Al Ain English Speaking School is one of the oldest schools in Al Ain, having been founded in 1978. It is a co-educational British curriculum school with over 1,600 students.

The story so far...

Al Ain English Speaking School (AAESS) is the oldest UK curriculum school in Al Ain, having been established in 1978 with the aim of supporting the families of expatriates working within the Al Ain area. For many years it seemed to lag behind Aldar Academies' popular Al Ain British Academy which has been rated Very Good by ADEK since 2016.

It seems, however, with a change of Principal, that the school has made substantial progress. Having received a Weak rating in 2015-16, each subsequent inspection has seen improvement, firstly to an Acceptable rating in 2017-18, a Good rating in 2019-20 (just prior to the halt to inspections being called as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic) and, in the first post-pandemic inspection, the achievement of a Very Good rating -equalling that of its rival.

In addition, in early 2022, Al Ain English Speaking School submitted itself to an inspection by a team from British Schools Overseas who are appointed by the British Government's Department of Education to assess schools based on the requirements of the government inspectors. AAESS was found to provide a Good quality of education.

The school now has just over 1,600 students of whom just over a quarter are Emirati students, representing the largest individual nationality at the school. The 90 teachers are predominantly from the UK and students are also supported by a further 30+ teaching assistants. 

The school is led by Principal, Mr. Andrew Thomas, who is a UK qualified Headteacher. Mr. Thomas worked for 17 years in one of the UK’s largest secondary academies in Devon, before joining AAESS.  He held many portfolios including Director of 6th Form, Head of Year 7 and Keys Stage 3 Manager.  Mr. Thomas trained as a PE teacher and undertook his Master’s degree with a leading professor in the UK, in ICT & Physical Education.

He is supported by Mrs. Helen McCauley as Primary Principal, Mr.Zaheer Abass as Secondary Principal, and a team of eight further Deputy and Associate Principals.

What about the curriculum?

Al Ain English Speaking School enrols students from the Foundation Years through to Year 13. It follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for its youngest students and the National Curriculum for England, offering  I/GCSEs and A Levels at Years 11 and 13 respectively. 

Compulsory I/GCSE subjects include English (First language or Second language ESL), Maths, and Science with at least one choice from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.  Options subjects include Art & Design, Business Studies, English Literature (first language students only), French, Geography, Computer Science, History, ICT, Sociology, Psychology, Physical Education (PE), Spanish, and Music.

At A Level, options include Art, Ministry Arabic and Islamic, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, Geography, History, English Language, Applied Information Communication Technology, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) French and Spanish, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology and Sociology.

AAESS also offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award in addition to a range of creative arts, physical education and co-curricular activities.

What about support for students of Determination?

Under two percent of student attending AAESS have additional learning needs according to the recent ADEK inspection report. The school's Learning Support team works with students and parents to provide personalised pathways for their development.  The school also supports students for whom English is an Additional Language.

What about academic achievement?

Unfortunately, AAES does not appear to publish its exam results information - something that we encourage all schools to do.  Whilst exam results are not and should not be the sole focus of education, they are a factor for parents and students in making school choices.

What about the facilities?

Facilities at the school have been recently updated and renovated.  They include a 25 metre heated indoor swimming pool and trainer pool,  a football pitch, an indoor sports hall and training track, an outdoor play area, two ICT suites and a 500 seater school hall with staging, lighting and sound. 

What the inspectors say

Al Ain English Speaking School, having clearly struggled under the ADEK inspection process in the initial years after its launch, has made steady and continuous progress since 2015-16 (when it was rated Weak), and 2017-18 (when it achieved a Good rating), before making the next demanding step to Very Good in the 2021-22 inspection round.

For reasons that have not been explained (we assume to enable inspections to take place at all schools that had not been inspected in 2019 and 2020), the inspection team reviewed only four of the six key performance standards and issued abbreviated reports without commentary.

The majority of ratings for Student Achievement, at least in regard to progress for English, Maths and Science across the school, were rated Very Good. Results for attainment were not as strong, but in Maths across the school, and in post-16 English were also rated Very Good for attainment.  There is clearly more to be done in the context of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Teaching and Assessment had also shown improvement, whilst the Protection, Care, Guidance and Support of students across the school was also found to be Very Good.  Leadership and management of the school were exceptionally highly rated by the inspection team, with leadership and governance both deemed to be Outstanding.

If you would like to read the inspection report - and we strongly recommend that you do so in order to understand the reasons behind the ratings -you will find it here.

The Buzz

It is very evident from the ADEK inspection report that Al Ain English Speaking School is a fast improving school of whom the inspection team clearly have high expectations. 

Unfortunately, WhichSchoolAdvisor.com has had very limited feedback to our School Survey - with only just over 20 responses and a low approval rating of 1.8/5.  It seems that disaffected parents have made use of the survey to express their strongly dissatisfaction with the school - 68% of respondents do not believe that the school fees represent value for money and 60% would not recommend the school to others.

If you are a parent, teacher or senior student at Al Ain English Speaking School, help us to offer a representative view of the school to other potential members of your community and complete our Survey.

What about the fees?

Fees for Al Ain English Speaking School start at AED 21,920 for FS1 and go up to AED 44,740 for Year 13. They are paid in three installments at the beginning of each term. There is also a AED 1,000 registration fee which is non-refundable but can be deducted against school fees. 

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