Schools - I'm confused

Meguspegus
By Meguspegus

My wife has the possibility of employment in Doha. The deal will include school fees. I have been trying to research the schools for my 9 year old son and 5 year old daughter. They are both at good private schools in the UK. The repsonses from people appear to be inconsitent: the best school seems to be DESS, but this is only up to age 11. Doha College woudl also appear to be good, but there appears to be an undercurrent of feeling that it is not very good.

 

I woudl be grateful for som additional information/help. I'm sure it has been covered umpteen times and I apologise for going over old gorund if that is the case. However, she will not accept the job, and we will not go, if the schooling would be detrimental to our children.

 

Thanks

By tony_doha• 11 Mar 2012 12:52
Rating: 4/5
tony_doha

Honestly, 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/2317901#ixzz1oncaEpuY

By Dilmun• 11 Aug 2008 12:42
Rating: 5/5
Dilmun

Go for Doha College. The best choice in Qatar for the British Curriculum. Someone mentioned Parkhouse. Friends of mine had their daughter there in secondary. The academics are not very challenging. Upon return to Australia their top-grade-Parkhouse-school-student daughter had to repeat a year, because they were so much behind.

My children are both in ASD. We tried to enroll them in Doha College, but since we have no british passport they were last in the waiting list. It should be easier for you. If your children should get on the waiting list you can enroll them in Cedars Tutoring Center. It's a bridging school especially for those kids on waiting lists.

By Taiki07• 11 Aug 2008 03:32
Taiki07

They will soon bring the students a choice of either following an IB program or a AP.

By spicemom• 12 May 2008 09:20
Rating: 4/5
spicemom

yes i agree with Mis-Cat, i did the same thing with my son, got him on the wait list (whilst he was still at another school here in doha) and waited for 3 weeks - no call whats0ever fr the school , then starts my twice a week visit to the school office (since they dont entertain phone calls as all they can say is NO IDEA) SO EVEry sunday and thurs morn there i am at the school checking (yeah hey i got nothing better to do......lol)and after abt 3 weeks voila (waiting list or not or who is at the top on the list or the bottom) due to my perseverance going back and forth twice a week i managed to get him in after one of the students had to leave mid term. what a relief. this so called method is also done by quite a few of my friends and they too were successful. so try it and lotsa patience needed and best of luck

life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......

By mom2002• 12 May 2008 09:10
mom2002

That is a relief.

By Mis-Cat• 12 May 2008 08:30
Mis-Cat

No they don,t need RP upfront as most schools understand that it is a long process here to get it. Just give them a copy when you have it. Also hit te schools as soon as you get here as a lot of schools are closing there applications and wont take any till the begining of the next school year and it pays to be persistant such as visiting the school once a week to find out how your application is going. (this seems to be the only thing that works calling them does not) Good luck.

By mom2002• 12 May 2008 08:03
mom2002

to have their RP IQAMA before signing up in the school.

We are moving next month and I have not sign my kids up in any shcool. I know it is a problem but we have to try.

By deedee• 11 May 2008 18:00
deedee

offering IB program this fall if that helps.

By pwb78• 11 May 2008 15:21
pwb78

See this link regarding Compass. Appears to get good reviews from parents but crazy expensive!

http://www.expatwomanqatar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=558

*************************************

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

By 350webb• 11 May 2008 15:01
350webb

Thanks deedee. I spoke to the school admin. They will be starting grade 10 this fall. I guess I will have to try American or British curriculum. How is Cambridge school of Doha? I did read a few review and recommendations of this school. Does anyone have first had experience with this school?

Appreciate your feedback.

Thanks

By deedee• 11 May 2008 13:55
deedee

info can be found:

www.qcs.edu.qa

By princess habibah• 11 May 2008 10:04
princess habibah

Dotty mom

Did you come from Britain?

I was referring to the british schools for british expats that will bump some people up the list if they have a proven track record.

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

By dottymum• 11 May 2008 09:50
Rating: 2/5
dottymum

I registered my 2 children for at least 10 schools. Some schools were just plain rude and couldnt be bothered to entertain your calls. Most didnt even bother to reply to e-mails.

If you are in Doha i think you might have better luck getting your children into school as you can tour round the schools and follow up. I have been trying to get them into school from overseas, very frustrating plus high phone bills!!!!!!!!!! They are already attending a good private school and i dont think that this helped them in anyway. My daughter having had extremely high grades and on the honors list for the past 3 years. Unfortunately for me my children didnt get accepted into any of the schools i wanted. They will now be attending a school that i would never have chosen because i didnt have any other choice.

Just accept any place you can and try and change them next year.

Good Luck!!!!!

By Gumby• 11 May 2008 03:17
Rating: 3/5
Gumby

There is a Canadian School, but I don't know if it is up to grade 11 yet. They definitely have grades 8 and 9 at the present. Think it is Alberta curriculum.

By Sweedclog• 10 May 2008 21:49
Sweedclog

You should take any school where you get a place, because there are no places. You can not really choose.. :-( Dont move here until you have a place confirmed..

By pwb78• 10 May 2008 13:03
Rating: 4/5
pwb78

You should not have too much trouble getting a spot for an 11th grader. I have heard rumors of a Canadian school but I don't think there is one... There's the American School following the American system, there's Qatar Academy following IB system and Doha College following British I believe. Those are the three big ones that I know that go up to that grade level. Maybe some smaller ones but I'm not sure. I believe all three have websites if you want to check them out. They are all registering now for Sept.

*************************************

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

By 350webb• 10 May 2008 08:43
350webb

We are planning on moving to Doha this summer. My son will need admission in 11th grade. Currently he is following the Canadian system. Can anyone help me with the schools in Doha. I would prefer Canadian system, if not please suggest alternate equivalent system

Thanks

By agietra• 9 May 2008 17:58
Rating: 4/5
agietra

Yes, it's difficult to get the school in Doha...

But, maybe it will give you a little hope...

It took 1 week after I arrived in Doha (6 sept 2007 - last year), then my kids (7 & 5 years) joint ASD.

I know it's very -very lucky... We just very - very lucky...

I started sending application in June, and the next day I arrived, just call some schools for appointment, took the kids to schools, took the assesment test, then somehow there's seats for kids.

 

So, just try your best... , push the luck..., don't give up...

It can happens ... just call the schools every day... and pray will help also :)

By princess habibah• 9 May 2008 01:06
Rating: 5/5
princess habibah

If your children are at private school then this will help in your acceptance and bump you up in the waiting list. As in most schools, places like Dess are looking for top notch students.  I would contact schools and submit your childrens report card and some information about their private school and any extra curricular activities.

 

Also remember that their is alot of beaurocracy in Qatar so it should be easy to stall your start date until they have an opening. A few friends of ours took 2 years from application to arriving in Qatar. And as a result were able to secure a place in Dess.

 

 

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

By cadet_mcc• 8 May 2008 09:39
cadet_mcc

I've been offered a position at QU. I've two kids, 8th and 9th graders. Currently they are following the EdExcel system. Does anyone know any good school in Doha who follows the same system? My moving to Qatar depends on this single point. I'd really appreciate good suggestions.

By Taiki07• 5 May 2008 21:41
Rating: 4/5
Taiki07

Hmm.. Gumby, I'm a student at the American School of Doha. We have already expanded our school. It is simply amazing. It's for High School and Middle School. The Elementary have our old school from the sheer size of those little critters ^_^. We have our old teachers come in to our new school and we have many teachers here. 

 

The only thing bad about it is the waiting list. It's worth every penny to join ASD. Two kids got into Harvard University this year, another kid got into the King's Royal Guard in Britain (I think.. I forgot the actual name but it was a heck of a hard place to get to.)

 

Quality education = ASD.

 

ASD will be implementing IB programs soon. The freshmen this year will be able to use the program as early as their Junior year. If you want your kid to be at a british University, you can still get their IB's here. We also have AP programs. 

By Gumby• 5 May 2008 21:01
Rating: 5/5
Gumby

International School of London is opening this summer.  Open house tomorrow.  There is also an American school opening, something something Houston, or something.  Out of Texas anway.  It will be a Sciene and Math speciality school, but it is only opening with grade 8 and 9 or something.  ASD is supposed to open that big new expansion this autumn, but word on the street is that they haven't begun staffing yet.  Good luck with that...

 

IMHO, get your kids a guaranteed position in writing or don't bother coming... Harsh, but there school system here is a mess.

By Eve• 5 May 2008 18:56
Rating: 5/5
Eve

Many of the  schools are full and putting names on lists. There are supposed to be two more schools built but it will take time.  First I would see if you can even get them in a school.

By JAVI• 5 May 2008 18:52
JAVI

Thank you novi

By harrisonk• 4 May 2008 23:02
Rating: 4/5
harrisonk

There is a school crisis in Doha. You get a guaranteed place for shooling your children otherwise, your kids will be sitting at home. This is not a joke!

By Gumby• 4 May 2008 22:20
Rating: 5/5
Gumby

Waiting period depends on whether your child is in a feeder school like DESS and whether he or she is Brit passport holder.  As DESS and DC are supported by the Brit embassy, Brit nationals,  they get bumped up the list, as do the feeder school children.  Good luck with the schools, it is a perpetual and on-going problem in Doha.  They are supposed to be opening two international schools a year for the next five years, but I don't how even that will alleviate the stress on the school system.

By novita77• 4 May 2008 18:02
novita77

No idea Javi , you will have to ring the school yourself.

By JAVI• 4 May 2008 18:00
JAVI

Hey there buddy, what is the waiting period for availability of positions anyway?

By novita77• 2 May 2008 14:48
novita77

Do consider a Park House English School ... havent heard anything bad about the school, and all my friends who have kid/s in Park House said that they are happy with it.

By 666• 2 May 2008 14:27
666

Since you are from UK, I would advice to start sending the application forms to different schools. By the time you are here, the waiting part might be over

By pwb78• 2 May 2008 13:51
Rating: 5/5
pwb78

From what I hear, yes, DESS would be one of the top schools here. After that kids can transition to Doha College in order to stay in the British system. The American School is also very good here but the most expensive. Many different nationalities go to all these schools. The only complaint I hear about Doha College is no or little sport activities and the only complaint I hear about American School is price. I would be happy with my kid being able to attend any of those 3 schools. There is also a new school opening here International School of London following the IB system. No word on the quality of this school yet. I'm headed over there in a few days for the open house.

I will say - getting a place in these schools could be an issue. The waiting lists are long but people are in and out of Qatar so your kids probably will not have to wait long.  

 

*************************************

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

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