Oasis International School, Al Ain

Oasis International School is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, one of India's most rigorous and widely recognised school boards. This means students follow a structured, content-rich curriculum in English, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Science, and Computer Education, supplemented by the UAE Ministry of Education's mandatory requirements for Arabic language, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, and Moral Education across all phases. The curriculum is delivered across three broad stages: a Kindergarten phase focused on activity-based and oral language development; a Primary and Secondary phase (Grades 1-10) building foundational academic skills; and a Senior Secondary phase (Grades 11-12) that offers three distinct streams - Science, Commerce, and Humanities - with English as a compulsory subject throughout. This three-stream offering at senior level is notably uncommon among UAE CBSE schools, most of which restrict students to Science and Commerce only, and it meaningfully broadens university entry options for Oasis graduates. The 2024 ADEK Irtiqa inspection provides the most detailed picture of academic performance. Mathematics attainment and progress are rated Good across all four phases - KG, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3 - making it the school's most consistently strong academic subject. Arabic as a second language is also rated Good for both attainment and progress across all phases, a notable achievement. Arabic as a first language shows Very Good progress in KG, reflecting strong foundational work. However, English attainment has declined to Acceptable in Cycles 1 and 2, and progress has slipped to Acceptable in Cycles 2 and 3, which is a significant concern for a school whose medium of instruction is English. Science attainment is Acceptable in KG, Cycle 1, and Cycle 3, with inspectors citing the need to develop scientific thinking, investigative skills, and experimentation - particularly in chemistry at upper phases. External benchmarking via the ACER IBT assessment (used for Grades 3-9) shows Outstanding attainment in science and mathematics but only Acceptable attainment in English, underscoring the English language gap. The school participated in PISA 2022, with reading literacy (365.2), mathematical literacy (363.1), and scientific literacy (372.5) all below international averages, indicating that while internal results are strong, international benchmarking reveals areas requiring attention. The school does not publicly publish its Grade 10 and Grade 12 board examination results, which limits independent verification of senior secondary outcomes. Academic support for students with additional learning needs is noted as a concern by ADEK inspectors, who found that the school does not offer formal in-school support services (ISSS) for students of determination. Gifted and talented provision and differentiation in lessons are identified as areas requiring further development. Teaching methodology is described as primarily teacher-directed, with inspectors recommending a stronger shift toward inquiry-based, play-based (particularly in KG), and student-centred learning approaches.