United Arab Emirates

School Inspection Framework

4. Curriculum
4.1 Curriculum design and implementation
Elements
4.1.1 Rationale, balance and compliance
4.1.2 Continuity and progression
4.1.3 Curricular choices
4.1.4 Cross-curricular links
4.1.5 Review and development

Brief descriptors

Outstanding Very Good Good Acceptable Weak Very Weak

4.1.1 Rationale, balance and compliance
The curriculum has a very The curriculum has a clear The curriculum has a clear The curriculum is reasonably The curriculum rationale Many aspects of the
clear rationale aligned rationale aligned to the school, rationale. It is broad, balanced broad and balanced, is is unclear. The learning curriculum are weak. It
to the school, Emirate Emirate and national visions. and age-appropriate, and relevant and develops programme is mainly dictated is narrow in scope and
and national visions. It is It is relevant and promotes is relevant and effective in knowledge and skills, by textbooks. It is neither neglects the development
relevant, comprehensive, innovation and challenge. It developing knowledge, skills although the focus is more on broad nor balanced and of skills. It does not meet
and promotes innovation is effective in developing a and understanding. It closely knowledge. It mainly follows neglects the development the needs of the majority of
and challenge. It is highly balance of knowledge, skills follows the requirements the requirements of the of learning skills. It does not students. It does not meet
effective in developing a and understanding. It fulfils of the school’s authorised school’s authorised / licensed fulfil key requirements of the the requirements of the
balance of knowledge, skills all the requirements of the / licensed curriculum and curriculum and the national school’s authorised / licensed school’s authorised / licensed
and understanding. It fulfils school’s authorised / licensed the national statutory statutory requirements. curriculum and / or national curriculum and/or national
all the requirements of the curriculum and the national requirements. statutory requirements. statutory requirements.
school’s authorised / licensed statutory requirements.
curriculum and the national
statutory requirements.

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 United Arab Emirates
School Inspection Framework

4.1.2 Continuity and progression

The curriculum is very well The curriculum is effectively The curriculum is planned The curriculum is planned and The curriculum has significant The curriculum is disorganised
planned to ensure structured planned to ensure progression so that learning builds there is adequate progression gaps in content and there and key subjects, learning
progression in all subjects. in all subjects. It meets the well on students’ previous in most key subjects but this is discontinuity within some skills and other important
It meets the needs of all needs of almost all students. achievements, in all key may vary across subjects subjects. It meets the needs aspects are not covered in
students. Continuity of Continuity of learning is subjects. It meets the needs and age groups. It meets of only a majority of students. sufficient depth or these lack
learning is seamless and smooth and students are very of most students. Students the needs of a large majority Students are inadequately continuity. It meets the needs
students are fully prepared well prepared for the next are well prepared for the next of students. Students are prepared for the next phase of of only a minority of students.
for the next phase of phase of education, within phase of education, within adequately prepared for the education, within school and Students are unprepared for
education, within school and school and beyond. school and beyond. next phase of education, beyond. the next phase of education,
beyond. within school and beyond. within school and beyond.
4.1.3 Curricular choices
The excellent range of The wide range of curricular The range of curricular The curricular options* provide The curricular options* There are very limited
curricular options* provides options* provides older options* provides older older students with some are narrow and overly curricular options* and little
older students with extensive students with very good students with ample choices choices that develop their prescriptive. They provide variety. Older students regard
choices and opportunities choices and opportunities that develop their talents, interests and aspirations. older students with limited much of the curriculum as
to benefit from learning to benefit from learning interests and aspirations. choices. irrelevant and uninteresting.
experiences that nurture experiences that encourage
their talents, interests and their talents, interests and
aspirations. aspirations.
4.1.4 Cross-curricular links
Cross-curricular links are Cross-curricular links are Cross-curricular links are Some cross-curricular links There are no planned cross- There are no meaningful cross-
meaningful and planned meaningful and planned meaningful and planned. They are planned but they do not curricular links. Students’ curricular links.
purposefully and innovatively. carefully. They are managed are managed well and assist fully facilitate students’ transfer transfer of learning between
They are managed well well and enhance students’ students’ transfer of learning of learning between different different subject areas rarely
and significantly enhance transfer of learning between between different subjects. subjects. happens.
students’ transfer of learning different subjects.
between different subjects.
4.1.5 Review and development
The school conducts regular The school conducts regular The school conducts regular The school conducts periodic The school’s review of its The school conducts little
and rigorous reviews of its reviews of its curriculum reviews and develops its reviews and develops its curriculum is insufficiently or no systematic review of
curriculum in relation to in relation to students’ curriculum to ensure good curriculum to ensure adequate focused on the academic and its curriculum. Provision fails
students’ achievements, achievements, aspirations, provision in almost all subjects provision in most subjects and personal development needs to meet the academic and
aspirations, and Emirate and Emirate and national and to meet the academic to meet the academic and of students in all subjects. personal development needs
and national priorities. The priorities. The curriculum is and personal development personal development needs of students.
curriculum is continuously systematically developed to needs of most students. of most students.
developed to ensure ensure very good provision
excellent provision in all in all subjects and to meet
subjects and to meet, in full, the academic and personal
the academic and personal development needs of almost
development needs of all all students.
students.

* as per the authorised and licensed curriculum standards

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