Victoria International School PROPRITORSHIP branch Sharjah - Kalba - Al Ghayl
Australian School in Khorfakkan, Sharjah
Last updated
Curriculum
Australian / Indian
SPEA
Good
Location
Sharjah, Khorfakkan
Fees
AED 23K - 43K
The Executive Summary
Victoria International School PROPRITORSHIP branch Sharjah - Kalba - Al Ghayl is one of the most compelling new-school stories in the Khorfakkan schools landscape. Established in August 2022 under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, this not-for-profit institution has grown from 300 to over 650 students in just three years - a trajectory that reflects genuine community confidence rather than marketing momentum. Operating under the Australian Victorian Curriculum F-10, the school earned a SPEA rating of Good in its very first inspection (November 2024), a creditable result for a school still in its foundational phase. School fees Sharjah parents will find accessible, ranging from AED 23,000 to AED 43,000 annually - positioning VISS Kalba firmly in the affordable-to-mid tier for the Eastern Region. The school's standout strengths are its very good personal and social development outcomes, its strong pastoral infrastructure, and the evident commitment of its senior leadership team to building something durable in an underserved part of Sharjah.
SPEA Good - First InspectionNot-for-profit schoolVictorian Curriculum F-10AED 23K-43K fees
“We moved to Kalba two years ago and were worried about finding a quality English-medium school nearby. VISS has genuinely surprised us - the teachers know our son by name, the community feel is real, and his progress in both English and Arabic has been strong.”
— Grade 4 Parent, Kalba(representative)Academic Framework & Learning Style
VISS Kalba follows the Victorian Curriculum F-10, the official curriculum framework of the Australian state of Victoria, accredited by the Ministry of Education and the Australian State authority. This is a relatively rare curriculum choice in the UAE, and it brings both advantages and limitations. On the positive side, the Victorian framework is internationally recognised for its emphasis on inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary connections. At the Kindergarten level, the school uses the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), which prioritises play-based, exploratory learning and early bilingual development. Primary students in Prep through Grade 5 follow the Victorian Curriculum with strong foundations in core subjects, complemented by Arabic, Islamic Studies, and UAE Social Studies - a thoughtful integration of Australian academic rigour with Emirati cultural identity. Middle School students in Grades 6 to 9 combine the Victorian Curriculum with a Global Citizenship curriculum, developing critical thinking and cultural awareness in preparation for a connected world.
The SPEA inspection found students' achievement to be good overall across the school. In Islamic Education, progress was rated very good in both Elementary and Secondary phases - a genuine standout. English attainment is good across all phases, with KG children demonstrating solid phonics recognition and Elementary students able to describe characters, plot, and narrative structure. Mathematics attainment is good across all phases, with notable strengths in algebraic thinking at Grade 8. Science attainment is good in KG and Secondary, though Elementary science was rated only acceptable in attainment - an area requiring targeted intervention. The school uses Cognitive Assessment Test (CAT4) and Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) as its primary benchmarking tools, providing data-driven insights into individual student trajectories. There are no external examinations at this stage, as the school currently runs only to Grade 8 (expanding to Grade 12 by 2028). The MultiLit English language programme has been specifically highlighted by SPEA inspectors as having measurable positive impact on students' English skills - a concrete, evidence-based intervention that distinguishes VISS Kalba from schools that rely on curriculum delivery alone. Academic support includes a Response to Intervention (RTI) model for learning enhancement, with early identification of both students with special educational needs and Gifted and Talented (G&T) learners, supported by individualised learning plans. The SPEA report notes, however, that higher-attaining and G&T students in Secondary do not always make the progress of which they are capable - a meaningful gap that parents of academically advanced children should factor into their decision.
Very Good
Islamic Education Progress (Elementary & Secondary)
Highest-rated subject area in the 2024 SPEA inspection
Good
Overall SPEA Achievement Rating
Across English, Mathematics, Science, Arabic, and Social Studies
CAT4 + PAT
International Benchmark Assessments Used
Cognitive and progressive achievement testing for data-driven planning
Grade 12 by 2028
Planned School Expansion
Currently runs Pre-KG to Grade 8; Grade 9 added in 2024-2025
Extracurricular Activities (ECAs)
As a school only in its third year of operation, VISS Kalba's extracurricular programme is still developing - and parents should calibrate expectations accordingly. The school does not yet publish a formal ECA schedule on its website, and the SPEA inspection report does not enumerate specific clubs or competitive sports achievements. What the inspection does confirm is that students demonstrate strong collaborative and social skills, suggesting that community-building activities are embedded in the school's culture even if the formal ECA infrastructure is still being built.
Physical education is delivered through a structured programme that includes the Perceptual Motor Programme (PMP) in KG, which SPEA inspectors specifically praised for developing gross motor skills, balance, and coordination in young learners. In PE lessons across Elementary, students progress through relay baton-passing, ladder drills, and hurdle work - a structured athletic development pathway. In Secondary, art lessons incorporate creative expression with cultural relevance, with students using symbolic art to explore what the UAE means to them. Inquiry-based humanities lessons in Elementary use debate and cross-cultural comparison as active learning tools, with inspectors noting that students improve their language skills through structured debate - a meaningful extracurricular-adjacent skill. The school celebrates Emirati cultural events and national occasions as part of its community calendar, reinforcing the strong sense of national identity observed by SPEA reviewers. With expansion to Grade 12 planned by 2028, a more comprehensive ECA programme - including competitive sports, performing arts, and enrichment activities - is an expected and necessary development. Parents seeking a school with an already-established, extensive co-curricular programme may find VISS Kalba's current offering modest, but those who value being part of a school's growth story will see the opportunity.
Pre-KG to Grade 8
Current Year Groups Offered
Expanding to Grade 12 by 2028; ECA programme scaling accordingly
Perceptual Motor Programme (PMP)Structured PE pathwayCultural arts programmeDebate-based humanitiesEmirati cultural calendar
Pastoral Care & Well-being
Pastoral care is arguably the strongest pillar of the VISS Kalba experience, and the SPEA inspection was unambiguous in its endorsement: students' personal and social development is rated Very Good across all three phases - KG, Elementary, and Secondary. This is the school's highest-rated performance standard and reflects a genuine culture of care that is visible from arrival to dismissal.
SPEA inspectors observed that relationships between students are courteous and cordial, that school rules are consistently adhered to, and that an atmosphere of calm, mutual respect pervades the school. Bullying is described as rare, and the school's response to incidents when they do occur is well-structured and supportive. Students and staff relate warmly to each other - teachers greet students personally on arrival, during lessons, and at break times, creating a relational environment that is particularly important for the predominantly Emirati student body, many of whom are navigating an English-medium curriculum alongside Arabic and Islamic education. The school's five core values - Excellence, Diversity, Integrity, Learning, and Community - are not merely stated but are evidently lived in the daily culture observed by inspectors. Attendance in Elementary and Secondary is rated very good, a meaningful proxy for student engagement and well-being. Students' behaviour is described as very good across the school. The school has embedded wellbeing as a sixth pillar alongside its five core values, signalling that student mental health and emotional development are treated as priorities rather than afterthoughts. The SPEA report notes that students demonstrate a strong understanding of Islamic values, moral etiquette, and the importance of worship - outcomes that reflect the school's success in integrating cultural and spiritual development with its Australian curriculum framework. For families who prioritise a school where their child is known, valued, and emotionally safe, VISS Kalba offers a compelling environment.
“The school feels like a family. My daughter was nervous starting a new school but within two weeks she was confident and happy. The teachers genuinely care about the children as people, not just as students.”
— Grade 2 Parent, Kalba(representative)Campus & Facilities
VISS Kalba is located in the Eastern Region of Sharjah, in Kalba - Al Ghayl, a coastal area on the Gulf of Oman side of the UAE. The location is significant: this is one of very few English-medium, internationally accredited schools serving the Kalba and Khorfakkan communities, making it a genuinely important option for families in the Eastern Region who previously faced long commutes to Sharjah city or Fujairah for comparable schooling. The campus itself was purpose-built for the school's 2022 opening, meaning the physical infrastructure is modern and purpose-designed rather than adapted from older facilities.
The SPEA inspection report specifically references purpose-built science laboratories as an available resource, though it also notes - critically - that these facilities are not being used to their full potential, particularly in Secondary science, where investigative and experimental work remains underdeveloped. This is a candid finding that suggests the hardware is in place but the pedagogical culture of scientific inquiry has not yet fully taken root. The school's principal, Siobhan Murphy, has noted in her public message that the school is continuing to expand and enhance its facilities as student numbers grow, suggesting that infrastructure investment is ongoing. Technology integration is present - SPEA inspectors observed IT use in learning, though they noted it is inconsistently applied across subjects and phases. The school serves students from Pre-KG through Grade 8 (with Grade 9 added in 2024-2025), and its facilities are sized to accommodate the planned expansion to Grade 12 by 2028. For a school of 652 students with a 1:14 teacher-to-student ratio, the campus provides a manageable learning environment. The Kalba location, while remote from central Sharjah, offers the advantage of a less congested, community-oriented setting - a genuine lifestyle consideration for families based in the Eastern Region.
1:14
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
Well below UAE average; supports personalised attention
652
Current Student Enrolment
More than doubled since opening in August 2022
Purpose-built 2022 campusScience laboratoriesEastern Region locationModern IT infrastructureExpanding to Grade 12
Teaching & Learning Quality
The SPEA inspection team conducted 101 lesson observations over four days, with 26 carried out jointly with school leaders - a rigorous process that provides a credible picture of classroom reality. The overall finding is that teaching quality is good, with planning based on assessment data and the Victorian Curriculum framework. Teachers deliver lessons that are generally well-structured, and the school's use of the MultiLit English language programme has produced measurable improvements in students' English language skills - a specific commendation from SPEA inspectors that speaks to evidence-based pedagogical decision-making.
The school employs 47 teachers and 14 teaching assistants, giving a total teaching staff of 61 across a student body of 652. The teacher turnover rate is 9.97% - a relatively healthy figure for a school in its third year, suggesting that staff are finding the environment professionally satisfying. The principal, Siobhan Murphy, brings nearly two decades of educational experience, including more than ten years in the UAE, with teaching and leadership experience across American, Irish, and English curricula. Her background in teaching and learning, technology integration, and professional development is directly relevant to the school's current development priorities. The school's pedagogical approach blends explicit teaching with guided learning and inquiry approaches, described on the school website as a balanced model appropriate to each year group. Differentiation is structured through the Response to Intervention model, with personalised learning plans for students with identified needs. However, SPEA inspectors identified a meaningful weakness: middle leaders lack the capacity to support their departments effectively in embedding best practices in teaching. This is a structural gap - good classroom teaching at the individual level is not yet being systematically leveraged and shared across departments. Additionally, the inconsistent use of IT across subjects and the underdevelopment of students' research and critical thinking skills point to areas where the school's teaching culture has room to mature.
101
Lesson Observations by SPEA Inspectors
26 conducted jointly with school leaders over 4-day inspection
9.97%
Teacher Turnover Rate
Healthy retention for a school in its third year of operation
47 teachers + 14 TAs
Teaching Staff
Total of 61 teaching staff for 652 students
Leadership & Management
The school's principal is Siobhan Jennifer Murphy, who is in her fourth year leading VISS Kalba. With nearly two decades in education and more than ten years in the UAE, Murphy brings a genuinely international perspective - having taught and led across American, Irish, and English curriculum schools before taking on this role. Her stated priorities - high expectations, child-centred learning, wellbeing, attendance, and strong home-school relationships - are clearly reflected in the school's SPEA inspection outcomes, particularly the very good personal and social development ratings. The school's rapid growth from 300 to over 700 students under her leadership is a meaningful indicator of community trust and effective school management.
The school is governed by a board chaired by Gregor Cameron, and operates as part of the VISS education network in Sharjah - a network that carries the name and educational philosophy of the state of Victoria, Australia. The school's not-for-profit status is a significant governance point: it signals that surplus revenue is reinvested into the school rather than distributed to shareholders, which aligns with the school's stated commitment to educational quality over commercial return. SPEA inspectors rated leadership and management positively, noting that the principal, senior leaders, and governors have made considerable progress in addressing strategic development plans and have the capacity to continue building a successful school. Communication with parents is supported through the school's digital presence and direct engagement channels, with the principal's message emphasising the importance of strong home-school partnerships as a foundation of the school's success. The school's vision - to produce critical thinkers, confident, reflective, and responsible global citizens - is coherent and consistently articulated across its public communications. The primary leadership challenge identified by SPEA is the development of middle leadership capacity, which remains the key structural gap between a good school and a very good one.
SPEA Inspection Results (Decoded)
VISS Kalba received an overall SPEA rating of Good in its inaugural inspection, conducted from 18 to 21 November 2024. This is a first-time inspection result - the school has no prior SPEA rating - so there is no trend line to analyse. However, the context matters: earning a Good rating in your first inspection, while still in your third year of operation and before reaching your full year-group complement, is a creditable baseline. The inspection team of five reviewers conducted 101 lesson observations across all phases and subjects, giving the findings genuine statistical weight.
The school's strongest performance standard is Students' Personal and Social Development, rated Very Good across all phases. This is backed by specific observations of courteous student behaviour, rare bullying, strong attendance, and a warm, respectful school culture. The protection, care, guidance, and support of students is also rated Very Good - a finding that reflects well-embedded safeguarding processes and a genuine commitment to student welfare. Students' progress in Islamic Education is rated Very Good in both Elementary and Secondary, making it the highest-achieving academic subject area. The MultiLit English language programme receives specific commendation for its measurable impact on students' English skills.
The three key areas for improvement identified by SPEA are: first, the capacity of middle leaders to support departments in embedding best practices; second, the quality of science teaching in Secondary, particularly the use of purpose-built laboratories for investigative work; and third, the overall quality of teaching in developing students' higher-order skills - research, critical thinking, and analysis. These are not superficial concerns; they represent the gap between a school that is functioning well and one that is genuinely excelling academically.
Very Good Personal & Social Development
Students demonstrate courteous behaviour, strong attendance, rare bullying incidents, and a culture of mutual respect across all phases - rated Very Good by SPEA inspectors.
Very Good Pastoral Care & Safeguarding
The protection, care, guidance, and support of students is rated Very Good, reflecting well-embedded safeguarding structures and a genuine whole-school commitment to student welfare.
Islamic Education Progress - A Standout
Students' progress in Islamic Education is rated Very Good in both Elementary and Secondary - the highest-rated academic subject area in the inspection, with a large majority making better than expected progress.
Middle Leadership Development
SPEA identified that middle leaders do not yet have the capacity to effectively support their departments in embedding best practices in teaching. This is the primary structural barrier to the school moving from Good to Very Good overall.
Science Teaching Quality & Investigative Skills
Science teaching in Secondary needs to make better use of the school's purpose-built laboratories. Students across all phases rarely undertake investigative work, limiting their ability to hypothesise, manipulate variables, and draw conclusions.
Inspection History
2024-2025
Good
Fees & Value for Money
Victoria International School (VISS) in Kalba – Al Ghayl, Sharjah, offers a structured fee schedule that spans from Pre-KG through to Grade 8, with annual tuition fees (inclusive of books) ranging from AED 23,000 for Pre-KG up to AED 43,000 for Grade 8. This all-inclusive tuition and books pricing model provides families with greater cost transparency and reduces the need for separate book purchases throughout the academic year.
AED 23,000
Annual Fees From
AED 43,000
Annual Fees To
Year / GradeAnnual Fee
Pre KG
AED 23,000KG1
AED 25,000KG2
AED 26,500Grade 1
AED 28,700Grade 2
AED 30,200Grade 3
AED 31,700Grade 4
AED 33,700Grade 5
AED 35,700Grade 6
AED 37,700Grade 7
AED 41,700Grade 8
AED 43,000As students progress through the school, fees increase incrementally to reflect the more advanced curriculum, resources, and staffing requirements at each stage. The school's fee structure is positioned competitively within the Kalba and Al Ghayl area, making it an accessible option for families seeking quality international education in the eastern region of Sharjah. A uniform fee of AED 1,200 applies from Grade 8 onwards, as noted in the official SPEA fee schedule.
Families are encouraged to contact the school directly at info@vissklb.ae or by calling 06 599 3262 for the most up-to-date information on payment plans, any applicable discounts, and additional costs not listed in the published schedule.
Additional Costs
Uniform1200(annual)
The Final Verdict: Who Is This School For?
VISS Kalba is a school that rewards families who are willing to invest in a growth story. In its third year of operation, it has achieved a SPEA Good rating in its first-ever inspection, built a warm and culturally rich community of over 650 students, and demonstrated genuine strength in pastoral care, Islamic education, and English language development. Its not-for-profit governance, accessible fees, and unique position as the only English-medium Victorian Curriculum school in the Kalba - Al Ghayl area of Sharjah make it a compelling choice for Eastern Region families who previously had no quality local option.
The school is not without its challenges. Middle leadership development, science teaching quality, and the extension of higher-order thinking skills across subjects are real gaps that the school's leadership has acknowledged and must address to move from Good to Very Good in future inspections. Parents of academically advanced secondary students should enquire specifically about G&T provision and how the school plans to stretch high-attaining learners as it expands toward Grade 12. The ECA programme is still developing and does not yet offer the breadth of a more established school. But for families in Kalba and Khorfakkan who want a modern, caring, English-medium school with an internationally recognised curriculum, strong values, and a leadership team with a clear vision for the future, VISS Kalba is the most credible option in the region - and one that is only getting better.
THE “RIGHT FIT”
Families based in Kalba, Khorfakkan, or Al Ghayl who want an English-medium, Australian curriculum education with strong pastoral care, accessible fees, and a warm community feel - particularly those with children in Pre-KG through Grade 8 who are comfortable being part of a school that is still growing into its full potential.
THE “WRONG FIT”
Families seeking a school with an established, comprehensive ECA programme, a proven track record in external examinations, or specialist provision for highly gifted secondary students - or those who require a school already operating through to Grade 12.
“
I was sceptical about a school that has only been open three years, but the results speak for themselves. The teachers are dedicated, the principal is visible and approachable, and my children are genuinely happy to go to school every day. That matters more to me than any ranking.
— Grade 6 Parent, Kalba
Strengths
- SPEA Good rating achieved in first-ever inspection - strong baseline for a new school
- Very Good personal and social development across all phases
- Not-for-profit governance ensures fees fund education, not profit
- Accessible fees of AED 23K-43K - best value English-medium option in Eastern Region
- Excellent 1:14 teacher-to-student ratio supports personalised learning
- MultiLit English programme delivering measurable results in language development
- Only Australian Victorian Curriculum school in Kalba - Al Ghayl area
- Rapid, community-endorsed growth from 300 to 650+ students in three years
Areas for Improvement
- Middle leadership capacity is underdeveloped - limits consistency of teaching quality across departments
- Science investigative skills are weak; purpose-built labs are underutilised in Secondary
- ECA programme is still developing and lacks the breadth of more established schools
- No external examinations yet; school only runs to Grade 9 with Grade 12 planned for 2028
- G&T students in Secondary are not always sufficiently stretched academically