Yas Academy School, Abu Dhabi

Yas Academy School follows the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum across all cycles - KG, Cycle 1 (Grades 1-4), Cycle 2 (Grades 5-8), and Cycle 3 (Grades 9-12). The curriculum covers core subjects including Arabic as a first language, Islamic Education, UAE Social Studies, English, Mathematics, and Science, supplemented by physical education and arts. Instruction is primarily Arabic-medium, reflecting the school's demographic profile and its role as a community school for Arab expatriate families in Al Danah. The MoE framework is structured around national standards, and the school's internal assessment data for AY2023/24 - measured against MoE curriculum standards - indicates that most students across all cycles attain levels above the curriculum standards on internal measures. External MoE assessments for AY2023/24 recorded Outstanding attainment levels across all cycles in multiple subjects, which is a notable data point, though it sits in tension with independently administered standardised test results. The more revealing picture emerges from the ACER International Benchmark Test (IBT), which the school administers to students in Grades 3 to 9. In AY2023/24, student attainment in Arabic was rated Weak across all cycles on the IBT, with progress rated Very Weak in Cycle 1 and Weak in Cycles 2 and 3. Mathematics attainment was Weak across all cycles, with progress rated Very Weak across all three. Science attainment was Very Weak in Cycle 1 and Weak in Cycles 2 and 3. These are sobering findings for parents considering the school's academic rigour. In TIMSS 2023, Grade 4 mathematics students scored 470 against an international average of 503; Grade 8 mathematics scored 474 against an international average of 478; Grade 4 science scored 448 against an international average of 494; and Grade 8 science scored 487, which was the one result above the international average of 478. The school has begun aligning curriculum planning with TIMSS and PISA requirements, with greater emphasis on critical thinking in Cycle 3 planning, but this work is at an early stage. In terms of subject-level performance as observed by ADEK inspectors, the picture is mixed. Arabic attainment in Cycle 1 and Islamic Education in Cycle 1 have both regressed to Weak since the 2022 inspection. Cycle 2 Arabic attainment has improved to Good, and Cycle 3 social studies achievement is rated Good - the strongest academic finding in the report. English and Mathematics remain Acceptable across all cycles. Science has regressed in Cycle 3 from Good to Acceptable due to insufficient opportunities for scientific exploration. The curriculum is described by ADEK as more focused on knowledge than skills, with adaptations not sufficiently developed to support all learners. A notable positive is the school's implementation of the 'Towards Mastery of Arabic' initiative, which has contributed to improved language skills, and students in Cycle 3 demonstrate improved social studies outcomes linked to real-world application. The school does not publish university placement data, and given that Grade 12 completions feed into UAE higher education pathways under the MoE framework, specific university destination tracking is not available in the public domain. Assessment philosophy includes project-based evaluation, and from January 2026, the MoE confirmed that project-based assessment accounts for 10% of end-of-year grades - a shift the school has communicated to parents via its news platform.