Enda Waters (Thursday, 27 October 2011 12:40)

Hi Margo,
My daughter attends school and I have never heard of children being smacked. Katara the cultural has a fantastic music academy and there are also lots of private music teachers for tin whistle and guitar. My daughter only started Irish dancing since we arrived!! Good Luck

margo Donnelly (Wednesday, 12 October 2011 08:11)

Hello all,

Like a lot on here, My Husband is moving out to Qatar and we (me and our 3 kids, aged 4, 8 & 11yrs)are hoping to follow eventually.

I just wanted to ask a question, which may sound a bit odd - But, here goes.. I don't smack my children and I really would not allow another person too.. So, I wanted to check out the rules on how schools in Qatar deal with discipline, as it were by methods that I had at school, it would make me stay at home and just visit for school holidays etc..
Also, my children have Irish Music Lessons on Tin Whistle & Guitar.. I am thinking these would also have to stop, unless anyone knows of any classes?
Many Thanks - Margo

Oonagh Murphy (Sunday, 17 July 2011 14:43)

Thanks so much Ann. Will email you before we arrive! Hoping to travel early December or last three weeks in January. YOu can let me know then if you need a supply of Barrys tea or taytos!!! Thanks again. Oonagh

Anne (Tuesday, 12 July 2011 11:19)

Oonagh, no bother, it'd be great to meet up. My email is Anne@marketright.ie. Send me an email and I'll send you my mobile. Just asked my 8 year old what he thought of school this year he said "great!". So all still good

Oscar (Saturday, 09 July 2011 13:34)

The best schools in Doha are

Doha College, Sherborne Qatar, Doha English Speaking School (DESS), and Qatar Academy.

If you don't find a place by September, Geometric tutoring centre is your best bet until you do find a place for your children.

www.geometric-centre.com

They have PGCE qualified from the UK and small classes. Also recommended if your children need extra classes or supplementary lessons.

Oonagh (Friday, 01 July 2011 08:07)

Thanks for your encouraging words Anne! We are currently on a few waiting lists for schools and hope to move over for last school term next year. The kids and I will visit in December for a few weeks to sus out the place and hopefully they will be hooked! Are you still living there? WOuld love to meet up with you when we come in December!! I feel it would be great for my two if they had some friends before the big move!! Regards, Oonagh

Dee (Sunday, 19 June 2011 15:35)

Hi my boyfriend and I are think about moving to Doah in the next few months, he has a job sorted I'm just looking at the moment for teaching jobs, have not applied yet
would you suggest a visit before we move out? How is life for women?
We were Dubai in January and
loved it, are they similar?

Anne (Saturday, 18 June 2011 13:26)

Oonagh, I moved with 8, 12 and 15 year old... Best year of their lives in school. The teen didn't want to come but now says she wouldn't go back. The schools are frankly better than home in my view. Mine go to Sherborne and ISL. Regards, Anne

Michelle (Thursday, 26 May 2011 19:11)

Hi Denise, I'm waiting on places for years 5, 3, and 2, fingers crossed we'll hear back from Park House in the next week or so, have heard the school is really good and have already had a look round, was really impressed. Thanks for getting in touch. x

oonagh (Thursday, 19 May 2011 10:23)

will you email me on info@irishinqatar.com so i'll have you address denise

denise info@irishinqatar.com (Thursday, 19 May 2011 10:21)

Hi Michelle if you have made your application on time you will have a good chance that is if there is a place available. they have 100's on their waiting list and only have places if there are drop outs, what years are your chlidren applying for, mine are in park house year 5 and 7 i worked there for a while,

Michelle (Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:24)

Hi, has anyone gained a place/places at Park House yet I'm waiting, the school have said the end of May.

Oonagh Murphy (Sunday, 08 May 2011 12:40)

Thanks Denise, for the feedback. We would love to meet up over the Summer. It would be great to get a preview on Doha over a glass or two of wine!! My husband will be working with Qatar Petrolium and he shoulb be starting in the next few weeks. Where have you your two in school. By all accounts, securing places can be an ordeal. I will email you end of May with my mobile number and hopefully we can meet up once you are settled back. Thanks again for your email.I appreciate and look forward to meeting you soon. Thanks again. OonaghX

Denise (Wednesday, 04 May 2011 01:29)

Hi Oonagh, we moved with a 9 & 10 year old, girls. it all went fine, they missed their friends and school life etc at home but settled in quickly here. My husband was here 10 weeks before we came and we didn't visit beforehand, I figured what was the point, we had to come anyway!, So better spend the money going home for visit from Qatar rather than other way around. my advise would be to move in Sept for school year, no point hanging around. I'll be home all summer, living in Limerick, bliss! ( bet you don't hear that much!) email me at info@irishinqatar.com Denise

Oonagh Murphy (Tuesday, 03 May 2011 17:04)

my huvand wil be locating to Doha shortly. I would love to follow him over for but we have two children aged 10 and 7. I am worried that they are a bit "old" to uproot and start new schools, make nw friend etc. I don't intend to move until May 2012 but hope to make one or two trips before that with the kids to give them a taste of Qatar living! Any advise from anybody who made the move with older kids. Anyone home to Ireland for the Summer who would like to meet up with me and my two kids to share your experiences and stories? We would love to hear from you:) Oonagh living in Cork but originally from Tralee!

Anne (Sunday, 06 March 2011 12:34)

Joanne, I dont have specific knowledge of services for Autistic children, have you had any luck on your research? I know that if you have a good health plan that you will probably be covered for support and I do find the medical system quite up to date and accessible. Anyway if you have not been able to get any further information mail me at Anne@marketright.ie and I'll do some research on the ground for you, no trouble.

joanne (Monday, 28 February 2011 06:53)

Hi there,
Have any of you moved to Qatar with an Autistic child? Our son is 5 and I'm wondering what the services/schools would be like for him.

Any advice/info, would be greatly appreciated.

Marketright (Friday, 21 January 2011 07:14)

...to further put your mind at rest....the library has 10,000 English reading books gifted from the Emir, they have ballet, horse riding, sailing, brownies, cubs, tennis clubs etc after school activities at the school so no running and picking up and dropping nightmares. My daughters going skiing with them in Italy and had choice of France, Egypt and Italy trip this year. All teachers have previous prep school experience. It's formal like Irish schools and kids love it. They are introducing school meals but not immediately (in the lunch room :-), the school itself is temporary but better than most at home. They are building a new school from scratch but hasn't started yet, only downside is no swimming pool.

So Cindy, hope this seems better for you!
Good luck with move
Regards
Anne

Marketright (Friday, 21 January 2011 07:12)

Cindy, that review is highly ridiculous! Both my children go to Sherborne and happily have their lunches in the lunchroom and use their toilet facilities that are comparable to any others. Where did you see the review, would love to see it. What classes are your kids starting, mine are year three and eight. Both love Sherborne and personally, although ambivalent initially, Im really impressed, it's fab school. Btw, it's very difficult to get places so well done on that.
Any more questions and I'd be delighted to help. Regards
Anne

Cindy (Thursday, 20 January 2011 07:58)

Hi all

Can anyone put my mind at rest??? We are due to relocate to doha next month and the children have places at Sherborne but I have just read a terrible review on how the children eat in the corridors as no lunch room facilities and the toilets are inadequate??????? Help Please - email cindielouisa@hotmail.com

Martin (Wednesday, 05 January 2011 11:36)

thank you Denise. My daughter is starting tomorrow morning at Park House.

Denise (Monday, 13 December 2010 03:20)

My children are in Park House, I find it good. Like lots of schools in Doha, the waiting list is the only problem. Apart from DESS, it is the only school in Doha with all qualified and Irish /UK teachers. The founder of the school is Heather Brennan(Fermanagh) so being Irish is a plus when applying. denise - info@irishinqatar.com

Martin (Wednesday, 24 November 2010 17:32)

Hi,
does somone have more informaion on Park House school?

thanks for the info

Anne (Monday, 01 November 2010 05:06)

My kids in Sherborne and it is fine so far, if a little formal, the school choice should be directed by where you live, or visa versa. Traffic is the pits and it can be a long spin if you don't plan it, my eldest daughter is in international School of London and seems to be doing really well. Much more easy going than Sherborne and follows the International Bacclaureat program which is recognized world wide. This is a good choice if you have teenage kids, they are more difficult to get places for,

molly (Friday, 01 October 2010 05:24)

Our children attend Sherborne Qatar, a British prep school which is now in its second year here. It had 500 students of all races / nationalities, from Pre-prep to Y8: next year they will open Year 9 and maybe Year 10. They follow the England & Wales curriculum and it is situated about 5 minutes further out on the Dukan Road from Education City. We are very happy with what the school has achieved so far and would certainly recommend it! Let me know if you need any more information about the school

Carol (Monday, 10 May 2010 00:54)

My son is in British Newton School in Al Waab near Villagio and it gets good reviews. You might find DESS difficult to get into due to the long waiting lists.

fred (Thursday, 29 April 2010 07:50)

howya

Irish in Qatar (Thursday, 29 April 2010 07:19)

Yes, Park House comes well recommended or DESS, Doha English Speaking School

Anne (Thursday, 29 April 2010 07:18)

Can someone recommend a good English School, I have two children 6 & 9 and we're moving to Qatar in September