2 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 3 DSIB School Inspection Key Messages 2016 2017 © 2017 Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai, UAE. All rights reserved. In the interests of enhancing the value of the information contained in this report, you may download, print, reproduce and distribute any material contained in the report so long as KHDA is acknowledged as the source. Contents Executive summary 5 Dubai private schools at a glance 6 Inspection findings 2016-2017 8 Key messages 12 More Emirati students are attending good or better schools 13 Dubai schools are a good place for community cohesion 17 The UAE National Agenda - achieving the aspirations of the UAE Vision 2021 20 Students are making steady progress in the core subjects 24 Leadership in Dubai private schools continues to improve 31 Conclusion 34 Overall performance of private schools in Dubai 35 4 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 5 Executive summary This report provides an overview of the key findings and messages emerging from the 159 private schools in Dubai during the 2016-2017 school inspection cycle, by the Dubai School Inspections Bureau (DSIB). Parents are now much more likely to have access to a good school for their children than nine years ago. Currently, there are 169,021 students attending good or better schools. This is 134,736 more students than in 2008. There is still much work to be done towards achieving UAE Vision 2021 especially in raising the achievement of our low performing schools and decreasing the differences in outcomes between groups of students. We continue to emphasise the importance of effective challenge, support and intervention at all levels to bring about the improvements needed to ensure that students have the best chance of success. The report also highlights the following five key messages for private schools in Dubai, drawn from the findings of the inspections: More Emirati students are attending good or better schools. For the first time, more than half of Emirati students in Dubai schools attend good or better schools. However, we know that more needs to be done to narrow the gap in achievement between Emirati students and their peers. Schools are a good place for community cohesion. For the first time, the majority (61%) of private schools in Dubai now operate a level of provision for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which is good or better. The UAE National Agenda -achieving the aspirations of the UAE Vision 2021. In 2016- 2017, 66% of Dubai schools met or exceeded expectations towards meeting their National Agenda targets. Students are making steady progress in the core subjects. The best indicator of good Verbal and numerical reasoning and problem-solving skills are needed to succeed in examinations, in further study and in employment. Thinking skills are best developed when students are engaged in their learning and have time to think deeply about what they are learning. Leadership in Dubai schools continues to improve. Successful school leaders place a high value on learning, for staff as well as for students. In high-performing schools, confident senior leaders promote a clear vision for staff development and establish a strong and collaborative culture of professional development. Dubai private schools at a glance Number of private schools in Dubai 185 Students in all private schools in Dubai 273,599 Schools involved in the 2016-2017 inspection cycle 159 There are students in these schools 263,051 Number of new schools inspected 11 There are 10,411 students in these schools schoolschools Number of Emirati students 32,103 Number of students with SEND 15,099 6 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 7 Number of schools in the inspection cycles over the years During the 2016-2017 academic 159 149 139 143 141 143 year, 159 private schools in Dubai 131 136 were in the inspection cycle. These 109 schools were responsible for educating 263,051 students, from early years to Grade 12. This is an increase of 50 schools since private schools were first inspected by the DSIB in 2008-2009. Years of improving outcomes for students 9 through inspections (2008-2017) Parents told us... The school is very well organised, 8,071 Inspectors the teachers are very good, communication with parents is excellent, and our daughter hugely enjoys her time at the school 117,552 Lessons observed Parents told us... 61,790 Hours in classes Bravo! for the constant efforts to enhance the level of education of students in UAE 16,671 Hours in meetings Inspection findings 2016-2017 16 29,490 11% Schools Students Outstanding 14 37,010 14% Very good Schools Students Good 69 102,521 39% Schools Students 50 78,465 30% Acceptable Schools Students 6% Weak 10 15,565 Schools Students 8 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 9 Trend of overall performance 64% of students in Dubai schools now attend good or better schools, compared to 30% of students when inspections started in 2008-2009. The graph below indicates further, the improvements made during this period. Students in private schools between 2008-2009 and 2016-2017 26% less students attend 'Acceptable' 12% more schools students attend 'Good'' schools 22% more students attend 'Very good' and 'Outstanding' 8% less students schools attend 'Weak' schools Weak Acceptable Good Very good \ Outstanding Overall rating of schools Students told us... Parents told us... By keeping professional The school has moved forward and teachers, it makes the keeps moving forward with a great Parents told us... school a better place pace. I can clearly see the development I am satisfied and of my kids and their learning in a fine very happy with my progressive manner. I am happy that child's study my kids are studying in this school Changes between 2015 -2016 and 2016-2017 Schools improved their overall 10 performance Parents told us... 11,802 2,446 Need to reduce Students Emirati students number of students in a class so students have increased personal attention Schools declined in their overall 4 performance 7,099 8 Students Emirati students Schools overall performance in 2016-2017 by curriculum UK 1 11 27 9 10 Indian 4 11 10 3 2 US 3 12 13 1 MOE 7 4 The majority of students attending IB 8 11 Dubai private schools that have Iranian 5 1 adopted a French, IB, UK or Indian French 2 1 2 curriculum are in schools judged to be Others* 2 4 4 good or better overall. Weak Acceptable Good Very Good Outstanding curriculum, two schools offering a Pakistani curriculum, two SABIS, one German, one Russian, one Canadian, and one Japanese 10 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 11 New Schools inspected for the first time The visit usually involves: early part of their development, a team of KHDA staff visit the meeting with the principal and school. senior school leaders The purpose of the visit is to continue the professional dialogue reviewing the documentation between KHDA and the school regarding the implementation of that sets out the progress made academic plan. by the school a tour of the school understanding of the inspection process and how it can reach lesson observations guidance on how the school might prepare for a formal inspection. Overall performance of new schools 6 Good schools New schools inspected for the first time in 4 Acceptable schools 11 2016-2017 1 Weak schools In the good schools the key features of success were All have good leadership All have good or better All have very good The large majority have partnership with management, staffing, good or better provision parents facilities and resources for students with SEND The key areas for the new schools to work on are: self-evaluation: 64% schools judged to have less than good self-evaluation and school improvement planning. More Emirati students are attending good or better schools Dubai schools are a good place for community cohesion Key The UAE National Agenda - achieving the aspirations messages of the UAE Vision 2021 Students are making steady progress in the core subjects Leadership in Dubai private schools continues to improve 12 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 13 More Emirati students are attending good or better schools More Emirati students are attending good or better schools Percentage of Emirati students in 54% The percentage of Emirati the years 46% students attending good or 37% 39% better schools has doubled 34% since 2008-2009 26% 2008-2009 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 Emirati students in Dubai private schools by curriculum US UK MOE IB Others 63% (20,197) 21% (6,911) 7% (2,141) 5% (1,717) 4% (1,150) 14 DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) DSIB School Inspection - Key Messages (2016 2017) 15 TIMSS - trend for Emirati students in Dubai private schools from 2011 to 2015 In 2015, Emirati students in Grade 4 2011 2015 performed better in mathematics than in 2011. International average (500) They scored 49 points above their previous 459 462 454 458 score in 2011. In Grade 4 science, they 410 425 419 392 performed significantly better with 62 points higher than their previous score in 2011. In 2015, Emirati students in Grade 8, performed better in mathematics. They scored 33 points above their previous score in 2011. In Grade 8 science, they performed significantly better with 43 points higher than their previous score in 2011.