Walking into Ras Al Khaimah Academy’s Al Hamra campus, visitors immediately notice a display that has become something of a conversation starter. A wooden plaque shaped like a ballpoint, a framed certificate, and a ceremonial stole that spells out “Ras Al Khaimah Awards for Educational Excellence” in bold, brown letters proudly commemorate the school’s recent achievement: receiving the title of Outstanding School in Performance Excellence at the Al Qasimi Foundation’s RAK Awards. Parents often pause to look at the display. Many smile with reassurance, confident that their children are learning in the right place.

The award serves as an acknowledgement that the school’s culture and values are shaping strong educational outcomes for its students. This success is the result of intentional leadership and thoughtful practice rather than coincidence. The story behind the award reflects the school’s dedication to academic excellence, sustainability, and meaningful community engagement.

Where excellence begins

RAK Academy is one of the oldest private school systems in the Northern Emirates, with three campuses serving students across Ras Al Khaimah. The Al Hamra campus stands out as one of the most diverse campuses, representing students from 61 nationalities who collectively speak 51 languages. This multicultural community enriches the learning environment and influences the school’s approach to teaching and student support.

“Teaching and learning are everything at this school,” says Karolina Jankowska, Head of School at RAK Academy Al Hamra campus. She also notes that the school’s mission is to “provide outstanding and transformative education.” To accomplish this mission, the school employs a comprehensive teacher recruitment process focused on evaluating skill-based and behavioral competencies and implements a student admission principle aimed at deeply understanding learners’ needs and challenges.

“I have high expectations from my staff”, Karolina says. “High expectations from everyone, for everyone” is her leadership ethos. Teachers are encouraged to perform at their best, and the school provides them with strong professional development opportunities, an attractive compensation package, and a dynamic work environment. Yet, this expectation is not one-sided: parents are also regarded as essential partners in the learning process and play an important role in the school’s success.

“Winning at the RAK Awards ceremony and being recognized as an ‘Outstanding School in Performance Excellence’ was a tremendous honor”, says Karolina. It is an affirmation that the school is doing the right things for the students: “If it’s right for the children, it’s right for the school”.

Adaptive teaching for a diverse student body

Karolina believes that while all RAK Academy campuses share certain qualities that contribute to their success, each school maintains its own distinct character. At the Al Hamra campus, where many students are English language learners, the pursuit of educational excellence begins with a strong commitment to adaptive teaching. One example is the six-week intensive language program designed to close English literacy gaps for newly enrolled students. The school has also introduced a cultural awareness component to its orientation process to help its predominantly expat student community adjust to learning and living in Ras Al Khaimah, with Emirati students serving as cultural ambassadors.

Commitment to sustainability

Another priority for the school is the promotion of sustainability, both invisible and visible. One way the school promotes invisible sustainability is through its entrepreneurship curriculum, which focuses on teaching students sustainable financial literacy.

To strengthen its visible commitment to sustainability, the school created a student-led Green Committee that actively pursues partnerships with environmental organizations. The goal is to work together on innovative projects that inspire creativity and environmental responsibility. One of the Committee’s accomplishments is winning second place in the Emirates Environmental Group’s “Art from Waste” competition, an event that promotes artistic expression through the use of discarded materials. Members of the Committee also had the opportunity to collaborate with French artist Jerome Toq’r to design a sculpture made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. This artwork is now displayed at the COP28 headquarters in Dubai and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ecological stewardship.

Community members as co-creators of success

Karolina believes that meaningful community engagement begins with truly valuing parents’ input. “Any feedback is good feedback”, she admits and encourages the school to treat parents as key partners in the teaching and learning process. This partnership requires transparent and timely communication, along with opportunities for parents to participate in decisions that influence their children’s education.

To support this approach, the school has set up a Parent Council that plays an active role in monitoring student progress, wellbeing, and certain administrative matters. Each class also has a designated Parent Representatives to help maintain open communication between families and the school. These representatives often share insights that teachers may not be aware of, particularly when it comes to learning needs at home. The school has also introduced a Parent Engagement Calendar that includes workshops, volunteering opportunities, and community events. These opportunities help parents feel welcomed, connected, and supported, much like their children.

What comes next

Karolina is proud of what the Al Hamra campus has accomplished over the past five years and is genuinely excited about what lies ahead. As part of its long-term vision, the school is reinvesting its earnings into expanding its facilities, with a construction project underway that will double the Al Hamra campus capacity to 1,500 students. The planned campus expansion will introduce upper primary and secondary levels within the next three years.

“I want to be at a place where I can make a sustainable impact,” Karolina says. The school’s recognition at the RAK Awards has sparked interest from other education leaders. Shortly after the ceremony, a senior leader from another private school contacted her to learn more about the approach behind RAK Academy Al Hamra’s success. Karolina was glad to share her insights and expressed her willingness to guide other schools. “Our way is not the only way, so we can benefit from collaborating with other schools”, she explains, highlighting that progress in education becomes stronger when schools learn from one another.