Sharjah American International Private School, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings 2017
Last updated
Executive Summary
The Sharjah American International Private School provides a Good quality of education, as determined by the 2023-2024 inspection. The school is recognized for its positive and responsible student attitudes, strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture, and effective management.
Academically, students in KG and Elementary generally exceed curriculum standards in English, mathematics, and science, with particularly effective teaching observed in High school for these subjects. The school's broad American curriculum offers a wide range of courses, including Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and demonstrates strong cross-curricular links.
The school's pastoral care program, supported by counsellors, effectively promotes student wellbeing and personal development, which is rated Very Good. Leadership is dedicated to national priorities, and relationships with parents are strong, contributing to a highly supportive school community.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Sharjah American International Private School Overall Rating
Good for 4+ consecutive years
Dubai Focus Areas
These three pillars represent the Dubai education authority's priorities: ensuring inclusive practices, prioritizing student wellbeing, and meeting UAE National Agenda targets.
The school fosters an inclusive ethos with experienced leaders implementing an effective policy for students of determination. Established procedures ensure early identification of learning barriers, and specialist teachers provide individualized support, leading to expected progress for most students. students of determinationindividual education plans (IEPs)
Wellbeing is a strategic goal, supported by committed leaders and a detailed action plan. A committee promotes wellbeing through various activities, and teachers and counsellors proactively identify and support students, who in turn show a secure understanding of their own needs. wellbeing committeesocial and emotional learning
The school demonstrates significant improvement in international assessments like MAP and PIRLS, with outstanding progress in English for the whole school. Leaders effectively support National Agenda goals through action planning and curriculum alignment, ensuring improved outcomes for both whole-school and Emirati cohorts. National Agenda ParameterPISATIMSSPIRLSMAP
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Students' Personal Development
Students show responsible and positive attitudes, are self-disciplined, empathetic, and demonstrate a strong awareness of safety and healthy living.
Islamic Values & UAE Culture
Students possess a clear knowledge and understanding of Islamic values and their influence in the UAE, showing deep respect for Emirati culture and heritage.
Strong Parent Relationships
Parents are highly supportive and regularly consulted about school life, with effective communication channels and good access to school leaders and teachers.
Effective School Management
The school benefits from effective management, with leaders dedicated to national priorities and a governing board that provides strong support and expertise.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school shows good overall academic performance, with particular strengths in KG and High school phases. While most subjects maintain good attainment and progress, there are specific areas in Middle school, such as English and Arabic (First Language), that require further development in communication skills and teacher expectations.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
School leaders are dedicated and committed to national priorities like wellbeing and inclusion, reflected in their strategic planning and communication. They effectively identify school priorities through comprehensive data analysis and monitor teaching and learning, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students in KG and Elementary generally exceed curriculum standards and make better than expected progress in core subjects. High school students show strong achievement in science and mathematics. Students across all phases demonstrate good learning skills, though critical thinking can be underdeveloped in some areas.
Personal Development
Students exhibit responsible and positive attitudes, are self-disciplined, and empathetic. They have a clear understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture, actively promoting tolerance and community responsibility. Most students are ambitious, value education, and show strong awareness of sustainability.
Teaching Quality
Teachers employ a range of strategies to engage students, with particularly effective teaching in English, mathematics, and science in High school. While assessment data informs planning, differentiation of learning activities is inconsistent, and the pace of lessons can be slow in Elementary and Middle phases.
Protection & Care
Students are well-cared for with clear child protection policies and qualified medical staff. The premises are clean and secure, and a whole-school pastoral care program monitors and promotes student wellbeing. However, outdoor play supervision is variable, and classroom management needs improvement in some lessons.
Areas for Development
- •Implement consistently effective teaching strategies to ensure that all students achieve well.
- •Ensure that teachers use valid and reliable assessment information.
- •Develop the skills of leaders so that they can identify and share the best examples of teaching and learning and bring about improvement in their areas of responsibility.
- •Monitor rigorously the effectiveness of the development of reading literacy in classrooms.
- •Ensure that teachers know each student's reading level.
- •Provide a high level of reading support as required.
- •Ensure that all teachers understand their role in monitoring and improving students’ wellbeing.
- •Engage parents in the development of their own and their children's wellbeing.
- •Develop memorization of the Holy Qur’an and application of Tajweed rules in all phases.
- •Improve the rigor of all internal assessments.
- •Improve students’ speaking skills by ensuring consistent use of standard Arabic in lessons.
- •Ensure that written feedback provides specific development points for students to improve their writing.
- •Encourage students to speak in engaging situations.
- •Offer students models of writing at length.
- •Raise achievement in Middle by raising teachers’ expectations of what students can achieve.
- •Improve writing at all levels.
- •Ensure that all learning objectives are sufficiently challenging.
- •Ensure that regular investigative practical work is integrated into all science programs.
- •Create opportunities for students to engage in meaningful dialogue and to develop critical thinking skills.
- •Ensure that students in all phases have secure research skills.
- •Raise students’ awareness of world cultures.
- •Improve teaching in Elementary and Middle by increasing the pace of lessons.
- •Ensure that all teachers use assessment information to match work to students’ ability levels.
- •Ensure that teachers’ marking of students’ work provides clear guidance on how to improve.
- •Ensure that curriculum modifications consistently meet students' needs.
- •Improve the management of outdoor facilities during break times.
- •Provide training and individualized support for teachers to enable them to manage inappropriate behavior.
- •Increase the support for gifted and talented students in all lessons.
- •Improve communication links with parents and their engagement with the school.
- •Develop alternative education pathways leading to certification for students of determination.