Students flourish creating a vibrant, connected community rooted in partnership
What makes a school community truly thrive? At The British International School Abu Dhabi (BIS Abu Dhabi), the answer is simple: parents are not only welcome, they are essential.
With a genuine commitment to building strong, lasting family-school partnerships, BIS Abu Dhabi was recently recognised with ADEK’s Best Parent Engagement Award, closely after winning the Parent Partnership Award at the MENA School Excellence Awards.
Claiming two of the region’s most respected titles in one month is no coincidence, it reflects strategic leadership with students at the centre. Yet beyond the accolades lies a thriving parent-school ecosystem built on trust, creativity, and shared purpose
A community where everyone belongs
When Head of Secondary, Aine McGlue, entered her headship last year, she felt the warmth of the community straight away.
But she also saw the chance to go deeper. “With more than 90 nationalities here, belonging has to mean more than coffee mornings,” she explains.
“It’s about being intentional and co-creating with families – making sure every parent, no matter their background, has a voice and a way to engage.”
That’s how the Parent Power approach was formed: a collection of initiatives designed to connect families, strengthen trust, and, most importantly, support students.
Opening a ‘Window Into Learning’
Parents often say one of the hardest parts of international schooling is not knowing what actually happens in the classroom. The school’s ‘Window Into Learning’ was created to change that.
From curriculum overviews and classroom tours to showcase days where students present their work, parents can see and understand what their children are learning.
One parent described it perfectly: “I finally get to share in my son’s excitement about science. I can ask questions that mean something – and no longer feel like I’m on the outside looking in.”
It’s about partnership: helping parents support their children with confidence and insight.
Heads Together: Real talk, real change
Walk into a Heads Together session and you will witness something unusual: teachers, parents, and students brainstorming side by side.
Since launching, the school has hosted over 22 parent sessions, with 94 per cent of attendees reporting they felt “heard and valued.”
The topics? Anything from cyber safety to student wellbeing. These conversations have already sparked real change, like creating the ‘Parents as Partners’ Programme and launching a Medical Society with support from parents working at Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi.
Tackling the big issues
Sometimes parents just need space to talk about what really matters. That’s where The Big Issue speaker events come in. Parents suggest the themes, and the school brings in experts to explore them together.
“When the school hosted a session on girls’ confidence because we asked for it, it showed me that our voices really count,” said one parent.
With guest speakers ranging from safeguarding consultants to financial educators, families leave with practical strategies as well as reassurance that they are not alone.
A true home away from home
Of course, not everything is about academics. Sometimes it’s about community – kayaking trips, Pinktober fundraisers, or language classes for non-English-speaking families.
For one Korean parent, the school’s in-house language programme was a game-changer: “Learning the right phrases for parent-teacher meetings gave me the confidence to ask questions I never would have before.”
Community events have grown rapidly in recent times. Last year, participation rose by 45 per cent, with more than 90 per cent of families attending at least one.
Union Day was a standout event at the school, with parents from 96 nationalities celebrating side by side.
Why it matters
The results are clear as parent attendance at events is up 45 per cent; 94 per cent of parents in Heads Together sessions say they feel “heard and valued.”
Complaints are down, enrollment is up, and academic progress is rising. As Mrs McGlue explains: “It’s simple: When home and school work in partnership, student achievement rises and research proves it! Consistent parental engagement leads to academic gain. This isn’t soft strategy – it’s smart strategy.”
But talk to the parents, and they will tell you it’s about something simpler: feeling part of their children’s world. One parent summed it up best: “This school doesn’t just involve us as parents, it empowers us. It feels like a family here.”
The school gate doesn’t close when lessons begin; it swings open in both directions, welcoming families in and sending students out stronger, more confident, and more connected than ever.
To find out more about BIS Abu Dhabi’s approach, visit BIS Abu Dhabi
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