The New Filipino Private School, Sharjah

Principal Belinda Neustro leads The New Filipino Private School with a depth of institutional knowledge that is rare in Sharjah's private sector. In post for 11 years and serving as acting principal during the previous SPEA review in January 2023, Neustro brings continuity to a school that has undergone significant structural change. The governing body is chaired by Maria Sales Ansari, and inspectors specifically cited the commitment of the school principal and positive impact and involvement of the governing body as a key strength — a meaningful endorsement given the scale of disruption the school has absorbed.

That disruption is substantial and parents should understand its context. Since the last review, NFPS has expanded to 1,368 students — almost double its previous enrolment — while simultaneously relocating to new premises and installing new management structures. The consequence has been a teaching workforce in flux: 56% of teachers are new to the school, and the teacher turnover rate stands at 19%. Inspectors noted that professional development has been provided but is not yet sufficiently targeted to individual teacher needs, particularly in Phase 1 and KG settings and in data analysis. Leadership's monitoring is described as beginning to have an impact — a signal of direction, but not yet of arrival.

On staffing numbers, the picture is challenging. NFPS operates with a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:27 — among Philippine curriculum schools in Sharjah, and markedly higher than the Sharjah private school average of 1:13.6. With 50 teachers and just 2 teaching assistants serving 1,368 students, classroom resource constraints are real. Inspectors observed that some classrooms in Phases 1 and 2 are cramped, and that the learning environment is not always conducive to effective teaching at this scale. [MISSING: staff qualification percentage data]

The school's governance structure — with Grade Level and Subject Coordinators monitoring classroom performance alongside the principal and assistant principal — provides a layered oversight framework. Inspectors found that regular monitoring by the principal and governors is beginning to translate into improvement, particularly in SEN provision. Parent engagement is conducted through surveys as part of the SPEA School Performance Review process, though the depth of ongoing parent partnership beyond this formal mechanism is not detailed in inspection sources. The school's overall SPEA rating is Acceptable, held across three consecutive review cycles: 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25. Among the two Philippine curriculum schools in Sharjah, both carry an Acceptable rating — placing NFPS at the ceiling of its curriculum peer group, though well below the broader private school landscape where Good and Very Good ratings are more common. The caring ethos inspectors describe — evidenced by strong student behaviour, mutual respect between students and staff, and a 94% attendance rate — reflects a school community that functions with genuine warmth, even as academic and operational challenges remain unresolved.