What makes Raha International an outstanding school?

ABU DHABI When every school is striving for excellence, what does it take for one to become ‘outstanding’? Raha International’s principal designate Iain Colledge has the most succinct answer.

“We are a happy school with happy kids, happy parents and happy teachers,” said Colledge, who will replace Wayne Maclnnis as the new principal in September.

The Taaleem-run Raha Inter-national located in Khalifa City A, has emerged as the only school in the ‘Band A Outstanding’ category in Irtiqa school inspection results released by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) recently.

Top ratings
The other two Abu Dhabi schools that received top ratings during the September-December school inspections are Aldar Academies’ Al Bateen Secondary-Al Mushrif Private School and Al Muna Primary School.


Schools in Abu Dhabi are inspected once in two years under the Irtiqa inspection programme launched in February 2012, and schools are graded outstanding, very good, good, acceptable, weak and very weak.

In 2015-2016, ADEC inspected 112 schools. Colledge said being an International Baccalaureate school was a big part of the school’s success. “Its enquiry-based learning and holistic approach make the school very special,” he said.

“Also, it is about having the best teachers. If you make the right recruitments, then your job is 90 per cent done,” he added.

Taking over the school ahead of its 10th anniversary next year, Colledge said after a decade of growth he will oversee a period of stability. Colledge joined the school in April 2016 and is waiting to take charge as principal in September.

“The school is not going to rest on its laurels. We want to move from ‘outstanding’ to ‘exceptional’, and a staff committee has already been formed to come up with great ideas for that push.”

The two areas where Colledge would like to see improvements are sports and performance arts.

“The school needs to put itself on the map. And how you do that? By what you do outside of the school. I am pushing to make our presence better felt in sports and international competitions. Likewise, when it comes to performance arts, we are not in a position to be shouting from the rooftop. I would like to see that happen,” he said.

The school appears on track to realise Colledge’s vision.

Its new block opening in September has a Performance Arts Centre with a seating capacity of 650 and an orchestra pit; a black box theatre with music rooms, drama room and arts room, and a diploma suite for adult work space. The school is also revamping the canteen to enhance the healthy food programme and giving a makeover to the library.

The new parking lot that is expected to improve safety and drop off time is also close to completion.

But with all the substantial investments in facilities, Colledge says what makes Raha endearing to its parental community is its safe and homely atmosphere.

“We have the physical and human resources of a huge school but we still maintain the family environment of a small school. So parents get the best of both – impressive facilities yet all the good things of a small, closely-knit school community. That is what makes Raha special,” said Colledge.


Fact File
Name: Raha International
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Number of students: 1836
Percentage of emiratis: 15%
Number of teachers: 136
Fee range: Dh36,000 – Dh56,900

Source: Xpress, Abu Dhabi - 16 June 2016