Star International School - Mirdif, Dubai
KHDA Inspection Report & Ratings 2018
Last updated
Executive Summary
The overall quality of education provided by Star International School - Mirdif is rated as Good. The school demonstrates very good progress in English, mathematics, and science across various phases, with students exhibiting positive attitudes and respectful behavior. Leaders are dedicated to providing high-quality education for all learners.
The curriculum is well-planned, ensuring continuity and progression, and effectively uses cross-curricular links and digital resources. Teachers possess strong subject knowledge, but differentiation in lessons and the use of assessment data to inform teaching need improvement. Opportunities for innovation, creativity, and understanding of UAE culture are well-provided.
The school maintains effective policies for student safety and wellbeing, supported by a strong pastoral team and career guidance. While students show a strong appreciation for Islamic values and Emirati culture, their knowledge of other world cultures is less developed. Leadership is dedicated, but self-evaluation and development planning require greater accuracy and prioritization.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Star International School - Mirdif Overall Rating
Good for 5+ 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 demonstrates a Good commitment to inclusion, with a strong inclusion team and trained learning support assistants. Parents are actively involved in Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and curriculum adaptations meet the needs of most students. However, the IEP target-setting process needs improvement for clearer progress tracking. inclusionIndividual Education Plansstudents of determination
Wellbeing provision and outcomes are rated Good, driven by a dedicated team and clear vision, though the action plan lacks specific targets and timescales. Student opinions are valued, and targeted interventions consistently enhance wellbeing. The school is developing external partnerships, and teachers speak highly of the care they receive. wellbeing provisiondedicated teamtargeted interventions
The school's overall standards in the National Agenda Parameter are Very Good, having exceeded targets for PIRLS 2021. Attainment in English, mathematics, and science is sustained at a very good level in benchmark assessments. Leadership effectively monitors and analyzes international benchmark data, and successful reading programs have improved literacy skills for most students. National Agenda ParameterPIRLS 2021reading literacy skills
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Academic Progress
Students show very good progress in English and science in Foundation Stage, and in English, mathematics, and science in Primary and Secondary.
Well-Planned Curriculum
The curriculum is well-planned with effective cross-curricular links, ensuring continuity and progression in learning.
Personal Responsibility
Students demonstrate a well-developed sense of personal responsibility and respect for Islamic values.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
The school provides strong support for health and safety, with a significant emphasis on student wellbeing.
Strong Parent Relationships
The school maintains strong and positive relationships with parents, fostering a supportive community.
Academic Performance Breakdown
The school demonstrates strong progress in English, Mathematics, and Science across most phases, with attainment generally rated Good or Very Good. However, attainment in Arabic subjects remains Acceptable, particularly in speaking and writing skills, which require further development. Learning skills are consistently Good or Very Good across all phases.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leadership is dedicated to providing high-quality education for all students, staying abreast of modern research and ensuring compliance. While leaders have improved aspects of the school, self-evaluation processes need to be more accurate, and development plans require clearer prioritization, measurable targets, and accountability.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students demonstrate very good progress in English, mathematics, and science in Primary, and in English and science in FS, with good attainment in these subjects. However, attainment in Arabic is not consistently high enough. Students exhibit positive attitudes, very good behavior, and a strong understanding of Islamic culture.
Personal Development
Students show positive attitudes, a strong sense of personal responsibility, and respect for Islamic values and Emirati culture. They are sensitive to others' needs, self-disciplined, and bullying is rare. Innovation skills are a key feature, with students inventing and designing new products, though knowledge of other world cultures needs extension.
Teaching Quality
Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and effectively use digital technologies to support teaching strategies. Assessment information is detailed and used to inform teaching. However, differentiation in lessons is not always sufficient to meet diverse learning needs, and feedback to students on their work is not consistently detailed or constructive enough.
Protection & Care
The school has effective policies and procedures for safeguarding, child protection, and promoting a very safe and hygienic environment. A strong pastoral team effectively monitors wellbeing and provides personal and academic support. While care and support are generally good, attendance in FS needs improvement, and vehicle entry to the bus parking zone requires stricter control.
Areas for Development
- •Raise attainment so that it is at least good in all phases in all subjects, especially Arabic.
- •Improve teaching and the use of assessment data to inform teaching, learning and curriculum adaptation.
- •Bring greater coherence to school policies.
- •Ensure that all development plans have measurable targets, with appropriate timescales.
- •Improve the accuracy of self-evaluation procedures.