Deira International School

Deira International School (DIS) forms a part of the Al-Futtaim Group and is a British Curriculum School in Dubai Festival City.

We offer a world-class international education at one of the region’s most outstanding campuses with more than 1,700 students at the school representing over 80 nationalities. At DIS, we value the diversity of cultures; we are proud of our multi-cultural environment and warm family atmosphere that supports the personal and social development of every child. DIS is a happy and exciting place to learn and work. We believe in placing the students at the centre of their own education and that learning is a life-long experience.

Our effective partnership with parents contributes to the development of students’ learning and we pride ourselves in our regular communication with parents through various learning platforms.

We follow an English National Curriculum model leading to the Cambridge Board IGCSE examinations in Year 11 and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) in Year 12-13. Our external examination results are outstanding and notably above the world averages. Our graduates attend some of the best universities in the world.

DIS is fully accredited by the COBIS, British Schools Overseas (BSO) and International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). Our school is also a member of the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) organisation and the Middle East IB Association (MEIBA).

The After-School Activities Programme helps children to build friendships with others who share the same interests. Furthermore, these activities can help them build character and learn important life skills, such as teamwork, commitment to tasks, conflict resolution, prepare for a successful career and improve overall performance.

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages is that, depending on the type of after-school activity, they can foster creativity – an important factor in a child’s education. For many students, recreational activities play a significant role in developing worthwhile hobbies and later on, potential career options.

The Library aims to provide a modern multimedia resource centre and a welcoming, inclusive learning environment which is central to the school, actively supporting teaching and learning within the school, recognising and valuing each individual as a lifelong learner, supporting the development of independent learning skills and fostering a love and enjoyment of reading in all its forms. We are committed to equality of access and aim to offer opportunities for all students to take responsibility for their own learning and recreation, effectively and with enjoyment.

Summary of KHDA Inspection

The overall quality of education provided by the school is VERY GOOD. The section below summarises the inspection findings for each of the six performance indicators described in the framework.

• Student’s attainment and progress are mostly very good or outstanding. They are not as strong in Islamic education and Arabic, especially in the secondary and post-16 phases, where progress in Arabic is not better than acceptable. Almost all students are very keen to learn and work independently without constant teacher intervention.
• Students’ personal and social development continue to be a strength of the school. Students’ attitudes to learning and their behaviour in and out of lessons are outstanding. Their understanding of Islamic values and social responsibilities towards others and the environment are consistently excellent.
• Teaching is often very good and in a minority of lessons outstanding. Almost all teachers have very good knowledge of their subjects. In all phases and most subjects teachers use a range of teaching strategies to engage students in learning. This is less consistent in Arabic lessons particularly in the secondary phase. Systems of assessment are outstanding.
• The curriculum is designed to support progression in learning as students move through the school from Foundation Stage (FS) to Year 13. Careful consideration is given to adapting the curriculum to broaden students’ knowledge and understanding of the UAE and to be successful in international tests.
• Security, health and child protection is given high priority and understood by everyone in the school. Throughout the school, staff show high levels of care and concern for their students. In the secondary and post-16 phases students are provided with excellent support in making choices for their future lives.
• The experienced leadership team knows the school very well. Leaders are aspirational and continue to make improvements. Systems to evaluate the schools work are very good but the school use of the analysis of data to identify weaknesses requires further development. The work of the governing board and the engagement of parents make an outstanding contribution to school effectiveness. The management, staffing, and resources are of a high standard.

School’s strengths

• Consistently outstanding progress in the FS in English, mathematics and science.
• Outstanding provision for health, safety, care and support of students, which results in their outstanding personal and social development.
• The outstanding vision of the governing board delivered through excellent systems of assessment and day-to-day management, high quality facilities and resources and the full confidence and engagement of parents.