School waiting lists
Hi,
We are moving next month to Qatar and we have a 3 year old girl.
Most worried I am about the schooling / nursery. I would like to send her asap to a school offering nursery and primary, not to change too soon again.
Everybody is talking about the long waiting lists. How long is a waiting list in PHES for example or any other school in that part of Doha? We are looking for a British curriculum.
Thanks
Obviously you do not understand the curriculum if this is your stance on the school. ISL-Qatar runs on the IB programme which if you knew anything you would understand is learner centred. Which contradicts your comment about the school not being focussed on the learner.
As for learning something useful, that depends on your take on what is useful. Did you want your children to memorise facts? Yes, then no ISL is not the school for you. Did you want your child to understand the deeper concepts behind, to be able to think critically and reflect on their learning? Yes, then ISL is the school for your child.
As for your statement about students leaving that may be the case but you should also be looking at staff movements. Are teachers changing every two years or are they remaining consistent? If the teachers are leaving it is cause for concern because they know something you may not. Having said that the only people I know leaving the school are leaving for Sherbourne because they wanted British Curriculum not International but were very happy with the school for the time they were there.
Before making grand sweeping statements perhaps acknowledge that the school was not for you but that the extensive waiting list says otherwise. The school has an international student body, and challenging curriculum. It may not be your ideal school but let people make their own judgements rather than being bitter in a public forum.
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2317901#ixzz1ydrO2UaJ
But you should be realistic - the likes of Doha College and DESS have even longer waiting lists than Park House
Sherborne and Compass have better odds, simply because they are more expensive and this puts off some people.
I went to PHES last month and they told me that they have received 600 over apps for the last 2 DAYS ! . Nevertheless they would still ask you to submit your apps online and they will get back to us. 2 weeks later they wrote an email & told me that they have a huge waiting list & my kids have very slim chance and advise me to look for alternate schools.
Good schools now are very full with huge waiting list. Since you are moving here next month, suggest you to start applying for more schools to give you a higher chance. Here are the list (besides Parkhouse ) of schools with Brit curriculum that you can consider.
1. DESS ( apply only if you have Brit passport )
2. Doha College
3. DBS ( Doha British School Montessori)
4. Newton International School
5. Newton British
6. English Modern School
More expensive ones will be Compass & Sherbourne.
Do take note that schools normally takes QR 200 - QR500 as an application fees per child. Don't get upset when they tell you that the school is full as this is common and also a standard answer. People come & go and quite a number of people leaving during the summer hols & don't come back. Just apply & you may be lucky.
Hope that helps.
Any school you can get in is a good start - you may well be on a waiting list for a couple of years ( sorry but thats the honest answer)
Your nationality is a major factor when applying to certain schools.
Also, be aware that you will have to make ' application fee' - then the school tells you they have a huge waiting list and you have no chance !
flor1212...i agree with you. ISL is The WORST and Only One. Smile:)
Park House englinsh school is a much good choice.
this is not the same like the park house english school, is it? What about that one and what about waiting lists?
maybe you mean "one of the bad schools". Anyway, that's your opinion.
To the OP, I recommend NIS! NIS Lagoon.
Stay away from international school of london. It is One of the worst schools i have ever seen not just in Doha, but world wide. Not a learner place, but rather a place for kids to kill time. It looks organized, but kids learn nothing usefull at that school.
The international school of london is one of most expensive schools in Doha and yet the worst by far. Everyone i know attending the international school of London in Doha is about to leave the school.
Poor education and a total waste our kids time to send them to this school. Stay away of this school and try other ones. Such as Global, Doha College, DESS.
We and our friends had a terrible experience in regards to learning. Some of us managed to send the kids to other school and some are looking for places for their kids.
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/100037#ixzz1p21tq9nY