KHDA 2022-23 Inspection Results Released

The KHDA has released 2022-23 inspection results for Dubai private schools ahead of the required school re-registration window. Results show that 25 schools have improved, five schools have received lowered ratings and six schools have been rated for the first time. 

In total, 199 Dubai private schools were inspected during the latest KHDA inspection cycle. Twenty schools have been rated Outstanding, 39 Very Good, 84 Good, 55 Acceptable and just one Weak.

No Dubai private schools have been rated Very Weak. 

Which Schools Have Improved?

Three schools have been rated Outstanding for the first time; Nord Anglia International School, Victory Heights Primary School and Deira International School. Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills has regained its Outstanding rating, after having been rated Very Good in the previous three inspection cycles. 

Matthew Farthing, Principal at Nord Anglia International School, told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com:

"At NAS Dubai we are delighted to be judged as a school that is 'outstanding' in Dubai and are particularly pleased for the way that our Arabic and Islamic departments have managed the continuing and steadily improving standards of effective teaching and learning.

This is the model for us all to follow, knowing that ‘outstanding’ is not a complete condition as there are no limits to what we can achieve."

Sasha Crabb, Principal of Victory Heights Primary, shared:

"Turning 10 this year has covered VHPS in a warmth of nostalgia. We are exceptionally proud of all the unconditional love and support poured into our school over the last decade to ensure that we can be the best that we can be for all our children.

We appreciate the courage of the choices that we have made that are our right for our community and are aligned with our values. 

A huge thank you to our colleagues across Dubai who have shared expertise and encouraged us to believe that we really can have 'Method in our Madness'.

Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills, returning to the list of Outstanding Dubai schools after three Very Good ratings, is the only IB continuum school in Dubai to be rated Outstanding currently. 

Hitesh Bhagat, Principal of DIA Emirates Hills, shared:

"This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, parents, and support staff. I am proud of my team for their commitment to providing the best possible education to our students.

Our outstanding inspection results demonstrate that our school is a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where students are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential. We are committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares our students for success in their future academic and professional endeavors. Success, as we define it, is the success of our students in achieving their personal goals. We are proud of ours."

Seven schools have been rated Very Good for the first time; Arcadia School, GEMS Our Own Indian School, The English College Dubai, Greenfield International School, North London Collegiate School, Lycee Francais Jean Mermoz and Credence High School.

Giles Pruett, Executive Principal at Arcadia School, told us:

"We are absolutely delighted with our DSIB evaluation of Very Good, particularly as this is only our second inspection, due to the hiatus of the global pandemic. It is a testament to all the hard work that has been put in by the teaching team and cadre of high quality leaders we have in post across the school. This is a great way to repay the families who have placed their faith in Arcadia to deliver a fantastic education."

Which Schools have been Downgraded?

Only three schools have received lowered ratings. Clarion School and Woodlem Park School have gone from Good to Acceptable, while GEMS Royal Dubai School has gone from Outstanding to Very Good. 

Which schools are now rated Outstanding?

There are now 20 schools rated Outstanding in Dubai.

They are:

• Deira International School (1 x Outstanding)
• Dubai British School, Emirates Hills (3x Outstanding)
• Dubai College (10x Outstanding)
• Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) (8x Outstanding)
• Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) (2x Outstanding)
• Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (3x Outstanding, broken up with two Very Good ratings)
• GEMS Dubai American Academy  (9x Outstanding)
• GEMS Jumeirah Primary School (10x Outstanding)
• GEMS Modern Academy (9x Outstanding)
• GEMS Wellington International School (11x Outstanding)
• Horizon English School (2x Outstanding)
• Jumeirah College (10x Outstanding)
• Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) (10x Outstanding)
• Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) Arabian Ranches (2x Outstanding)
• Kings School Al Barsha (2x Outstanding)
• Kings School Dubai (12x Outstanding)
• Lycee Francais International Georges Pompidou (6x Outstanding)
• Nord Anglia International School (1x Outstanding)
• Repton School (6x Outstanding)
• Victory Heights Primary School (1x)

First-Time Inspections...

Six schools were inspected for the first time; Pearl Wisdom School (Acceptable), Vernus International School (Acceptable), Chinese School Dubai (Good), Bright Learners School (Acceptable), The School of Research Science (US) (Acceptable) and Al Ghaf Private School (Weak). 

Please note that whilst it is theoretically possible to get higher than Good on a first inspection, no school (aside when inspections were first launched) has done so. Good, statistically at least, appears the highest a school can be rated on its first outing. In part this may simply be because the criteria for Very Good or Outstanding requires a body of evidence and a consistency that is not possible in a first rating.

What do the reports really mean, though?

If you're asking this question in order to understand how the reports can help you choose the right school for your child, you are on the right track to really getting the most out of the inspections. 

To get a Very Good and especially Outstanding rating means doing well across the KHDA criteria - which may include criteria that you as a parent may not be interested in.

Many schools for example may be Outstanding across the board - except in Arabic and Islamic Studies provisions, and their overall rating would be marked down as a result of this.  

This article is very good for an understanding of how to read and use inspection reports.

Why else do ratings matter?

Ratings are tied to fee increases. If your school has maintained its rating, it can raise its fees in 2023/4 by 3%. 

If your school improved its rating, it can raise its fees by more than that. 

Only six schools had a ratings decrease and will be prohibited from raising their fees.

Click here for the full story on Dubai school fees for the next financial year.

The big picture

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director General of KHDA said:

“Private schools in Dubai are known for their commitment to quality and continuous improvement. This year’s results show that thousands more students have access to better quality teaching and learning, a sign of the dedication and expertise of teachers and school leaders. We are grateful to the whole education community for supporting our schools to be among the best in the world.”

Data in detail

Please note, the following table excludes the limited set of reports done in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years.

The KHDA itself excluded these from the tables published with the latest set of data. It is not clear why - however please note NLCS Dubai and Jean Mermoz both received a Good rating in this period - they did not start at a Very Good rating which would have been a first.