DOHA: King’s College, a prestigious boarding school from the UK, yesterday announced the launch of its branch campus in Doha.
Kings College Doha (KCD), a British International School for children from three to 11 years, will open its doors to students in September this year. The school is located between Najma Street and E-Ring Road in Thumama.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has recognised KCD as an “Outstanding School” and admissions for the academic year 2016/2017 are now open to children between three and eight years (UK Curriculum Pre-School through to Year 4).
The launch was announced at an event at the British Embassy hosted by the British Ambassador to Qatar, Ajay Sharma.
The school’s daily activities, based on the King’s British curriculum, will be delivered by UK-trained teachers and teachers of Arabic and Islamic studies, College officials said yesterday.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman of King’s College Doha, Aysha Al Hashemi, Assistant Director for Private Schools Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Nicholas Gunn, King’s College Doha Headmaster, and his counterpart from the UK, Justin Chippendale were also present.
Children at KCD will also be offered a wide range of co-curricular activities including music, sport, art, design, drama, English language learning, technology and communications . Specialist subject teachers rather than will provide core subject teaching from as early as Year 3 and for all subjects from Year 5.
KCD’s headmaster Nicholas Gunn, formerly head of Lancing College Prep School, UK said: “We are delighted to launch King’s. Our aim is to provide an inspirational experience that prepares children for the next stage in their life within a happy, safe and nurturing environment.”
“Of equal importance to the daily curriculum is our focus on developing well-rounded children. King’s will foster an inspiring and caring environment, where every child will be encouraged to fulfill their potential, whether in academia, music, sport, or the arts,” added Gunn. Richard Biggs, Headmaster of King’s College, England, said: “King’s is very excited about its new partner school in Doha. For 135 years, King’s College has been nurturing young people on its beautiful campus in the South-West of England and we are proud to be working with our Qatari partners to create the equally inspiring King’s College in Doha.”
KCD buildings are designed by award winning school architects and upon completion will house some of the finest kindergarten and primary school facilities in Qatar.A glazed central atrium sits at the heart of the new school offering a unique amphitheatre styled performance hall surrounded by large, state-of-the- art classrooms with dedicated indoor and outdoor learning and play areas. The school will have an excellent array of specialist teaching spaces including Science Labs, an Art and Design centre, Music and Drama classrooms as well as a dedicated Arabic and Islamic Studies centre. ICT will play a key role throughout, with Wi-Fi available in all internal areas and a Mac Computer Lab allowing for a wide range of computing, coding and digital design and editing.
The sports facilities will include an indoor hall, a brand-new 25-metre pool with learner area and a new outdoor games area for football, tennis, basketball and netball. New dining and kitchen facilities will offer healthy and nutritious meals.
Ambassador Sharma said, “A British education is seen as among one of the best in the world and I am pleased to be able to support the opening of a great British school here in Doha. King’s College’s record in education speaks for itself and I am pleased it will soon be offering its services in Qatar. I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Education, Sheikh Mansoor Jassim Al Thani and King’s College on their partnership and look forward to seeing them open the school in September.”
Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim bin Thani Al Thani said the school will offer first-class teaching that caters for the needs of each child, blending the power of tradition and culture with innovation and enquiry. “King’s College, Doha will offer an environment that encourages all children to be understanding and tolerant of others, whilst developing the self-confidence to be a creative and responsible member of society,” he said.
Interested parents can contact for admission at +0974-3145 8794 / 5 / 6 (English) +974- 3145 8793 (Arabic). Further information about the school is available at its website, www.kingscollegedoha.com.
The Peninsula
