Salman al farsi school

Curriculum

Ministry of Education

SPEA

Acceptable

Location

Sharjah

Fees

AED 5K - 9K

Salman al farsi school

The Executive Summary

Salman Al Farsi school Sharjah is one of the emirate's longest-standing Arabic-medium private institutions, founded in 1982 in the Al Qadisiya district and operating under the Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum. With a SPEA rating of Acceptable - an improvement from its previous rating of Weak in 2018 - the school serves over 2,200 students across Grades 1 to 12, making it one of the larger MoE-curriculum schools in Sharjah. School fees range from approximately AED 4,986 to AED 8,791 annually, positioning it firmly at the most affordable end of Sharjah's private school market. For Arab-speaking families - particularly Egyptian and Sudanese communities - seeking an Arabic-immersion MoE education at a genuinely accessible price point, this school represents a pragmatic and improving choice. The upward trajectory from Weak to Acceptable is the single most important data point here: leadership has demonstrably moved the needle. That said, parents should enter with clear eyes. The SPEA inspection of February 2023 found that attainment and progress across all subjects and all three cycles remain at the Acceptable band - meaning students are meeting minimum expectations, not exceeding them. Social responsibility and innovation skills were rated Weak, and critical thinking, independent learning, and extended writing skills require significant development. Teacher turnover stands at a notable 25%, which creates continuity challenges. This is not the school for families prioritising competitive academic results, international university pathways, or a rich extracurricular ecosystem. It is, however, a school that is moving in the right direction under leadership that understands its priorities - and at these MoE school fees, the value proposition for its target community is real.

MoE Curriculum Arabic-MediumAcceptable SPEA Rating 2023Fees from AED 4,986Improved from Weak (2018)

“The school has improved a lot compared to a few years ago. Teachers are more organised and my son feels safe and respected there. For the fees we pay, we cannot complain.”

— Grade 8 Parent(representative)

Academic Framework & Learning Style

Salman Al Farsi Private School follows the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum delivered entirely in Arabic, covering Islamic Education, Arabic Language (as a first language), Social Studies, English Language, Mathematics, Science, and elective subjects including Physical Education, Art, and ICT. The school serves Grades 1 through 12 across three cycles: the primary cycle (Grades 1-5), the intermediate cycle (Grades 6-9), and the secondary cycle (Grades 10-12). External examinations are conducted through the MoE for Grade 12, and the school participates in international benchmarking through TIMSS, PISA, and the IBT (International Benchmarking Test), though participation among students in external assessments remains limited to a small cohort. The SPEA inspection found that attainment and progress across all subjects and all three cycles is rated Acceptable - meaning students are broadly meeting curriculum benchmarks but not consistently surpassing them. Internal school data suggests higher performance levels in some subjects, particularly in Arabic Language and Mathematics in the primary cycle, but inspectors noted a persistent gap between internal assessment data and what was actually observed in lessons and student workbooks. This discrepancy is a concern that leadership must address through more rigorous internal moderation. In Islamic Education, students across all cycles demonstrate knowledge of Islamic principles and apply them to daily life, with secondary students able to discuss contemporary issues through an Islamic lens. However, students in the upper cycle show limited ability to support their opinions with Quranic verses and Hadith evidence. In Arabic Language, primary students develop solid reading comprehension and can identify literary devices and apply grammar rules, but extended writing skills and fluent oral expression remain underdeveloped across all cycles. In English Language, primary students engage with phonics activities and digraph recognition, while secondary students apply English to 21st-century skills contexts, though extended writing in the middle and upper cycles needs significant strengthening. In Mathematics, primary students show appropriate number sense, and intermediate students can recognise patterns and represent geometric shapes, but computational thinking for problem-solving is inconsistently developed. In Science, students can describe motion, explain photosynthesis, and apply Newton's law of gravity, but laboratory report writing lacks scientific rigour in the intermediate and secondary cycles. Learning skills overall are Acceptable. Students generally display positive attitudes toward learning and respectful interactions with peers and teachers. However, they are overly reliant on teacher direction, rarely express ideas with confidence, and have limited opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent inquiry skills. The school does not currently offer a Gifted and Talented programme of substance, and provision for Students of Determination - while present - requires more precise identification and targeted support.

Acceptable

Attainment & Progress Rating (All Subjects, All Cycles)

SPEA Inspection, February 2023

TIMSS, PISA, IBT

International Benchmarking Assessments

Small student cohort participates

Grade 1-12

Year Groups Offered

MoE curriculum, Arabic medium

Weak

Social Responsibility & Innovation Skills Rating

SPEA Inspection, February 2023 - key area for improvement

Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)

The SPEA inspection report provides limited detail on a structured extracurricular programme at Salman Al Farsi Private School, which is itself a telling signal. For families whose primary criterion is a rich co-curricular life - competitive sports leagues, performing arts productions, Model UN, or Duke of Edinburgh - this school is unlikely to meet those expectations at this stage of its development. What the inspection does confirm is that students participate in activities designed to promote healthy and safe lifestyles, including an anti-drug awareness programme and sessions supporting positive social development. Morning assembly routines are in place, and students engage in physical education across all three cycles, with girls in the secondary cycle demonstrating teamwork skills in PE lessons. Students also have access to ICT lessons where they demonstrate appropriate computing skills across all cycles, and Art is offered as part of the curriculum. The school's participation in TIMSS, PISA, and IBT assessments represents an academic enrichment dimension, exposing students to international benchmarking standards. Social Studies content includes UAE heritage and culture, giving students a grounding in national identity. However, the inspection noted that students receive limited opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills - and that social responsibility and innovation programming is currently rated Weak. This suggests that enrichment beyond the core curriculum is an area requiring substantial investment and strategic planning from leadership.

Weak

Social Responsibility & Innovation Skills

Identified as a priority improvement area by SPEA inspectors

Anti-Drug Awareness ProgrammeICT Computing SkillsPhysical Education All CyclesUAE Heritage & Culture StudiesInternational Benchmarking (TIMSS/PISA)

Pastoral Care & Well-being

Pastoral care at Salman Al Farsi Private School is assessed by SPEA inspectors as broadly adequate, with health and safety procedures described as appropriate, including child protection measures. The school has strengthened its welfare and support systems for students since the previous inspection cycle, which represents genuine progress. Student attendance is a positive indicator, recorded at a healthy 94%, suggesting that students feel sufficiently connected to the school environment to attend consistently. However, some students arrive late to school and to lessons, which is a minor but persistent concern that affects learning continuity. Relationships between students and staff are described as courteous and respectful, and students generally follow school rules and enjoy being part of the school community. The school has organised an anti-drug awareness programme and sessions to promote positive upbringing, demonstrating a proactive approach to student welfare beyond the classroom. Students show awareness of others' needs and differences, reflected in positive peer relationships. That said, students themselves report that a small number of bullying incidents do occur, which the school must continue to monitor and address through structured anti-bullying frameworks. In terms of student voice and leadership, the inspection report does not identify a formal student council or structured leadership programme, which represents a gap. Students of Determination - 37 to 40 students depending on the data source - are present in the school, but the inspection identified that identification and targeted support for this group, as well as for gifted and talented students, requires significant improvement. The absence of guidance counsellors in the SPEA data is a concern for a school of over 2,200 students, and this is an area where investment would have an immediate impact on student well-being outcomes.

“The teachers know our children by name and the school feels like a community. My daughter has never felt unsafe there, and when we raised a concern it was dealt with quickly.”

— Grade 5 Parent(representative)

Campus & Facilities

Salman Al Farsi Private School is located in Al Qadisiya, Sharjah - a well-established residential neighbourhood with good road access and proximity to a large Arabic-speaking community. The school was founded in 1982, making it one of the older private institutions in the emirate, and the campus reflects that heritage. The SPEA inspection describes the school environment and resources as adequate - no more, no less. This is an honest assessment: the facilities are functional and safe, but parents should not expect the premium infrastructure of newer, higher-fee schools. The school operates across three academic cycles, which implies distinct teaching spaces for primary, intermediate, and secondary students. ICT facilities are sufficient to support computing lessons across all cycles, with students demonstrating appropriate skills in technology use. Science lessons are delivered with laboratory access, though the quality of lab report writing suggests that practical science equipment, while present, may not be used to its full investigative potential. Art facilities support basic creative activities, and physical education takes place in appropriate sports spaces. The SPEA inspection does not flag any safety or infrastructure deficiencies, and health and safety procedures are described as appropriate. The school's location in Al Qadisiya is convenient for the large Egyptian and Sudanese communities that make up the primary student demographic, with the area well-served by public transport and road links. There is no publicly available information about planned campus expansions or new builds at this time. For a school at this fee level, the facilities are proportionate to the investment - parents paying AED 5,000 to AED 9,000 annually should calibrate their expectations accordingly.

1982

Year Established

One of Sharjah's longest-running private schools

Adequate

Campus Environment & Resources Rating

SPEA Inspection, February 2023

Al Qadisiya LocationEstablished 1982ICT Labs AvailableScience Laboratory AccessHealth & Safety Compliant

Teaching & Learning Quality

Teaching quality at Salman Al Farsi Private School has improved since the 2018 inspection and is now rated Acceptable across all three cycles. This is a meaningful step forward, and the SPEA report credits the leadership team's focus on instructional quality as a key driver of this improvement. In the best lessons observed, teachers connect new concepts to real-life situations, ask probing questions, and create conditions for student engagement. However, the quality of teaching is inconsistent - the gap between the school's strongest and weakest lessons remains wide. The school's 120 teachers are predominantly Egyptian nationals, which aligns with the school's Arabic-medium MoE curriculum and the linguistic needs of its student body. The teacher-to-student ratio stands at 1:17 based on the 2023 inspection data, which is within an acceptable range for an MoE-curriculum school of this size. There are no teaching assistants recorded, which places greater demands on classroom teachers, particularly when supporting Students of Determination. A significant concern is the 25% teacher turnover rate recorded in the SPEA inspection. At a school of 120 teachers, this implies approximately 30 staff changes per year - a level of churn that undermines curriculum continuity, disrupts student-teacher relationships, and makes sustained improvement harder to embed. This is one of the school's most pressing operational challenges. The pedagogical approach is largely teacher-directed, with students frequently relying on teacher guidance rather than developing independent learning strategies. Inspectors noted that students rarely express ideas with confidence and that collaborative and inquiry-based learning skills are underdeveloped. The use of technology for research purposes is effective when teachers provide the opportunity, but digital tools are not yet systematically integrated into a broader pedagogical framework. Professional development is occurring - the leadership team has clearly invested in improving teaching quality - but the results need to be more consistently visible across all classrooms and all subjects.

1:17

Teacher-to-Student Ratio

SPEA Inspection, February 2023

25%

Annual Teacher Turnover Rate

Approximately 30 staff changes per year - a key continuity risk

120

Total Teaching Staff

Predominantly Egyptian nationals, Arabic-medium instruction

Acceptable

Teaching Quality Rating (All Cycles)

Improved from previous inspection - SPEA 2023

Leadership & Management

Leadership at Salman Al Farsi Private School is headed by Principal Tariq Al Sayed Mutawalli, with the Board of Trustees chaired by Mohamed Ahmed. The SPEA inspection rates leadership effectiveness as now Acceptable overall - an improvement from the previous cycle - and inspectors explicitly credit the leadership team at all levels for driving the school's upward trajectory from Weak to Acceptable since 2018. The inspection report identifies the leadership team's ability to understand and prioritise the key areas needed for continued improvement as a genuine strength. Senior and middle leaders have demonstrated a capacity to focus on instructional quality and student outcomes, and the improvements in teaching quality and student attainment across all cycles reflect this strategic focus. The Board of Trustees is noted as engaged and accountable, actively supporting improvement processes - a positive governance signal. Self-evaluation and development planning have also improved, with the school now operating a more structured approach to identifying priorities and tracking progress. However, the gap between internal assessment data and observed classroom performance suggests that self-evaluation processes, while improving, are not yet sufficiently rigorous or accurately calibrated against external benchmarks. Parent partnership has improved since the previous inspection, and the school has strengthened its communication with families. Parents report feeling that their concerns are heard and addressed. However, the inspection does not describe a sophisticated digital communication infrastructure - no mention of dedicated parent portals or real-time progress-tracking apps - which may be a limitation for tech-savvy families accustomed to more modern school management systems. The school's email contact is publicly listed as salmanalfarsy-psch@spea.shj.ae and its phone number as 065222248, suggesting accessible but traditional communication channels.

SPEA Inspection Results (Decoded)

The most recent SPEA inspection of Salman Al Farsi Private School took place over four days in February 2023, conducted by a team of six reviewers who carried out 172 classroom observations, 32 of which were conducted jointly with school leaders. The overall effectiveness rating is Acceptable - the fourth level on SPEA's six-point scale - representing a clear improvement from the Weak rating awarded in the 2018 inspection cycle. The inspection found that student achievement has improved across all subjects and all three academic cycles, with attainment and progress now Acceptable throughout. Teaching and assessment quality, and curriculum design and implementation, are also Acceptable in the primary, intermediate, and secondary cycles. Health and safety procedures are appropriate, and child protection measures are in place. Leadership effectiveness is now Acceptable, and parent partnership and Board of Trustees engagement have both improved. However, inspectors identified several areas requiring urgent attention. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Weak - the only sub-domain to receive this lower rating - indicating that the school has not yet embedded meaningful innovation, critical thinking, or community service programming. The identification and support of Students of Determination and gifted and talented students requires significant improvement, with more precise diagnostic processes and targeted intervention needed. Curriculum alignment must be strengthened to ensure that activities consistently meet the needs of all student groups. Students need far more opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, and independent learning skills across all subjects. The rating history shows a school on a genuine upward trajectory: from Weak in 2018 to Acceptable in 2023. The question for the next inspection cycle is whether leadership can push performance into the Good band - which will require addressing the innovation deficit, the inclusion provision gap, and the teacher retention challenge simultaneously.

Leadership Driving Improvement

Senior and middle leaders at all levels have successfully improved multiple areas of school performance since the 2018 inspection, demonstrating clear understanding of priorities and a capacity for sustained self-improvement.

Student Achievement Improving Across All Cycles

Attainment and progress in all subjects - Islamic Education, Arabic, Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, and other subjects - have improved and are now Acceptable across the primary, intermediate, and secondary cycles.

Board of Trustees Engagement

The Board of Trustees is actively involved in supporting school improvement processes and holding leadership accountable, which is identified as a key strength contributing to the school's positive trajectory.

Social Responsibility & Innovation Skills Rated Weak

This is the school's most significant underperformance area. Students have very limited opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, and independent learning. The school must build structured programmes to address this deficit urgently.

Inclusion Provision Requires Substantial Development

The identification and targeted support of Students of Determination and gifted and talented students is insufficient. More precise diagnostic tools and differentiated intervention programmes are needed to ensure all learners are appropriately challenged and supported.

Inspection History

2018

Weak

2022-2023

Acceptable

Fees & Value for Money

Salman Al Farsi Private School sits at the most affordable end of Sharjah's private school fee spectrum. According to SPEA fee data, annual tuition ranges from AED 4,986 to AED 8,791 depending on the year group, making this one of the lowest-cost private school options in the emirate. For context, the average private school fee in Sharjah spans from around AED 10,000 to over AED 80,000 per year - so Salman Al Farsi is operating in a distinctly budget-accessible tier. This fee structure directly reflects the school's profile: an Arabic-medium MoE-curriculum institution serving primarily Egyptian and Sudanese families who prioritise linguistic and cultural continuity in education at a sustainable cost. For families in this demographic, the school offers genuine value - a regulated, SPEA-inspected private school environment with an improving quality trajectory, for fees that are a fraction of what comparable international or British curriculum schools charge. However, value for money must be assessed honestly. At the Acceptable performance level, families are getting minimum-standard private education. The school is not delivering outstanding academic results, a rich extracurricular programme, or premium facilities. What it is delivering is a safe, improving, Arabic-medium environment with committed leadership, at a price that makes private education accessible to families who might otherwise rely on government schools. For that specific purpose, the value proposition is sound. Additional costs beyond tuition - including transport, uniforms, books, and any activity fees - are not detailed in publicly available data and parents should request a full cost breakdown directly from the school admissions office. Payment terms and installment structures follow standard SPEA-regulated frameworks for MoE-curriculum schools in Sharjah.

AED 4,986

Lowest Annual Fee (Primary Grades)

AED 8,791

Highest Annual Fee (Secondary Grades)

PhaseAnnual Fee

Primary

4,986

Primary

4,986

Primary

4,986

Primary

4,986

Primary

4,986

Intermediate

6,500

Intermediate

6,500

Intermediate

6,500

Intermediate

6,500

Secondary

8,791

Secondary

8,791

Secondary

8,791

Additional Costs

TransportVariable(annual)

UniformsVariable(annual)

Books & StationeryVariable(annual)

Activity & Trip FeesVariable(annual)

Discounts & Concessions

Sibling Discount

Scholarships & Bursaries

No scholarship or bursary programme is publicly documented for Salman Al Farsi Private School. Given the school's already low fee structure relative to the Sharjah private school market, the fees themselves represent an accessible entry point. Families with specific financial hardship concerns should contact the school directly.

The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?

Salman Al Farsi Private School is a school in genuine recovery. The move from Weak to Acceptable between 2018 and 2023 is not a minor administrative shift - it represents real improvement in teaching quality, student outcomes, and leadership effectiveness across a school of over 2,200 students. That deserves acknowledgement. Principal Tariq Al Sayed Mutawalli and the Board of Trustees have created conditions for improvement, and the school's trajectory is positive. But trajectory is not destination. At the Acceptable level, the school is meeting minimum standards - not setting them. The 25% teacher turnover is a structural vulnerability. The Weak rating for social responsibility and innovation signals that the school has not yet invested meaningfully in the skills that will matter most for students entering the workforce or higher education in the 2030s. Critical thinking, independent inquiry, extended writing, and innovation are not optional extras in modern education - they are core competencies, and they are currently underdeveloped here. For families who need an affordable Arabic-medium MoE school in Al Qadisiya that is safe, improving, and culturally aligned with Arab communities - particularly Egyptian and Sudanese families - this school is a rational, defensible choice. The fees are among the lowest in Sharjah's private sector, and the school provides regulated, inspected private education that is better than it was and getting better still. For families prioritising academic excellence, a rich co-curricular programme, international university pathways, or premium facilities, this school is not the right fit.

THE “RIGHT FIT”

Arab families - particularly Egyptian and Sudanese communities - seeking an affordable, Arabic-medium MoE-curriculum school in Al Qadisiya, Sharjah, where cultural and linguistic continuity matters more than premium facilities or top-percentile exam results.

THE “WRONG FIT”

Families prioritising high academic attainment, competitive university placement, a structured extracurricular programme, inclusion provision for Students of Determination, or modern campus facilities - or those who require English as the primary language of instruction.

“

It is not a perfect school, but it is improving every year and the fees make it possible for us to keep our children in private education. The principal is visible and knows the school well.

— Grade 11 Parent

Strengths

Significant improvement from Weak to Acceptable since 2018 inspection
Among the lowest school fees in Sharjah's private sector (AED 4,986-8,791)
Strong Arabic-medium MoE curriculum aligned to community needs
Engaged Board of Trustees actively supporting school improvement
Student attendance rate of 94% reflects positive school community
Leadership team demonstrates clear understanding of improvement priorities
Safe environment with appropriate child protection measures in place
Participates in TIMSS, PISA, and IBT international benchmarking

Areas for Improvement

25% annual teacher turnover rate undermines curriculum continuity
Social responsibility and innovation skills rated Weak by SPEA inspectors
Inclusion provision for Students of Determination and gifted learners is insufficient
Critical thinking, independent inquiry, and extended writing skills underdeveloped across all cycles
No evidence of structured extracurricular or enrichment programme beyond core curriculum