Reviews on Cedars learning center in Doha | ExpatWoman.com
 

Reviews on Cedars learning center in Doha

25
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 08:38

Is there anyone who can give me some reviews on this school? I am a newbie to the site and will be to Doha. My husband is already there and we have been trying to get my two sons ages 6 and 10 into british schools but it is very hard as most of the schools that we contacted said they were full except cedars. is it worth leaving my country (Jamaica) to have my children go to cedars? They are currently at a private school in Jamaica and i do not want to disrupt their education with a learner centre versus a school.

25
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 April 2012 - 07:14
Thank you all for the much needed information. Well it looks like i have my work cut out for me. I have not been getting great reviews from other sites about cedars so it looks like its a no no for us. I am going to send in applications to all the british schools and then I will start calling. I have looked at Doha College but i was turned off by the fact that i have to provide a QR10,000.00 each as a refundable deposit and when they say refundable it comes with conditions. Why ask for so much as a deposit? I guess it's a way to separate the stars from the wanna be. I do hope that i can get a space in one of the schools since cedars is no longer an option.
197
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 21:01
I don't think it's necessarily that the schools are elitist standards are not great here! it's just that the schools are not set up to support these pupils with qualified staff and resources. Dess has a good learning support section but this is to support pupils who are not meeting the expected UK standards of numeracy and literacy not those with special needs.
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 13:20
I think that it is gradually changing but I know people who have had to leave Doha for reasons such as having autistic children who the schools would not accept. Also, and I'm definitely not saying its a good thing, but you will find that a lot of the schools are pretty elitist and will not accept children who may have learning difficulties, be a bit behind the norm, have behavioural issues etc...like I said though this does seem to be changing slowly. Just the fact that all children are interviewed before being offered a place in about 90% of schools kind of sums it up though doesn't it.
80
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 11:12
Oh GinaM Im curious now.... what do you mean children who will never be accepted into other schools in Doha?
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 11:03
I'm with Dan Lou. I know someone who used to work there and who had a child there and have heard nothing good. Perhaps if your children were even younger but even then you have the disruption of moving from one school, to another, to another. I believe, from what I've heard, Cedars has very mixed classes (age etc) and a lot of the children (sad as it sounds but it is just a fact of life in Doha) have issues that mean that they will never be accepted into the majority of other schools in Doha. This obviously has a learning and social impact on the other kids in the class. You will find that places come up at the other schools quicker than you think - they are always full but people are always leaving and I haven't met anyone in 6 years here who hasn't been able to get their child/ren into DESS, Doha College, Sherbourne, Parkhouse or Doha Montessori within a matter of months.
80
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 10:45
If you want to keep your family together and Cedars is your only option then I would seriously consider enrolling them there. People I have talked to, who have sent their kids there until they were off the wait list at other schools have said their kids have enjoyed it. If your kids were older like 13-16 year olds then I would suggest to stay in Jamaica until there was a space available as school work pressure is a lot harder than when they're 6 & 10 years old
761
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 09:16
I have experience with this learning centre, I believe if it's an option I would wait for the school spots before moving, especially if your children speak English well. Happy to speak offline about this further if you would like. dprenzler at hotmail dot com