American International School
Executive Summary
The American International School has been rated Good by ADEK for the 2024-2025 academic year. This represents a regression from its previous Very Good rating, primarily due to significant staff turnover and uncertainty in governance. Despite these challenges, the school is now well-positioned for positive progress with renewed stability.
The school maintains strong performance in English-medium subjects, with English, Mathematics, and Science achievement sustained or improved in several phases, particularly in KG and Primary. The curriculum is well-developed to meet student needs, and there is a strong commitment to benchmarking student attainment against international assessments like TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS, with a comprehensive strategy in place for improvement.
Key strengths include successful provision in KG, strong awareness of UAE traditions and Islamic values, and highly effective arrangements for health, safety, and inclusion. The school also maintains highly effective partnerships with parents and is focused on development initiatives under new leadership.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
American International School Overall Rating
Good
ADEK Performance Standards
The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.
Students' achievement has regressed overall, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects which declined from Good to Acceptable. English-medium subjects show a stronger profile, with performance maintained or improved in some phases, notably Mathematics and Science attainment in Secondary. Learning skills have generally declined to Good, with Middle school dropping to Acceptable. Arabic-medium subjectsEnglish-medium subjects
Students' personal development is rated Good. They demonstrate a Good understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures. Social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Very Good across all phases, indicating strong positive attitudes and engagement. Islamic valuesEmirati and world culturesSocial responsibility and innovation skills
Teaching has regressed from Very Good to Good in most phases (KG, Primary, Secondary) and dropped to Acceptable in Middle school, reflecting the decline in Arabic-medium subjects. Assessment practices have also declined from Very Good to Good across all phases, indicating a need for improved accuracy and consistency. TeachingAssessment
Curriculum provision and adaptation were not judged in the previous inspection but are now rated Good. Both curriculum design and implementation, and curriculum adaptation, are judged as Good, indicating that the curriculum generally caters well to students' needs, interests, and aspirations. Curriculum design and implementationCurriculum adaptation
The school maintains Very Good provision for health and safety, including child protection and safeguarding arrangements. Care and support for students, including those with additional learning needs, also remain Very Good, demonstrating robust systems for student wellbeing and inclusion. Health and safetyChild protectionCare and supportInclusion systems
Leadership and management have generally declined to Good, including the effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, governance, and overall management. However, partnerships with parents remain Very Good. The decline is attributed to uncertainty in governance and high staff turnover, which impacted school performance. Effectiveness of leadershipGovernanceStaff turnoverPartnerships with parents
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong KG Provision
The school has successfully established and sustained Very Good achievement in English, Mathematics, and Science within the Kindergarten phase.
Cultural & Islamic Values
Students demonstrate a strong awareness of UAE traditions, culture, and Islamic values, fostered within a positive and responsible learning environment.
Effective Curriculum Design
The curriculum team has successfully developed provisions that cater well to the diverse needs, interests, and aspirations of students.
Robust Safeguarding & Inclusion
Highly effective arrangements are in place for health, safety, security, and behavior, alongside strong inclusion systems for students of determination.
Strategic Development Focus
The school is fully focused on development initiatives under clear strategic direction from new leadership, maintaining strong parent partnerships.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement has regressed, particularly in Arabic-medium subjects across all phases. English-medium subjects, while showing some decline in Middle school, have maintained or improved performance in other phases, with notable strengths in KG and Secondary Science and Mathematics attainment.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The school's leadership and management have been significantly impacted by recent governance uncertainty and a high staff turnover rate. While partnerships with parents remain very strong, the effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, and overall management have declined. Stability has now returned, and the new director and senior leaders are focused on strategic development initiatives to drive positive progress.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Achievement in Arabic-medium subjects has declined across the school, with Islamic Education, Arabic as a first language, and Arabic as a second language generally rated Acceptable or Good. English-medium subjects show a stronger profile, with sustained Very Good performance in English, Mathematics, and Science in KG, Primary, and Secondary, and notable improvements in Science and Mathematics attainment in Secondary. However, Middle school performance has declined across all core subjects.
Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate Good personal development, including a sound understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures. Their social responsibility and innovation skills are rated Very Good across all phases, indicating positive attitudes and active engagement within the school community.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning has regressed to Good in most phases and Acceptable in Middle school, reflecting the overall decline in student achievement. Assessment practices have also declined to Good across all phases, with a need to improve teachers' abilities to accurately assess student attainment and differentiate activities to match diverse student needs.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
The curriculum design and implementation, along with curriculum adaptation, are both rated Good. The curriculum team has successfully developed provisions that cater well to the needs, interests, and aspirations of students, although these areas were not previously judged.
Protection, Care & Support
The school maintains Very Good provision for health and safety, including robust arrangements for child protection and safeguarding. Care and support for students, including those with additional learning needs and students of determination, are also consistently Very Good, demonstrating effective systems for student wellbeing.
Areas for Development
- •Raise students’ attainment and progress to a consistently Outstanding level in all core subjects and phases by improving progress in Qur’anic recitation and Tajweed rules, strengthening Arabic reading and writing skills, promoting research skills in social studies, improving English speaking and handwriting, deepening mathematical knowledge in Phases 3 and 4, ensuring consistent communication of scientific knowledge, and improving students’ learning skills.
- •Improve strategies and provision for effective teaching and assessment by ensuring consistent differentiation of activities, promoting opportunities for students to discuss ideas at length, and improving teachers' abilities to accurately assess student attainment levels.
- •Improve the impact of school leadership further by providing training for middle leaders to enhance their skills in supporting teachers and assessing attainment, leading teams, refining systems for subject heads of department involvement in monitoring, and establishing a benchmark assessment for Arabic medium subjects.
- •Improve results in the International Assessments TIMSS, PISA, and PIRLS by reviewing existing approaches, analyzing previous results, and focusing on upcoming PISA assessments through online platforms and student engagement.