Qatar Foundation
Dear All,
How are you all. My Name is Julie. I just moved with my husband and 2 sons to live in Qatar. Everything seemed to be good until I tried to get my 2 sons back to school. indeed, I've heard of Qatar Foundation and its outstanding standards in providing high quality education to all students and what not. I planned to take them there, but before doing so, i called one of my friends who told me something that really bothered me and yet can't find the logic behind it. well before telling you what bothered me, let me first talk about my Sons school back home. my oldest was born in october 2001 and he is in grade 6, my other son was born on April 2003 and he is in grade 5. Both of them were studying in the british system. going back again to what I was saying, my friend told me that if i applied to Qatar Academy in QF, they will have both of my sons re-do their previously academic year again !!! in other words, my older son will be doing grade 5 again just because he was in a school that follows a british system!! is this fair !! I mean having my both kids date of graduation pushed back because of that !!
I am writing to you all just to have a clear image of what to expect and why ? please advise ASAP because I need to get my kids back to school again...
Thank you all of your support and understanding..
Mrs. Paul
Yes, very good point deedee. The children are not being put back a year in terms of age group and learning level; it's more about what they call the grade level.
and learn more about it the school. For one thing QA is accredited through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and therefore, an American system. In the American system year 4 is the same as year 5 of the British system. There is a difference in the numbering systems between British and American schools. So your children would still be in the same grade, only a different number. Same graduation date.
My best advice, though, is to VISIT schools to see which you like best, and which has open spots for your children.
HI,
As one of the COMMENTER, said, When there are British or American System schools in Qatar, why you bothering and searching for a QATARI option?...
Hi all...
Thanks everyone for your quick reply..
I just called QA and they said excatly like what my friend had told me !! I asked them whats the logic behind it but no definit answer was given to me :(
Please guys, I am asking for advise .. shall I register them in a different school or shall I ignore the fact that there graduation date will be pushed back and have them admitted in QA?
qatarisun--there are a few British schools in the U.S., but they are extremely rare outside of the major metro areas. For example, Compass international, which has a campus in Qatar, has one in Houston, too, which is advertised there as a British school.
That said, to the OP--why not call and ask Qatar Academy to describe their policies?
british system of education in USA?
Mandi, does such thing exist in USA?
ask them their policy rather than rely on rumor and hearsay.
Wouldn't it be better to focus on the quality of education rather than the length? That is, assuming what you heard about QF is correct. Check it out. There may be a good reason for the repeating of a year or it may not even be true. I don't believe "fair" comes into it.
Mandi
Hi
It is not true that QA only accepts Qataris or QF employees. As for kids being pushed back one year, I'm not sure but I doubt it.
My advice is to get in touch with QA and clarify all the issues.
Never trust everything you hear from people.
First of all Qatar Academy only accepts Qataris unless you are working for QF.
Secondly as I see your from the States your best option is to send your kids to the American School of Doha (AS) hence they will not have to repeat the same year!