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DBS Vs Park house English School

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 02:25

Hi ladies

We have a chance of getting places for our children in Yr 11 & 12 & W/L place for Yr 6 in DBS. Also applying for Park house. If we do get places in both, which one would you recommend?
In terms of distance from Sidra's accommodation, which one is closer?

Any info would most helpful.
Many thanks

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20

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 November 2014 - 03:03

Hi Ladies, Thank you all so much for your insightful advice. Ali68- Sidra offered me a position that will allow me to bring my family with me and they have already requested a copy of their passports for visa processing. My dealings with Sidra has been very positive so far. No news on where the accommodation as yet and that is making it difficult to plan ahead. They also agreed i could start April next year which will allow me to apply for schools for Sept 2015. In the meantime my daughter who is in yr 7 will remain in the Uk to finish the year and will join us in the summer holiday. My younger two kids are 2 and 4 year old and they are dual French/British national, the French schools were positive in getting place . I just hope that we secure school place for the older one. I do believe though with all the stress and anxiety it will be worth it in the end. Many thanks again ..

20

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 12 November 2014 - 02:46

umamani, Sidra seems to be employing a huge amount of staff at the moment and from what I have heard they are being housed in 3 different locations at this time. I have no idea if those places will fill up and then people will be placed in other spots again. Make sure your grade is one that will allow you to bring your family (as I am assuming you are a female) as women face some restrictions on sponsoring their husbands and children. Are you going to apply for your children/child to start school in September as there are currently SEC restrictions on expat children starting that late in the school year. These rulings seems to change sometimes and don't always seem to be enforced so you may get away with it. On the whole Sidra seems to be really working hard for their new recruits compared to what I have witnessed from other employers (some of which are quite big entities) so hopefully they will be able to smooth the way for you.

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 November 2014 - 17:56

Hi Emma123 Thanks for your reply. Yes, we were aware of this and have looked in to it. Umamani, sorry for the delay in replying to your post. Further to advice from Ali68 and Eleonor, I will suggest that, if possible, you should plan to move over next summer ( July- August ) so that the children can start at the beginning of new school year. Start the process for school places now. Some of the schools will need RP at the application stage, I suggest you ask them before applying. Some of them will allow you to apply once you explain that you have got a position at Sidra and will provide RP once there. As discussed before, school situation has been very difficult but not impossible. If you are also looking for a preschool place, it will be convenient if you could get both children in the same school so keep that in mind when applying for your eldest child. Lastly, search the forum thoroughly for all school related posts ( there are lots of them). I also found that info very helpful. Most of all, be prepared to have never ending patience as the whole process can be quite time consuming though worth it all at the end, I think. Best of luck

114

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 11 November 2014 - 12:21

Hi Dra Great news as both schools are good. Just wondering if you were aware that your child that will be in Year 11 will be in his/her second year of GCSEs, not sure how this will work for exams.

185

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 16:53

Where you will be placed is important for the school as traffic is a nightmare in the morning. Are you aware of the facts that you need to have a school place before you start, in order to be sure that they will get one, and that it is unlikely that you will have an answer before June? and that your kids will not be allowed to go to school before September, and before having their residence permit? Hi Eleonor, Thank you for your reply. To be honest i am not sure where i will be placed. I thought Sidra staff accomodation was in one location. I am at the stage where i have sent all my documents and awaitng my contract offer. I just wanted to planned ahead a little. The whole process scares me a little and found this forum really helpful. They agreed at the interview that i could start April 2015 so i am hoping this will give me enough time to find school/nursery place`s. Just waiting for my offer to come through and see if this will have further details on accomodation and so on. Thanks again

68

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 12:58

umamani, Sidra seems to be employing a huge amount of staff at the moment and from what I have heard they are being housed in 3 different locations at this time. I have no idea if those places will fill up and then people will be placed in other spots again. Make sure your grade is one that will allow you to bring your family (as I am assuming you are a female) as women face some restrictions on sponsoring their husbands and children. Are you going to apply for your children/child to start school in September as there are currently SEC restrictions on expat children starting that late in the school year. These rulings seems to change sometimes and don't always seem to be enforced so you may get away with it. On the whole Sidra seems to be really working hard for their new recruits compared to what I have witnessed from other employers (some of which are quite big entities) so hopefully they will be able to smooth the way for you.

57

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 10:26

Kimmc3 Can you please explain how there is a difference between IGCSE's and GCSE's? Didn't realise there was much difference, well this is what I was told and that collages and A level students back in England will accept IGCSE's students as equal to GCSE students.

20

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 November 2014 - 20:22

Hi Eleonor, Thank you for your reply. To be honest i am not sure where i will be placed. I thought Sidra staff accomodation was in one location. I am at the stage where i have sent all my documents and awaitng my contract offer. I just wanted to planned ahead a little. The whole process scares me a little and found this forum really helpful. They agreed at the interview that i could start April 2015 so i am hoping this will give me enough time to find school/nursery place`s. Just waiting for my offer to come through and see if this will have further details on accomodation and so on. Thanks again

185

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 November 2014 - 13:02

the best thing you can do is to position schools on google maps and see routes from your supposed-to be accomodation. We cannot help you if you don't tell us where will you be living. Sidra is going to hire a lot of people and I suppose they will be all around Doha Hi Dra i am looking for info on schools and come across your tread. I have been offered position at sidra and will be looking school place for yr 8. Any advice on distance and location of good schools close to Sidra accommodation. We are moving from London. Many Thanks

20

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 November 2014 - 03:16

Hi Dra i am looking for info on schools and come across your tread. I have been offered position at sidra and will be looking school place for yr 8. Any advice on distance and location of good schools close to Sidra accommodation. We are moving from London. Many Thanks

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 June 2014 - 02:12

Thank you kimmc3.

362

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 15:44

Many thanks Kimmc3 & mrsw2 Not sure if anyone has done this before i.e getting their child into Yr 11 of IGCSEs from Scottish standards; otherwise DS would be put back one year; we think a regular tuition over this summer might help him to catch up. Thanks for your replies once again. I have a DS going into Year 10 in September (at Doha College though) and we've been told that he should not be moved for the next 2 years, especially if we were considering going back to England as it would impact quite badly on his progress. The problem is that the difference between the IGCSE's and the normal GCSE's is quite significant, not to mention the differing examination boards. We've already been here for 5 and a half years, and now have had to commit for another 2 :-/

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 12:03

Many thanks Kimmc3 & mrsw2 Not sure if anyone has done this before i.e getting their child into Yr 11 of IGCSEs from Scottish standards; otherwise DS would be put back one year; we think a regular tuition over this summer might help him to catch up. Thanks for your replies once again.

105

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 11:16

I don't know Park House but we are very happy with DBS - although my children are a lot younger. The atmosphere in the school is very open and welcoming. Teaching and discipline is good and the extra curricular side if things is also good.

362

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 01 June 2014 - 10:30

DBS is the better school of the two options. I'm surprised they'll accept a YR 11 student (half way through IGCSE's? or do they do IB?) DBS is also fairly easy to get to, but the traffic will be h3ll- ish wherever you go at school run time. <em>edited by kimmc3 on 01/06/2014</em>

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