Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1

Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1 (ADIS) is a sister school to the Abu Dhabi Indian School on Abu Dhabi Island. The school located in Al Wathba was inaugurated in 2014. ADIS Branch 1 at the time of launch offered classes until Grade 8 and added four more grades by 2018.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Al Wathba follows the CBSE curriculum from kindergarten until Grade 12. It is a co-education school for kindergarten and primary students. However, secondary and high school has separate classes for boys and girls.

Currently, it has more than 3,100 students out of which 31 students have additional SEND requirements. The student body is served by 197 teachers and 8 teaching assistants making the teacher to student ratio 1:16.

Between 2014 and 2016, Abu Dhabi Indian School Al Wathba Branch 1 saw an influx of both students and teachers, a 50% increase, which surprisingly was managed exceptionally well. Another highlight of the school is that the teacher turnover rate is quite low (10%).

Recently, the school was rated ‘Good’ by the ADEK – a step-up from its previous ‘Acceptable’ rating.

Nevertheless, parents who want to explore more options related to CBSE curriculum schools can also check out the best Indian schools in Abu Dhabi.

This Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 review covers important information regarding the school’s fees, curriculum, admission process and extracurricular activities to assist parents in making an informed decision.

• Location: Al Wathba
• School Fee: AED 9,770.50 to AED 14,958.50
• Curriculum: CBSE
• Co-ed or Segregate: Co-education
• ADEK Rating: Good
• Years Offered: KG to Grade 12 (Class XII)

Located in a far-off area in Abu Dhabi, few communities are in proximity to the school, including:

• Al Nahdah
• Baniyas West
• Baniyas East
• Bawabat Al Sharq

The closest residential community is Al Nahda. Although the area is still underdeveloped, there are a few lifestyle amenities including a primary and secondary school.

The purpose-built Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 campus is huge and has some of the best academic and sporting facilities. The use of technology is common within the classroom in the form of interactive whiteboards, multimedia, projectors and other assisting tools.

You will find a library, computer science labs and labs for biology, physics and chemistry courses. Students interested in performing arts activities can make the most of an auditorium and rooms reserved for arts, music, dance, drama and talent.

One can also find a bookshop, a prayer room, canteen facility and a clinic on site. Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 uniforms are available at the bookshop.

Children who want to participate in sporting activities can find top-notch sports facilities at the school. There is a large full-sized football field, an outdoor court serving as basketball, tennis, volleyball and netball courts and a cricket pitch. As for indoor facilities, one can find a swimming pool and a gymnasium.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 is situated at the junction of Wari Street in Al Wathba. The community is known because of the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.

Although there isn’t much development in the area, you can find the Mayoor Private School to the left of ADIS School.

ADIS school Al Wathba is a sister school to the original Abu Dhabi Indian School founded in 1975. The school has a proven record of serving the Indian expat communities over the years.

Furthermore, the school offers Indian curriculum education from kindergarten to Grade 12, which means you wouldn’t have to look for secondary school elsewhere. Also, ADIS has managed to provide students with state-of-the-art facilities that support the learning processes both inside and outside the classroom.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 location is sparsely populated providing students with little to no noise pollution to disturb their classroom learnings. Also, congestion-free surroundings mean a hassle-free pick and drop for parents and school buses.

The school’s governing board and head of departments strive to implement their expertise, skills and knowledge at the school for the benefit of students.

The Abu Dhabi Indian School Al Wathba is divided into three sections.

The Abu Dhabi Indian School curriculum is based on CBSE guidelines.

Kindergarten Curriculum

The kindergarten curriculum follows the NCERT preschool curriculum for Early Years Education (EYE). The purpose of this curriculum is to develop the pedagogical process and practices that will help students achieve goals such as:

• Physical Well-Being, Health and Motor Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Creative and Aesthetic Development
• Language, Communication and Literacy Skills
• Environmental Awareness, Development of Scientific Temper
• Developing Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning

In addition to this, little ones are prepared to develop a learning sense and communicate with those around them. A major chunk of the curriculum is all about enabling students to connect with the surroundings on their own.

Furthermore, the curriculum chosen at this level ensures that students seamlessly transition into the primary section following the CBSE curriculum.

Primary and Secondary Curriculum

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 curriculum for the primary and secondary section is similar and incorporates various assessment styles and activity levels. The curriculum is designed in a way to maximise the development of skills, knowledge and positive behaviour in students.

The curriculum includes different learning scopes, teaching material and practices to enhance the learning experience. Similarly, the flexibility of the curriculum is a major concern, especially in higher sections. This refers to the flexibility to respond to the needs and questions of students, especially those with SEND requirements.

Major courses taught at primary and secondary levels include:

• English, French and Arabs
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Sciences
• Islamic Education
• Moral Instruction
• UAE Social studies
• Computer Sciences
• Performing and Visual Arts
• Physical Education
• MEP

Students enrolled in Grade 11 and 12 have the option to choose electives from three main groups including Humanities, Commerce and Science.

Furthermore, the performance of students is assessed regularly to identify the weak areas that require improvement. Grade 1 to 12 students will have to appear for school-based exams and assessment classified as:

• Continuous Evaluation- (Formal)
• 4 cycle tests
• 2 term exams
• Quiz, Debate, Projects, Journals etc. (Different Tools & Techniques)
• Informal Assessment-Dictation, Mental Maths, Subject Enrichment

On the other hand, benchmark exams cover TIMSS, PISA, Mars Primary Colors, Olympiad and ASSET and ACER.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is the main regulatory authority that oversees the operation and development of both public and private schools in Abu Dhabi.

Through the Irtiqaa Program, the ADEK carries out periodic evaluations of schools to ensure consistency in the quality across six aspects namely,

• Students’ achievement
• Students’ personal and social development, and their innovation skills
• Teaching and assessment
• Curriculum
• The protection, care, guidance and support of students
• Leadership and management

The Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 ADEK rating for the academic year 2018 – 2019 has been ‘Good.’

According to the Irtiqaa report, Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 in Al Wathba showed remarkable growth in improving students’ achievement in most subjects. The school provided excellent protection, care and guidance which have successfully led to the development of students’ personal and social development.

Similarly, students have shown a positive attitude towards the learning progress and are well aware of the heritage and the culture of the UAE.

Nevertheless, the report identified two key areas that need work, including attainment in Arabic studies and supporting the SEND students. ADIS Branch 1 must train teachers on the use of effective learning strategies in the classroom.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 academic calendar is split into three terms and runs for 10 months. The calendar highlights various school events, exam dates, results, activities for students and holidays. However, Islamic holidays are subject to moonsighting.

The academic year of Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1 starts in the second week of April and ends in the fourth week of March.

• The first term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July. This is followed by summer break that ends in the fourth week of August.
• The second term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. Students then go on a winter break that ends in the last week of December,
• The third term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March.

 For more information, please contact the school.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1’s admission process for next year starts from October of the current year. Those interested in admissions need to follow these steps:

The registration of your child starts with filling the online application form. You will find the application form link active on the school website from October/November. Following the application, the registration slip generated will have to be validated and submitted to the school’s admission department.

Depending on the availability of seats, children will be called for an entrance exam (for students enrolling in Grade 6 onwards). Once applicants appear for the entrance exam, parents are requested to submit the following mandatory documents to the school’s admission office:

• A copy of the child’s passport
• 2 copies of the child’s Emirates ID card
• 4 passport size photos of the applicant
• A copy of sponsors/parents’ passport
• A copy of the last year progress/school report of the child
• A copy of the most recent electricity bill
• A copy of the child’s birth certificate
• Attested Transfer Certificate
• A copy of immunisation card and medical insurance card

For the admission process to complete, both child and parents will have to sit in an interactive session with a member of the senior leadership team. Once the admission is confirmed, parents must complete the remaining formalities such as fee payment and collection of books and other materials.

Withdrawal

If parents want to withdraw their child, they must submit the Transfer Certificate Application form at ADIS Al Wathba at least 10 days before the date they want to collect the Transfer Certificate.

Parents can follow the below-provided age placement criteria to know which grade is their child suitable for considering his/her age.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st March (for schools beginning in April). Source: ADEK

Following is the fee structure of Abu Dhabi Indian School Wathba.

Some other additional charges include:

• Application fee (Non-refundable): AED 500
• Transport charges (Optional): AED 3,600
• Swimming charges (Optional): AED 525

Please note that Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 fees can be paid via cheque or direct deposit only.

The canteen at Wathba Indian School adheres to all the hygiene rules when serving lunch to students. You will find the cafeteria neat and clean at all times while students are supervised during their recess.

Children who are bringing home-made lunch must avoid bringing unhealthy food and drinks to the school.

Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 in Abu Dhabi offers transport services for the convenience of both students and parents. The school provides buses equipped with safety features and the drivers have a satisfactory experience to make your child’s commute sound and safe.

To use the service, parents must inform the drivers about their area and the pick-up and drop-off point. If the bus routes cover your area, you will be informed of the availability accordingly.

The annual charges for the transport service are AED 3,600.

As mentioned in the campus section, the school has impressive facilities when it comes to sports. Students have access to a large full-sized football field, an outdoor court serving as basketball, tennis, volleyball and netball courts, a cricket pitch, a swimming pool and a gymnasium.

To boost mental, physical and emotional health of students, ADIS 1 has introduced several extra-curricular activities. Through these exciting opportunities, students can engage their creative side without compromising on their academic progress.

Field trips are a part of the curriculum followed by the school. Students are taken to various trips to engage their curious nature, assist their classroom learnings and give them a chance to enjoy fun-filled time with their peers.

In the past, ADIS Branch 1 Al Wathba students have been on school trips within the UAE as well as international tours. Foreign trips include visits to NASA, Bratislava, Prague, Croatia and South Africa.

Students who take extra classes or participate in extracurricular affairs can stay back until 04:00 pm. The school will provide transportation at the end of the after-school activities.

One can find a well-managed clinic at the school. This medical centre is run by a professional physician who administers first-aid treatment when required and maintains the medical records of each student.

Nevertheless, the school advises parents to submit the latest and updated medical insurance card and immunisation card of the students, especially if your child has a unique medical condition that the school should be aware of.

ADIS recommends that parents submit their updated contact information.

ADIS Wathba uses different communication modes for the benefit of parents and students. First,  parents or guardians can access the parent portal after creating an account. Here, you can access features like the school calendar, event schedule, attendance report, your child’s performance and more.

Second, the school arranges parents’ engagement activities each month such as cooking without fire, painting and photography classes.

However, if you are more comfortable with traditional means of communication, the school website has an inquiry application form. You can also refer to Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 contact details provided below.

• Telephone Number: +971-2 583-1991
• Email: info@adiswathba.com
• Abu Dhabi Indian School – Branch 1 Website
• Abu Dhabi Indian School – Branch 1 Facebook
• Abu Dhabi Indian School – Branch 1 Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1

What are the timings of the school?

7:50 am to 2:30 pm

Does the school conduct after-school activities?

Yes, it conducts activities after school hours and transportation service is available for such students

How many grades are there in the school?

KG to Grade 12 (Class XII)

Does the school follow a co-education model?

Yes.

How many students are currently studying in the school?

Abu Dhabi Indian School, At Wathba has over 3,200 students.

Does the school have any special education programmes or learning plans for students of determination?

The school has procedures in place to identify students with special educational needs. The learning needs of underperforming students are met with provisions.

Please describe the academic calendar of the school.

The school year starts in April and ends in March.  

Please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by the school.

AED 9,770.50 to AED 14,958.50.

How does the school communicate with parents? Does Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1 have a parent portal

There is a parent portal for parents. Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 also arranges parents’ engagement activities every month. Parents can also make use of the inquiry application form on the school website.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, the school has a neat and clean cafeteria.

How often does the school arrange field trips?

Students go on national and international field trips every year.

How many teachers are currently teaching in the school?

The faculty includes 200 teachers and eight teaching assistants.