park house school

Expalady - Good sensible posting. It would be nice to see the Austalians and South Aficans set up their own community schools to relieve the pressure on the 'british' schools.

I guess sadly there are just not enough places to go around. As you say Doha College and DESS are British Embassy or British / curriculum schools, however you see them, so I consider the fact that 50% of places at DC are going to non Brits to be pretty generous really for those of you annoyed about not having the right passport. Perhaps people need to encourage their own governments to establish schools in Qatar for their nationals rather than relying on other countries to provide this service for them. This then might help those 'annoyed brits with average kids' an opportunity to go to a british school of their choice. Schools here do their best for a rapidly increasing population and do not deserve such criticism as to please everyone is an impossible task. I feel for those of you who are having schooling difficulties here.

I know what you mean - especially this year, when over 20 DESS kids failed to secure places at Doha College for secondary leaving whole ( British) families stuck

I applied at parkhouse, DBMS and QIS. Just received mails of no place :(. Where should we take our kids if cant afford the high fees schools like acs , isl and compass?

I think its Time the British Embassy encourage and sponsor more British Schools. Doha College has become too big headed for its own good. If you only take on the best then whats the big deal, try teaching to average kids and get performance.

This issue about being sponsored by the British Embassy don't mean any thing to them. They will just take the academic selective kids, even from other nationalities which defies the whole idea of been sponsored by the British Embassy.

Doha College are also dishonest about their preference for British passport holders. They encourage all nationalities to apply- and hence pay an application fee. however at 50% of the kids in the school are British !

My friend who is teacher confirmed this

Thanks Simonsmithy, I hope I have. I think some parents think they cant be choosy and take the first place that comes up. It has to right for the child, as my daughter is 16 she had such a good feel for the school and knew very quickly that she would feel at ease and fit in at Park House. I know what you mean about DC, they are not transparent at all in their requirements. IF your childs last report when applying is not of degree standard they wont shortlist your child to be tested and wont tell you whether they will be shortlisted (hello) how long do parents wait for this decision to be made, and yet as you have pointed out they do take many children who are of lower ability.

HEy ho, just glad I realised before handing any more of our hard earned cash over. Many months of emails to their incompetent front line admissions are at last done (or so I thought). I received an email yesterday to say they havent received all of my childs details. Hmm, let me see. 8th time sending the info, its taken her 10 weeks to realise she still doesnt have it. Advice to anyone applying. Hand deliver if you can, if your still in the U.K expect months of torture applying.

Im so sorry for the negativity, this relocation business is getting to me a little.

Gelana - you made a good move with Park House. I know exactly what you mean about Doha College. When you phone up to enquire about your application you get a different answer. My friend kept being told she had no chance die to the plethora of siblings that had prority - Fine she thought - then when one of her kids got in ( for sixth form) she was told that there was no such thing as sibling priority and that it was all done on ability - but they refused to test her kid, who had straight A's from DESS.

With respect to the year 7 'open exam' two virtually rememdial kids got places - because they were good swimmers - fine - but the mantra the DC preaches is that ' we are only interested in academic ability in terms of deciding whether to accept pupils' - by the way both kids had parents who are teachers at DC!

I was also concerned about waiting lists. I am due to move end August with my 2 children aged 9 and 16 years. My husband is already there. I like yourself was very concerned about school reputation etc and had myself chewed about school places, or should I say lack of them. I applied to Doha College, Park House and DESS initially, I am pleased to say my children have both been offered places at Parkhouse. My 16 year old was interviewed at Easter and my son secured his place 3 weeks ago. My advice is apply and wait. There are many anxious parents out there who simply wont wait and use another school, therefore moving you up on the waiting list. Once one child gains a place, it wont be long before their sibling does. I totally agree with Yazleb on home tuition. We were moving regardless of school places and I was more than prepared for home tuition until places at "The Right School" became available.

Honestly, be patient, people are regularly leaving Doha. It has taken me 5 months to secure places and you have a bit longer. Btw I found Park House and DESS have excellent front line staff who deal with applications, they kept me informed every step of the way. Doha College are appalling, wouldnt touch them with a barge pole. The front line service they provide, or should I say lack of it did not fill me with confidence in the slightest that my children should attend, they live on there supposedly good reputation. With their hike in fees and other schools due to be built, their bubble will burst.

i have 2 kids here, the schools are full so my girls get private tuition 3 days a week & 1 day dance & music club & 1 day pool & gym for p.e...........they are thriving!!! my 9 year old can explain what a franchise is & loves algebra!!! my elder daughter has no filthy habits & has confidence beyond her years as she hasnt mixed with any expat brats. ( would like to add that both my kids received private education in the UK b4 we came here, & also thrived ) but here in doha.........home education is much better in my opinion.

If we were to apply to Park House for January entry would this help? Otherwise it could be a choice between Sherborne and Compass. Any ideas/advice would be great.

Thanks for the comments .

Park House is my 1st choice. If anyone has any info on how to avoid the waiting lists please advise.

HI , JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT PARKHOUSE IS THE BEST SCHOOL IN DOHA HENCE THE WAITING LIST HOWEVER 3000 1S A LITTLE EXTREME , IT'S A VERY FRIENDLY BUT DISCIPLINED SCHOOL . MY SON HAS GONE FROM YEAR 6 TO YEAR 12 AT PARKHOUSE AND HAS 1 YEAR LEFT BEFORE HE GOES TO UNIVERSITY . PARKHOUSE WOULD ALWAYS BE MY PREFERENCE OVER DOHA COLLEGE AS IN MY OPINION DOHA COLLEGE IS A BREEDING GROUND FOR MANY EXPAT. BRATS!! REGISTRATION FEE AT PARKHOUSE IS 200 QR AND FEES FAR LESS THAN DOHA COLLEGE . TRY DOHA BRITISH SCHOOL AS A STOP GAP .

Any place you can get coming into the country is valuable. Academically Park House takes the kids who fail the Doha College exam.........say no more. But its OK for average ability kids.

I agree with the other posters that taking your money to apply when they no full well that there is no chance of a place is so wrong. Especially as your application is only valid for a year and you will be expected to keep repaying every year you are on the list.

I honestly think that this school is unethical to charge a large fee to apply then sending a letter stating the school is full. Just imagine what the owners of this school is thinking about you as a parent.

3,000 on a waiting list can't be true. That's several times the size of the school and probably about the size of the entire British school-age population in Doha.

Compas is a good alternative as is Sherborne. In fact, by reputation they are in the same group as Park House.

Compass is a relatively new venture. My daughter is a year 6 student at Compass. We are delighted with her progress. In my opinion it is well worth contacting Compass to enquire about spaces particularly as Doha College and Park School are over subscribed. If your kids are successful at gaining a place at Compass, you could always put their names on the waiting list for those other schools - In the mean time they will be getting a first class education at Compass. You may however be so pleased with Compass that you decide to keep them there!!