Finding a school in doha

Hi we are a dutch family moving from singapore to Doha in October 2007. we have chosen for the compass school because they provide dutch lessons every week aswell. Other than that I do not know much about the school. Can anyone tell me more? We do not know where will be living yet in doha because company will provide house within compound. Any advise on what living area is close to the school? are there schoolbuses available? And what are the schoolhours?

Thanks!!

Hi AZ

No Problems

Contact details are tel +974 4110014

email is [email protected]

I'm unsure if the office is still open.Its the summer holidays over here and most schools are closed until September, but give it a go and see how you go, if not you may have to wait until September. The kids start back on the 9th but I think I remember one of the teachers telling me the teachers will be starting back around the 1st.For the West bay school I pay 11400QR a term for my two children 34200qr per yr)they have three terms over here)I have been told the new D ring Newton school is more then the West Bay school, I have a friend who has enrolled their child in this school. I can find out if you would like me to.

Hope this helps. Any thing I can do for you let us know.

Keza

Hi anmn1524 - please send me an email to [email protected] and I will assist you with your enquiry.

We can offer you peace of mind and breathing space while you look for the school of your choice.

Louise Vippond

Office Manager

Cedars

Hi All, just want to get some feedback... we are going to Doha in August. Since most of the schools are full, is it advisable if I send my children to the Cedar tutorial centre first while waiting to get places in the chosen school. How long normally we have to wait? Is it one term? My son is in Year 9, so i'm afraid that all the new schools are still new in catering for GCSE exam.Thanks.

thanks for ypur advice keza,it's so much easier to hear advise form someone who comes from australia. Could you please give me a contact e-mail for the school as i haven't had any luck in getting in contact with them also could you give me an idea of fees.

many thanx

AZ

Hi just thought I will let you know I have 2 children in Newton International School in West bay ( age 8 & 9) and I DONT believe what alex06 is posted is right in regard to the " booted out of other schools for learning or behavioural issues because I or my children have not witness this and I have spent some time with some of the children on a school camp in Oman, which I must say the children where very well behaved, as with the comment your children will be surrounded by other Arabs, Indians and Egyptians and may feel isolated in the playground this is NOT the case at Newton due to the kids coming from all over the world the only way to communicate to each other is English, you may have some small groups that may talk their own language but most kids talk English and when it comes to the class room they are not allowed to talk any other language but English.

The teachers at the West Bay School are mainly from Australia and are really nice I have heard the new Newton school on D ring rd will have mainly British teachers I am unsure of this because I think they are advertising for teachers for the new school for when it opens up in September. My children are from Australia and really enjoy going to Newton school because its small and they both have oz teachers, which is really nice for them and great for me to. I could of sent them to the new Newton school in September because students who are already in the school were offered a choice if they would like to transfer them over to the new school, but we decided to leave them in the West Bay School, even though they will miss out on the pool/tennis courts/large playground etc, we felt it was nice to keep them in the small school, this way they will get more attention if needed and it has a more friendly feeling to it when its a small school, plus the teachers, my children and myself have formed a nice relationship with the teachers.

Anyway I hope this helps if you would like to post your email address we can keep in touch and I will can help you more if you would like any other information or would like me to do any thing for you this end. It be great to have another aussie in Doha.

Keza

PS There is a web site of the school camp it you would like to have a look at, it’s http://nis.journalspace.com

Thanks for your advice in answer to your question alex06. my hubby hes a supervisor in customer service with the arab bank in australia. we're hoping he'll find work when we get ther if not before.

I had the same problem - ours are going to Compass from Sept., mostly because we had no other choice either. I've been here a month, checked it out, and it seems ok. Very small, facilities appropriate to the size and terrifyingly expensive compared to others. Also relatively far away. 50 kids at present, 120 from Sept. Staffed & resourced for 200, so all good in that regard. Newton, I understand, is more 'remedial', so you get kids that have been booted out of other schools for learning or behavioural issues. Be wary of the 'International' schools, as your kids will be surrounded by other arabs, indians and egyptians. No problem with that, but we felt they would be too isolated in the playground, what with blonde hair and only speaking english. good luck. What does hubby do, if he's looking for banking work?

AZ, I'm facing the same problem. We are going to Doha end of August. But all the schools that we want to put our children are closed for application. We can't even download the application form. I read that there is a tutorial centre that can take the children while waiting to get a place in the chosen school. I didn't want to repeat the same mistake when we arrived in Singapore 2 years ago. Since all the good international schools are full, we had no choice but to put them in any international school that can accept 4 of them. Obviously the school which is popular(good)is always full. Now we can't do that because my eldest will be in Year 9 and it is important that he goes to the right school (preparation for GCSE). Once we are in Doha, we might look into this option.

my kids are 8 1/2yrs, 5 1/2 yrs, 4 1/2yrs we'll be living in company provided accomodation i dont know which area that is but the employer is Qatar Airways.

Don't wory

you will find a school. I know that new Newton at Mamoura (not the one in Dafna) has places. How old is your children? and where are you going to live?