.png?rev=1619813b30a347d9bc71977e2cfe09d2&hash=66B98CDC659BBF07EB36660B4381E1E7)
We use cookies to improve your online experiences. To learn more and choose your cookies options, please refer to our cookie policy.
Message from our Deputy Head of Secondary, Vicky Juett
In our recent ADEK inspection, we were praised for our identification and support of Gifted and Talented learners. Our commitment to expertise, innovation, and impact is not just a statement, it’s a promise we live by through personalised learning, real-world opportunities, and a culture that celebrates curiosity and challenge.
As Morgan Whitfield, a Nord Anglia colleague at British International School Ho Chi Minh City, writes in her book Gifted?: The Shift to Enrichment, Challenge and Equity, “Gifted education is no longer about identifying the few, it’s about creating environments where all students can access challenge and opportunity.” At BIS Abu Dhabi, we’ve embraced this philosophy, ensuring that every learner is empowered to grow, lead, and make a difference.
Our teachers are experts in their fields and passionate about nurturing potential. Diana, a Year 13 student, shares:
“Senior School teachers at BIS Abu Dhabi ensure that we, as students, have a range of lesson and study resources. I truly appreciate the open, safe environment within which ideas can be shared, and the ability to ask for individual guidance for any subject-specific inquiries.”
This culture of academic rigour and relational support ensures that students are not only challenged but also deeply understood. Whether it’s differentiated tasks, accelerated pathways, or independent research projects, our approach is tailored to each learner’s strengths.
Adithya, another gifted student in Year 11 currently taking his Science and Maths IGCSEs early, reflects:
“In every subject where I’ve excelled, the school has personalised my learning. In maths, I’m given IB-level problems. In science, I wrote an extended essay in Year 8 with my teacher’s guidance.”
Adithya (far right) pictured with his BISAD Wings Team, a group of gifted innovators representing BIS Abu Dhabi in the Wings of Wonder STEM aviation challenge.
Gifted education at BIS Abu Dhabi extends far beyond the syllabus. Students engage in real-world experiences that connect learning to life. Diana’s journey exemplifies this:
“My Year 10 work experience evolved into a 4-month internship at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, where I collaborated with the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. I also won the MIT Nord Anglia STEM Innovation Competition, which led to a week at MIT in the US, working with doctoral students.”
These opportunities reflect BIS Abu Dhabi’s commitment to interdisciplinary and inter-organisational collaboration, preparing students to lead in a complex, globalised world.
We believe gifted learners flourish when they are empowered to lead. Diana shares:
“The opportunity to continue my passion for public speaking and leadership is an experience the school has encouraged, and one which I deeply cherish.”
Diana hosting a TED-style Talk during our One People One Planet event, inspiring peers with her voice, vision, and leadership.
From debate tournaments to Model United Nations, from F1 in Schools to STEM competitions, our students are immersed in experiences that foster confidence, collaboration, and creativity.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, gifted education is not a programme, it’s a culture. We create environments where students are challenged without pressure, supported without limits, and inspired to pursue their passions.
“Achieving academic excellence and simultaneously developing crucial soft skills such as leadership, time-management, and public-speaking has been the biggest benefit,” Diana says.
This is the BIS Abu Dhabi difference: a place where expertise meets empathy, where innovation drives opportunity, and where impact is measured in lives transformed.