Ajman Academy, Ajman – IB School Special Review for IB Results Day 2023

“The success of the education sector that we are witnessing in the United Arab Emirates is possible through the enduring support and guidance of our nation’s leadership who continuously strive for excellence in education and place the highest institutional principles to ensure the UAE remains a destination for world-class education.

Under the inspiring leadership of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman and Member of the UAE Supreme Council, Ajman has aligned itself with UAE’s vision to build a generation of leaders and pioneers who aspire excellence, research, and innovation; this has allowed the Emirates to transform to an educational hub.

The progressive high-standards set and regulated by the Ministry of Education is reflected by the high calibre graduates produced by our institutions each year. This is in-line with the founding philosophy of READ from inception.

READ projects are devoted to academic excellence at all levels of education and to developing leaders across disciplines who make a positive contribution to their community, and to providing a transformative educational experience for youth where creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and innovation can be fostered.”

H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. Chairman. R Education and Academic Development (READ).

“When Mummy and Daddy ask if I want to change schools, I say I don’t want to, because everybody is kind and the teachers teach us the right sounds – and I then teach them to my Mummy and Daddy.”

Grade 1 Ajman Academy Student speaking with SchoolsCompared. June 2023.

“Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’

 

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the outstanding education and nurturing environment you provide at Ajman Academy for my children. The dedication and commitment of the school staff in shaping their lives is truly appreciated.

Thank you for creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive space where my children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our family is grateful for the opportunities you offer and the profound impact you have on their growth and development.”

Parent. Ajman Academy. June 2023.

Outstanding features and what makes this school different?

• Founding and backing of the Ajman Royal Family
• Rare and innovative founding of Early and Middle Years education of students in the International Baccalaureate
• The only International Baccalaureate World School accredited to offer the Primary Years Programme and Middle Year Programme in Ajman
• Powerful graduating qualification pathway in “gold standard” British A Levels
• Proven British leadership
• Pioneering curriculum focus in AI, coding and robotics
• Significant and expensive investment in British teachers which make up around 50% of faculty
• Outstanding facility provision
• Small school dynamics
• New Pearson Modular IGCSEs, BTEC and Creative Arts pathways coming on stream 2023 – 202
• Technology curriculum
• Absolutely beautiful, colour-filled, exceptionally high quality, happy and inspirational architecture – you cannot but be wowed
• Significant investment in Scholarships

Back Story

Established in 2012, and founded by the Ajman royal family, Ajman Academy delivers a blended UK-IB curriculum. The all-through education is delivered through the International Baccalaureate Primary Year Programme and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme from Pre-KG to Grade 8, followed by a pure British Secondary education through IGCSE to “gold standard” A Level from Grade 9 to Grade 12, for children between the age of 3 years and 18 years.

The school is coeducational to Grade 5. Secondary education is delivered in a dedicated faculty built in 2017, and is fully single-sex with mirrored provision for boys and girls  – with significant knock on benefits in much smaller class sizes than equivalent co-educational schools. The school is rated Good with Very Good Feature by the official government regulator, the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is worth noting that the costs of delivering this model of education, one that effectively doubles everything to meet the independent needs of girls and boys, particularly at this quality of delivery, are exceptionally high.

“All our facilities are exactly mirrored for girls and boys, and later in the educational journeys, young men and young women. The investment in both sexes is equally outstanding.”

Patrick Affley. Director. Ajman Academy. SchoolsCompared Visit. June 2023.

The school is resolutely academically inclusive.

(Editor’s note: the school was originally known as Ajman International Academy.)

Location

Although Ajman Academy is based in Ajman, the school has proven very accessible to parents from across its neighbouring communities. Located just off the Emirates Road on the E311, Ajman Academy is accessible for many prospective parents in northern residential areas of Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. Commuting times work strongly to the benefit of parents because commuting traffic flows tend to work in reverse.

Current travel times include:

• Arabian Ranches: 35 minutes;
• Dubai Silicon Oasis: 25 minutes;
• Falcon City: 30 minutes
• Mirdif: 15 minutes; and, further afield,
• Ras Al Khaimah: 35 minutes

Leadership

 

“It is with great pride that I have been appointed as Director at Ajman Academy. The school has a fantastic staff, wonderful facilities – and truly amazing children.

I believe that AJAC can be a beacon school, a leading school, in the UAE in a number of areas.

The school has a fantastic community feel and very supportive parents that work with the school to ensure that their children have the best education.

Ajman Academy is moving into its 12^th years of operation and is building a very strong reputation in Ajman, and beyond.”

Patrick Affley. Director. Ajman Academy. SchoolsCompared Visit 2023.

Ajman Academy has invested significantly in leadership since launch. Ajman’s founding Head/Director, Anthony Cashin, was in post for five years and went on to lead GEMS Metropole and the Tier 1 Kent College in Dubai, before returning to Australia. Later,  the school was led by UK conviction educationalist Fiyas Ahmed who went on to take up the post of Educational Consultant for HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan at Amman Baccalaureate School in Jordan.

New Director and Head of School Patrick Aflley (April 2023) brings to Ajman Academy experience of founding Dovecote Green in Dubai, part of the Foremarke family of school which includes Repton School Dubai. Under Mr Affley the school evolved to become Dove Green, a high performing Tier 1 slipstream feeder to top British schools in the emirate. In total, Mr Affley brings more than 25 years of experience in British education to Ajman Academy from schools in both the United Kingdom and UAE.

Mr Affley graduated from the University of Wales in 1997 with a BEd. ( Hons) Education. He holds the NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) and is completing the NPQEL ( National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership).

When asked what is the best thing about Ajman Academy, Mr Affley told us:

“The best thing about Ajman Academy is the children and the teachers. Ajman Academy has a very special feeling as you walk around the school. The learning environment and ethos is a happy one, with wellbeing a central focus of the school.”

Feedback to SchoolsCompared.com from parents, teachers and students for Mr Affley is outstanding, with responses to Which Media stretching back almost a decade. Exceptionally transparent, compassionate and invested in his school, Mr Affley has a reputation for “staying the distance” and sees accepting a role to lead a school as something to not be taken lightly. He described his decision to lead Ajman Academy as one with his mind firmly set on making this  his “forever school”, one that he intends to take to outstanding school status over his tenure.

Child happiness is a key driver for Mr Affley:

“Ajman Academy is a school built on very positive relationships and interactions – our parents, children and teachers often describe it as a ‘Home away from Home.’

The happiness and well-being of all at Ajman Academy is my primary concern. I firmly believe that both the happiness and wellbeing of each and every child is a corner stone of any school community. Our hugely talented teaching community at Ajman Academy ensure a happy workplace and a wonderful learning environment for the children – and the importance of this is a central pillar of school life.

The children at Ajman Academy are not just a number. Every child is treated with respect and kindness. We collectively as a community ensure that children are happy in the school – and, as importantly, are happy learners.”

Patrick Affley. Director. Ajman Academy. SchoolsCompared Visit 2023.

Design and Architecture

The school was designed by one of the world’s leading architectural practices, London-based Penoyre & Prasad (today part of Perkins&Will) in 2012. The circa US$15M modern, state-of-the-art purpose built school, has grown steadily, from its founding with just 130 students, to its current circa 900-strong role (June 2023). Situated on a landmark 15 acre site and the largest school in Ajman, Ajman Academy offers students an extraordinarily spacious learning environment given the proportionately small role.

 

The school is designed into four areas: Nursery; Primary, Middle/Secondary and Sixth Form. The campus is arranged around a series of courtyards and outdoor play areas, linked by covered walkways. The total built- up area of 19365 m² is divided between the “Primary School Block” (11,200 m²), “Secondary School Block – Girls” (4780 m²), and “Secondary School Block – Boys” (3385 m²).

At the heart of the complex is the dining hall, auditorium and sports facilities, reached by a double height entrance.

Teaching spaces are arranged in year group clusters, sharing internal breakout space and inside play areas, with each year accessing their own external play space. The school was designed from Day 1 to create a happy and inspirational space for learning which enables boys and girls to mix in the Primary years but be separated later on. The architects sought to “capture a sense of an Arabic city with a maze of routes, open courtyards and closed buildings… like a carpet of solids and voids.”

Curriculum

The school is exceptionally pioneering and innovative in both its approach to learning and focus on innovation.

Ajman Academy completely inverts the usual approach of IB-British blended curriculum schools in the emirates by its choice to educate students through the International Baccalaureate curriculum in Primary and Middle Years before then switching to the British curriculum at Secondary phase and Sixth Form. This sees Secondary students move through formal qualification pathways in English National Curriculum IGCSE to graduate with “Gold Standard” British A Levels and BTEC (the latter from September 2023).

It’s a very unusual approach – most blended IB-UK schools tend to move from a through British curriculum from EYFS to Secondary to an IB offer at Sixth Form.

Part of the explanation lies in the school’s original planning to deliver an all-through International Baccalaureate education culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma and International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme. However, the school has, creditably, both followed the wishes of its families, and responded to the needs and ambitions of its students, by switching to what is to all intents and purposes the delivery of a British education for its children, but ones using the best of the methodology of IB learning to do so:

“The approach and structure is International Baccalaureate, but the subject content and objectives resolutely British.”

Patrick Affley. Director. Ajman Academy. SchoolsCompared Visit. June 2023.

The rationale for this innovative approach is driven partly too by the school’s pioneering focus on technology and innovation; the IB’s focus on inter disciplinary learning and problem solving is matched with a strong investment in STEM subjects at the school from Grade 6, with learning focused on robotics, coding and aviation. It’s seen as a powerhouse way of turbo charging performance of students as they switch into the British curriculum and its formal qualification pathways.

Worth noting too the strong British heritage of the school (the school was BSO accredited in 2017 and originally offered both the British Early Years and Foundation Stage curriculum) is reflected in the school’s investment in leadership. Ajman Academy Director Patrick Affley brings to the school close to a decade’s experience leading British schools in Dubai (see below).

Curriculum

Ajman Academy completed through provision to IGCSE in 2016-17 with full all-through British-IB provision to gold standard A Level provision in 2018. Originally the school had planned to offer an IB all-through education culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, but both the success of British Sixth Form and the preference of parents has seen the IB restricted only to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. With its official IB World School accreditation and proven delivery in the PYP and MYP, Ajman does continue to have the advantage over other schools of potentially being able to offer parallel stream UK and IB provision at Sixth Form in future years should it choose to pursue this.

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is studied by children between 3 years and 12 years in Grades Pre KG to Grade 5. The curriculum offers particular strengths in its reach with stand-out whole-child education in the Arts and Music:

Ajman Academy students study for the IB Middle Year Programme in Grades 6,7 and 8 which strengthens skills in innovation, cross-curricular learning and languages. Whole child education in the broader Arts is an ongoing strength of PYP and MYP curricular provision.

In Grades 9 and 10 IGCSE options include:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Double Science
• Triple Science
• Business studies
• Arabic
• Design
• ICT
• Geography

At British Sixth Form in Grades 11 and 12, AS and A Level options include:

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Business
• Economics
• Design and Technology
• ICT

This is a restricted curriculum by Tier 1 standards, but the school is working through a programme that will see a significant ratcheting up of subject and qualification pathways at GCSE and Sixth Form,  with Level 3 BTEC provision confirmed for 2024 and adoption of Pearson Edexcel modular International GCSE courses. It would be more appropriate to tackle the issue of linear versus modular approaches to learning in a separate story. In simple terms, linear approaches have a cliff-edge exam at the end of two years of learning, whereas modular approaches have examinations spread throughout learning during the two years of IGCSE study. Cambridge are a proponent of linearity, as are recent Conservative governments in the UK. Our view is quite opposite – that modular approaches are intrinsically fairer, leave no child behind and produce much better learning outcomes for more students. You take your choice. The issue here, however, is that Ajman Academy leadership have taken the time to consider the issue, demonstrably thought through what is better for their students, and have responded in action. This is hugely creditable and highlights a school that is continuously innovating for their children. Also worth noting that Pearson Edexcel only offer modular A Level courses, believing that this is a significantly better way to teach and examine students.

We do think the school can, and should, do more. We would like to see Level 3 BTECs cascaded down to Level 2 options to blend with GCSE. We would like to see much greater investment in the Arts, a strength of the school to Grade 8, reflected in provision of GCSE and A Level Art, Music and Theatre. This seems a logical, and needed, next step. We would hope that BTEC builds to the strengths of the school in Sport, Design and Technology – and potentially a career-related option such as Tourism, given the school’s location in the Gulf. The omission of History and a further Social Science option, for example Psychology, at both GCSE and A level would be the icing on the cake.

Fees and ROI for parents

School fees are the lower end of premium running from AED 24,000 at Pre-KG to AED 66,350 in Grade 12. The fees for British A Level study at Sixth Form average AED 61,675. This will offer particularly strong ROI for parents when the school launches its technical stream BTEC pathways in 2023-24. In terms of quality of architecture and environment for students, we rank ROI exceptional; this is a beautiful, exceptionally high quality, and inspirational, school environment for students.

Grade	Annual Fees
Pre-KG Normal Day*	AED 24,000
Pre-KG Extended Day**	AED 27,000
KG 1	AED 32,000
KG 2	AED 35,000
Grade 1	AED 35,000
Grade 2	AED 44,900
Grade 3	AED 44,900
Grade 4	AED 44,900
Grade 5	AED 48,200
Grade 6	AED 48,200
Grade 7	AED 54,800
Grade 8	AED 54,800
Grade 9	AED 54,800
Grade 10	AED 57,000
Grade 11	AED 57,000
Grade 12	AED 66,350

The school is transparent about a supplementary annual book fee of AED 1500 payable annually from Year 7.

Technical stream and vocational pathways

BTEC technical stream qualification pathways are coming on stream at Ajman Academy in 2023-2024, but the infrastructure is already significantly in place. The schools investment in Design and Technology infrastructure including labs across the array of DT specialisms is of an outstanding standard. Take on example, laser cutting. The technology for this is expensive, but vital to translate ideas into physical prototypes and link digital to analogue. The following video captures the extraordinary impact of investment in laser cutters, just one of the many investments made by the school in its DT facility provision for students:

Zach David, Assistant Principal and Head of Design Technology, brings to Ajman Academy more than two decade’s teaching, leadership and cutting edge Design Technology experience in the United Kingdom. Mr David told SchoolsCompared:

“At Ajman Academy, the focus of our design and technology work is on innovation and how to apply each student’s imagination to designing and manufacturing marketable products. The focus is both on design processes and skills – and then their commercialisation to solve problems. Building on the strengths of IB learner profiles, and the substance of British curriculum knowledge, the art of transforming each child’s imagination into a real product, with practical utility, is at the heart of learning and teaching Design & Technology at our school. As Anna Wheeler said ‘ Design is intelligence made visible.’

The functionality of ergonomics and user-centred designing, backed by the application of biomimicry, have been the mainstream of different student projects this year. Collaboration, teamwork, creativity, evaluation, analysis, specification, ergonomics are few of the buzzwords you will hear in lessons as students engage, with huge amounts of enthusiasm, in different tasks. We follow Steve Jobs here: “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

At Ajman Academy, the investment in technology is serious and powerful.  Students use modern equipment such as Laser cutters, 3D printers, Vinyl cutters with a range of software including Adobe photoshop, 2D Designer, Fusion 360 and Google Sketchup to design and manufacture their products.

Design and Technology students from Ajman Academy graduate to Engineering and design related courses in higher institutions worldwide.”

Investment in prototyping is matched with very high levels of investment in technology. Ajman Academy was a pioneer school in AI, robotics and coding in the UAE, and was the first to pioneer the DarkMatter Ajyal TM AI programme in the UAE in 2018. A 1:1 iPad programme operates from Pre-KG to Grade 13. Classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, Specktron boards, Vertables and green-screens. The school operates iMac labs and A.I labs, the latter using a range of solutions from SAM Labs, LEGO Education, Tello EDU and Raspberry Pi founded Robolink ZUMI.

Coding languages including Python and Blockly.

Happiness

Ajman’s UK Independent modelled House System has proved successful in pulling together the school. Ajman Academy houses include (White) Leopards, (Red) Scorpions, (Black) Wolves and (Green) Falcons, colours representing the UAE national flag.  Students – and staff, are allocated to a House when they join the school and we like the school’s sensitivity in always placing siblings within the same house.

During our latest visit (June 2023), we found exceptionally warm dynamics across every phase of school provision. Children engaged inspirationally in conversation and spoke highly of both their school and teachers. Engagement with Principal Aflley was particularly warm from both students and teachers.  The celebration of children’s work is extensive, and the approach of the school is evidently child-centred.

Facilities

“The facilities at Ajman Academy are so much better than the facilities at other schools. We also have a lot of exciting school trips and extra-curricular activities. This is what I love about our school.”

Grade 9 Ajman Academy student speaking with SchoolsCompared June 2023.

We rank facility provision as Outstanding.

Facilities include:

• Fully digital Apple Integrated School campus
• Science Labs by specialism
• Stand-out Music facilities
• Fully staffed Medical Centre

• Central library
• Independent, self-contained Pre-K Centre with independent pick-up and drop-off for parents.
• Pre-K – Grade 2 classrooms with seamless access to outdoor learning spaces

• Pre-K – Grade 2 Cafeteria

• Pre-K – Grade 2 Playground and Early Years shaded Play Centre

• Sustainable Garden
• Independent Primary Block
• Dedicated Primary facilities including outstanding Food Technology; Music Labs/Performance Spaces; and Fine Art Gallery Exhibitions Spaces
• Independent Primary Reception

• Primary colour-filled breakout spaces
• Independent Primary Cafeteria
• Grade 3 to Grade 5 Play Centre with dedicated football pitch and tennis court
• Independent Secondary Block

• Independent Secondary Cafeteria with flow-through access to recreational areas and meeting spaces
• Senior School Multi-purpose Hall/Gymnasium and Fitness Centre
• Outdoor tennis and multi-purpose courts

• Outdoor Basketball Courts
• Outdoor Athletics Track and Long Jump

• Outdoor, floodlit, full-sized competition football pitch

• Indoor sports hall (which can be subdivided into 2 sections with full size indoor basketball/multi courts and spectator seating)

• Indoor 25M swimming pool
• Shared 250 seat auditorium/theatre with full production facilities
• Music rooms including practice rooms and performance centres

• iMac Learning Centre
• Technology labs including specialised labs for food, resistance materials and digital
• Fine Art learning centres with gallery spaces
• Prayer rooms

ECA and Whole Child Provision

Ajman Academy operates a full 5-day programme of ECAs split between those internally and externally provided covering the spectrum of opportunities from Dance (Modern and Ballet) to Football, Swimming and Netball. A complete list of options available annually follows:

Internal

• Ipad Photography
• Story Time
• Singing Sensations
• Puzzles and Games Club
• Reading
• iPad Photography Skills
• Beebots
• Mindfulness and Wellbeing
• Typing
• Art
• Book Club
• Yoga
• Eco Club
• Theatre Production
• Calligraphy Writing Skills
• Dance for Fitness
• Puzzles and Games
• Mindfulness Art
• Creative Art
• Maths Games
• Science Club
• Lego Construction
• Matilda Production
• Mathematics catch-up Club
• Writing catch-up Club
• Arabic Story Time
• Arabic Handwriting Skills
• Arabic Reading Club
• Arabic Writing Club

External:

• Swimming
• Basketball
• Football
• Tennis
• Parkour
• Gymnastics
• Ballet
• Cooking
• Karate

Sport

Sport and Physical Education is core to the curriculum offer at Ajman Academy and is strengthened by a multitude of after-school sporting opportunities. The schools engages in competitive sport through participation in the EISSA Sports League in Netball, Football, Basketball and Swimming, and in both BSME and MEUC swim galas. Facilities are extensive and exceptionally high quality, including two sports halls, a 25m swimming pool, full-size outdoor football pitch, two tennis courts, five-a-side football pitch and outdoor volleyball and basketball courts (see Facilities above). Core sports include swimming, basketball, football, netball, rugby, handball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, rounders, cricket, softball, parkour, gymnastics, dodgeball, dance, athletics and gymnasium training. There would be clear benefits of extending formal qualifications at IGCSE and A level/BTEC to this subject area.

Willem Smit, Head of Physical Education, Ajman Academy (pictured), told SchoolsCompared:

“Like my colleagues, I believe passionately that Physical Education plays a vital role in the education of all children.

Physical Education, and Sport, encourages young people to think independently and develop as individuals. As importantly, learning is a social event, and at Ajman Academy we create a Sporting environment where difference is respected, and one in which individuals feel that their opinions are valued and where they learn to value those of others.

Students at Ajman Academy feel confident enough to express their opinions within a variety of interactive situations and groupings so they can grow in self- confidence therefore allowing them to fulfil their full potential in Sport and Physical Education.

Like other teachers at Ajman Academy I am committed to my discipline. I played rugby at a high level as an adult and I have represented both the Dubai Hurricanes and RAK Rugby during my time in the UAE.  I also set up and chaired a youth Rugby club in Ras Al Khaimah in which I coached children as well as running the club. I have also coached swimming and cricket to a high standard. I believe that students’ involvement in PE and extra curricular activities should be encouraged and I am enthusiastic and committed to providing increased enrichment opportunities for all pupils, regardless of ability.

Our key focus this year is centred around participation, effort, sportsmanship, and skill development. Participation in sport is wide-ranging and focused on children of all talents – they may be a performer on the field, but equally can be a referee, an umpire, coach or manager. We are inclusive – and Sport is for all students, regardless of ability.”

Fine and Visual Arts

A considerable strength of the school, Art is celebrated consistently and powerfully across the school. Examples we viewed were outstanding in their breadth of techniques, skill, media and imagination, extending from still life and graphic design, to stained glass and three dimensional art installations. The Department works closely with the Design Department, highlighting one of the strengths of the IB scaffolding of intra-departmental learning and cross exchange of ideas and learning. Again, this subject area deserves representation at both GCSE and A Level.

 

 

Rabia Riaz, Head of Visual and Fine Arts, Ajman Academy (pictured), told SchoolsCompared:

“The Art Department at Ajman Academy serves as a platform for aspiring artists to nurture their creativity, refine their skills, and prepare themselves for a successful career in the art world. Whether students aspire to become professional painters, graphic designers, interior or fashion designers, we provide each student with all the tools, knowledge, and guidance to embark on their artistic journey.

The Art Department specialises in providing comprehensive training and education in a broad array of fields in Art and visual design. Our Art Room and Galleries are places where aspiring artists, designers, and creative individuals can develop their skills, explore their passion, display their work – and build outstanding foundations for their pursuing a career in Art-related industries on graduation.

Our MYP curriculum, for example, is designed to provide a balanced blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Students engage in hands-on projects, creative assignments, and collaborative work that encourages experimentation, critical thinking, and artistic expression.

I bring almost a decade’s experience to my role, across both Middle and Secondary schools, and across British, American and IB curricular. I graduated in the Arts with majors in Fine Arts and Psychology and followed this with a Master’s in Fine Arts majoring in Graphic Design. I am a conviction-led educationalist and, throughout my career, my core commitment has been to engage each and every child and student which I teach. I believe strongly in expressing my own passion for learning, the Visual Arts, and Design because this in turn engages and inspires my students. Research links passionate teaching directly to a student’s willingness to learn and experience new ideas.”

Investment

The original investment was US$15M (Approximately equivalent to US$20M 2023).

Scholarships and bursary provision

Ajman Academy operates a creditable, transparent and fixed scholarships programme based on academic attainment. It is available to students joining the school based on CAT 4 scoring in the early years and GL PTS examination performance for continuing students in Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9. Fee remission for high performing students ranges between 10% and 30% based on level of achievement. The scholarships are available to both students joining the school, and current students in key years of study based on their progress – ensuring that all students who work hard are given opportunities to be recognised, and recognised powerfully, for their achievements.

School Accreditation

The school is an accredited IB World School offering the PYP and MYP, CIS accredited (the only school in Ajman to be so), is an Apple Distinguished School (2021-2024) and was the first school in the Emirates to secure the Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark from the British Dyslexia Association (BDA). The school is BSME accredited and was BSO inspected in 2017.

Bottom line? The SchoolsCompared Verdict on Ajman Academy 2023-2024

There is so much here to recommend Ajman Academy. Investment is very significant – and students want for nothing. Despite being the largest school in Ajman, this is an extraordinarily warm and school, with small school dynamics driven by the separation of learning at later phases between the sexes. Much of the scale is taken up by this mirroring of facilities. We rate school leadership outstanding – and Mr Affley is here for the long term and set on making a difference for students and families. The choice of curriculum, one driven by British content, but absorbing all the contextual and innovation-rich strengths of IB methodology, is pioneering, clever and effective. Investment in technology is stand-out; this is a school that invested in robotics and AI in 2018 when many other schools were not even awake to its importance. The quality of  facility provision is very high and breadth of opportunities carry a richness that you do not generally find at this level of fees.

We do think the curriculum is unduly restricted. Ajman Academy is, however, working through a programme that will see a significant ratcheting up of subject and qualification pathways at Sixth Form with Level 3 BTEC provision confirmed for 2024.

As above, we would like to see significant further investment here. BTEC should ideally cascaded down to Level 2 options to blend with GCSE. We would hope that BTEC builds to the strengths of the school in Sport, Design and Technology – and potentially a career-related option such as Tourism, given the school’s location in the Gulf.

As a priority, we would like to see much greater investment in the Arts, a strength of the school to Grade 8, reflected in provision of GCSE and A Level Art, Music and Theatre. This seems a logical, and much needed, next step. The omission of History and a further Social Science option, for example Psychology, at both GCSE and A level would be the icing on the cake. Psychology is a bridging subject between the Sciences and the Social Sciences that would deliver a good fit with the current curriculum.

The opportunities here to create an outstanding Sixth Form offer are many and these should go hand-in-hand with creating a more balanced and less austere curriculum offer for students, one able to meet the needs, abilities, potential and aspirations of all children.

This said, this is a school, today, alive with innovation and change – and this is being undertaken through the lens of what is best for students. The example above, of the school’s move to Pearson’s Modular International GCSE’s, is hugely creditable, and just one part of a move to provide children with greater breadth and quality of subject and qualification pathways at 16 and 18 years of age.

The thought invested in this school is evident across-the-board, including scholarship provision to both attract and retain students to the benefit of all children. The school is resolutely international and attracts parents from all cultures seeking a British single-sex education for their children, one recognising that boys and girls have different needs at different points in their learning and that education works better without the inevitable “distractions” of co-educational learning. The way this is delivered here, one of a single school educating both sexes, is outstanding in creating shared culture and values.

Add all these features together and it is right to see Ajman Academy as something of a hidden gem. This is a school founded and supported by the royal family of Ajman, one ambitious for its students, subject to exceptional levels of investment – and one deeply committed to deliver a profoundly happy and effective education for every child. It is also one which, because of the quirks of travel distances and flows, is easily accessible to many families in neighbouring emirates. We just need to see the school now very considerably strengthening both its British GCSE and Sixth Form offer to compete with the very best British schools in the emirates. That will take a major first step forward as BTEC technical stream investment comes on stream. The school is already high achieving in Art, Music and Technology – we just need these strengths being better translated Post 14 into qualification pathways. With all this in place, Ajman Academy will be quite something of a force to be reckoned with in its delivery of outstanding educational opportunities for every child.

The future looks bright.

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