Starting Strong: Celebrating Early Achievement and Personalised Learning

As the new academic year gets underway, there’s already much to celebrate at BIS Abu Dhabi, from the energy across campus to the inspiring achievements of our students. It’s been especially wonderful to welcome new faces into our community, from children beginning their journey in FS1 to those joining us from other schools and countries. This rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences is part of what makes BIS Abu Dhabi such a vibrant and rewarding place to learn and grow.

We’re proud to begin the year by recognising a fantastic achievement in Primary: our phonics results reached 87% last year, the highest in our history. This milestone reflects the strength of our early years provision and the commitment of our teaching team to personalised learning from the very start.

Why Phonics Matters

Phonics is the foundation of our approach to early reading and writing. At BIS Abu Dhabi, we use the well-respected Read Write Inc. programme, one of the leading phonics systems in the UK. I’ve used this programme in all my previous schools and have consistently seen its impact on children’s literacy development.

We follow the standardised phonics screening assessment used across schools in England, ensuring consistency and rigour in how we measure progress. Phonics is taught intensively in FS2 and Year 1, with additional support in Year 2 for students who benefit from continued reinforcement.

This year’s outstanding results are the product of focused staff training, high-quality teaching, and a strong partnership between home and school. Our children are not only learning to read, they’re building confidence, curiosity, and a love of language that will support their learning across all subjects.

A Team Effort

I’ve also been incredibly impressed by the outcomes achieved by our students at GCSE, IB, and BTEC, and I want to echo Alan’s congratulations to those students and to Aine’s exceptional team in Secondary. These results are a reflection of the hard work and dedication that begins in the early years and continues throughout each child’s journey at BIS Abu Dhabi.

We are fortunate to have a team of passionate, skilled educators who are deeply committed to nurturing every child’s potential. Their energy and care create a learning environment where children feel safe, inspired, and ready to thrive.

We look forward to working closely with you this year to ensure your child’s experience is happy, enriching, and full of growth.

Warm regards,

John Dibdin

Head of Primary