International School of London
By jack spratt •
Can anyone recommend this school. I was told that the Principal and other administrators are leaving after one year, plus lots of the teachers are trying to leave as well.
If this is true, it must be some kind of a problem with the school or the owners. The fees are very high, but I have not heard any comments about the standards.
Tony Doha holds a grudge against the International School London because his kids were rejected at the application stage and they never attended the school.
Obviously you do not understand the curriculum if this is your stance on the school. ISL-Qatar runs on the IB programme which if you knew anything you would understand is learner centred. Which contradicts your comment about the school not being focussed on the learner.
As for learning something useful, that depends on your take on what is useful. Did you want your children to memorise facts? Yes, then no ISL is not the school for you. Did you want your child to understand the deeper concepts behind, to be able to think critically and reflect on their learning? Yes, then ISL is the school for your child.
As for your statement about students leaving that may be the case but you should also be looking at staff movements. Are teachers changing every two years or are they remaining consistent? If the teachers are leaving it is cause for concern because they know something you may not. Having said that the only people I know leaving the school are leaving for Sherbourne because they wanted British Curriculum not International but were very happy with the school for the time they were there.
Before making grand sweeping statements perhaps acknowledge that the school was not for you but that the extensive waiting list says otherwise. The school has an international student body, and challenging curriculum. It may not be your ideal school but let people make their own judgements rather than being bitter in a public forum.
Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2317901#ixzz1ydrO2UaJ
Honestly, One of the worst schools i have ever seen not just in Doha, but world wide. Not a learner place, but rather a place for kids to kill time. It looks organized, but kids learn nothing usefull at that school.
The international school of london is one of most expensive schools in Doha and yet the worst by far. Everyone i know attending the international school of London in Doha is about to leave the school.
Poor education and a total waste our kids time to send them to this school. Stay away of this school and try other ones. Such as Global, Doha College, DESS.
We and our friends had a terrible experience in regards to learning. Some of us managed to send the kids to other school and some are looking for places for their kids.
***Only 4 Teachers From South Africa
About The Owners They Are In Not Significant Educational Positions Such As:
1.Finance Manger
2.Nurse
3. CEO/Chairman
But It Is A British Managed School All The Principal Head Of Primary Head Of Secondary And Most Of The Teachers Are from The UK, Kiwi's ,USA and only 4 4 teachers from South Africa
Dear All,
The International School of london in qatar is one of the best school that i experinced. A replay to Pike that the principal was working underground but he has been working as an IBO Mathematics Exmanier and a principal of the sister school in london. About the primary head left the school after 8 months of working in the school because when the principal met him in london april 2008 before ISLQ opened he asked him to come and setup the school because he has experince in doha college because he will be experinced in qatar education and with the culture. In the same time mr burns had a job to do in sept 2008 but he accepted ISLQ's offer and told them he will stay for two terms and then will leave. About teachers leaving the teachers only signed a 1 year contract so they can leave after 1 year of working. there is only 5 teachers leaving in primary and 1 in secondary. And For The advertisments there is 5 adverts for teachers and there is 4 new positions such as a new PE teacher a phisycs and chiemstry teacher a norwegian mother tounge teacher. And A NeW tEACHER-Librarian because the orincipal and his wife the librarian are leaving and going back to UK because they are already retired when they brought them here so they asked them to set up the school for a year and return to england. And About ESL there is 3 teacher sof ESL 2 for primary and 1 for secondary. About PTA is developing the first PTA meeting will be 17th of may 2009 in the school library and there will be a women incharge of the PTA. she is the effective founder of the PTA in london she will be joining International School Of London In Qatar Staff in Sept 2009 It Is a regular Member of the European Council Of International Schools and accepted as a member of the Council Of International Schools.
The owners are Lebanese and not an educators.The person brought to manage it worked in the Underground and lost a previous Principal job for those same owners due to an alleged inappropriate relationships with a young secretary. The Primary School Principal is no longer there(after six months of its opening only!) and the school has been advertising for dozens of new tachers already.
As far as I know, it's not the principal who's leaving but the primary head. My two daughters are on this school and we are also very happy with it. It is a new school, so we faced some issues at the beginning (books, primary head who never calls back, lack of ESL assistance, lack of good Dutch mother tong program) but to be honest to the school we saw continous improvement over the past months. Indeed, high standards of teaching. For us the only issue with it, is the location.
Things that we would like to have improved:
- Involvement of parents: setup of a PTA. Only on the website, but not done yet. We can understand that the school has been very bussy with other things on it's first year but this is quiet important.
- communication to parents, almost everything is being communicated through letters given to kids but the timing is not always that good, including the publishing of information on the website; e.g. change in a midterm break. Furthermore, why not using 'modern' technology like email and sms.
- Swimming classes. According the website a swimming pool is being constructed but I have not seen anything so far.
Hope this information will help you take a decission. Don't worry about teachers or principals leaving, could be a positive thing!
Echoing Brown-eyed-girl's comments: apart from school bus services, the rest seems fine and my daughter is very happy there...
Nothing remains the same, and everything will change at some point.
My daughter is in this school and we are really happy about it. As well as all other parents that I know. The atmosphere is really international, standards of teaching are high, all teachers are native English speakers with proper teaching experience. Facilities are new. And most importantly kids are happy ))