee level in Abu Dhabi
  • Strong parent communication and partnership rated Good by ADEK
  • TIMSS 2023 results above international averages in maths and science

Areas for Improvement

  • Governance rated Weak - no active governing board in place
  • MAP standardised assessment results rated Weak across Phases 1-3
  • Gifted and talented provision not consistently effective per ADEK
  • Science facilities flagged as insufficient in 2024/25 Irtiqa report
  • Arabic-medium attainment remains Acceptable across most phases