Virginia International Private School
Executive Summary
Virginia International Private School has maintained its overall ADEK Irtiqa rating of Good for the 2024-2025 academic year. The school follows the American curriculum, providing a broad-based education that emphasizes critical thinking and prepares students for higher education.
Significant improvements have been noted in Phase 1 (KG/Early Primary) across teaching, assessment, curriculum provision, and learning skills, with progress in English, Mathematics, and Science improving to Very Good. Arabic as a second language also saw progress improve to Very Good in Phase 2. The school demonstrates strong provision in Phase 1, fostering motivated learners who take responsibility for their learning and collaborate effectively.
Despite considerable leadership changes, the school has maintained its performance standards, with partnerships with parents and the community improving to Very Good. Students and staff exhibit positive and respectful attitudes, contributing to an inclusive environment, and students show a strong appreciation for UAE heritage.
Overall School Performance
Outstanding
Very Good
Good
Acceptable
Weak
Very Weak
Virginia International Private School Overall Rating
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 shows varied performance across phases and subjects. While Phase 1 demonstrates strong attainment and progress, particularly in English, Mathematics, and Science, upper phases show more mixed results, with some subjects rated Acceptable or Weak in attainment. Significant improvements were noted in Phase 1 learning skills and progress in several core subjects. Phase 1 achievementprogress in English, Mathematics, Science
Students' personal development is consistently Good across all phases. Understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are rated Very Good, reflecting students' respectful behavior and strong cultural understanding. Social responsibility and innovation skills are also judged as Good. Islamic valuesEmirati cultureVery Good
Teaching and assessment have shown improvement, particularly in Phase 1, where teaching for effective learning improved to Very Good. Teaching in Phases 2 and 4 remains Good, while Phase 3 improved to Good. Assessment practices are Good in Phase 2 and Acceptable in Phases 2 and 3, indicating a need for more consistent rigor. Phase 1 teachingVery Good
Curriculum design and implementation are Very Good in Phase 1 and Good in Phase 2, providing a strong foundation. However, these areas are Acceptable in Phases 3 and 4. Curriculum adaptation is Good in Phases 1 and 2, but Acceptable in upper phases, suggesting a need for greater alignment and challenge for older students. Phase 1 curriculum designVery Good
The school consistently provides Good protection, care, guidance, and support for students across all phases. Health and safety arrangements, including child protection and safeguarding, are effective. Students receive appropriate care and support, contributing to a secure and nurturing environment. Health and safetychild protection
Leadership and management are rated Good across most indicators, including effectiveness of leadership, self-evaluation, and governance. Partnerships with parents and the community have improved to Very Good. Despite recent leadership changes, the school has maintained its performance, demonstrating resilience and a strong focus on teacher development. Partnerships with parents and the communityVery Good
Key Highlights
Standout achievements identified by the inspection team that distinguish this school.
Strong Phase 1 Provision
The quality of provision in Phase 1 (KG/Early Primary) is strong, laying a solid foundation for early learning and development.
Positive School Environment
Students and staff demonstrate positive and respectful attitudes, fostering a supportive and inclusive school environment.
UAE Heritage Appreciation
Students actively participate in national celebrations and cultural activities, showing a deep appreciation and understanding of UAE heritage.
Inclusive Learning Culture
Senior leaders effectively promote an inclusive school environment and cultivate a positive learning culture across all phases.
Strong Parent Partnerships
The school fosters strong and productive partnerships with parents, actively involving them in their children’s learning and the wider school community.
Phase 1 Improvement
There has been significant improvement in Phase 1 teaching, learning, assessment, and curriculum provision since the last inspection.
Academic Performance Breakdown
Overall student achievement is Good, with notable improvements in Phase 1 across several core subjects. Performance in standardized and international assessments (MAP, ACER IBT, PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) shows varied results, with some areas below international averages and school targets, indicating areas for development in critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Leadership & Management
Effectiveness of school governance, strategic planning, and leadership capacity to drive continuous improvement.
Leadership Approach
The leadership team, despite considerable upheaval and new appointments, has effectively maintained the school's performance standards. They demonstrate a strong emphasis on teacher development, particularly in Phase 1, and actively foster positive and productive partnerships with parents, keeping them well-informed and involved in school life.
Inspection Findings
Students' Achievement
Students generally attain above curriculum standards in Islamic Education and Arabic as a first language, with strong progress in Phase 1. However, consistency in Qur’anic recitation and deeper reasoning in Islamic Education need strengthening. In English, while foundational skills are developing, vocabulary, reading fluency, and extended writing vary, particularly for second-language learners. Mathematics and Science show mixed attainment, with a need to reinforce arithmetic foundations and increase engagement in scientific inquiry in upper phases.
Personal & Social Development
Students across all phases demonstrate respectful behavior and a strong understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture. They show increasing responsibility for their learning, engage in community service, and participate in innovation and sustainability initiatives, with a growing awareness of global cultural diversity. Personal development, social responsibility, and innovation skills are consistently Good, while understanding of Islamic values and awareness of Emirati and world cultures are Very Good.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching for effective learning has improved significantly in Phase 1 to Very Good, and in Phase 3 to Good, while remaining Good in Phases 2 and 4. Assessment practices are Very Good in Phase 1 and Good in Phase 2, but remain Acceptable in Phases 2 and 3, indicating a need for more consistent application of data analysis and feedback practices to inform targeted support and ensure progression, especially in upper phases.
Curriculum Design & Adaptation
Curriculum design and implementation are Very Good in Phase 1 and Good in Phase 2, providing a solid foundation. However, these areas are Acceptable in Phases 3 and 4. Curriculum adaptation is Good in Phases 1 and 2, but Acceptable in upper phases. There is a need to align the curriculum more closely with grade-level standards, expand upper-grade course offerings, and enhance personalized learning with real-world experiences.
Protection, Care & Support
The school consistently maintains Good standards for health, safety, care, and support for students across all phases. This includes effective arrangements for child protection and safeguarding. Students receive appropriate care and support, contributing to a secure and nurturing environment, with no regression noted in this standard.
Areas for Development
- •Strengthen students' understanding and application of Islamic knowledge, including Qur’anic vocabulary, Tajweed, and Fiqh, particularly in the upper phases.
- •Improve Arabic reading comprehension, writing structure, and fluency in Standard Arabic across all phases, and develop skills in Arabic as an additional language, with a focus on reading extended texts, writing accurately, and speaking confidently.
- •Reinforce arithmetic foundations and mathematical reasoning while promoting accurate use of mathematical language across all phases, and increase engagement in scientific inquiry, practical investigation, and data handling.
- •Raise expectations in lesson planning to promote inquiry-based learning and deepen conceptual understanding, and enhance lesson delivery through effective questioning, smooth transitions, and reflective analysis of student learning outcomes.
- •Align assessment frameworks with curriculum standards and external benchmarks to improve rigor and student achievement in Phases 2-4, and apply consistent data analysis of subject-specific skills to inform targeted support and ensure progression.
- •Strengthen students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills across all core subjects to align with international assessment standards, and embed question formats and task types from international assessments into regular classroom practice.
- •Strengthen clarity of roles and accountability across all leadership tiers to unify best practices in curriculum, assessment, and data use, and develop middle leadership capacity to ensure consistency in teaching quality and student progress monitoring.