Waiting List in schools

Mmm what shall I buy???!!! I may post 3 times again!!Woopey do!!

Dear Angelina, i an very happy that your english is better than mine! Get yourself a present.

Errmmn, I see that you have posted your comments THREE times, AngelinaBallerina. I very much doubt that you know how to use a computer properly.... Apart from that, I really cannot be bothered to argue the point. You appear to have two chips on your shoulder...yawn...

Errmm Shalla I see that English is not your first language but mine is so I very much doubt your children's English is better than mine......apart from that I really can't be bothered to argue the point...you appear to have a chip on your shoulder....yawn....

Errmm Shalla I see that English is not your first language but mine is so I very much doubt your children's English is better than mine......apart from that I really can't be bothered to argue the point...you appear to have a chip on your shoulder....yawn....

Errmm Shalla I see that English is not your first language but mine is so I very much doubt your children's English is better than mine......apart from that I really can't be bothered to argue the point...you appear to have a chip on your shoulder....yawn....

You have taken it the wrong way. This is an expression we say....like 'no wonder', its not ment to be taken literally.

i dont think this is correct answer))) You don't blame me? Sorry, but you have no right to blame me. I can"not be blamed for my rights to ask about the safety of my children, you know....

I don't blame you. I'm sure many parents will be doing the same.

I believe you. But tomorrow i will ask to see it.

No I know you weren't but people on here sometimes do. We have a fire drill & plan in place and also very open & easy to evacuate thank goodness. So sad about yesterday :( all the children could see the smoke at playtime :(

I did not say that teachers were not good. I said that facilities are not very good. The reason i wanted to move them to montessori, coz it is right next to the house, and the facilities are better. That;s all. But now, after what happen in Vilagio, i think that Newton B school is the safe place to be - in case of anything kids can be quickly evacuated. Call me paranoid, but now i start thinking about it! Do the schools have all their fire exits well maintained and do the teachers know the drill? Montessori is a big schooll with 3 floors..... Newton British - just small villas....

Shalla the resources and parking etc could be much better you are correct. So that is why I can understand parents wanting to go to other schools such as DESS etc...Its when people critise the teachers that I get annoyed at. We do our best with the resources and facilities we have. I have plenty to teach the curriculum to a very good standard, however, of course the children would benefit from having playground equipment and parents&teachers with a decent carpark.

First of all i would like to answer to cleaver Angelinabr... whatever. Dear, my kids speak english probobly much better that yours do,coz they were born and raised abroad. And what exactly is the reason why school prefer kids with perfect english? This particular school never claimed to give advantage to british, you know? They refer to themselves as international school. You get it? Or it is complicated for you? If DESS accept only british kids - they made it clear and i have no problem with that. But i do find it very offencive when school who claims to be open for all gives priority to some nationalities. Isn't it pure racism?

Kids go to Newton british (al waab). It is not exactly what you would expect for the money we pay - i mean the facilities. The playground is below avarage,no parking at all, but teachers are Ok, and the kids are happy. That's what matters - kids are happy. The programm is good, there is a healthy mix of kids from many countries, so i can not complain. And i am glad that my kids have classmates from different countries, including Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Serbia, Romania, Egypt, USA, Greece and so on. I am sure when they grow up they will be more open minded and more tollerant to other nationalities then british kids! Cheers!

These allegations of racism are very serious indeed.

Shalla, so which school u manage to get yr kids into now ? It's true & sad to know that those people who just came in & inquired, got a place immediately vs those who were on a waiting list. I was on a waiting list for more than a yr before I got a place too & also found out that there are people just landed few months ago & got a place. I believe all schools are the same. There are many parents applying for 7-8 schools at a time and therefore their names are all over the place. Only those who calls regularly to the school are those who are really interested in getting their kids there.

I do not think that you would be saying that, AngelinaBallerina, if your child had just been refused a place at the school of your choice. Isn't this really a form of racism? Don't all children deserve a good education, not just those with British passports?

Nothing wrong with accepting children just because they have a British passport! Although they prefer children whose first language is English for perfectly good reasons!

we are on the waiting list to montessori for 2 years.... i know kids, who just came to Doha and they got a place there, coz.... guess? Sure - they got british passport!

One more thing, which i found really strange - the priority is given to kids, who's mothers are coming to the school every week and ask - any news? what about my application? I was not aware of that - i thought ones you place your appliction - this is it! But no! By bothering the school every week, you letting them know that you are REALLY interested in the place for you kid! whoa.... but why to make an application? when i asked them - how do they acctually select kids from this huge wating list, no one could tell me how. But really, how is it possible to be on the waiting list for 2 years and be rejected again??? and other kids get in just coz they are british and their mother were visiting school more often then me???

Well said hippo! and very true.

Some friends of mine are teachers at Newton British School and I am appalled by this wild and unfounded allegation of racism. Mrs P., you do not seem to understand that English is an international language and therefore it is quite normal for Australians (or Indians) to speak with an accent. I have personally met many Indian people in Doha and - surprise, surprise! - they do not speak with an English accent, but an Indian one.

Most schools in Doha give new children some kind of entrance test, Mrs P., so Newton British School was not doing anything unusual or immoral. Of course parents are disapppointed if their child is not given a place at a school, but it is ludicrous to suggest that this was all about racism. There are already quite a large number of children at NBS who are from India or Pakistan, so there is no ban or prohibition against Indians. All of the schools in Doha charge fees of different kinds, so by charging a fee for the entrance test Newton British is no worse (or not better) than any other school.

If you thought that it was so wicked and immoral for your poor little 6 year old to be tested, Mrs P., then why did you agree to it in the first place?

Lastly, Mrs P., I think that you will find that some schools, such as Park House and DESS, are racist and prejudiced against Indians because they do indeed make a point of giving school places to children whose parents have British passports. (I think that you will find that many Indians do not have British passports, but perhaps I am mistaken.) Of course Park House and Doha English Speaking School want to have lots of photographs of smiling, white, English-looking children on the school website and in the school magazine and that is why they discriminate against Indians. The sooner you report these racist practices to the SEC the better, Mrs.P.

I'm also interested in what constitutes a ' thick' accent????? where on earth do they come from?.....

I am looking mainly for Indian Schools like MES, Birla and DPS to get admission into Second term(September) of KG 1.

Normally, teachers would access the kid based on his / her understanding of English & also basic skills ( prob reading some basic alphabets, simple words, numbers, shapes , colours ). They required to score at least 65% to pass the entrance test.

I agree with AB & I doubt is the skin colour as well. When my kids first arrived, they have minor difficulty understanding the strong accent. But that has nothing to do with the ability. They took the entrance test at newton too & was offered a place immediately.

If you think your kid is academically good, probably she's not used to be alone with a stranger. Unnecessary stress can hinder the kid from talking. Try appealing again & asked for a second chance or try other branches.

I know DC refuse entry to any kid who does not even try to open their mouth to speak English.

Glad you mentioned this AB ....if I did I would be accused of defending the school just because I work for them. Truth is there are African & Indian children in my class who are academically able so I doubt African Indian would be discriminated against. There are only 2 British kids in my class.. If your child can not sit the test properly with the help of the TEACHER, how will your child succeed in everyday learning at the school as you will not be there everyday in class to 'explain' the questions.

Maybe your child isn't as academic as you think she is.......nothing to do with skin colour..........don't jump to conclusions and rubbish a school with ridiculous accusations!

Yes School here are a mere business and the schools will pick and choose who they want went through hell with my son 6 years ago, He is back in the UK now doing well in a Boarding school.

What Newton School was it Mrs P??

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Newton schools are a scam!!I am not interested in any propaganda, or mud slinging here on this site. I only wish to inform the public of my horrible experience at Newton.

After being assured that there is indeed place available in year 1 for my daughter, we paid the enterance test and subjected my little girl to an enterance test. The teacher testing her had a thick accent which I am certain my little girl would have had difficulty understanding, having not been exposed to the different accents of the world.

After the test I was told by said teacher that my child had done well and tried hard. We were informed that we would be contactedbe the school shortly. I waited a week, with my child waiting paitently to start school. After many calls and e-mails, we were informed that she had not passed her test and was refused addmitance.

We then requested a retest as we personally know of a friend's daughter who was tested for the wrong year, and were promptly refused a second chance. We were not furnished with the actual results of the test nor were we given the test paper or the option of me sitting in on the test to assist the child with feeling at ease or explaining instructions due to the child not understanding the accent. I myself am a teacher with 9 years of experience and would have been able to assist my child with understanding the instructions.

We have had the most appalling experience with Newton and my darling child, at a mere 6 years of age, is left feeling as if she is lacking in some way. She is a bright, vivacious child who had only had 2 months of grade one back home before coming to Doha. This was not even considered in the decision making process.

We were one of about 20 children on the afternoon, writing the entrance test, and i am sure my child is not the only one to have been devestated by the results of said test. Parents are desperate when they go to Newton and the school sees this desperation and uses it as an easy way to make money from these so called 'enterance tests'.

I firmly believe that it is also the colour of our skin that impacted on the severely lack of assistance and empathy we recieved from Newton British School. Indians are considered the workforce in this country and it difficult being a South African Indian here in Doha as you are judged by your outside appearance rather than your intellectual ability and academic accomplishments. Newton treated my family with a definate disregard and a degree of racism. If we had not been an 'Indian' family, the outcome would surely have been different.

Please, stay away from this school. There are other options available. Look around and you will find them. There is Cedars School, Loydence Academy and a few other new schools that are transparent and put the child first, which is ultimately what education should be about. The CHILD!! Not lining your pockets....

Its about time more schools are opened or the ones that are already open to expand. With Qatar total population now touching 1.8million and more people to come in the next few years I think the SCE should encourage more schools else people with family will have great problem with schooling here.

Don't give up hope JA girl. At least you got into a school. Start them off 1st & when the better schools have place, then only move them. That's what most of the people do here. Unless you are happy with your current school. Which newton ? Newton International or Newton British ?

Even if i get through nwith parkhouse iwould be grateful.

That's true simonsmithy, the good schools tell you that you basically don't have a chance. So you have to settle with the bottom few. Sad but true.

You have no chance with the good schools - PHES, DC, DESS - waiting list over a year.

newton and cedars

Brit schools are on waiting list. Not sure on Indian schools. You may have chance. Just apply & wait for good news.

JA girl, may I know which school that you manage to get into ?

I applied online and he went in to make the payments on a few but for some you can pay online or do a wire transfer.

Indian schools you can get admission in September(thats when the second window opens)

Thanks for your response. How did you apply to schools without being present in the country? I mean did your husband went to schools and submitted registration forms. I am looking for Indian schools like Birla, MES or DPS. Can I register online for admissions?

I am moving over in July with my two sons, My husband is already there, so what i did was to apply to all the schools that i am interested in and my husband keeps calling. now we have received testing dates from one and a confirmed space from another. You just have to apply and keep calling. People move away very often it seems.