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A Look At KHDA School Inspections

Updated on 29 June 2023

School inspection reports are one of the most important aspects for parents choosing a private school for their child to attend.

Since 2008, every year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, carries out school inspections that assess how well a school is run, and that help parents find the right school fit for their child.

The schools are ranked in six different categories, from Outstanding at the top, followed by Very Good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very Weak.

To receive a rating, the schools are evaluated in six key areas,

The achievements of students
The personal, social development and innovation skills of students
The teaching quality of the staff
The school's curriculum
The protection, care, guidance and support given to the students
The leadership and management quality at the school

As the KHDA school report is broken down into various categories, parents can read through the areas of importance for their child and make a decision based on it.

Connector spoke to schools around Dubai gain insight into how the inspections are held and what happens behind the scenes at schools to better prepare for them.

On each inspection, a team of inspectors visit the school over a period of three to four days, and assess the school on the set criteria.

Mark Ford, Principal at The English College, where the school ranked Very Good in the 2023 KHDA reports said, "During the KHDA inspection, 7 or 8 inspectors visit the school. Each inspector focuses on specific aspects outlined in the UAE School Inspection Framework."

As schools are the leading ways to develop a child, one of the main aspects of the inspection is assessing the development and growth of the students. The inspection team visit classrooms to get a glimpse into how classes are run and the way the needs of the students are met. Inspectors also view the results from tests students have taken throughout the year, and evaluate the schools based on the targets they have set themselves to achieve.

Maryssa Connor, Principal/CEO at GEMS Wellington International School, which assessed as Outstanding in the 2023 KHDA school inspection reports, and Senior Vice President of Education at GEMS Education said, "They use data from examinations and assessments to establish how well the students achieve and if they are making progress. Dubai schools set themselves challenging targets and use thorough self-evaluation against the KHDA framework to indicate what is going well and how they can improve further."

Shiny Davison, Principal at The Indian Academy School Dubai, that is ranked Good in the 2023 KHDA reports, further added, "Inspection judgements are drawn from evidence gathered by the inspection team, including observation of students’ learning in lessons, review of their work, discussions with students, meetings with the staff, parents, and governors, and review of surveys completed by parents, teachers, and students."

Parents play a vital role in the reports, as their feedback can help other parents in making a decision on which school to send their child to. As parents understand their child's needs and requirements to develop, the inspection team reaches out to parents to understand the level of satisfaction the school provides.

Shiny Davison of The Indian Academy School Dubai said, "Uninformed conversation with parents is a part of the inspection which helps the team to gauge the satisfaction level of the parent community."

The rating helps position the school based on the quality of education it offers. A school with a higher rating is known for better quality education, as well as teachers that help in the growth of students and a great environment for a child to develop in.

Mark Ford of The English College said, "The rating provides validation of the quality of education that the school offers. As a Very Good School, it assures parents and students that they receive an excellent education. For our staff, working in a highly rated school is a testament to their expertise and dedication, which helps attract and retain quality educators. Additionally, the rating plays a role in determining the rate at which school fees can be increased."

During the academic year 2023 to 2024, schools fees can increase after a three year freeze, with the last increase taking place during the academic year 2019 to 2020, and the rating of the school determines how much the fees can be increased by.

Schools that have improved their rating can increase fees by 4.5%, if the rating improved from very good to outstanding, and 5.25% for schools rated very good from good.

Schools that have maintained the same rating can increase fees by 3%, with schools that have dropped ratings, not permitted to increase.

The feedback received from the KHDA school reports is used when planning the next academic year, with schools working on the areas that need development, and help better prepare for the inspections well in advance.

Maryssa Connor of GEMS Wellington International School and GEMS Education said, "Preparation for inspections is extremely thorough and requires a lot of focus. Schools will consider the recommended areas from the previous report as part of the School Development Plan and build evidence to present to the inspectors that highlights what has happened since the last inspection. Even schools like GEMS Wellington International School, that has been Outstanding for 14 years, will continue to use the feedback from the inspection report to support the planning for the next academic year and beyond."

The quality of the teaching staff is given high priority, and it is an important part of the KHDA school reports. Through regular training, teachers are better prepared to cater to the needs of the students and nurture them in preparation for the real world.

Shiny Davison of The Indian Academy School Dubai said, "The teaching faculty is always under rigorous training to improve the overall learning environment and to create a robust and rigorous classroom environment that will cater to child protection and always keep children safe."

Even the schools that reach the highest rank of Outstanding, constantly aim to improve in order to give the same level of education and development parents and have come to expect, and maintain their ranking.

Maryssa Connor of GEMS Wellington International School and GEMS Education said, "GEMS Wellington International School is committed to being a world class centre for education, ensuring our standards are exceeding the expectations of the framework and high performing schools across the globe. We are also continually reflecting on the personal needs of young people today, ensuring they have the social and emotional skills to be resilient and happy. The balance of high academic standards, innovative and exciting curricular, professional and skilful teachers and a supportive and committed parent body means we thrive in a positive culture with the needs of every student at the centre."

The KHDA inspections are an important element during every school year, as they help parents assess the quality of education provided around Dubai, while also helping them in making decisions that will benefit their child in the long run.

2023 KHDA SCHOOL INSPECTION RANKINGS

In the Dubai 2023 school inspection reports, 199 schools were in inspected of which, 20 schools achieved the top rating of Outstanding, 39 schools were rated Very Good, 84 Good, 55 Acceptable and one school was rated Weak. No schools were rated very weak.

The 20 schools that have been rated Outstanding are:

Deira International School, Dubai Festival City
Dubai British School, Emirates Hills
Dubai College, Al Sufouh 1
Dubai English Speaking College, Academic City
Dubai English Speaking School, Zaabeel 1
Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills
GEMS Dubai American Academy, Al Barsha South 1
GEMS Jumeira Primary School, Jumeirah 3
GEMS Modern Academy, Nad Al Sheba 1
GEMS Wellington International School, Al Sufouh 1
Horizons English School, Al Wasl
Jumeirah College, Al Safa 1
Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Safa 1
Jumeirah English Speaking School, Arabian Ranches
Kings School Al Barsha, Al Barsha 2
Kings School Dubai, Umm Suqueim 3
Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou School, Oud Metha
Nord Anglia International School, Al Barsha 2
Repton School, Nad Al Sheba 3
Victory Heights Primary School, Dubai Sports City

The 2023 school inspection reports saw four schools improve their ranking moving to Outstanding from Very Good, 14 schools ranked from Good to Very Good, 15 from Acceptable to Good, and 4 from Weak to Acceptable. The schools that improved in their ranking are:

Very Good to Outstanding: