Schools in Qatar for British kids | ExpatWoman.com
 

Schools in Qatar for British kids

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 15:08

My husband will be starting work in Qatar at the beginning of February, and we will be following a couple of months later. I am hoping to get my two girls enrolled in a school starting Sept 2013. It seems most schools are taking applications now for the 2013/2014 year, so I really need to get onto it.

Now I realise places at schools are in short supply, but we don't know which schools to apply to, or how many to apply to. Obviously submitting lots of applications will get very expensive as they cost about QR500 per child for the application. Ideally I would like them to attend a British school which includes both Primary and Secondary schooling. My girls are aged 7 and 10.

I would be really grateful for any suggestions and advice. I look forward to getting to know you all.

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 21:28
We are in Dubai and moving to Doha. We applied to DESS and managed to get a place for our year 5 child quite quickly which has put our other children at the top of the list. Having a year 5/6 child is a good way to get into DESS and then you should get a place at DC. I dont know all the schools in Doha but i already know DESS and DC have the best repetation.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 15:30
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have had some internet issues. I only enquired by email did not submit any deposit, as they are non returnable. Julie
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 14:13
mrsw2 - thank you so much for your kind reply. I would love to hear more about Loydence as we have now come up with a 'game plan'. We have decided to apply to Doha British School, DESS, Parkhouse and Loydence (in order of preference). DC told me they won't have places this year, but I have put applications in for Sept 2014 there, just so that we may have that as an option if we want it when the time comes.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 January 2013 - 11:04
Hi Scottishzimbo - we arrived at the end fo August just before the schools started after the summer break. We applied to most of the schools you have mentioned with the exception of Parkhouse (but we may apply for that now for 2013/14) and Compass (way to expensive for us with 3 children). Loydence was the wildcard for us but it was the only school with a place for my children (yr 2 and preschool). Compass had places as well but we had already written it off by then. We took the places at Loydence and have kept the boys on the other lists. Loydence is a good school but it is small and doesn't have the facilities that the larger schools have. Let me know if you want to know more about it as its website doesn't do it justice. If you are lucky you may get places in your favourites. We are still waiting though. I think for us there will be a period of time where the boys are in different schools unless we are very lucky. I think you have to cast your net as widely as you can and apply to as many as you can. Not all the schools take an application fee up front. Sherborne have not taken a fee from us yet because we are on the witing list - they will take the fee when the application is processed. I think DESS operate a similar syste. Doha College you pay when you get the form and Doha British School you pay when you submit the form. SO with any luck the applications may not cost as much as you think.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 23:52
Thanks Kimmc - I think I will try DESS after all. You never know, at least we do have British passports.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 23:40
Just something to consider as well is that DESS is a 'feeder' school for DC Secondary. The Yr 6's at DESS get to sit the exam in the March and they are informed by May if they have been accepted & 99% of the children do get into DC. My son went this route.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 22:35
Thank you! You just confirmed what I was thinking. :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 22:25
With a ten year old I would be keen to have a school with a secondary option. You don't want to be starting this process again too soon if you can possibly help it. My first four picks (with secondary) would be - Doha College, Parkhouse, Doha British and Sherborne (new secondary just started).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 21:26
~thanks again for your input - I can't tell you how appreciated it is! kimmc - I will definitely try Sherborne I think, thanks. I have already purchased the application forms for Doha College, so will apply anyway. My older daughter is very bright, so she may have a good chance. Unfortunately my younger daughter is taking her time about getting to grips with reading and subsequently writing. We are working on it, but I don't see her topping anyone's waiting list! chocfish - we are British passport holders, so perhaps may be worth considering DESS. however my older daughter is 10 so it wouldn't be that long before we were looking for a secondary school for her. The ones currently on my list are... Parkouse Loydence Compass Doha British School Sherborne Doha College QIS I have emailed them, so far Parkhouse and Doha College are the only ones who replied. (I'll start phoning this week) Parkhouse said maybe in September if we apply now, which we will, I think this may be my first choice. Doha College said there would only be a space if people leave.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 21:03
Your children would have to write an entrance exam for Doha College should they be lucky enough to be offered a place. DC is academically selective, but as long as your children are up to speed with the UK Curriculum for their year groups they should be fine with the exam. By all means apply at DC. It would be better to go there in person as they will tell you before you pay whether or not you stand a chance of getting in so you won't waste QR500.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 18:48
I don't personally think you should "just forget" any schools you are interested in. If your children have strong school reports then most British schools (apart from DESS which is purely first come, first served for British passport holders) are picking who they want to test from their waiting lists. So you have as good a chance as anyone else. We applied to four schools and were offered two places. You probably want to apply for at least two or three schools. I personally think unless a school tells you that you have no chance then apply for the schools you want. I believe it's a false economy to skimp on application fees (after chatting to the school first). They are a necessary evil when it comes to a competitive school places environment. Good luck. <em>edited by chocfish on 10/01/2013</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 18:04
Sherborne had a problem for the first week of the new school year in September, as they were waiting for some new Secondary classrooms to be signed off by the Ministry (a bit of to-ing & fro-ing by the powers that be). It is definitely resolved now, and although I don't have first hand experience with the school, I have a very picky friend whose daughter attends school there & she is very happy. Good luck with your search.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 16:12
Thank you so much for your helpful replies. Kimmc3 - I noticed on reading through older posts that Sherbourne had a huge problem with kids having to be home schooled due to their over booking themselves. Is this all sorted now?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 11:09
Forget DESS & Doha College, I doubt that you would even be able to get onto their waiting lists. Maybe worth giving Sherborne a ring, they might have a waiting list open.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 10:44
BTW - didn't mean that to sound like Loydence is bad, it's just not one of 'the' schools in Doha.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 January 2013 - 10:41
Suggest you try emailing Loydence Academy. It may not be your forever school in Doha but is British curriculum and will almost certainly have space. Application fee 500 per child. For the other schools, I'd just call them all up. Most will tell you whether you stand any hope or not before you have. Doha College will take your money for an application even if you stand no chance. One of the British Curriculum schools which may not have made it onto your list is Qatar International School.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 22:49
When you say you applied by email, did you just enquire, or did you submit actual applications? Most of them are QR500 per application, and we have two kids!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 22:46
Hi Julie, thanks so much for your reply. I have been looking at all the schools, and had put Compass as a potential. the problem with Compass is it may be beyond our budget. :(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 19:50
Hi Scottishzimbo I have just arrived in Doha, we applied to about 6 Schools before we came to Doha by email to request if they had any places for a year 9 girl. Most of them did not reply, some had a waiting list and was not accepting anymore to the list. The only school that had spaces were Compass International School on the Madinat Khalifa campus. They have a website, just goggle it! I think they have about three campus sites. They were very helpful when I applied. My daughter started two days ago and seems fine at the minute, fingers crossed!, But this can be a nightmare!