Sunrise English Private School
Executive Summary
Sunrise English Private School, an established Indian curriculum school in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, has maintained its Good overall ADEK Irtiqa rating for the 2024-2025 academic year. The school is recognized for its strong leadership and positive school environment, with the principal and senior leadership team demonstrating clear vision.
The inspection highlights improved attainment and progress in English and Science in certain phases, and significant improvements in learning skills across all phases. However, challenges remain in Mathematics attainment in older phases and in the effective use of assessment data. The school achieves strong results in CBSE examinations across all English medium subjects.
The school maintains rigorous safeguarding policies and fosters a well-established relationship with parents, reinforcing its integral role within the local community. Key recommendations focus on enhancing achievement in all subjects, improving teaching and assessment quality, and further developing leadership impact to a Very Good level.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Sunrise English Private School Overall Rating
Good for 2+ consecutive years
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
The school's overall achievement is rated Good. There have been notable improvements in English attainment and progress in Phases 1 and 2, and progress in Phase 3. Science progress in Phase 4 has also improved. However, Mathematics attainment has regressed in Phases 3 and 4, and internal assessment data for Islamic Education and Arabic does not always align with observed classroom performance. English attainment and progressScience progressMathematics attainmentLearning Skills
Students' personal development is rated Very Good, showing positive attitudes, respectful relationships, and good attendance. Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures, along with social responsibility and innovation skills, are rated Good. Students engage well in school life and demonstrate empathy. Personal DevelopmentIslamic valuesEmirati and world culturesSocial responsibility and innovation skills
Teaching in Phases 1 and 2 has improved to Very Good due to purposeful lesson planning. Overall, teaching for effective learning is rated Good. However, assessment practices have regressed in Phases 2 and 3, with teachers not effectively using data to support student learning, leading to an overall Good rating for assessment. Teaching for effective learningAssessmentpurposeful lesson planning
The curriculum design and implementation, as well as curriculum adaptation, are both rated Good across all phases. The school follows the Indian curriculum, which is generally well-designed and implemented, but further adaptation is needed to meet the diverse needs of all student groups, especially students of determination and the gifted and talented. Curriculum design and implementationCurriculum adaptationIndian curriculum
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, are rated Very Good. However, overall care and support for students have declined to Good due to a low number of identified students of determination, limited in-school services, and insufficient support for gifted and talented students. Health and safetychild protection / safeguardingCare and supportstudents of determinationgifted and talented
Leadership effectiveness has improved to Very Good, with senior leaders establishing a clear strategic plan. Overall, leadership and management are rated Good. While parents and community engagement is Very Good, self-evaluation, governance, and management of staffing, facilities, and resources are rated Good. Effectiveness of leadershipstrategic planParents and the community
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Leadership Vision
The principal and senior leadership team demonstrate clear vision and have established a strategic plan, contributing significantly to the school's success.
Improved Learning Skills
Students' learning skills have improved to Very Good across all phases, with students taking greater responsibility and demonstrating higher engagement.
Rigorous Safeguarding
The school maintains rigorous safeguarding policies, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students, rated Very Good for health and safety.
Positive Student Behavior
Students exhibit positive attitudes and behavior both during lessons and throughout the school premises, fostering a respectful and friendly environment.
Strong Parent Relationships
The school has a well-established relationship with parents, reinforcing its role as an integral part of the local community.
CBSE Exam Success
The school achieves strong results in the CBSE examinations across all English medium subjects, indicating high academic standards in these areas.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall, the school has maintained a 'Good' rating for Students' Achievement. There have been significant improvements in English, Science, and Learning Skills across various phases. However, Mathematics attainment in Cycles 2 and 3 has regressed, and there are inconsistencies between internal assessment data and observed classroom performance in Arabic medium subjects. Standardized assessments (IBT, PISA) show weak or below-target attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science across several grades.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, led by the principal, demonstrates a clear vision and has established a strategic plan that is effectively communicated to the school community. This approach has led to improved leadership effectiveness. Leaders actively promote the importance of international assessments and provide in-house teacher training to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students demonstrate attainment above curriculum standards in most subjects, particularly in Islamic Education and Arabic, although observed classroom performance sometimes differs from internal assessment data. English and Science show improved attainment and progress in several phases. However, Mathematics attainment has regressed in older phases, and standardized assessment results (IBT, PISA) indicate areas for improvement across English, Mathematics, and Science.
Personal & Social Development
Students exhibit positive attitudes, enjoy school, and maintain respectful relationships with peers and staff. They understand and follow school procedures, contributing to a productive learning environment. Attendance is good at 95%. Students show clear awareness and appreciation of Islamic values and Emirati culture, engaging in relevant celebrations.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning is generally good, with improvements noted in Phases 1 and 2 due to purposeful lesson planning. However, assessment practices have regressed in Phases 2 and 3, as teachers are not consistently using data effectively to support personalized student learning. Opportunities for self and peer assessment are also limited.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum design and implementation are good across all phases, providing a comprehensive Indian curriculum. However, curriculum adaptation needs enhancement to better meet the diverse learning needs of all student groups, particularly students of determination and the gifted and talented, ensuring appropriate challenge and support.
Protection, Care & Support
Health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements, are very good. However, overall care and support for students have declined. This is attributed to a low number of identified students of determination, a lack of in-school services, and limited support for gifted and talented students, impacting their progress.
Areas for Development
- •Raise standards of achievement in all subjects to very good by encouraging more extended, creative, and accurate writing and speaking skills in Arabic, developing reading resources including digital books with a focus on Arabic, and ensuring consistent practice of Quran recitation skills and understanding of Hadeeth and Surahs.
- •Enhance the quality of teaching, assessment, and curriculum by providing effective support for students with additional learning needs, ensuring effective strategies to improve results in international and benchmark assessments, and using assessment data more rigorously to inform instruction and personalize learning.
- •Improve the impact of school leadership to a very good level by engaging all stakeholders in the school’s self-evaluation process, ensuring accurate judgments linked to the SDP, providing high-quality external professional development for leaders, and revising teacher appraisal processes to focus on student outcomes.