Newton British School or Sherborne...

Just noticed the date...DOH!

I know who you are...and I know where you went mwahahahahahaha!!!!

Hi Sarah,

Gosh, gets a bit heated sometimes! This is something you'll need to be prepared for where schools are concerned I'm afraid - it does get a bit 'this school is better than that school because they did this, didn't do that'.

My biggest piece of advice to you, if you can ignore a large chunk of the above, is to visit the school yourself and make up your own mind. Consider how the school feels when you go there, see how happy the children are. If you're making a move as big as you are then the children will only get on well where they are happy most.

It's fact - Sherborne has better facilities than NBS. Sherborne does have its UK counterpart (fantastic school in Dorset) but, don't confuse Sherborne here with the UK version. The fees are very expensive.

NBS - well, they have do have a pool for lessons. It's very dusty and ropey round the edges - the school used to be a compound so all the classrooms are in separate buildings, for eg Foundation 1 and 2 are in one area of the school, and upper years are in another area so on and so forth. They do have a large sports hall. Simply put, it's not Sherborne, but if it was, the fees would be much higher. It's very affordable and the education is good too.

Another big factor to consider in all this is where you will be living. NBS and Sherborne are quite away from each other and the morning school run, if you have to cross certain roads or areas of town, can be a nightmare.

Please feel free to get in touch if you need anymore advice - I was in your position 3 months ago and I'm only just starting to settle down as it were. My hubby is also a pilot with QA...and my kids don't go to Sherborne ;-) xx

I'm sorry qatardunes but I have to correct you. Sherborne school in the UK is an outstanding private school who have sadly sold their name to the highest bidder - Qatar. The Board from Sherborne have visited the school once since its opening, which wasn't a smooth one; although no new school opening ever is. Since then the school has undergone a massive expansion with very little logistal or strategic planning, anohter endemic problem here in Qatar. They are currently overcrowded and are awaiting delivery of hteir new buildings on the outskirts of Qatar and teachers that I know who work there constantly complain of the dust and dirt. One that I knew left after one year as he couldn't stand hos professional integrity being compromised on a daily basis int ehnever ending search for bigger profits (another endemic problem here in Qatar). I have children in NBS and although the facilities are somewhat lacking I have to say my kids are generally very happy, well supported and love their teachers past and present. I think everyone on here needs to be wary about posts that get personal or vitriolic and stray from the facts.

In response to the original post - the vast majority of Qatar airways pilots children attend Sherborne (they like to be a bit cliquey) and seem reasonably happy with it as a school although not as happy as they were with their previous schools in the UK and elsewhere. Qatar is a fledgling country and unfortunately teh education department here (SEC) isn't as supreme as its name suggests. In another decade or so things may be much better - inshallah!

REMOVED BY MYSELF

Just not to offend anybody´s feelings, let´s just say Sherborne has all the backup and reputation from an awesome school in the UK. That´s it.

Best regards everyone... :-)

I second your comments Bachus. I'm glad my children are at DESS after reading the comments above. And for the record, I'm not white and find DESS to be a diverse, comfortable place with going parent-teacher relations.

Good luck to the OP. i think you can easily determine for yourself the motivation of the people posting on this thread.

Wow. After reading the comments that appeared after my post above, I sure am glad my child is at DESS, which btw isn't an all-white British expat school. British passports are held by a range of races and religions and DESS reflects that diversity. My guess is that about 2/3 would be considered "white", which is about the same as at the American School and Doha College.

I don't know about Newton in this regard (and I don't think it matters), but my comments vs Sherborne are derived from recent and current parents in the primary schools. Sherborne has a reputation of better facilities and better morale amongst the staff. Newton has a reputation being dismissive of parents. And I can't say that Missteachers posts are doing much to dispel my generally negative impression of Newton.

That said (to the OP), there won't be a great deal of choice this late in the year. The best think is to secure a place and then shop around in the early autumn. It's not unusual for parents to start with one school and then upgrade when places become available.

or are you a terminated employee?

In which case, your view on expansion of business is debatable. True, there might some desperate parents over there, at least, one school is attending to them. Do you want them to wait for 1 or two years to let their child or children have a decent (if not the best) education?

Thought you were out 10 minutes ago??

you can call me what you like MikeOxbig doesn't bother me.

I represent myself and my profession and I have not once name called except from calling you a racist because of your original comment before you edited it.

I haven't lashed out at anyone about negative comment on the school, 2020 is a separate matter and then you come on your high horse calling me 'doll' n all sorts. You expect me to give you a positive response??

Yes I agree with you, I do hope that potential and current parents see this too.

for the last five years I have been here in Qatar, many do suggest this school and the same scenario year after year (long waiting list, etc etc). Why are they not expanding if they are really that great? Or they just want the parents to suffer in waiting list?

it must be good.

And here, we are talking of primary to secondary schools, we are not talking about college or whatever. Any schools will give you a positive or negative points based on perception. It is also on the children's attitude towards schooling. But basing on many threads about British schools, biases are really prevalent on certain schools.

no you edited your comment.

Know what you are talking about before you comment @MikeOxbig.

More like what is your obsession with this guy. Two forums you have went on defending him and you don't even know the situation.

If you look the 'negative' comments 2020 is referring to, they are from years ago, mostly from 2007. The school has obviously developed and continues to improve. As I have said in another 'Newton' forum, 2020, for some reason, has something against me on QL so I would not let this cloud your judgement.

Furthermore all 3 schools have just been internationally accredited and were inspected by SEC and AdvanceED and all got glowing reports. All inspectors have got great experience of the British curriculum all over the world and have high expectations.

Also my parents have all expressed their satisfaction with their children's education and progress and I have new children starting in term 3.

I have no gain or benefit of giving positive feedback about the Newton schools, my pay will stay the same as I'm not on commission. I have friends who taught at Cambridge and they would never give positive feedback or recommend new children to come as it was dyer.

Lagoon school is a brand new school in West bay with all new resources and ICT equipment, so I would look into there as well.

Good Luck with whatever you choose!

I get the feelin' that some people on here are rating schools according to how many expats (read white) go there. More expats at a British school then it must better. So what if Newton has all of about four white Brit kids, still good be a good school.

Sherborne has a better reputation amongst parents as having better facilities and teachers, but as said above it's new and so doesn't have as long a history to create complaining parents. There have been a number of debates about Newton on QL but the consensus is that Sherborne a quality option. I know parents who have had children at both, but, to be honest, the parents with children at Newton have pulled their children out to place them elsewhere--they cited poor management primarily but were not happy with their teachers either. The Sherborne parents remain happy with their choice.

Either way, I would suggest putting your children on the wait lists for places like DESS and Doha College, which are the best British-curriculum schools in the city (but with waiting lists to match). If you plan to be in Doha for a while, its worth the year-long wait to get in. If by that time you've fallen in love with the school your children are in, then nothing is lost.

Definitely, Definitely, Definitely, Definitely Sherborne. If you do a search on QL, you find a number of complaining threads about NBS and almost all positive views of Sherborne. Sherborne is relatively new, but it is growing into secondary and has a good reputation for quality teachers and good resources. Once in Qatar, you should also have a close look at DESS, Doha College, Park House and Compass--the waiting lists are probably full for this year, but there is always the next and such thinks need to be well planned in Doha.

My children are at DESS, which is primary only. A number of the parents I know of have chosen Sherborne over even Doha College for secondary, which is a good sign of its growing reputation.

Good luck.

Newton is a great school :) with great teachers!

Thank you Angelo, I have completed and application for Newton British School, i'm not sure how long it will be before my kids will have an assessment.

Sarah

reply to you on 27 March about Newton British School.

My daughter still there since two years and not trouble at all.

Good luck

Nobody has spoken of Newton british School, i wanted to get up to date views of the School now.

you already have a active thread from Mar 27th on the same subject ?