10. Raha International School
Type of school: Private, for-profit
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Age of children: All through
School size: 1836
Location: Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi
Raha international School is a Taaleem flagship school – and it shows.
The school’s Principal, Iain Colledge, wants to take the school to beyond Outstanding status as the best school in the Emirates and certainly everything is in place to drive an already Outstanding school further. This is a school that shines for so many reasons.
Special Educational Needs (SEN) care is fabulous – and the school is genuinely inclusive. Particular praise goes to exceptional English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision, which is offered at no additional cost except in the rare circumstances a child needs a dedicated Inclusion Assistant.
For us, however, it is the whole child focus – perhaps one borne of the school’s commitment to the International Baccalaureate which demands so much from children. This is not just a school focused on academics (an obvious temptation given the demands) – Raha International delivers across the board – and its Performing Arts provision deserves special praise, coming very highly rated in our annual review of the best schools in the Emirates for Dance, Music and Drama.
The approach is very much to explore all the ways each child can meet his or her individual gifts as a way to excel in the IB – there is a structural understanding here that the IB works best when children can cross fertilise ideas between and beyond subjects. The result is exceptionally happy, rounded children.
A genuinely fabulous school – with all the caveats that the International Baccalaureate Diploma is not for all children. We understand that Raha is seriously exploring introduction of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme – which we, in the round, rate more highly than the Diploma. Decisions are awaiting their notification that this has been approved by ADEC. We think this would be game changer – and might just achieve the beyond outstanding provision the school aspires to. Raha International School reaches for the stars – and plays in them too.
Raha International School Examination results
2017
International Baccalaureate
Pass rate: 93%
Average total points achieved: 32.5 (against a global average of 29.95 points)
34% of students achieved 35 or more.
Ratings
Independent feedback: *****
Care of children: *****
Leadership and Vision: *****
Whole and Individual child provision: *****
Facilities (relative to fees): *****
Parental engagement and community: *****
Happiness: *****
‘Bangs for the buck’: *****
KHDA/ADEC rating: Outstanding
SchoolsCompared.com full review: Here
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