Russian International School Dubai

Summary of KHDA Inspection

Russian International School was inspected by DSIB from 5 to 8 December 2016 . The overall quality of education provided by the school is 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 acceptable in Islamic education and Arabic as an additional language, apart from middle and secondary where progress is good. Attainment and progress in Russian language is a strength, ranging from good to outstanding. Overall, attainment and progress in English, mathematics and science remain consistently good, although achievement in primary mathematics is very good, as is progress beyond the Kindergarten. Students' learning skills are at least good except in secondary where they are very good.
• Student's very good personal responsibility in middle and secondary are matched by very good community and environmental awareness in secondary. All other aspects of personal development remain positive with older students acting as good role models for younger students. Well-developed environmental understanding is displayed by students in their activities with outdoor cultivation and enterprise.
• Teaching and assessment remain good across the school apart from teaching in secondary. Teachers continue to develop ways in which they assess students' performance and in measuring it against national and international standards. Very good teaching in secondary is complemented by students' well-developed learning skills.
• The quality of curriculum design and adaptation remains good across the school. Notwithstanding the decrease in staffing, the school has maintained and extended its broad and balanced curriculum. This continues to prepare most students well for the next stage of their education, training or employment.
• Provision for health and safety and students' care and support remain good. Access to the school is well-supervised. Transport arrangements work well and there are effective arrangements to monitor students' well-being. Advice and guidance for students is timely and well-considered.
• Senior leaders provide very clear direction to staff to guide the school's continuing improvement. Students, parents and staff share the school's vision in preparing its diverse, but cohesive student body for life beyond school. Governors support the school well. As last year, governors remain well-placed to develop their role in monitoring more closely the work of the school. Some self-evaluation judgements still remain too generous.

School’s strengths

• Children's and students' good to outstanding attainment and progress in Russian language, good to very good attainment in mathematics, across all phases of the school, and their good attainment, and or progress in the majority of other key subjects; and students' very good learning skills in secondary.
• Student's good and very good personal development across the school especially in the secondary, including their good understanding of Islamic values and Emirati culture in all phases of the school.
• Very good teaching for effective learning in the secondary phase which complements student's very good learning skills.
• Senior leadership team's consistent focus on improving outcomes for learners in this school's multinational and inclusive community.