Towheed Iranian Girls School Review

Towheed Iranian Girls School has been rated Acceptable in the 2023-24 DSIB inspection round.  This review will be updated and the report uploaded once available.

The story so far…

Originally founded in the late 1950’s, the Towheed Iranian Girls’ School operates under a ‘directorate’ managing the affairs of eight Iranian schools in the UAE, with a combined student population of 6,000.  The Girls school recently opened the lower school grades of KG1 and KG2, enabling children to join the school at age 4, rather than the traditional age of six years in Grade 1.

The full group of Iranian schools are: Towheed International and Boys School, Towheed Girls School, Khadije Kobra (PBUH) Girls School, Salman Boys School, Sharjah Boys and Girls School, Imam Khomeini (MBUH) Boys and Girls School in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Boys and Girls School, and Adab Private Boys and Girls School.

Both the boys and international section, located in Al Qouz (with approximately 870 students) and the girls section, located in Al Karama  (with 260 students) of the Towheed Iranian School received their first KHDA inspections in May 2012.  

The girls section of the school has received an “Acceptable” rating for the all ten inspections undertaken by the DSIB inspection teams,  while the boys section has received “Good” for the the past seven inspections. 

With 28 teachers, not including the principal and a senior leadership team, and twelve teaching assistants, the school has a very good student to teacher ratio of 1:9. Students are grouped in 17 classes. All students are of Iranian nationality and a good feature of the school, according to the KHDA, is the attainment and progress in science across all phases of the school.

What about the curriculum?

Unlike the Boys school, which offers the option of both the Iranian curriculum and an international curriculum based on the IB programmes and leading to the IB Diploma Programme, the Girls school follows the Iranian curriculum, with students taking national examinations at the end of Grades 5, 8, and 12. The school does not publish its results.

What about support for students of Determination?

With a very low number of just five students who have been identified with additional learning needs, this provision is relatively new to Towheed Iranian Girls School.

The DSIB inspection report notes that school leaders are establishing a commitment to inclusive education within the context of a rapid increase in the school roll and significant numbers of staff new to the school.  The current provision and outcomes for students of Determination is rated Acceptable.

The school is steadily developing early identification of students of determination and support for them. Information from teachers’ observations is mainly used to categorise additional needs. The absence of accurate diagnoses and assessment data on students with very specific needs constrain the quality of modification that teachers can currently offer.  In addition, present staffing levels limit the development of more personalised support. The acceptable progress of students of determination is reflected in their workbooks and during lesson observations. Some make better progress when individualised planning is used effectively.

What the inspectors say

The most recent inspection of the Towheed Iranian Girls School took place in November 2022 and the school was again awarded an Acceptable rating for tenth inspection running.  The Boys and International school has been rated Good for the past six years.

Are you a parent, teacher or student at Towheed Iranian Girls School?Take a surveyarrow_forward

However, as is so often the case, the overall Acceptable rating is not necessarily a full reflection of the education provided by the school.  In terms of student achievement, with the exception of attainment in English, Maths and Science in the new KG section, almost all other ratings are Good. 

Teaching for effective learning and the Protection, care, guidance and support of students is also largely rated Good across the school. Where the school has made less progress is in respect of the Curriculum in terms of its design, implementation and its adaptation, although the latter is rated Good in the KG section.  

Students’ personal and social development and their innovation skills are a strength of the school, with Personal development rated Outstanding in the Middle and Senior schools and Very Good in the KG and Primary sections.  The latter rating was also awarded to students’ Understanding of Islamic values, and awareness of Emirati and world cultures’.

In terms of the strengths of the school, these were found to be:

• Students’ very good to outstanding personal development and very good understanding of Islamic values
• The very good quality of care and support for students in High [school]
• The very good partnerships with parents that contribute to students’ personal development and support the school’s provision of a broader choice of subjects in High [school].

With respect to areas for improvement, the Towheed Iranian Girls School should:

• Enhance students’ critical thinking skills by providing opportunities for them to engage in open-ended, enquiry-based learning, and by ensuring appropriate challenge for all.
• Ensure that all sources of data are fully analysed, and that the analysis is used to design class activities that match the specific needs of different groups of students.
• Make sure that self-evaluation is accurate, so that improvement planning has a positive impact on key priorities. 

If you would like to read the inspection report – and we strongly recommend that you do so in order to understand the reasons behind the ratings and recommendations – you will find it here.

If you are a parent, teacher or senior students at Towheed Iranian Girls School, please share your opinions and experience with other potential members of your community and complete our Survey here.

The inspection report notes that the school engages parents very effectively as partners in their children’s education. The parents’ council gives good support to school improvement. Leaders, teachers, and parents communicate promptly and effectively through social media that enable whole-school and group communication. Valued consultation complements informative progress reports. The views of the parents’ council help to identify important priorities for senior students’  progression after Grade 12.

In a new initiative introduced by the KHDA in the 2022-23 inspection process, the DSIB inspectors were asked to evaluate ‘The quality of wellbeing provision and outcomes’ which was found to be at a moderate level, the third of four possible ratings. 

The inspectors found that:

• School leaders share a developing vision for wellbeing. There is a clear wellbeing policy, and the governing board and leaders know the wellbeing strengths and areas for development. They are aware of the key strategies and actions required to underpin more successful outcomes. The school is in the process of surveying the opinions of students and their parents and analysing the resulting information.
• Well-informed staff in the middle and high phases accurately identify students who have wellbeing issues. A counsellor is available to offer advice, guidance, and support. Information from students and parents is beginning to influence wellbeing policies. The school promptly addresses the needs of its staff. 
• Students’ lifestyle choices demonstrate limited knowledge about the importance and value of healthy living. They report that they feel safe, valued, and welcome in the school. Students with emotional challenges, especially during examinations, receive appropriate support from all members of staff.

Our View

The Towheed Iranian Girls School fulfils a niche role in providing a classical Iranian education to a specific group of families in Dubai.  As such, parents who are disposed specifically towards the school are unlikely to take into account the views of the regulator or other third parties.  The fact the school does appear to be making improvements in the quality of the education at the school is, therefore, a positive sign.

What about the fees?

According to the KHDA website, tuition fees range from AED 14,500 in  KG 1 and 2, which reduces to AED 8,721 for Grade 1 to AED 9,528 in Grade 12.  In addition, there are further mandatory fees of AED 1,100 for books and uniforms.   The KG fees are therefore significantly higher than other grades in the school and we would be inclined to confirm these figures. 

Please note that the school website is not available in English.

If you are the owner or the principal of the school and note any inaccuracies, or would like to update data, you can now open an account with us. You will also be able to add admissions availability per year group, and advertise current job vacancies. This is a free service. Please help us keep prospective parents up to date with your latest information.

Are you looking for a place for your child, and want help from our school consultants? If so, click on the link below, and we will forward your request for information to the school or schools of the same type that we are confident have availability. This is a free service for our readers. Request Information