Universal American School: Review

In January 2022, Mr. Kevin Loft was appointed as Principal following a number of leadership changes in recent years. A New Zealander with experience in the UK, Mr. Loft was previously with GEMS Education as Principal of one of the UK/IB curriculum schools  and one of its two Outstanding rated UK curriculum Primary schools in Dubai.  

About 70 nationalities are represented within the student body of 1,250, served by 103 full time teachers, 42 teaching assistants and four counsellors. The largest proportion of student nationalities is Arabic, whilst teachers are mainly from the USA.  With a teacher:student ratio of 1:12, students are assured of a good deal of individual attention. 

Some 90 students (approximately 7.5%) are Emirati and are very significant 167 students (around 13%) have been identified as Students of Determination with additional learning requirements.

What about the curriculum?

Universal American School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). It is also accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to teach its Primary Years and Diploma programmes. 

UAS offers a mix of curricula in KG and Elementary School sections (using the Creative Curriculum as the resource for teaching the IB Primary Years Programme). The Creative Curriculum is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum aligned to the philosophy of the IB PYP, which features exploration and discovery as a way of learning, enabling children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical-thinking skills. Children receive specialist classes in Music, PE, and Art from Pre-KG, with Arabic classes starting in KG1.

Students follow the US AERO /NGSS Common Core curriculum in Middle and Junior High school sections. From Grades 7 to 10, UAS students follow the US AERO/NGSS Common Core curriculum. The AERO standards based curriculum teaches students to think critically with an emphasis on inquiry-driven instructional strategies.  Elective Classes allow students to explore languages and the arts, including Spanish, French, and Arabic, and visual arts, theatre, band and choir programmes, and Film and Media studies.

The exposure to AERO standards in Middle and Lower High school sections is designed to help students make informed choices as learners in their pathway selection in Grades 11 and 12.  During their 10th grade year, students, teachers, counselors, and parents work together closely to select an appropriate, personalised graduation pathway.

In Senior High School students have two curriculum pathways in Grades 11 and 12 - either the AERO/AP programme 'University Pathway' or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students also participate in PSAT, SAT I and II examinations.

In line with common practice in US curriculum school, UAS offers a 'Week Without Walls' programme to all Middle School students on an annual basis, which provides learning experiences for students to extend their curricular knowledge beyond the classroom. 

Each grade is offered an opportunity to participate in either an overseas (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia and Tanzania are among the countries included) or UAE-based activity week. This is usually service-based and is an opportunity for students to take part in the type of experience required for the CAS (Community, Activity and Service) element of the IB Diploma programme. CAS activities at UAS include Arabic Newspaper, IB art immersion, Book Club,  SAT Prep, Peer Tutoring, Sailing, Girl Guides, Yearbook, Golf, Tennis, Cheerleading, Yoga, Fitness Boot camp, and Chess Club.

UAS offers a wide range of extracurricular After School Activities in the Elementary School. In Middle and High School, activities are based on-campus and include Student government/Voice/Council, Environmental club, Yearbook and Media, Girls Talk, Model United Nations (MUN), Community, Activity and Service, and National Honor Society.

As would be expected an American school, UAS offers a range of athletics and other sports activities and teams. UAS is a member of the Emirates Athletic Conference (EAC) as well as the Near East Schools Activities Conference (NESAC). Junior Scorpions (Grades 4-6) focus their training efforts on developing the skills of soccer, track and field, and basketball.

The emphasis at the the Middle School level through the Middle School Scorpions is on cultivating student interest, skill development, and proper technique of the particular sport more so than winning.  Students are encouraged subsequently to participate at Junior Varsity and Varsity level.

What about support for students of Determination and those with Gifts and Talents?

At the time of the 2024 inspection, UAS had a significant number of 167 students identified with additional needs.  Fortunately, this area is one of the strengths of the school and is rated Very Good by the KHDA's inspectors.

Inspectors commented in the most recent report that "The senior leadership and inclusion team effectively promotes an inclusive ethos in the school, welcoming students of all abilities. The school's inclusion improvement plan provides robust strategic guidance which enables high quality provision and practice. 

The school employs a range of assessments and procedures to identify the differing needs of students of determination and those who are gifted and talented. The quality of the individual education plans (IEPs) has improved since the previous inspection. IEPs now focus on students’ needs and measurable goals. 

Partnerships with parents are very positive. Parents appreciate the quality of advice and support that their children receive. They assist in monitoring their children’s progress and in contributing to their children's IEPs. The inclusion team routinely provides reports and feedback and gives guidance on ways that parents might support their children further."

What about academic achievement?

Historically, UAS has been reluctant to share details of its students' academic achievements which have largely been through participation in the rigorous IB Diploma Programme.  We at WhichSchoolAdvisor.com are delighted that the school has shared its results in detail since 2019.  Results are not, and cannot be the be-all and end-all of a school's successful all-round education of its students, but parents are inevitably keen to understand all aspects of a school's performance.

Students participate in ongoing progress and benchmark tests including MAP testing,  CAT4 and NGRT.

For students who do not take the IB Diploma Programme, a range of AERO Standard subject options are available - the 'University Pathway' - each of which students study for one year. They may specialise in AP courses, and between the two sets of options, are able to accrue sufficient credits to receive a US High School Diploma.

In July 2024, UAS again shared its IB Diploma results:

With an average points score of 34, a relatively small cohort of 22 students took the full IBDP examinations and achieved an 86.4% pass rate. 90% of entries were awarded 30+ points, whilst 40% achieved 35+ points (meeting the requirements of many high quality universities including the UK's Russell Group) and 15% achieved 40+ points.  The highest score was an impressive 42 out of 45 points.

You may find a 2024 round up of UAE wide IB Diploma results here.

In 2023, with the expectation of a reduction in top point scores and pass rates, UAS's cohort of 24 students achieved a 95% pass rate with an average score of 34 points - well above the global and UAE average.  The top score for an individual student was 40 points.  79% of results were awarded 30+ points, whilst 38% achieved 35+ points and 8% of entries were awarded 40 points or more.

You will find a round up of 2023's UAE IB results here.

In 2022, when UAS students were able to sit their IB examinations again, following two years of disruption as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, a small cohort of 33 students achieved an average point score of 35 points with a 97% pass rate. The highest point score by an individual student was 44, with 33% of the cohort achieving 30 points or more, 23% achieving 35 points or more, and one student scoring above 40 points. 

A round up of UAE IBDP results can be found here.

In 2020 and 2021, students did not take final examinations for the IB Diploma due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Awards were based on Centre Assessed Grades (teachers' predictions), together with the outcome of assessments submitted to, and marked by, IB examiners.

In 2021, 41 students were registered for the Diploma achieving a pass rate of 100%. Five students (12%) broke school records, attaining 40+ points. The overall average was 34 points with 44% of students achieving 35+ points and 90% of this year's graduates obtained 30+ points.

In 2020, a cohort of 36 students achieved an overall point score of 32 points and a 100% pass rate.  31% of students achieved 35+ points, and 61% achieved 30+ points. 3% achieved 40+ points.

WhichSchoolAdvisor.com believes that there is general evidence of grade inflation, particularly in the 2021 results - the global IB average score was raised from 31.34 in 2020 to 32.99 points in 2021, a further significant leap from the figure of 29.62 in 2019, when students last took the IB exams. This appears to be more marked in the UAE, where the average has grown from 32.26 in 2019, and in 2020 when it was 34.41, to 35.89 in 2021. 

In 2019, UAS had a cohort of 56 students who sat the IBDP and achieved an 88% pass rate, with an average score of 30.43 points, well above the global score of 29.62. This year’s cohort improved the average score for the school by 1.4 points, bringing the school above the world average. The top student achieved a remarkable 44 points, setting a new school record. The school saw an 8% increase in the percentage of students who achieved above 35 points. 

What about Facilities?

Facilities at UAS are excellent. The school stands on a very large plot of 70,000 sqm at the heart of Dubai Festival City with spacious outdoor and indoor space. The building was designed by U.S. based architects THA, and includes an indoor Multi-sport gymnasium, Olympic size track and soccer field, swimming pool, and a Natural grass football pitch as well as extensive indoor and outdoor covered play areas.

Inside, facilities include spacious classrooms with natural light and extensive IT facilities, vocal and instrumental music rooms, language specialist rooms, two large fully equipped art studios, computer and science laboratories, separate elementary and secondary libraries and a Multi-purpose hall.

The latest inspection report (2023-24) notes that: 

"The premises and specialist facilities provide an outstanding learning environment and contribute positively to both the wellbeing of staff and students. Open spaces and external areas are student friendly and demonstrate the school's commitment to the environment and sustainability.   Governors have provided excellent resources, modern facilities, new laboratories and extensive science, technology, arts, humanities, and sports facilities."

What the inspectors say

Ranked 'Good' by the KHDA for eight years running, UAS succeeded in the tenth year of KHDA inspections, in obtaining the second highest rating of Very Good in the 2017-18 round, repeating this rating in the 2018-19 inspection round.  This is a not inconsiderable achievement, given that the Inspection focus, by the admission of the KHDA, has grown more demanding every year.

With the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, inspections were placed on hold from March 2020 until September 2021. As a school already rated Very Good, UAS' post-pandemic inspection did not take place until February 2023 when the school retained its Very Good rating, and this was followed by the same rating in February 2024.

The school appears to have solidified its Very Good performance in the latest report, although it does note that there are some gaps in teaching, learning and student progress (notably between the interpretation of data and strategic planning for the improvement of literacy and outcomes for Emirati students). 

.In addition, the inspectors commented that "Self-evaluation processes require closer attention when measuring the impact of the school’s strategic planning. Parents have an excellent regard for the changes that have taken place in the school in recent times. They would like more influence at governance level." A fully representative parent council is yet to be re-established.

The achievement of students in Islamic Studies and Arabic has improved to Good in the post-16 section of the school, and the performance in Maths is strengthening.  Almost all measures for English, Maths and Science are now rated Very Good with the exception of Maths in the Middle school section which is rated Good.

The inspection team found the strengths of UAS to be:

• Students' exemplary behavior, deep respect for and modeling of Islamic values  

• The very good performance of students in English, mathematics and science, and improving outcomes in Islamic Education

• Very good teaching and learning in the Kindergarten (KG), and in the elementary and high schools

• The excellent commitment of parents to the school, their support and respect for students’ wellbeing and inclusion

• The outstanding facilities which promote a positive learning experience.

The DSIB Inspection team made the following recommendations for improvement:

• Prioritize the gaps in teaching, learning and students’ progress.

• Involve governors fully in the self-evaluation process.

•  Ensure that the outcomes of the school’s self-evaluation are based securely on the evidence generated by the school’s assessment processes.

• Ensure that the capacity and competence of leaders are measured, in terms of their impact on improving provision and students’ outcomes.

If you would like to read the full KHDA Inspection Report - and we strongly advise that you do so in order to understand the reasons behind the rating and the recommendations - you will find it here.

As part of a new initiative launched by the KHDA for the 2022-23 academic year, inspectors again evaluated the quality of wellbeing provision and outcomes during the 2023-24 inspection.  This was found to be at a very good level. 

The inspectors commented that:

• The strong wellbeing vision fosters a culture of care and respect, making everyone feel valued and supported. It also provides students with a safe, happy environment for furthering achievement. This very inclusive school emphasizes the importance of wellbeing through its policies and practices. A robust wellbeing framework guides the wellbeing improvement plan. Leaders collect a variety of wellbeing data throughout the year. They use regular surveys, the analysis of which informs effective decision making and steps to improve the wellbeing for members of staff, students and parents.
• Enthusiastic, proactive and caring staff identify and support students’ wellbeing and their individual physical and emotional needs. Leaders welcome feedback to influence wellbeing initiatives. Students actively plan and lead innovative wellbeing initiatives that are of benefit to the whole school community. Members of staff actively engage in professional training that helps them to identify and support the wellbeing vision. Leaders prioritize their wellbeing. Parents report that they would appreciate more opportunities to participate in wellbeing initiatives.
• Leaders plan and conduct well-researched curricular activities that focus on students’ wellbeing. The classroom atmosphere is supportive, and wellbeing activities are embedded. Teachers plan wellbeing themes into every lesson. Students use a range of strategies to regulate their own wellbeing. They know how to keep themselves safe online and recognize the importance of doing so. Their strong sense of belonging to the school community bolsters and advances their wellbeing.

In terms of areas for development, the inspectors recommended that UAS should:

• Provide more opportunities for parents to advise on and participate in wellbeing initiatives.
• Implement wellbeing themes more appropriately into lessons.

The Buzz

The WhichSchoolAdvisor.com Parent Survey has received over 100 responses. We were somewhat surprised to see that the overall rating for the school was 2.9/5 - a positivity rating of 58%. 

77% would whole-heartedly recommend UAS to other parents, but overall feedback is not as positive as we would have expected.   Interestingly, 38% of parents had, at some point, considered moving their child to another school, well above the UAE average of 25%
.
We wonder whether this apparent conflict is due to parents' relatively high level of concern about three factors. Parents' perception of the academic performance of the school (where only 60% were fully satisfied compared with a UAE average of 75%) and its communication and feedback (at 68% satisfaction) and disciplinary policy (61%) are not in line with the average satisfaction ratings for the UAE. 

Furthermore, whilst 37% of respondents believe that fees represent good value for money, 42% only partially agreed with this statement and a further 21% (almost double the UAE average, and one in five respondents) disagreed with this view.  Whilst fee levels are a perennial cause for grievance in many schools, they seem to be a particular issue among a substantial portion our Survey respondents. 

In fact, this result is indicative of the somewhat ambivalent feelings that most respondents seem to have towards the school. 

If you are a parent, teacher or student at UAS, please share your opinions and experiences with other potential members of your community and complete our survey here.

The DSIB inspection team noted, in the 2023-24 inspection report, that:

"Parents are very supportive and committed to the school’s vision of ensuring a high level of community partnership. They report that school leaders have ensured that they are welcome partners. The addition of a parents’ café is viewed as significant and endorses the school’s welcoming vision. "

Our View

UAS should be congratulated for the improvements that have clearly taken place in recent years.  The achievement and retention of the overall Very Good rating with Outstanding features, should not be underestimated.

There are still a number of schools, notably around the outskirts of Dubai, that are American in name only, and still have a long way to go to offer the quality of education that UAS delivers. This places UAS in the top tier of US curriculum schools in Dubai - and ahead of many more.

The strengthening of the US curriculum options at the Senior level should enable the school to deliver a still higher standard for graduates and a wider range of options in terms of the academic demands made upon them.

In addition, the decision by Al Futtaim Education Foundation to appoint the Principal of neighbouring and co-owned Deira International School, Simon O'Connor, as Director of Education, responsible for standards across both schools, suggests serious commitment to further improvement.

Simon O'Connor and Kevin Loft would have been colleagues at GEMS Education.  Mr. O'Connor was Principal and CEO at GEMS Jumeirah College for 7 years during which time the school was rated Outstanding throughout. Deira International School received its first KHDA Outstanding rating in the 2022-23 inspection round, and has retained this for 2023-24.  We have no doubt that their collaboration will support the continued improvement of both schools.

What about the fees?

KHDA approved Tuition Fees for Universal American School are top end, starting at AED 39,450 for  pre-KG and rising to AED 81,021 for Grades 9 to 12. 

UAS certainly is not the most expensive school in the UAE by any means, but certainly in the top tier.  There is also a AED 3,000 registration fee post acceptance.