Swiss International Scientific School
Executive Summary
The Swiss International Scientific School FZ-LLC provides a Very Good quality of education, maintaining its strong reputation. The school's overall performance for the 2023-2024 academic year reflects a commitment to student outcomes, provision, and leadership.
Students demonstrate improved attainment in English, Mathematics, and Science across several phases. The school effectively implements the IB and Ministry of Education curricula, ensuring student progress through thematic learning in KG, interdisciplinary units in PYP and MYP, and a broad range of choices for older students.
Leadership is highly effective, with a shared commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, and academic excellence. Robust procedures are in place for student safety and child protection, complemented by an exceptional range of activities that support both academic and personal development.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Swiss International Scientific School FZ-LLC Overall Rating
Very Good
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.
Provision for Students of Determination is Very Good, with a dedicated inclusion team, new sensory rooms, and full accessibility for those with reduced mobility. Individual education plans (IEPs) are concise, and professional training supports teachers in assisting students of determination. Parents are actively involved through formal and informal communications. Students of Determinationsensory roomsIEPs
The school fosters a positive wellbeing climate and culture, led by wellbeing ambassadors across all phases. Provision includes a new indoor play area and a primary sensory room, alongside extensive extra-curricular activities. The curriculum integrates moral, social, cultural, and personal health education, supported by online safety workshops and motivational messages. wellbeing ambassadorssensory roomextra-curricular activities
Overall school standards in the National Agenda Parameter are Very Good. The school significantly improved its PIRLS scores in 2021, exceeding targets. While GL benchmarking in English showed some variability, mathematics and science improved across all phases. Emirati students' science scores rose from Good to Very Good, though English attainment dropped. PIRLSGL benchmarkingEmirati students
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Improved Arabic Learning
The school has shown significant improvement in Arabic learning and the overall progress of students across all phases.
Broad Curriculum & Bilingualism
Highlights include the increased breadth of the curriculum for older students, effective bilingual provision, and an extensive extra-curricular activities program.
Effective Health & Safety
The school provides highly effective provision for health and safety, ensuring excellent care for both students and staff members.
Enhanced Inclusion
There has been improved provision for inclusion, ensuring better support and outcomes for all students, particularly those of determination.
Strong Leadership & Planning
The leadership is highly effective, supported by focused self-evaluation and robust improvement planning processes.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students' learning skills are consistently rated Very Good across all phases (KG, PYP, MYP, DP), indicating high motivation and engagement in tasks.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
Leadership is characterized by a strong commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, and academic excellence. Leaders effectively use improved self-evaluation to drive better outcomes and ensure that accommodation and resources support student development.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students demonstrate secure understanding in Islamic Education and improved writing skills in Arabic for native speakers. Attainment in English, mathematics, and science has improved across several phases, with students showing enthusiasm and independence in their learning.
Personal Development
Students exhibit responsible attitudes, respond well to feedback, and maintain mutually respectful relationships. Attendance and punctuality are very good. They effectively link Islamic values to daily life, appreciate UAE culture, and engage in leadership, entrepreneurial, and sustainability activities.
Teaching Quality
Teachers provide stimulating learning activities within an inspiring KG environment that promotes creativity. Lesson plans incorporate effective strategies, and co-teaching in KG and PYP supports bilingual learning. Open-ended questioning is a common feature, and assessment processes align with the IB, providing reliable measures of achievement.
Protection & Care
Robust procedures ensure student safety, with staff trained in child protection. Students are confident in reporting concerns and understand online safety. Healthy living is promoted through an extensive extra-curricular program, and students of determination are identified and supported with appropriate access and guidance.
Areas for Development
- •Embed recent initiatives to increase the proportion of stronger teaching that fully engages students, especially in MYP.
- •Explore best practice to improve students’ attainment further.
- •Improve Emirati students’ performance on international benchmarking, particularly in English and mathematics.
- •Ensure that the school's wellbeing themes are integrated into curriculum and lesson planning.
- •Improve students' knowledge and application of rules of Tajweed in each phase.