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Newton schools

185
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2014 - 12:06
Take a look here, there is one report about schools (pdf file) in English - I have not read it http://www.sec.gov.qa/En/Media/News/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=3462 http://www.sec.gov.qa/En/Media/News/Documents/SchoolsReport2012-2013.pdf ---------------------------- Is there a governing/regulatory body who oversee school results in Qatar (like ofstead in the UK)? So you can look up individual school performance rates? ---------------- The SEC makes the rules and regulations and does inspections but as far as I know the results aren't published, least not in English and possibly only for government schools.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 April 2014 - 13:29
Fab - thanks so much whereintheworld, that's really helpful. Husband has applied to one of the oil company jobs! If we end up out there I will let you know!! :-)
145
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 April 2014 - 09:50
Is there a governing/regulatory body who oversee school results in Qatar (like ofstead in the UK)? So you can look up individual school performance rates? Lastly, do you know anyone who has worked on any oil company sites/sent their children there? There is one an hour outside of Doha advertising - bit of a remote location and also getting some very mixed information on forum sites (this is why I decided to post here, where I knew I would get some honest and sensible feedback)! Thank you again ladies, Helen The SEC makes the rules and regulations and does inspections but as far as I know the results aren't published, least not in English and possibly only for government schools. As far as I am aware of oil and gas schools , Al Khor International is well regarded and offer very good packages. I know western teachers who have been there for years with their children. The pupils are a mix of teachers families, Qatari and oil workers children . There are lots of south east asians . The have good housing and facilities, but bear in mind it is a good way out of Doha but in a town with a hypermarket etc. Dhukkan and Mesaieed are QP schools in remote industrial areas . They really are in the middle of nowhere and are high standard company schools. If you could bear the isolation it would be a good way to save for a few years. It could take you up to an hour to get into west bay in Doha but there are also food shops in both locations .
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 22:49
Thanks again all, I think I will persue the UAE options and put a post on the UAE forum re husband's chances of gaining employment once out there. I am most appreciative of all your help :-)
362
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 17:31
HellieB If you really want to give it a go out here, then I would strongly advise you consider the options for Abu Dhabi. You would have a much better lifestyle there, it is a much less conservative country and there's loads to do for yourself and the children. The schools are also much easier to get into and are of a high standard. Qatar is not an easy place to live in and the authorities seem to be squeezing harder in terms of making it more & more difficult and awkward to arrange for eg Residence Permits, ID cards, family visas etc. School places are a massive issue and getting worse. Even QR25 000 per month won't go that far if you'd still like to save a bit too. Sorry to be negative, but we've been out here for 10 years, and I'm still saddened by how many people have the wool pulled over their eyes by the recruiting agencies and end up out here miserable and broke!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 16:10
HellieB, I am assuming you are from the UK but I would be almost 100% certain that your husband and yourself would earn more at home than a combination of Newton salary and local hire nurse. If you are a nursing specialist or hold advanced qualifications you could try looking at the new hospital called Sidra. They have a website and offer very good packages. The hospital is not yet open but I know women sponsoring kids and husbands on Sidra packages. They would provide your school fees, housing and flights. Other than that you could work school nurse. Newton , particularly in secondary has a very high percentage of arabic speaking students. I visited Newton British School and I don't think I saw one British child. Now, elsewhere in ASD or Doha College they may have 70 odd different nationalities but they have entrance tests for English competency , aptitude and behavioural standards , if you get my drift. I don't think Newton is competitive in terms of salaries. It is probably an ok start for single newly qualified teachers but with a family I would look at other schools or elsewhere in the gulf . Moving to Qatar in itself is challenging and I would be really concerned moving a secondary aged child to a school where he/she will may difficulty with peers. Tried Bahrain ?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 15:50
Thank you both, I really appreciate your honesty - there are so many potholes you don't see when you are not familiar with a place! Should he find a suitable job (likely not at the Newton school!!) then I will contact the hosptials prior to us going. I received a nurse manager job offer from a hospital in Abu Dhabi a while back but due to house renovation issues couldn't accept it - we heard that my husband would likely receive a much reduced salary as a teacher once out there (so seems like whoever it hired locally gets the naff deal)? Is there a governing/regulatory body who oversee school results in Quatar (like ofstead in the UK)? So you can look up individual school performance rates? Lastly, do you know anyone who has worked on any oil company sites/sent their children there? There is one an hour outside of Doha advertising - bit of a remote location and also getting some very mixed information on forum sites (this is why I decided to post here, where I knew I would get some honest and sensible feedback)! Thank you again ladies, Helen
1326
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 11:42
I have good career prospects as an ICU nurse I have a few friends who are nurses who live (or have lived) here in Doha, and not one of them found it worthwhile to even consider working here. Nurses here do not earn competitive salaries compared to what they earn in US/UK/Europe. Many of the nurses in Qatar come from the Philippines and India. This is not a comment on their professionalism -- just that in the "you are paid according to your passport" world that is Qatar, this tends to drive salaries down. So unless you are already in discussion with local hospitals/clinics and have discussed roles and salaries, you should not assume that you have good career prospects. <em>edited by RachelA on 25/04/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 10:29
Helen, to live comfortably in Qatar (and I'm assuming you are European) you would need about 25 000/month minimum (that's assuming housing has been provided). A lot depends on school fees (if you chose to send your daughters to another school) and the after school activities - swimming, dancing, gymnastics, horse riding etc also tend to add up. At home you would probably just let your kids go out and run around in the garden or down the park but in the warmer months especially they need something organised or they may just end up inside and in front of the TV. I don't know much about Newton schools (apart from the fact that I chose to home school my kids until an opening came up at our present school rather than accept places there). Someone that I know who currently teaches at an international school enrolled her daughter there after being assured that there were a high number of expat children at the school. What they failed to tell her was that 95% of the children at the school had arabic as their first language even though they were expats. While lessons may be taught in English this changes the dynamic of the school and unless your daughters speak arabic they may find it difficult to bond with other children in the playground and make friends. Her school wasn't a Newton school and due to tight school places there may be many children in Newton who have good English language skills and are there because they are happy with the school or can't get places at their preferred schools. I am also a nurse (A&E though rather than ICU) and for us it was not practical for me to work in the hospitals here. We didn't investigate it too much because the rigid shifts would have required us to get a driver and a maid to look after the children and get them to and from school. You might not have that problem if they are going to school where your husband works. If you are thinking of applying for work at the hospitals then you should be aware that there may be a huge difference in your salary if you are local hire versus international hire. Even though they don't have to pay airfares and housing if you are local hire they often will not offer you anywhere near the full wages and there are limited opportunities for part time work. Sorry if this sounds very negative but I was grateful for someone telling me some of the downsides before I came (though even then there were many more disappointments than first expected). Obviously as we are still here several years later there wasn't anything we couldn't overcome. Hope this helps even though I'm not a teacher or a Newton parent.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2014 - 00:28
Hi there whereintheworld! Thank you so much for your reply, I am guessing you are a teacher yourself? Would it be possible to give an estimate of a reasonable salary for a teacher? I read 16,000/mth QR is an average general salary? Obviously it depends on level of seniority/position? Do you know approximately what percentage of children are of expat origin in Newton? I read some alarming post that commented on the poor level of English within the school! I have good career prospects as an ICU nurse and wonder if we could earn enough to send our girls to school elsewhere! How much would a family of 4 require per month to live comfortably in Qatar? (sorry for all the questions)!! Thank you so very much, Helen :-)
145
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2014 - 11:46
Hello all - apologies if this subject has been discussed several times before but I am a little confused? My husband has an interview for a teaching job within Newton school (unsure which one as yet - they don't specify, but he is a secondary school teacher)! I have read so many mixed reviews about this school - quite alot from approx 5 years ago though. We have 2 children (one primary age, one secondary age) and I would greatly appreciate any honest opinion from anyone who is a teacher or has children at the Newton schools. I understand a new site (?D ring) is opening/established? Thankyou for your time, Helen I know a few girls who currently teach at different Newton schools who are quite young and it is their first international posting . They are disappointed with the salary ,accommodation and the way the schools are resourced . Within the educational community , Newton does not have a good reputation . It is a profit making establishment ,that many teachers would avoid at all costs. The west bay lagoon campus seems to be more acceptable but for western expats , Newton is often a last resort. Have a search through TES teaching overseas. There is a lot of posting about Newton, most I am afraid ,negative. Would I work there, no. Send my children there, also no.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2014 - 02:10
Hello all - apologies if this subject has been discussed several times before but I am a little confused? My husband has an interview for a teaching job within Newton school (unsure which one as yet - they don't specify, but he is a secondary school teacher)! I have read so many mixed reviews about this school - quite alot from approx 5 years ago though. We have 2 children (one primary age, one secondary age) and I would greatly appreciate any honest opinion from anyone who is a teacher or has children at the Newton schools. I understand a new site (?D ring) is opening/established? Thankyou for your time, Helen