Al Choueifat International School - Sharjah Industrial Area 6
Executive Summary
The International School of Choueifat - Sharjah (ISC-Sharjah) has achieved an overall effectiveness rating of Good, marking an improvement from its previous 'Acceptable' rating in 2022-23. This progress is attributed to the new principal's establishment of a strong and effective leadership team, which has focused on strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to drive rapid improvements.
Key strengths include students' progress across almost all subjects and their strong achievements in external examinations such as IGCSEs and AP, which enable them to progress to universities globally. Students demonstrate very good attitudes towards learning, and the school maintains very good procedures for safeguarding and protection, supported by well-maintained learning environments.
The inspection highlighted the inspirational and very effective school leadership, alongside the quality of active governance, as significant contributors to the school's positive trajectory. However, areas identified for further development include raising the level of achievement across all subjects and phases, and enhancing the quality of teaching.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Al Choueifat International School - Sharjah Industrial Area 6 Overall Rating
Good
SPEA Performance Standards
The performance standards used by SPEA to evaluate school quality across Sharjah.
The school demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity, providing accessible infrastructure and structured processes for identifying students with special educational needs (SEN), including individualized educational plans (IEPs). Additionally, 483 students are identified as gifted and talented, benefiting from tailored support. SENIEPsgifted and talented
Students exhibit very positive attitudes, behavior, and relationships, with bullying being very rare. The school's Student Life Organization (SLO) actively promotes wellness and sports, contributing to a safe and healthy lifestyle, although adherence to healthy eating habits varies among students. Student Life OrganizationSLOhealthy lifestyle
Students show a secure understanding of Islamic values, relating them to diversity, tolerance, and respect within UAE society. They are highly aware of UAE history, culture, and traditions, actively participating in Emirati celebrations and demonstrating a strong sense of cultural identity and appreciation for world cultures. Islamic valuesEmirati culturecultural diversity
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Student Progress
Students demonstrate good progress in almost all subjects across all phases, reflecting effective learning strategies.
External Exam Success
Students achieve very good results in external examinations, particularly IGCSEs and AP, preparing them for global university admissions.
Student Wellbeing
The school provides very good protection, care, guidance, and support for students, fostering a safe and nurturing environment.
Personal Development
Students exhibit very good personal and social development, characterized by positive attitudes, behavior, and strong relationships.
Effective Leadership
The school benefits from inspirational and very effective leadership, driving rapid improvements and strategic planning.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Students’ achievement is good overall, with very good performance in Phase 4 Mathematics and Science. This marks an improvement since the previous review visit of 2022 where the overall effectiveness grade was Acceptable. Students generally make better than expected progress across phases and subjects.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The school's leadership, under the new principal, is inspirational and highly effective, characterized by strong strategic planning and active engagement of all stakeholders. This approach has successfully driven rapid improvements across the school, leading to enhanced student achievements and overall effectiveness.
Inspection Findings
Students' Outcomes
Students' achievement is rated as Good overall, with notable strengths in external examination results and consistent progress across most subjects and phases. Learning skills are also good, with students demonstrating positive attitudes and increasing responsibility for their learning.
Personal Development
Students' personal and social development and innovation skills are very good. They exhibit positive attitudes, behavior, and respectful relationships, coupled with an excellent attendance and punctuality record. Students also show a secure understanding of Islamic values and a strong awareness of Emirati and world cultures.
Teaching Quality
The quality of teaching and assessment is Good overall. Teachers possess thorough subject knowledge and employ effective strategies to ensure good student progress. Internal assessment processes are comprehensive, and external examination data is used to benchmark academic outcomes and inform teaching practices.
Protection & Care
The protection, care, guidance, and support of students are very good. The school provides a very safe environment with rigorous safeguarding procedures, a diligent medical team, and highly effective protocols for attendance and behavior management. The school also demonstrates strong commitment to inclusivity, supporting students with special educational needs and those identified as gifted and talented.
Areas for Development
- •Improve the level of achievement across all subjects in all phases to meet higher expectations.
- •Enhance the quality of teaching across all subjects and all phases to the next level, particularly in fostering innovation and independent research.
- •Develop students’ knowledge of the Prophet’s (PBUH) life in Phase 2 Islamic Education and improve skills to memorize Noble Hadeeth in Phase 3.
- •Strengthen students' speaking standard Arabic and extended writing skills across all phases in Arabic (First and Additional Language).
- •Improve students’ technology skills to support learning and conduct research in Social Studies, and enhance their understanding of history in other countries.
- •Address students’ handwriting skills in Phases 1 and 2 English, and develop verbal presentation skills in Phase 2.
- •Improve students’ mental mathematical skills across phases and their ability to tackle challenging problems in Phase 4 Mathematics.
- •Enhance students’ practical and laboratory skills in Phases 2 and 3 Science, and develop scientific thinking, research, and investigation skills across all phases.
- •Develop students’ use of musical instrument skills and robotic knowledge and skills across all phases in Other Subjects.
- •Increase students’ opportunities for innovation and individual creativity in all phases, and ensure they understand the importance of learning.
- •Improve students’ understanding of nutrition and its application to healthy lifestyles in all phases, and raise environmental awareness in Phase 1.
- •Ensure effective use of questioning in Phases 1, 2, and 3 to assess student learning during plenaries.
- •Embed more opportunities for innovation and enterprise throughout all phases of the curriculum.
- •Roll out planned internships for Phase 4 students to provide practical experience.