Kings' Dubai retains 'outstanding' school rank

Primary has retained the top rating of "outstanding" given by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

DUBAI // Amid continuing controversy over the second annual round of school inspections in Dubai, the Kings' Dubai primary school has retained the top rating of "outstanding" given by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The school, which opened six years ago and has 440 pupils, was one of just four schools to earn an outstanding mark in last year's inspections, and it is the only one to repeat the achievement. The three other schools ranked "outstanding" in the first round were downgraded for not making improvements in the teaching of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

School inspections have been the source of controversy among school owners and operators, particularly since the KHDA linked fee increases to performance on inspections last year. On Sunday, Carlo Ferrario, the headmaster of Dubai College, a highly sought after British curriculum school, resigned over displeasure with government regulation and inspections. But Debbie Watson, the head teacher at Kings' Dubai, said she was "absolutely delighted" about the results and described the inspection process as "rigorous".

"They don't leave a lot uncovered and I think that after three days the inspection team found out an awful lot about the school," she said. "Obviously the key agenda right now is the Arabic and Islamic education." [e-mail]