Four Indian schools improve ranking in latest KHDA report

Around 6,000 pupils are currently studying at the four schools

Gems New Millenium School has improved its rating in the latest KHDA report. Pawan Singh / The National

Four Indian curriculum schools in Dubai have improved their ratings in the latest inspection report by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the emirate's school regulator.

Gems New Millenium School in Al Khail, JSS International School, JSS Private School, and Ambassador School have all improved their ranking from ‘good’ to ‘very good’.

Gems New Millennium School Al Khail boosted its ranking by focusing on innovation and technology, and on pupils' personal development.

JSS International Private School and JSS International School showed improved leadership which impacted the pupil’s lives.

Eleven schools were awarded a ‘good’ rating schools in the report compared to 15 the year before. Primus Private School, The Indian Academy, Gems Our Own Indian School, Bilva Indian School, Springdales School, The Indian High School, Gems Heritage Indian School and Amled School are some of the schools that have maintained a good rating.

“We are delighted that the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) has validated us as a ‘very good’ school,” Fatima Martin, principal at GEMS New Millennium School Al Khail said.

"In 2015, in our very first DSIB inspections, we were rated as a ‘good’ school but due to our steady year-on-year improvement, we have passed this milestone in our school’s development.

She attributed the improvement in the ranking to a “concerted effort of all staff members of the school."

JSS International School Dubai with 2,104 pupils is marking a milestone anniversary - 10 years in education and the improvement in the ranking from ‘good’ to ‘very good’ making for a double-celebration, said Lata Nakra, the school's principal.

Ms Nakra said the school worked hard to meet the KHDA's expectations and focused on improving the primary section.

"Primary has a large cohort of pupils and that is where we put in a lot of our effort.”

“In the primary section, we worked on improving the learning environment and supported the teachers with professional development and peer-teaching opportunities.

"The focus was on helping kindergarten children become independent learners and decision makers.

"The teachers have emerged stronger and more confident and we were able to enforce effective ways to improve learning in the primary section which helped us improve our ratings.

The school also places a strong focus on innovation.

Ms Nakra said the new rating "has given the right momentum to improve the school further.”

Ambassador School, an inclusive school, has also improved its ratings this year.

The school has 63 pupils with special needs and it “has a personalised tailor-made programme for each one of them,” said Sheela Menon, principal of the school.

The school also runs a programme for gifted pupils to ensure they reach their potential.

"Being ranked ‘very good’ gives us the confidence that we meet the expectations of the experts in the country," she said.

"This motivates us, the parents as well as the pupils. We feel good about it."

Last year, only one Indian curriculum school, Gems Modern Academy, was rated outstanding in the emirate.

The KHDA released findings for schools on its Twitter account on Wednesday.

The full inspection report for Indian schools in Dubai is due to be published this week.