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British schools in Qatar

12 replies

Hanjam · 05/02/2012 16:37

We are relocating to Doha in August this year and have 3 children who will hopefully be starting school in September (2012) in Reception, Y3 and Y5. They currently attend a prep school in England and I have heard Sherborne has a good reputation. Please could you let me know how difficult it is to get them into this school as I understand they are full for the next two years. Any other recommendations for British schools would be much appreciated. My husband and I are visiting Doha in the next few weeks so wondered whether I should apply for schools now or just wait until we're there and looking round the schools. Many thanks for your advice.

OP posts:
mtw · 05/02/2012 17:07

Call NOW!! My husband just got back from Doha - he went to look at DESS and there is a waiting list for next yr. I was shocked....

mtw · 05/02/2012 17:09

I would have a YR 4 and Reception by the way..
Dont know about Sherbourne. We would go for DESS or the American School

Hanjam · 05/02/2012 21:12

V useful info - thank you! Regarding the American School it looks great but we're looking to keep our kids in the british system.

OP posts:
robino · 06/02/2012 07:50

Can I hijack? DH is about to accept a job offer in Qatar, we're just working out the package. They are paying school fees; sent us information about Doha British School - any opinions?

Hanjam · 06/02/2012 10:00

Doha british school looks good on the web and we're going to look at it but I'm afraid I don't have much information

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HillyWallaby · 07/02/2012 12:50

Doha British School used to be called Doha Montessori. Don't know why it changed its name, but it seems to be highly regarded among Brits.

DESS and Doha College are both excellent but hellishly difficult to get into, and constantly over-subscribed except in the upper senior years, when many kids get sent back to board in the UK. They are sponsored by the UK government and Brits who are sent to Doha in a government capacity or posted there by British companies get first dibs on places.

Compass - extremely good but expensive, though they are expanding and building a new campus space should not be an issue. Yet to prove themselves results wise though, as they are just taking there first lot of seniors through GCSE.

Sherbourne - pretty much everything I said about Compass also applies to Sherbourne, though they are a very different animal in terms of ethos and style of teaching.

Park House - also highly regarded by Brits. Tends to be full up at the lower end, with spaces at the upper end, same as Doha College.

If you are applying to DESS, Doha College, Sherbourne and PH your child will need to sit an aptitude test in maths and English. If they don't pass they don't get in. Simple. And the pass rate is quite high.

Compass do test, but only to get the measue of the level of your child - they do not select purely on ability and are much more inclusive in that respect.

I think DBS do test, but not sure how tough it is.

There are other schools that call themselves 'British Curriculum schools' but to be honest they are rarely anyone's first choice - though they are sometimes the only choice. Confused

It's very tough indeed. Be prepared for some stress!

HillyWallaby · 07/02/2012 12:52

their first lot, not there!

Hanjam · 08/02/2012 10:57

HillyWallaby - this is such useful (and daunting) info and tallies with what I have been hearing - really kind of you. Could you please let me know anything about the teaching style/ethos of these schools, in particular you mentioned that Sherborne and Compass have different values. Many many thanks

OP posts:
HillyWallaby · 08/02/2012 11:04

Yes, I'll do it by PM!

HillyWallaby · 08/02/2012 11:56

Just want to point out that I don't have anything negative to say about any of the schools I have mentioned above, but I am PMing because I don't want to out myself by saying where my child goes!

HillyWallaby · 08/02/2012 11:58

Sorry, when I said 'pass rate is high' I meant 'the pass mark is high'. I have no idea how high the pass rate is! Confused

louisea · 08/02/2012 15:43

I just wanted to add that DESS may not always test. We submitted our forms in person a year before we moved but our kids weren't in the country with us. They were given places based solely on their school reports. Maybe were were just lucky.

Louise

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