In a major step to boost transparency and parent engagement, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has launched a new system that will make private school performance ratings highly visible. From now on, every private school in Abu Dhabi will display official School Performance Plaques at their entrances, offering parents clear, immediate insight into each school’s academic standing and educational quality.
New plaques highlight Irtiqa’a ratings and National Identity Marks
The newly introduced plaques will feature two core indicators. First, they will display the school’s most recent Irtiqa’a inspection rating. This comprehensive evaluation measures six key areas: student achievement, personal and social development, teaching quality, curriculum effectiveness, student care and wellbeing, and school leadership.
Second, the plaques will showcase each school’s National Identity Mark, which reflects how well schools promote UAE culture, values, and citizenship. These dual indicators aim to provide parents, students, and visitors with a quick, transparent understanding of a school’s overall performance and commitment to national values.
“These plaques represent more than just a rating — they reflect a school’s commitment to academic excellence and to nurturing a strong sense of national identity in our students,” said Sulaiman Al Ameri, Acting Private Education and Charter Schools Sector Executive Director at ADEK. “By making performance outcomes visible, we’re encouraging continuous improvement and giving parents a transparent, at-a-glance understanding of school quality.”
Wellbeing Marks to be added in the future
In the next phase of the initiative, ADEK plans to expand the plaques to include each school’s Wellbeing Mark. This will offer an additional layer of transparency on how schools support the emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of both students and teachers.
The introduction of School Performance Plaques aligns with ADEK’s broader mission to build a world-class education ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. By empowering families with accessible and reliable information, ADEK helps parents make better-informed decisions about their child’s education.
Parents are encouraged to look for these plaques when visiting schools and explore detailed information on both the Irtiqa’a and National Identity frameworks via ADEK’s website or its parent-focused mobile app, Rayah.
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