The Cambridge High School

Curriculum
British
ADEK
Very Good
Location
Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Zayed City
Fees
AED 17K - 35K

Executive Summary

The Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi has maintained its Very Good overall rating in the AY 2024/25 ADEK Irtiqa inspection, demonstrating a sustained commitment to high standards and continuous improvement across key performance areas.

The school shows consistently strong attainment and progress in English, Islamic Education, Mathematics, and Science, particularly in the higher phases. The curriculum is comprehensive and well-adapted, supported by effective teaching and assessment practices that personalize learning and track student growth.

Key strengths include students' active involvement in social responsibility initiatives, well-established safeguarding procedures, and strong parental partnerships. Effective leadership and management, coupled with robust self-evaluation, contribute to a student-centered environment that fosters continuous growth.

Overall School Performance

Inspection Year 2024-2025

Outstanding

Very Good

Good

Acceptable

Weak

Very Weak

The Cambridge High School Overall Rating

Very Good for 2+ consecutive years

ADEK Performance Standards

The six Irtiqa inspection standards used by ADEK to evaluate school performance across Abu Dhabi.

Students' Achievement
Very Good

Students demonstrate consistently strong attainment and progress in English, Islamic Education, Mathematics, and Science, particularly across Phases 3 and 4. While some Arabic-medium subjects show varied performance, overall learning skills are developing positively, with Phases 3 and 4 achieving Outstanding. EnglishIslamic EducationMathematicsScience

Students' Personal & Social Development
Very Good

Students exhibit positive attitudes, self-discipline, and a growing sense of responsibility, contributing to a respectful and inclusive environment. Social responsibility and innovation skills are Very Good across all phases, with students actively involved in school and community initiatives, though opportunities for creativity across subjects could be expanded. Social responsibilityinnovation skills

Teaching & Assessment
Very Good

Teaching for effective learning is strong, particularly in Phases 1, 3, and 4, where teachers use secure subject knowledge and assessment data to personalize learning and promote better-than-expected progress. Assessment practices are robust across all phases, utilizing internal and external data to inform instruction and provide regular feedback. personalized learningassessment data

Curriculum
Very Good

The curriculum is comprehensive, balanced, and well-designed, with cohesive planning across phases that supports smooth transitions and integrates Emirati culture. It is regularly adapted to meet the needs of most learners, though consistent challenge for gifted students in Arabic-medium subjects remains an area for development. Emirati culturecurriculum adaptation

Protection, Care, Guidance & Support
Very Good

The school maintains Very Good health and safety standards, with well-established child protection policies, thorough risk assessments, and effective health services. Students receive Very Good care and support, with effective behavior management, close attendance monitoring, and accurate identification and support for students of determination and gifted learners. child protectionstudents of determination

Leadership & Management
Very Good

Leadership is effective, with a clear vision aligned with UAE priorities and a collaborative culture. Self-evaluation and improvement planning are strong, and parental partnerships are robust. Governance is increasingly effective, ensuring accountability and compliance, though further investment in digital learning tools is needed. Self-evaluationparental partnershipsGovernance

Key Highlights

Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.

Strong Academic Performance

Students consistently achieve strong attainment and progress in English, Islamic Education, Mathematics, and Science, particularly in the higher phases.

Civic Engagement

Students are actively involved in planning, leading, and participating in volunteering and social contribution projects, fostering civic responsibility.

Leadership Commitment

Senior leaders, staff, and the Local Advisory Board share a strong commitment to enhancing students’ academic performance, personal development, and cultural awareness.

Robust Safeguarding

The school has well-established safeguarding procedures, including a comprehensive child protection policy understood and followed by all stakeholders.

Active Parental Partnership

Parents are highly engaged with the school, actively contributing to their children’s learning and school improvement initiatives.

Academic Performance Breakdown

KGKG1-KG2
Islamic Education
Arabic as a first language
Arabic as a second language
UAE Social Studies
English
Good
Mathematics
Good
Science
Very Good
PrimaryYears 1-5
Islamic Education
Good
Arabic as a first language
Good
Arabic as a second language
Good
UAE Social Studies
Good
English
Very Good
Mathematics
Good
Science
Good
MiddleYears 6-8
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Good
Arabic as a second language
Good
UAE Social Studies
Good
English
Very Good
Mathematics
Very Good
Science
Very Good
SecondaryYears 9-13
Islamic Education
Very Good
Arabic as a first language
Very Good
Arabic as a second language
UAE Social Studies
English
Outstanding
Mathematics
Outstanding
Science
Outstanding

Student achievement in Arabic-medium subjects shows a varied pattern, with some phases improving and others declining or sustaining previous levels. English-medium subjects, particularly in higher phases, show significant gains and strong performance.

Leadership & Management

Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.

The effectiveness of leadership
Very Good
School self-evaluation and improvement planning
Improved from Good to Very Good.
Very Good
Parents and the community
Very Good
Governance
Improved from Acceptable to Good.
Good
Management, staffing, facilities and resources
Very Good

Leadership Approach

The school's leadership demonstrates a clear vision aligned with UAE priorities, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture with high staff morale. Leaders ensure well-structured accountability and effective self-evaluation, driving continuous improvement across academic and operational areas.

Inspection Findings

Students' Achievement

Students consistently demonstrate strong attainment and progress in English, Islamic Education, Mathematics, and Science, especially in Phases 3 and 4, with overall learning skills showing positive development.

Personal & Social Development

Students display positive attitudes, self-discipline, and strong social responsibility, actively engaging in school and community initiatives, contributing to a respectful and inclusive environment.

Teaching & Assessment

Teaching is effective, particularly in higher phases, with teachers utilizing secure subject knowledge and assessment data to personalize learning and promote strong student progress. Assessment systems are robust, informing planning and tracking growth.

Curriculum Design & Adaptation

The curriculum is comprehensive, balanced, and well-implemented, with cohesive planning across phases and effective integration of Emirati culture. It is regularly adapted to meet diverse learner needs, though consistent challenge for gifted students in Arabic-medium subjects requires further development.

Protection, Care & Support

The school prioritizes student health and safety with well-established child protection policies and thorough procedures. It provides Very Good care and support, effectively managing behavior, monitoring attendance, and identifying and supporting students of determination and gifted learners.

Areas for Development

  • Raise students’ achievement levels in Arabic-medium subjects to consistently Very Good levels across all subjects and phases by promoting analytical reading, developing extended written responses, enabling fluent speaking, improving Quran recitation, deepening understanding of Islamic history, and enhancing interpretation of UAE historical/geographical concepts.
  • Improve the consistency of teaching for effective learning in phase 2 by improving teachers’ ability to implement differentiated activities, allocating more time for meaningful feedback, and using lesson time more effectively for teacher flexibility.
  • Raise students’ knowledge and awareness of the UAE heritage and culture by ensuring explicit links are embedded in all curriculum plans, effectively implemented by teachers, and consistently monitored by middle leaders, providing students with opportunities to initiate purposeful links.
  • Improve students’ performance in international assessments (TIMSS, PISA, PIRLS) by embedding inquiry-based tasks, aligning teaching with the structure and cognitive demand of benchmark tests, using assessment data to target support, and training teachers on international assessment strategies.