Valley Forge Academy Qatar
Doha: Since 2022, the Valley Forge Academy Qatar (VFAQ), located at Aspire Zone 2, has emerged as one of the finest international American schools for boys in the country.
The first batch includes 171 students, and the school can accommodate 1,700 enrollees, providing top quality education from Pre-K to grade 12.
Valley Forge Academy Qatar is the first US-based boy international school in Qatar with an American curriculum based on Pennsylvania Common Core State. The academy is Qatar’s campus of the original Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, USA, which was established in 1928.
The school focuses on Arabic language, Islamic studies and Qatari values and currently offers primary education – Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 7. One remarkable type of service it offers is it includes University Dual Enrolment enhancing University transition.
Moreover, it has a strong emphasis on physical excellence and extra-curricular activities including golf, fencing, martial arts, STEM, e-sports, debating, music and theatre.
Speaking to The Peninsula, President of Valley Forge Academy Qatar, Dr. Paul Lea said the school opened for the academic year 2022-23 on August 15, 2022 with 171 founding students as first group.
The classes started on August 21 for students from Pre-K to grade 7.
“We plan to increase up to grade 10 in the next academic year 2023-24. Our primary population is Qatari students but as an international school it is open for any nationalities,” said Dr. Lea. For admission, he said the students undergo an assessment test to determine their qualification required by the school.
Speaking about teaching staff, he said: “We hired qualified teachers mostly from the US and the UK. There are some local teachers of native Arabs for mandatory subjects like Islamic studies and Arabic.”
He said that Valley Forge Academy Qatar opened under the framework of main campus of the school in Pennsylvania on utilising five corner stones including academic excellence, character development, leadership, personal motivation and physical development.
“We really integrated these values basically Islamic studies, Arabic language, Qatari customs, tradition and belief. We are not touch on them but they are integrated into the curriculum so the students are exposed to all of these every day,” said Dr. Lea.
VFA Qatar is the first truly international American school for boys. It is a collaboration between Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) in Pennsylvania, USA, Valley Forge Academy, a Qatar based educational group, who also own Durham School for Girls Doha, and Aspire Zone, the home of the school’s new campus.
VFA Qatar delivers an American curriculum while focusing on Qatari culture, Arabic language and Islamic teachings combined with physical excellence.
Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, USA, has almost 100 years of Heritage since 1928. Among VFMA’s alumni are Presidents of countries, senior government officials, professional athletes, as well as many successful Qatari graduates.
VFA Qatar has a purpose built state of the art campus in Aspire Zone 2. It is highly accessible location with adequate parking spots.
The school, in an area of 420,000 ft2 with a capacity of 1,700 students, includes indoor swimming pool, racquet facilities, virtual golf course, fully equipped multipurpose sports hall, basketball and football courts, fully functional theatre and first gaming facility developed in a school in Qatar.
