As we approach the end of a vibrant academic year filled with events, achievements, and memorable moments, I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. Our school has been honoured with not one, but two prestigious awards in recognition of our commitment to parent engagement: the MENA Parent Partnership Award and the ADEK Best Parent Engagement Award.
These accolades are a powerful reflection of the community spirit our parents demonstrate and the culture we have built together, one that values strong, trusting relationships between school and home. While no school journey is without its bumps along the way, these awards acknowledge the clear and consistent focus we place on working collaboratively as a school community.
Educational research is unequivocal: when schools and parents work in partnership, supporting one another, communicating openly, and assuming good intent, even when everything isn’t perfect, students thrive.
As part of the ADEK Award, we were also granted a prize of AED 100,000 to be spent on school improvements. This generous award will go straight back into the community as we look at how we can develop and grow our current offer to students and families. We are currently exploring initiatives that will bring the greatest benefit to our community and further strengthen the school experience.
As I reflect on the year, I feel incredibly proud to be part of the leadership team serving this remarkable community. Thank you for the energy, commitment and trust you bring to our shared mission. Our successes belong to us all.
👉 Curious to learn more? Read our full story Award-winning Parent Power: How BIS Abu Dhabi is Doing Things Differently, and watch the video to see how our unique approach to parent partnership is making an impact.
Aine McGlue
Head of Secondary
As we draw this academic year to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable journey for The British International School Abu Dhabi. This year has been defined by so much more than achievement, it has been a year of resilience, creativity, compassion, and bold ambition.
Read on to discover the unforgettable highlights, proud achievements, and inspiring moments that made this year at BIS Abu Dhabi truly remarkable.
The penultimate week of term always brings a mix of energy and reflection. Lessons are still purposeful, but there is also a sense of looking back, recognising just how far our students have come.
This year, we have seen strong academic success across the school. Students have worked hard, and the outcomes reflect that effort. But just as important have been the achievements beyond the classroom in music, sport, language, technology, and the arts. Our curriculum is broad for a reason, and it has been clear this year that our students are thriving in many ways.
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.
This week at BIS Abu Dhabi, we have had the joy of celebrating both ends of the school journey and it has been a beautiful reminder of how we support our students to dream big and grow into their future selves.
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