FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In Key Stage 3, all subjects are compulsory.

Students can drop or change a subject during the first four weeks of Term 1. After this period students will not be allowed to change or drop a subject unless there are exceptional circumstances. The parent will have to email the Form Tutor and the Sixth Form Coordinator to request for the change.

We don’t use WhatsApp for communication between teachers and parents. The official channels for communication are school email, Microsoft TEAMS and Parent Portal.

28% of students are Emirati. 19% of students are Indian. 13% of students are Pakistani

Yes – in Early Years for example we have parents coming to read to students. In Arabic lessons older generations come in and share their stories of the UAE as was; parents who are doctors and nurses come and share their medical expertise with our students. We organize key events in the calendar which have become well established in the local community. Our International Day celebration is a massive event, full of colour, music, taste and laughter. Not to be missed!

Mobile phones are not allowed to be used during school time. Phones must remain switched off in student’s bag or it can be handed into to reception for collection at the end of the day. Phones will be confiscated if students are found using them out of time.

Mobile phones are not allowed to be used during school time. Phones must remain switched off in student’s bag or it can be handed into to Reception for collection at the end of the day. Phones will be confiscated if students are found using them out of time.

We don’t take and send photos of the children and their activities every day. For Nursery/FS1 and FS2, we use the online journal called Tapestry where teachers upload pictures every Friday. Pictures are available on our social media as well.

Click on Student Profile (Menu on left side of screen). Choose the student for whom you would want to view the school communications Click on Communications (Menu on left side of screen) and then navigate into the specific section within such as Alert, Circular, Homework, Newsletter, Policies, Resources.

Our motto is “Let your Light Shine” which underpins our approach to education – enabling young people to realise their full potential and develop their talents for the good of themselves and others. Good and effective teaching stimulates a passion for learning in our young people. Our well qualified and experienced teachers, from the UK, Ireland, South Africa, US and Canada, India and Middle East, all strive to inspire our students, through their teaching, to become skilled and confident learners.

Yes, students wear the school uniform. They take pride in wearing their uniform. Students are expected to dress smartly and wear the recommended uniform and shoes.

Yes, students wear the school uniform. They take pride in wearing their uniform. Students are expected to dress smartly and wear the recommended uniform and shoes.

We are a homework school and we don’t apologise for that! Learning does not stop after the lesson is over and we are keen to develop our students’ independent research skills though home learning. We issue parents will a Parent Handbook at the start of the Academic Year which details the recommended amount of time that should be spent on Homework. This ranges from 10 hours per week for Key Stage 4 (Sunday to Thursday) to 2 ½ hours per week for Year 1.

Yes – we have separate Prayer Rooms for boys and girls.

For the last 4 years we have had a committed and experienced SEND Department, lead by a highly effective SENCO, in the School which continues to support our most vulnerable students.

We have a long established and very active Parent Council Group which has been in existence since the School opened and continues to grow, driving forward new initiatives. A member of that group sits on the Board of Governors.

In September 2018 we set up our well-resourced and stimulating EAL Department staffed by two English specialist teachers and a Linguistic Support Assistant. This Department works both with class teachers to support them in adapting their planning to the needs of students whose first language is not English and with students themselves through various levels of intervention sessions as need dictates. It is great to see students, new to English, grow in confidence as their ability to communicate increases daily.

We hold termly Coffee Mornings for new and establish parents. At the start of the Academic Year we have week-long Parent Orientation meetings for new and returning parents. We have key morning and evening events throughout the year such as Open Mornings both at weekends and during the School week as well as Key Stage Pathway Evenings. There are many opportunities for our parents to attend class Assemblies, Early Years Graduation Ceremonies as well as other key events such as Student Investiture, Family Fun Fair and National Day Celebrations, to name a few. There is a very strong sense of community at Diyafah International School. This community spirit of staff, parents and pupils working together is tangible.

Yes and no! For some careers you will not be able to study a particular university course without having taken some specific A level subjects (and the grades you achieve in these subjects is important too). Hence, you need to achieve a 6 and above from an IGCSE to be able to take it as an A level. We make sure we talk students through this when they come for an interview. It’s important to note that there are plenty of university courses out there that make no demands on what subjects you have studied at A level. Instead, they will be more interested in what grades and skills you achieve, regardless of the subject you have studied.

Yes – we currently have a canteen which offers a range of nutritious snacks, juices, fruits as well as hot meals. Students are able to eat in the dining room or in designated picnic areas outside, weather permitting.

The school is continuing to expand and, having established solid foundations, is building capacity. This means that we are able to accommodate students in most Year Groups provided they pass the Admissions Test.

We have our own internal system of measuring progress which follows broadly the system adopted in the UK. At present our highest Year Group is Year 10 who, as yet, have not undertaken external iGCSE Examinations. As the School continues to grow, especially at Secondary Level, through the data systems we have developed, following UK best practice, we are confident that our Value-Added Data will reflect the hard work of all our staff and students on a daily basis. We believe a good school adds value daily.

Our Early years providers guide the development of children’s capabilities with a view to ensuring that children in their care complete the EYFS ready to benefit fully from the opportunities ahead of them. All children in Early Years are assessed at the beginning of the year and put in ability groups. The teachers prepare different activities according to each group’s targets. They observe the children while they are doing the activities and assess if they should repeat the same concept or move on to the next one.

We believe that education is going through a renaissance. Developing Leadership and Life Skills are key to future success. We encourage debate, participation and a spirit of enquiry. Students are placed into Houses where we foster a spirit of healthy competition as well as community leadership and service. Opportunities to become Prefects, Sports Leaders, House Captains, Subject Champions as well as members of the Student Council abound. Students plan and organise high profile events and develop their entrepreneurial and analytical skills in the process.

Assessment plays an important part in helping parents and teachers to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support. Ongoing assessment (also known as formative assessment) is an integral part of the learning and development process. It involves Teachers knowing children’s level of achievement and interests, and then shaping teaching and learning experiences for each child reflecting that knowledge. There are no formal exams in Early Years. All children are observed and assessed on a daily basis while they are completing the set activities.

In Early Years we use the Phonics programme called Read Write Inc. (RWInc). This programme puts children into the groups according to how many sounds they know. Teachers teach them sounds, not letter names. Once they know all the sounds, they are taught to blend the sounds and read short words.

At DIS we believe that effective learning takes place when children and young people take responsibility for their own learning and development. Embedded into the curriculum is “deep learning” opportunities as well as a cross curricular emphasis on Life Skills and My Identity. In this way creativity, innovation, problem solving and collaboration are key features of teaching and learning in all classes, in all subject areas.

At DIS we have an active Parent Council Forum. This Forum meets regularly to celebrate school successes as well as raise issues of both concern and interest to the school leadership and management. In the spirit of collaboration it is an effective and true partnership, focused on honest evaluation and future development and improvement. We want all parents to be fully involved in not only their child’s learning but also in their own. Opportunities are made available for parents and other members of the community to utilise the school’s resources. Learning for all, by all, who wish to achieve and even exceed their “personal best” will place DIS at the heart of the community.

DIS fully recognises the central role that parents play in their child’s progress and attainment. At DIS we want parents to feel involved and informed. Through our School Communicator and Website as well as our Management Information System termly progress reports are distributed and we regularly welcome parents to come and meet with their son or daughter’s teachers as well as senior staff. This is a true partnership centered around each and every child. Each student is given a Diary and this is used daily to record Homework as well as exchange information between school and home. Communication is key and our website contains comprehensive information on all aspects of school life. It is updated regularly to ensure accuracy as well as maintain interest.

Early Years Weekly Planners, which have the information about all topics covered in each year group, are uploaded on Parent Portal every Friday morning.

We hope most of your questions have been answered in this FAQ section. Should you have any further queries kindly contact the school reception or complete the enquiry form and we shall respond to you.

We hope most of your questions have been answered in this FAQ section. Should you have any further queries kindly contact the school reception or complete the enquiry form and we shall respond to you.

We want every student to have the chance to shine. Whenever there is demand for a new club or activity we always try to find a way to make it happen. Programmes are developed in collaboration with Sports, Dance and Robotics providers and our own teachers are available on various afternoons each week. The range of activities include Sports, Arts and Crafts, Academic Activities, Drama and Music.

DIS is a welcoming, well ordered and inclusive community of learners where diversity is celebrated. There are opportunities for older students to “ mentor” younger students, enabling students to develop as community leaders. Students are placed in appropriate class settings in English and Mathematics to ensure learning is personalised yet challenging. Transition between Key Stages is carefully planned and managed by senior staff and parents are fully involved

The School has developed a comprehensive approach to tracking progress and attainment throughout the weeks and months of each term and reporting to parents. There are regular Assessments of Learning through quizzes, mini tests, plenaries, projects where by the teacher acquires up to date knowledge on how the students in his / her class are progressing. In Primary Phase knowledge and skills acquired are mapped against the expected curriculum standards and this enable teachers to assess what the students are secure in and what further areas require to be developed. In the Secondary Phase subject teachers set homework regularly as well as continuous class-based assessments and offer this formative feedback to students regularly. Parents are able to contact the School at any time if there are concerns about any aspect of a child’s learning or understanding of a particular topic or subject. IN Early Years parents are regular visitors to the classroom and are provided with an almost daily update on progress informally by the class teacher. Learning Journeys are shared with the parents as are samples of their child’s creative class work.

Teachers monitor what students bring into school in their lunch boxes. We raise awareness in Assemblies through key events such as World Heart Day, World Diabetes Day, Pink Day (raising awareness of Breast Cancer). We also have local doctors and dentists visit the school to talk to our students on various matters regarding healthy bodies, minds and teeth. The School Nurse regularly addresses Assemblies on healthy eating issues. Cakes, sweets, fizzy drinks are not permitted in the school. We are also a nut free school.

The School has developed a clear Policy on Most Able students. Firstly we identify those students through scrutiny of external cognitive data. We also seek information from teachers who work with our students daily and who are in the best position to receive specific subject talent and ability. This information is shared with all teachers though Continuous Professional Development sessions to enable all staff to plan “stretch and challenge” lessons for our Most Able students. In addition to this differentiated classroom approach we have set up and are developing further provision for G & T enrichment sessions such as our Most Able mathematicians attending the National Ken Ken Challenge. (In 2019 one of students came second in the Abu Dhabi / Al Ain heat and will now go through to the UAE National Final). For students gifted in Art they have participated in the My Identity National Art Competition. The School has recently registered with Tournament of Minds, a well-established Australian programme which challenges teams of G & T students with open ended challenges and requires them to exercise creativity, imagination and communication skills and their efforts are judged with other students internationally.

We engage, as a whole school, staff and students, in physical exercise twice per week during Assemblies. The canteen is regularly monitored for the quality of food offered by our Support Services Team and Senior Staff. There is an annual survey to parents, staff and students on food quality. The Clinic conducts annual MBI assessments on students regarding height and weight and reports the findings to relevant authorities as required. In Foundation Stage we have introduced Tasty Treats to allow our youngest students to sample delicious, possibly more unusual healthy food options. Students are made aware of the dangers of cyber bullying and there is a clear and well-defined anti bullying WITs programme in operation in the School.

The school has a wide range of nationalities and is truly international in character. Students come from over 63 countries worldwide.

• Entry criteria -5/ 6-point grade in the Year 9 Term 2 Exams.
• Mandatory Core Subjects: English Language, Mathematics, start with the Triple Science Track for all students and split the cohort after Term 2 based on Grades to take Double Award or continue with Triple Science.
• Islamic, Arabic, Moral Education, Global Citizenship (GC) (additional subject taken by non -Muslims instead of Islamic.

The School undertakes Baseline Tests at the start of each academic year for all year groups and there is a formal period of examination / testing towards the end of each term. These papers are marked and graded in accordance with National Curriculum guidelines and the results are reported to parents in our End of Term Reports which are made available through our parent portal. Each term ends with a Parent Teacher Consultation Meeting where parents, with their son or daughter, sits down with the class teacher or the subject specialist and review the content of the End of Term Report recently issued. The focus of these Meetings is always to praise good efforts and to point to what further improvements can be made to realise full potential.

To access Report Cards, Click on Student Profile (Menu on left side of screen). Choose the student for whom you would want to view the report card. Click on Report Cards (Menu on left side of screen) 3 Click on Internal Exams to view the relevant Report Card. For students of Year 3 onwards, External exams as well will be displayed, which holds report cards for external exams such as CAT4, GL Assessments, etc.

Click on the Student Profile (Displayed on left side of screen) and choose the student from the dropdown to view the information corresponding to the student selected such as report cards, fees and communications If any changes need to be made in the Student Profile page, kindly contact the Registrar registrar@diyafahinternationalschool.com

Launch the School Website www.diyafahinternationalschool.com Click on “PARENT PORTAL” displayed on the top right corner of your screen. Choose the relevant Academic Year eg. 2019-2020. This will bring up the login screen, provide the Parent username (i.e. P followed by a 5 digit number) and password provided to you by the School. ( If you have forgotten your password please click on “Forgot Password” to send password to your registered email id ) To update your password, click on Change Password, on the Home page of Parent Portal.

To check outstanding Fee details, Go to Fees & Services (Menu on left side of screen) > Fees > Invoice Select the Term(s) for which you would want to make the payment and click on Confirm to Pay button at the bottom of the page. Once you click “Confirm to pay” you will be re-directed into our privacy policy. You are required to Agree to the proceed. Once you agree, Click on Proceed to Pay. In the next screen please enter your credit/debit card details. (Cash/Cheque payments can be made by visiting the Schools Fee Counter) Once payment is made, your payment details will be shown on the portal as PAID.

We have a full time Career Counsellor who will help you explore various options and courses that will facilitate the decision making of your career and subject choices. Students are usually advised to pick subjects that they are good at and enjoy learning.

The School has introduced a series of robust external tests and assessments to ensure that our internal assessment practices support and complement the external ones. Over the last two years we have introduced: Cognitive Ability Tests (CAT4) in Years 3 – 10 Progress Tests in English & Mathematics from GL Assessments in Years 6 – 9 NGRT Reading Tests in Years 2 – 10 IBT ACER Tests in Arabic Our Year 10 students are currently undertaking a suite of iGCSE courses following Schemes of Work by EdExcel, AQA and CIE Examination Boards.

Yes – there is a weekly published menu which outlines the hot food offer for the week. Hot food ranges from pasta to curries, with steamed vegetables as well as rice on offer. The hot food offer is often “themed”, with a focus perhaps being on the cuisines of countries from around the world such as Italy or India or China.

Yes, Arabic A is taught to native speaking Arab students and Arabic B to non-native speaking students.

Yes – we offer Islamic Studies A for Arab speaking Muslims and Islamic Studies B for non-Arab speaking Muslims.

IGCSE’s can be challenging, this is due to the high range of content and skill requirements for each subject. During term 1 students quickly adapt to the new demands and high expectations of IGCSE’s The best way to prepare and tackle IGCSE’s is: - Always talk to your teacher to get guidance and support. - Review the course content. - Learn the key words and meanings. - Develop clever ways to remember content easily. - Practice skills important to your subject such as skimming and scanning in English. - If you need to develop your spoken and written English, for example regularly reading out loud to someone combined with support from DIS teachers will improve your examination readiness. - Be prepared to research about your subject outside of lessons. - Utilise the study support available in DIS - Practice as many past papers as you can. Pay attention to the mark scheme, examiner reports and teacher comments. - Reach out to your teacher or form tutor early in the term, if you are struggling to manage the course.

As we’ve explained above, while some university courses demand particular subjects at A level, others don’t. However, there are a number of subjects at A level that are known as ‘facilitating’ subjects and that’s because they are often asked for by a variety of university courses. These subjects include Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Modern and Classical Languages and Physics. Performing well in these subjects will open up more opportunities for various courses at university.

Yes – we have the highest expectations with regard to the wearing of the school uniform. The uniform is a sign of belonging to the Diyafah family and is worn with pride. There is also a PE uniform which students are also expected to wear on the days they have curriculum PE. The uniform is of good and robust quality and is comfortable for the students to wear. Our Year 10s look particularly smart in their burgundy blazers and ties!

Yes – a member of the Parent Council sits on the Governing Body which meets termly.

There is no written homework in Nursery/FS1 and FS2. Homework for these two year groups is given in the form of practical activities and learning through play. Year 1 have homework in core subjects only-English, Math and Science.

All students are required to wear a school uniform that is available for purchase from the designated supplier or school Administration. There is also a designated uniform for Physical Education which students are also required to wear dependent on House Colour.

Regular Meet the Principal and Open Day events are planned over the coming months and details appear on the website. Also appointed are experienced and highly successful senior staff from the UK, Europe, America, New Zealand, India and the Middle East. Key members of the administrative team also attend Meet the Principal events.

We are able to support students with some or moderate learning needs. We are not able to support students with significant learning needs at this stage of our development.

For any queries or assistance related to Parent Portal, please send an email to parentportal@diyafahinternationalschool.com and we will respond within ONE WORKING DAY. *PLEASE USE CHROME BROWSER FOR BEST PERFORMANCE *SAFARI IS NOT SUPPORTED

Please check and read all communication from the school, daily. Review the weekly eLearning plans being posted in advance on the Parent Portal and share with your children. Ensure that your child/ren has the necessary access requirements and devices to effectively participate in the online MS Teams lessons. Ensure the device provided to your child/ren has the necessary restrictions - Parental Lock, Explicit Content Block applied to avoid inappropriate access. The school has no control on student/s home devices and services Provide as best as possible a quiet, focused eLearning environment at home Ensure that your child/ren are logged in and ready to begin their daily activities and, as required, are ready and logged in for MS Teams Lessons as detailed in the Weekly eLearning Plans. Encourage your child to ask questions/clarify doubts with the teachers, during TEAMs lesson in a courteous and patient manner. Ensure that you child completes all assignments within the stipulated timeframe. Ensure that your child/ren maintain a folder either digital or paper ready to share with their teachers if and when they resume school. Please note that online lessons are strictly for students only. Please do not participate or interject during lessons, class discussions or conversations. Please refrain from sending messages to teachers on Teams during lessons. If a parent has a question for the teacher then please email the teacher and he or she will respond separately from the eLearning platform. Please also find a very helpful guide to parents from Abu Dhabi Safeguarding Group which has lots of useful tips to help parents and their children through this difficult time. https://parentzone.org.uk/article/how-look-after-your-family%E2%80%99s-mental-health-when-you%E2%80%99re-stuck-indoors

Click on the Student Profile (Menu on left side of screen) and select the student for whom you would want to view the details. At the bottom of the page, Photography consent declaration is available. Choose Yes or No and click on Submit if you haven’t done earlier.

Physical Education is an integral part of both the taught curriculum and the enrichment curriculum. Currently we have 3 specialist PE teachers and students undertake sport and health awareness and fitness sessions throughout the week. In addition, there are Co-Curricular activities which happen after the school day for one hour and many of these are sport and fitness related – cricket, badminton, basketball, football. Although these sessions are voluntary they are well attended by our students.As the School is currently engaged in an ambitious building project, due for completion in October 2019, our ability to offer additional sports will be greatly enhanced with a new swimming pool, indoor fully equipped Sports Hall and extensive astro turf playing fields.

The School has a clear and progressive discipline policy known as our Behaviour for Learning Policy. It balances rewards and sanctions. We believe very strongly that no student has the right to disrupt the learning of other students or prevent the teacher from teaching. The classroom and corridor expectations are clear, and the majority of our students follow the fair and transparent rules carefully and dutifully daily. A heavy emphasis is placed on recognizing and rewarding good behavior – rewards for attainment, effort, community service and student leadership. At the same time, should it be necessary, we have a system of traffic lights for disruptive behaviour – green, amber, read - giving students the chance to reflect on the anti-social behaviour and change their approach; we can run break time detentions; we can issue tutor, social work or SLT report cards (Green, Amber, Red); we call parents in to meetings as required and we can even isolate a disruptive student should that be necessary. We are fortunate in having a well-respected and very fair Social Work Department which works closely with students and parents as and when required.

As stated above our oldest Year Group is currently Year 10 and so we have no track record of Key Stage 4 or 5 External Examinations at present.

The school has a fully serviced cafeteria for break time snacks and lunch time provision.

Ensure that you are prepared and ready to commence lessons as per the eLearning Plan details including when you will have MS TEAMS lessons with your teacher(s) throughout the week. All normal school classroom rules apply as if the lessons were being conducted at school i.e. inappropriate language, inappropriate content or interfering with the learning of others will not be permitted. The MS Teams channels are to be used only for educational purposes and students should refrain from exchanging personal messages and posting irrelevant messages/pictures or changing the content as posted by the class teacher. Students must not be initiating meetings. They should join in a Teams Meeting chaired by the teacher. Students must not mute/remove/add attendees from meetings which interferes with the learning of others. Students are not allowed to take pictures or record videos of each other or of their teachers or of the lessons. It is the responsibility of all students to use the eLearning platforms correctly, follow the instructions of the teachers and interact with other students logged into the session with courtesy and respect. All activities being conducted through the students’ O365 account are being monitored and any misuse of this resource may warrant disciplinary action as per the school’s behaviour code. Students must complete the online assessments as part of the eLearning process. Teachers will then be in a better position to evaluate the progress of each student. Course content on MS Teams and OneNote are considered the property of DIS, regardless of original ownership. This material should not be distributed. This is a learning experience for us all and if we all follow the correct rules and procedures then this will ensure maximum teaching and learning opportunities.

All teachers are fully qualified, experienced and enthusiastic professionals with a proven track record of success. Staff work collaboratively to exceed their personal best and ensure their own professional development and success. Their communication skills in spoken and written English are of the highest standards. Subject specialists share their love of their subject and an ability to make sure that all pupils are stretched and challenged

A quality learning experience for children requires a quality workforce. A well qualified, skilled staff strongly increases the potential of any individual setting to deliver the best possible outcomes for our children. All our teachers are ADEK approved and therefore come fully qualified with many years of experience.

Careful attention has been given to maximise learning spaces ensuring opportunities for pupils to work both independently and collaboratively. Classrooms are bright and airy as are other communal learning and discovery spaces. A full list of our facilities can be found on the website.

From 07.30 morning drop off; 07.45 Assembly and morning registration; 12.40 FS pick up; 14.40 rest of school pick up (unless students have After School Activities)

In Key Stage 3, you can expect to find a very varied curriculum that caters towards all our learners needs. Our dedicated and experienced staff work very hard to create an environment that encourages and develops our learners to reach their maximum potential. With a balanced approach to academics, enrichment programmes, individualised career guidance and sports facilities, along with our excellent pastoral care, our students are equipped with the skills necessary to confidently continue their studies in Key Stage 4.

The key highlights of Key Stage 4 (Year 10 & 11) at DIS are: Open, spacious, and clean classrooms, qualified and experienced staff; average class sizes with excellent teacher-student rapport and pastoral care, a balanced approach to academics and enrichment programs, individualized career guidance, and sports facilities that include an indoor swimming pool, basketball court, table tennis, badminton, football, and volleyball. All of this is set in a positive, caring, and nurturing environment.

Optional subjects from which students will choose three are: Pearson Edexcel or Oxford AQA.

• Art & Design
• English literature
• Business Studies
• Computer Science
• Design & Technology
• Food and Nutrition
• Geography
• History
• Information Communication Technology
• Psychology
• Physical Education
• Spanish

We recognise that universities and future employers also require experiences outside academic qualifications. Our Enrichment programs are designed to prepare our students to explore academic and career interests, develop skills and discover different options for future pathways. Students engage in activities of their choice such as creating a podcast, cooking, music, jewellery making, sports, MUN, Diyafah Debate, Life Skill sessions, Internships, community outreach amongst others. We also encourage students to engage in activities which would lead to additional qualification such as Independent Project Qualification (IPQ) and MOOCS (massive open online course).

We recognise that universities and future employers also require experiences outside academic qualifications. Our Enrichment programs are designed to prepare our students to explore academic and career interests, develop skills and discover different options for future pathways. Students engage in activities of their choice such as creating a podcast, cooking, music, jewellery making, sports, MUN, Diyafah Debate, Life Skill sessions, Internships, community outreach amongst others. We also encourage students to engage in activities which would lead to additional qualification such as Independent Project Qualification (IPQ) and MOOCS.

Students will need to bring their own writing equipment such as pens, lined paper, and folders to organise their notes made in class. The resource and copy books package are handed to the student at the time of joining school. We also follow the BYOD policy where students can bring their own laptops/ tabs. Wi-Fi connection is provided to access lessons and research study material.

Students will need to bring their own writing equipment such as pens, lined paper, and folders to organise their notes made in class. The resource and copy books package are handed to the student at the time of joining school. We also follow the BYOD policy where students can bring their own laptops/ tabs. Wi-Fi connection is provided to access lessons and research study material.

The Portal view will currently have the following information: Communications: All Circulars, Newsletters, Homework, Weekly planners, Policies and Alerts will be available to view. Home: for centralised viewing of all currently active modules. Parent Profile: lists the parents’ profile as per information held in our database Student Profile: lists the student’s profile as per Information held in our current database. Library: Lists all Books relevant to Student’s year group, which can be viewed and reserved online. Report Cards: Displays the Students’ Internal and External Report Cards published. Fees & Services: Fees: Lists the School Fees as per instalments payable. Upon payment all receipts can be viewed and printed online at home or viewed using a mobile device. For all payment related queries please write to ebilling@diyafahinternationalschool.com Other Events/Activities: Lists all payments for internal and external events and activities hosted by the school and registered/enrolled for by the student. Contacts: Lists contact details of services at Diyafah International School.

In FS we run an integrated day, with a mix of classroom-based activities, indoor and outdoor play and a choice of other learning and fun activities. In primary classes, there is a gradual move to more formal learning and teaching covering Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, UAE Social Studies, Science, Music, Art, Drama, Humanities, Spanish and Physical Education. These areas of learning are developed in the early years of secondary before students make a choice of optional as well as core subjects to study at IGCSE at Key Stage 4. All students in FS are have the opportunity to study Arabic.

At DIS we emphasise the traditional values of self-discipline, courtesy, politeness and the highest standards of uniform. We pride ourselves in having a tangible ethos of mutual respect between staff and students and zero tolerance of bullying in any form. A clear Behaviour for Learning Policy promotes a culture of rewarding not only academic, sporting and artistic achievement but also our students’ contributions to the local, national and international community through their dedicated service of others.

In Early Years, children need to be this age to be able to join: Nursery/FS1 – 3 years of age on 31st August. (We do not accept children below 3 years of age) FS2 – 4 years of age on 31st August Year 1 – 5 years of age on 31st August

School starts with morning Assembly for the whole school at 7.45am. The National Anthem is sung at this time. The School ends for Foundation Stage students at 12.40pm and for students in Years 1 – 10 at 14.40 each day, Sunday to Thursday. Students staying for Co – curricular activities leave at 16.00. These run from 15.00 – 16.00 for 6-week slots.

In FS1 and FS2 there is a maximum of 25 pupils in each class with a teacher and teaching assistant. In all other classes the maximum number of students is 30, although classes are likely to be smaller, especially in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 of the school. There are also Teaching Assistants supporting classes in FS to Year 4.

There are 1,134 students on roll and 91 well qualified teachers giving a ration of 1:12

As a British Curriculum School, the medium of instruction is English.

We currently do not have a Sixth Form but hope to open one in 2 years time offering Advanced Levels, the “gold standard” of English education.

Diyafah International School, Abu Dhabi was set up 6 years ago and is the sister school to the well respected and very successful Al Diyafah High School in Dubai. The ethos of both schools is to ensure each and every child is equipped with the knowledge and skills to “let their light shine” in an every changing and increasing complex world. We enable children to do this by providing a secure and happy learning community. This school is rooted in strong family values, originating from the D’Cuna family who set up our sister school over 37 years ago, where there is personal attention and gentle encouragement given to each child. Children here are happy learners. Their attitude to learning is excellent and their sense of service to each other and the community is exemplary.

Diyafah International School has been inspected and rated as “Band A” school with “Good” rating by the Abu Dhabi Department of Educational and Knowledge (ADEK). You can find more information with the report published on the ADEK website. Click here to read.

• Arabic
• Art
• Drama
• English
• Computing
• Design & Technology
• Food and Nutrition
• Geography
• History
• Islamic/PSHE
• Maths
• Moral Education
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science
• Spanish
• UAE SS

Our staff take time to get to know and understand each student. Whether a student needs to be stretched, is struggling or is somewhere in the middle we are always working to inspire the best in him or her. The school has an experienced SENCO, a team of Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants to take charge of learning support for students. We have also appointed a specialist Co-ordinator to lead and develop support strategies for students whose first language is not English.

Each lesson is of 40 min duration. Monday to Thursday 9 lessons, and 6 lessons on Friday.

Subject
Form Time / Moral, Social, and Cultural Studies
Arabic
Art
Drama
English
Computing
Design & Technology
Food and Nutrition
Geography
History
Islamic/PSHE
Maths
Music
Physical Education
Science
Spanish
UAE SS
Arabic
Art
Drama
English
Computing

Each lesson is of 40 min duration. Monday to Thursday 9 lessons, and 6 lessons on Friday.

Subject
Form Time / Moral, Social, and Cultural Studies
Subject Option 1
Subject Option 2
Subject Option 3
Arabic A / B
Islamic A / B
English
Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
UAESS

Those who purchase food provided by the Canteen would spend on average between 10 – 15AED daily.

Prospective parents can visit the school at their convenience. Please contact the Registrar to arrange a time to visit during the school working day or a Saturday.

We also offer Spanish from Year 5 upwards at present although, as we continue to grow and expand, we will offer other Community and Global languages to reflect our international ethos.

The Career Counsellor focuses on giving students the skills they need to apply successfully to Higher Education. Students are guided through the whole application process to universities in US, UK, Australia, Canada, Europe, Asia, and South-East Asia.

Our Sixth Formers have the opportunity to attend lunchtime study, discussion and thinking groups where they explore how to best express themselves and communicate their ideas with a view to sitting university entrance exams or attending interviews.  The students are actively encouraged to build up a worthwhile CV by undertaking relevant reading, research and work experience, as well as participating in a range of enrichment activities.

Write to careercounsellor@diyafahinternationalschool.com for any career related queries.