Dubai’s private schools are preparing for the return of inspections by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) after a two-year suspension, with a notable shift toward shorter notice periods and a data-driven evaluation approach starting in the 2026–27 academic year.
KHDA plans to collect updated information from schools by October, encompassing student achievement, leadership, staff training, and teaching quality. Once the data is gathered and analyzed, quality assurance visits are expected to begin, although no specific dates have been announced. Unlike previous inspections, which provided schools about a week’s notice, the new framework will allow inspectors to notify schools as little as 24 hours in advance. This adjustment aims to capture a more authentic view of day-to-day classroom practices rather than specially prepared presentations.
School leaders expressed that this change emphasizes consistent standards throughout the academic year rather than temporary improvements made in anticipation of an inspection. Leigh Girven, Principal of Greenfield International School and Executive Principal of IB Schools at Taaleem, noted that this reinforces inspectors’ ability to observe genuine, routine teaching and learning. She also highlighted that the School Self-Evaluation Form (SEF), a tool schools use to assess their performance, will now be maintained as a living document that is continually updated rather than submitted once before inspections.
The shift to shorter notice inspections has prompted schools to rely heavily on ongoing internal monitoring systems to maintain teaching quality. Matthew Burfield, Executive Principal and CEO of GEMS Founders School – Dubai and Executive Vice President at GEMS Education, explained that practices such as “learning walks,” instructional coaching, curriculum checks, assessment reviews, and regular student progress meetings provide leaders with up-to-date insights into classroom engagement and instructional effectiveness. These continuous evaluations are designed to ensure that schools are inspection-ready without disruption.
While acknowledging the professional pressures inspections can bring, Punit MK Vasu, CEO of The Indian High Group of Schools, said that a culture of year-round readiness and transparent assessment helps educators manage expectations. According to Vasu, his schools maintain assessment data, curriculum plans, and protocols continuously, allowing them to integrate inspections seamlessly without altering daily routines or affecting students.
The revised quality assurance framework also introduces differentiated visits for newer and established schools. Educational institutions in their first or second year will undergo focused visits concentrating on teaching, learning, and student experience, aimed at providing targeted support. Meanwhile, schools in their third year or beyond will face comprehensive assessments involving detailed reporting and overall ratings. Seema Umar, Principal of Dewcale School, Dubai, which began operations in 2023 under the CBSE curriculum, welcomed the approach as a way to tailor inspections to schools’ development stages, enabling new schools to build solid foundations while allowing more mature schools to engage in reflective improvement processes.
As inspections resume, Dubai’s private schools are adapting to a model intended to foster ongoing accountability and authentic evaluation of educational quality.