Gaber Sayah

Head of Arabic

Welcome to the Academic Year 2026–27

It is my great pleasure to welcome our students, parents, and colleagues to another exciting academic year at The Winchester School.

Within the Arabic, Islamic Education & UAE Social Studies Department (MOE Subjects), our vision extends beyond academic achievement. We are committed to developing confident learners who value their language, understand their culture and heritage, demonstrate strong moral values, and take pride in their identity while engaging positively with the wider world.

Our students remain at the heart of everything we do. Through high-quality teaching, meaningful learning experiences, and a culture of challenge and support, we aim to inspire every student to become a confident communicator, an independent learner, and a responsible member of the community.

As we begin the 2026–27 academic year, we continue to build on the successes of previous years while further strengthening the quality of teaching, learning, assessment, and student experience across Arabic, Islamic Education, and UAE Social Studies.

Our Key Priorities and Initiatives for 2026–27

  1. “Be a GEM”
    Continuing to embed character, values, respect, responsibility, and excellence across our curriculum, encouraging every student to demonstrate positive values through their learning and everyday actions.
  2. “Read Like a GEM”
    Strengthening our culture of reading by encouraging students to read regularly, explore a wide range of texts, develop deeper comprehension, and discover the enjoyment and knowledge that reading brings.
  3. Strong Foundations from FS2
    Further developing our FS2 Arabic and Islamic Education curriculum to ensure our youngest learners begin their educational journey with engaging, age-appropriate experiences that build strong foundations in language, values, culture, and identity.
  4. Supporting Quran Learning Through Technology
    Continuing the development of our dedicated Quran learning website, providing students with accessible resources to support accurate recitation, understanding, revision, and memorisation of the Holy Quran.
  5. Arabic & Islamic Education Student Magazine
    Developing our termly Arabic & Islamic Education Magazine as a platform to celebrate student voice, creativity, writing, reflection, and achievement, while creating further opportunities for parents to engage with their children’s learning.
  6. Confident Arabic Communication
    Maintaining a strong focus on enabling students to communicate confidently and accurately in Modern Standard Arabic, making Arabic a meaningful and living language that students can use with pride both inside and beyond the classroom.
  7. Innovative Learning Resources
    Building on the success of our specialised Arabic dictionary for non-Arab learners and the enhanced “I Am Creative” resource, supporting vocabulary development, creativity, critical thinking, and innovation in line with the educational vision of the UAE.
  8. UAE Social Studies and National Identity
    Continuing to strengthen the delivery of UAE Social Studies, creating meaningful connections between history, geography, culture, heritage, citizenship, national identity, and the values of the United Arab Emirates.
  9. Personalised Learning and Student Progress
    Using assessment and learning data purposefully to identify each student’s strengths and areas for development, enabling teachers to provide appropriate challenge, targeted support, and personalised learning opportunities.
  10. Partnership with Parents
    Strengthening communication and collaboration between school and home, recognising that strong partnerships with parents are essential in supporting students’ academic progress, personal development, values, and wellbeing.

At the Arabic, Islamic Education & UAE Social Studies Department, we believe that excellence is achieved when high expectations, strong values, innovation, and a genuine love of learning come together. Our ambition is for every student to make excellent progress while developing the confidence, character, cultural awareness, and sense of identity they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.

We look forward to another successful year of learning, achievement, faith, creativity, and growth, and to celebrating the accomplishments of our students throughout 2026–27.

Together, we will continue to inspire every student to Be a GEM, Read Like a GEM, and strive for excellence every day.

Warm regards,

Gaber Sayah
Head of Arabic, Islamic Education & UAE Social Studies (MOE Subjects)
The Winchester School

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