Best British school in Doha

There are a number of Brit schools here, but they all have huge wating lists, especially those that are ok/good-ish.

Ive returned my kids back ot the UK as we were told places MAY be available in Sept now for DESS, Doha College and Parkhouse - it's VERY hard to get kids in at the primary level. Secondary is not that hard but VERY expensive...like paying grammar shcool fees in the UK.

Due to recession, there is no movement, unless someone's parents are sacked - we were told.

So, Im having to resign and go back ot the UK soon...due to schooling issues.

All the best.

In everyone's experience how long is the waiting list, like whats been the maximum wait?? who have their kids in DESS . My son is on the wait list for pre school :)

Novi...........really? Man, they would not even LOOK at my application! How the heck did she manage that???!

DESS is a very good school; if your kids can get a place, it's the best british school, guaranteed!

Wonder how your friend got into dess without a british passport especially for the reception year. Know people who have been on the wait list for over a year and hold british passports who have miss out!!!! - very lucky indeed.

Parkhouse and the montessori are both excellent schools.

Doha English Speaking School,

montessori and british school will soon become one of the leading school in own.it was a small school two years ago with half arab student and half europen.now the majority of their student are expat.they are moving to a new permises next month where they will have all the facilities...s/p, theatre,football yardetc....the principal of the montessori school was the principal of doha college....the montessori systeme i only applied for pre-school and then the British curriclum.you schould know that almost all the schools have some proplemes and none of them is ideal.non of these school was prepared to this amount of expat in qatar.

keep trying ... i just spoke to a malaysian lady yesterday. She have her kids for the first year in Newton. Put them in waiting list in DESS ... was thinking of have no luck because they dont have british passport. But then out of the blue before summer hols, the school call her and said that they have space in Y2 plus nursery for the coming year. She take the space in DESS and happy ending for the school story.

Have not found out anything on this forum or expatwoman.com about the Montessori school...

Have a search in this forum and all sorts of reccomendations will appear - Everyone has an opinion! I think Parkhouse (it's an english school with majority british teachers and british curriculum)

OK, it seems like DESS is the best British school. But can anyone tell me how good/bad the 'Doha Montessori & British School' is in comparison to DESS?

Thx Alicat! I'm hearing a very consistent message.

DESS or Doha College Primary are the ones to go for for British Expat kids.

Thx for the responses, guys!

Yes - DESS would be the best. Need to get on the list soon though. Very popular place. I was told they're already full for September but you can get on the list.

expat-boy .... you will have to contact the school and ask.

the site address : www.dess.org

if you come to Qatar for look - see trip i advice you popped in into their office and show your interest for putting your kid/s there. Since so many british expats want to put their kid/s in the said school ... they dont entertain people registering through the e-mail / net.

Yep, my kids have that red passport. They've even got one of those biometric ones. : )

Just how hard is it to get in? 6 months, 12 months?

The best one would be Doha English Speaking School, funded by british embassy. Very hard to get in. If your kids hold british passport should have a priority though.

But then again i am biased ... because my son is there ...