Newton International School. They offer the National Curriculum of England and Wales (NCE). The phone number is +974-411-0014. They are located in the West Bay area.
I am tutally agree with MRS.P, this school is hoarabilre the teacher are sucs and the assestant are dangerous for your child language devolpment, non of those assetant has a good accent they even don't know speak english, i have a freind from austrila applied for the assestant position with a bachelor degree in educations, but they didn't offer her the job they give it to the philipinos which couldn't talk ingish only (I SORRY OR ME BLA BLA)
can you imagen they don't hire a person with alot of qualifications, what a principle they have? I think she or he dosn't know what is hapend in the shcool.
the teachers are aout for smoking every 30 min,and came back with a horabile smells wich is make your child sik.
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....
Any recent reviews for NIS Westbay? I am torn between NIS Westbay and ISC because both are located in the same area and both have also received good reviews. My wife wants NIS Westbay over ISC. Any comments?
Can anybody give me some current feedback/information on Newton International school in West bay and Qatar International school. I am looking for a school for my 3 half yr old daughter who is Australian. We will be living close by to QIS so this would be ideal from location perspective. Any thoughts on which is the better school?? Many thanks
Can anyone inform me about the latest development in NIS concerning the currriculum and the student's composition. from the comment posted on this page in the past, i can deduce that most students do not understand english. I am new in Qatar and i want to enroll my children but i want them to be in an English school. We just arrived so i have limited options as most english schools are already full. Can someone inform me about the present status of the school?
hi i knew a lot about Newton. I don't know about Newton in westbay but in Newton d ring road , most of the students are arabic and all of the teachers in secondary are from england but in primary they have south african and other nationalities. but westbay campus doesn't have secondary so you better move to d ring road .
Newton west bay seems to be a good school the teachers there are cheerful and kind but 2008 there was some trouble with year 6 looking for a classroom but overall it was a good school.Newton D.ring (the other newton)bathrooms in the pe rooms does not have locks so there is no privcey when changing and the school in term one had problems with a science teacher who punishs children but he is now gone and the school had trouble finding a new teacher.The school says fatty foods are not alowed but yet they sell hem in machines.I will reccomend Newton westbay as a good school but if your children are going to year 7 or up then you have to go to Newton D.ring.The owners of the school might not know about these teachers so if you are concerned talk to these teachers.I hope you took your time to read this in understanding about Newton, sincerly school looks hope you enjoy Newton:)
Ahlan wa sahlan. Regarding extra Arabic for your children, I offer group tutoring sessions in Arabic for children age 3-8 in my home using the learn-through-play approach. The spring session will start on February 14. Also, I will be having an open house for interested family this Tuesday. Just send an inquiry e-mail to [email protected] and I'll forward additional information on the Open House this week and also the Spring schedule with full details on the classes offered, registration, and tuition. Thanks and best of luck with Newton!
according to me in doha newton international school is the best.If you are putting you child there then im sure that your child will love it.The children will get along with your child very well.The teachers are so lovely.If there is a problem then the school will handle it.Im 100% surew that it will be the best school for your child to put.I hope you believe me.
a father who put his child in newton international school
I would advise you to leave Arab country on priority basis and try settling in UK rather than pin pointing, what do you mean that the childrens are not speaking in English ? I feel pity what you have mentioned and I can just imagine your sarcastic thoughts in this thread could be of, please try to avoid such malign thoughts in future else you deserve something better. This is something which would definately hurt any Arab in my view. You still have time to correct your choice think it twice.
Hi there and thank you for your comments. My kids are in Newton British School. Can you tell me what kind of private support you have been able to get for your child in Arabic and Islamic studies? Are you satisfied with the arrangement, and can you please give me advice on this? I am looking to arrange for private tuition for my kids in these areas but am not sure where to start. I would appreciate your suggestions.
My son is in grade 2. I agree with the comment that the school is in its teething stage being in operation for its third year. Its growth has not matched the capacity building necessary for the infrastructure to become settled. However, we have had two good years so far and from my perspective as an educator, my son is happy and gaining as good an education as can be expected in an education system I describe as flexible. I think our experience is largely based on the fact that we have been lucky with the teachers we have had. Our first year was dodgy at the beginning with some issues relating to bullying which the school addressed promptly. I have found the admin to be responsive generally. My son is in class of multicutural backgrounds and is reading above his age group. Homework is regular and organised though lacking in feedback to parents. The school has great potential and as parents we need to identify what we are looking for in circumstances where choices are limited. I have found the Arabic and Islamic instruction below standards and have opted for a private support in those areas but that is generaaly the case in Qatar.
sooooooooooooooo....put your good and bad experiences out there. Prospective parents deserve to hear the positive and the negative. And who knows? Maybe the parent has no choice anyway due to the lack of space. So, even your negative comments could help that parent deal with damage control after enrolling their children.
Anyway, space is a big issue in Doha...not enough schools period.
Forget the added difficulty---not enough high quality schools.
This puts parents in the position of prioritizing those services that they absolutely can't compromise in their child's school over those that are flexible.
And while it is frustrating, one year in your second choice school at the early primary stage probably won't dash your child's chances at being accepted into university and force him into a life of selling kleenex on street corners.
With that said, I hope everyone has a great academic year!
Education...... quantity and quality of workload, assignments etc, vary from school to school; and parents have their own perceptions regarding such.
The reason why a DESS parent probably thinks it's strange that your yr 2 child is doing EXAMS, is because exams are not the 'norm' for this age.
I am a little critical, because I personally feel that a 5 year old (my child goes to NIS) should not have to spend 2hr plus a day on homework, and then do Exams!
Sure the school tells you, "it's not a competition".....yadiyadiya......but when a kid is pressured at this age to excel, it's only setting them up for disappointment. I don't understand why the parent has to spend so many hours doing homework with ours kids....... if I had wanted to do that I would have home-schooled!
Anyway, I finally secured a place in a better school.
Don't get me wrong though.....I didn't move my kid because of the curriculum. My decidion was based on lack of safety. Bad construction and lots more.
My son is in year 2 in NIS D-ring, so far we are happy with the school. He has been getting homework since year 1. And now they are having their term exams.
I have a friend whose son is in DESS and she was surpised when I told her that my son has exams for every end of term. She told me that her son's school never had kind of exams.
How about others school?
We always want the best for our kids. So we keep trying to find the best school for them although we always stuck in the waiting list or passport problems. But there is always a hope.
THIS is the worst place on earth in terms of schools
Chaos, waitling lists, rude teachers and employees and children. Terrible buses. No safety and no security.... Children are treated like cattle!
Go see any public school (no FEES!) in Canada or US and compare!!! WOWWWW! What a difference
The absurd thing here is American school unlike one in Saudi or UAE etc. does NOT give a damn about US Citizen and give priority to employees of certain companies like Oil companies etc.
My son is grade 3 in NIS and since grade 2 he's been getting many homeworks everyday. I don't know if that's not the case for grade 1. So far he is very happy there. Interestingly, there are about 15 nationalities from 25 pupils in his class.
All I can say is Im happy with NIS and we dont have any bad thing to said ...I know every school will have some lack NO MATTER what ...I've been a homeschooler mom for 2 year in America and all i can say ...I love that my kids have an interaction with arab speaking kids and take arabic class ...I love that Idea ...when we going back to USA they will be able to speak arabic and definitely we will continue to learn it ...We do bring some curriculum from the USA ....again if you think your kids lacking of homework or knowledge ...YOU as a parent should help them ....beside that ...is not only the teacher responsibility to educate your kids .... You were right if you said ...that you pay for the school ...just for your information i know some family dont have education allowance and they been force to homeschooling their kids ...is not by choice ...you imagine you have to do that .....at least you will teach your kids half day .... anyway I wont speak anymore but I LOVE NIS and will keep my kids there ....
listen all! I just moved my litttle boy from NIS D RING, but the eldest is still there UNFORTUNATELY. The school programs are are so poor and ridiculus, never homeworks, most of time fun, no books, often change teacher, during school year ... it is a mess! This school is just made for the owner's profit. All NIS parents should make a revolution!we spend money and our children are wasting their years without receiving a decent education.
Hello.My son was waitin list for N.I.S new branch.School management told us that would inform us soon but could not get any news. Could you tell me when new branch has started register studends? Rregards.
DD attends Newton (West Bay) and it seems like an OK school. The teachers are dedicated but the context is lacking. First, the supplies are somewhat limited (coloured paper, scissors, glue, craft items, etc.). Actually, my church's Sunday school program has a better supply than Newton.
Second, the management is obsessed with making money. The school's owner (the wife of the physics teacher at QU) only cares about making money -- and not the quality of the education of the students. That is why she is expanding her "business" by opening up another Newton in Villagio. And please don't say making money from education is "Haram" because, I've heard, the owner funnels it through other projects so the profit doesn't appear as profit.
I got my kids into Compass School. It is much more expensive, but I think I am getting value for money there. Much more impressive and warm staff than the reception I got at newton
hi hippo i worked at newton school and im not posting any info on the school but i have been reading this blog its a good laugh really lol!
But i do think that you are really harsh on what the parents are saying i think that the way you are going at some of them is enough to put people of the school and should calm down a bit just let the people have there say lets put it this way if its in a blog you can read it and put the problems to right if its people on the street saying it then you wont hear them and theres nothing you can do! anyway its called constuctive critism in other words listen and try and help instead of getting the tar and feathers out!!
Hi rpmba, my son goes to Newton International School. What year group will you teach, if you take the position? I met the interim principal a few weeks ago, and she seems very nice and understanding, and she is working hard to sort out the problems the school is encountering. You sound like a caring teacher, i hope you decide to teach there.
Hi all.....I have been enthusiasically reading about NIS, as there is a very good possibility of my going to work there.
Firstly, I am not suprised at the content - both negative and positive - a school does not suit everybody, staff or students.
However, as a teacher of some years standing in a variety of both good and 'not so good' schools, my experience dictates that you really have to wait and see...as a professional, you should always try and be an enthusiastic teacher, and a supportive parent.
ALL schools have teething problems which sometimes last for years...it is quite natural as departments are being developed, teachers are settling in a new, environment that is far removed from their comfort zone, and even management and owners experience a little fear in wondering---is what I am doing is right?..Is this or that action good for the students and the school, or will it alienate both parents and staff?
Lots of decisions all around.....I suggest that for now, try and leave negativity on the back shelf...I have worked in a few International Schools,and they are all different in their methods and management...if you are a member of staff, think what you can do in a constructive way,..if a parent, how can you support the school?..After all, schools are not just schools....but communities....and I for one am extremely proud of being a teacher, and will always do my best for a child and his/hers education......
I think there is a real confusion here. Some are talking about the west bay site, which has been established for over a year in a sound location and hasn't experienced the same problems that the D ring road site has. Although under the same management it may be best to look at it as two different schools. Some confusion on this forum has come from the fact that the problems mentioned are confined to the D ring road and people are then defending the west bay site.
Hippo, I love Newton and dislike Creative Child. Sorry but I mixed up the references. Newton isn't perfect but it is good for Doha. The Newton administrators were not completely honest about how long the Sept 2008 waiting list would be for the DD's class. To "perusde" me to enroll DD in this present semester (and collect more tuition), they said that the waiting list for Sept 2008 was so long that she probably would not be able to enter UNLESS she joined this present semester. Now, my colleague has easily put his daughter into the same class as DD was going to enter. Something is shady here.
But I'm not complaining but shedding light on what some schools may do to increase enrollment. I'm glad that DD is in such a fine school as Newton.
The school is facing some "pressure" from some Qatari parents whose son was hit by a classmate in school. I hope things turn out well b/c it's such a good school.
I'm curious??? Do you work for Newton? The reason is that you seem to the vehemently defend the running of the school? What the school could do well with, is accepting criticism and applying change. No school here, or abroad is "so wonderful" that it has no room for improvement! Aside from the fact that I actually like the teachers I have met and my kid is happy there......In actual fact I could write a two page letter regarding the improvements that I have waiting to see the D ring branch implement since it opened(late I might add)in September 2007! The fact that at least 'some'parents take a keen interest in the well being and safety of their children should only be a bonus to the admin and the staff at NIS, not a burden. Because it seems to me that your attitude reflects only a negative aspect. Defend the school at all costs, even when it has some improving to do.
You REALLY want me to list all the problems, and the improvements to be made? Should I list the things that I turn a blind eye to every time I take my kid to school?
I wonder if the school (after one full school year) really wants to see what I have to write, on a PUBLIC FORUM for all the world to see!?
I for one, have decided to wait until next year. Believe me, when school opens in September 2008 for the new academic year, I will have a good look around and 'see' if I need to go 'PUBLIC'. I really hope that i won't need to do that, considering that they will have had one year plus the summer holidays to finally fix stuff!
PS....Baedaebok I think is referring to something completely aside from NIS.
"Also, the teacher from Calfifornia doesn't seem comfortabnle teaching kids. The nurse there is nuts and the admin is inflexible and money-hungry." I think that this is an exaggeration. Newton International School does have a few problems, but this is not an accurate description.
Newton teaches Arabic but dd seems scared of the Arabic teacher for the yellow preschool class.
Schools for 3-4-5 year olds are tough to get into these days. If I were you, I'd place your kid into ANY school that is open. Don't use Creative Child's 3-year-old class. It's a dead-end class. Also, the teacher from Calfifornia doesn't seem comfortabnle teaching kids. The nurse there is nuts and the admin is inflexible and money-hungry.
French is perhaps the weakest link in Newton. One of my colleagues went to french teacher(west bay) for he felt he was not learning much, the teacher was like, so what, he'll learn in next grade.
You know what? the problem that we want usually the best for our kids.... and usualy your different opinions about schools ... so u don't know what to decide... but i think about trying Newton for preschool and if it's not suitable i can start again searching for another school for receiption but i don't know if it's a good idea....... also i want to know if the frensh language is good in Newton or no....
QIS has better facilities than Newton. Newton is stuck in a converted villa with a few portacabins. Room is always a problem. But I think Newton is more international...Arabs, Europeans, Americans, Indians, etc. but, from what I saw, had more Arab students.
Personally I would suggest Newton b/c of the facilities and international make-up.
At NIS (West Bay), today's pajama party left dd (darling daughter) crying because somebody stole or "took by accident" the bag containing her pajamas. So she was one of 6 kids who was wearing her uniform during the pajama party time (40 minutes) while all the other kids were wearing pajamas. For a 3-year-old, that's a big deal. The Arab teacher assistant was not helpful in finding the bag. Closer to the mark, she was useless. I really don't know why they have this woman being an assistant. She only assists her bank account with her salary.
The problem at NIS is the lack of space. The 3-year-old class leaves all the kids bags outside the door. This is in the space where a lot of kids horse around and disrupt things. I have suggested NIS admin put a locked box or chest to put the kids bags in.
Things are great at West Bay especially in the Foundation and KS1 dept.
The children are delightful and work very hard to master English. Teachers love the children and try very hard to offer a child friendly working environment. Yes there are no fancy facilities but everyone tries to do their best with what there is. Result. Happy well adjusted children who seem to enjoy school.
What is wrong with telling people that Newton follows the English National Curriculum? I have also acknowledged that the sports facilities at N.I.S. are not as good as they could be and I have done what I can to draw this to the attention of the headmistress. Why does this show a bad "tone"?
Yes, Antihippo, leaving a school is often easier than staying and trying to do what you can to improve the quality of the education that is offered to the children. One of the reasons that the owner of the school, Madam Afaf, feels that she has to be actively involved in the running of the school is that, unfortunately, some teachers have been unprofessional and have not kept to the terms of their contracts.
I am amazed at some of the comments that Hippo has posted, the assumptions she/he jumps to and the fact that this person works at Newton is worrying.
However I also worked at the school, and decided to leave, due to my deep feelings of frustration due to the owners interfering manner in the running of the school.
Due to the acute shortage of places at schools in Doha, parents are forced to send their children to schools that would otherwise not be attractive and hat goes for local Qataris as well as the expats.
I didn't like Hippos tone one bit and deeply empathise with both groups of parents. What other choices do parents have?
I hope ENC is recognized in the (or the US) Canadian public schools. I've heard IB is excellent because it excels the student past his/her level. She can skip a grade (in other words).
No, the West Bay branch of Newton International School folows the English National Curriculum. At present, the school only goes up to Year 6, but the Al Manoura branch (on D Ring Road) also follows the English National Curriculum for secondary school students.
I just got dd (darling daughter) into Newton (West Bay) by the skin of our teeth! We had to pull her out of Creative Child (mid-term) and stick her into the current Newton term just to guarantee that she can get into the Sept class at Newton. It's not good and will be a shock to her. She's developed friendships @ Creative Child but knows nobody @ Newton.
It is pretty full (as are most schools in Doha). The staff there seem rather nice and decent. dd is starting after the break on February 17th so I'll let you guys know my views of the school.
Does it follow the IB program (like Qatar Academy)?
Sadly, I was really disappointed by the end of last term. My son's class increased from 17 to 30 students by break time. Consequently, there was an increase in fighting, misbehavior and teacher resignations. I also think my son's education has suffered for it. There is much less individualized attention and more teacher, let's say, fustration. I mean,come on, in government schools in Syria there are 30 kids per class. What are we paying for? This term the class was split into two but the depressing fact is that there is no other school for my son here that will be any better.
No one seems to have written very much about N.I.S. for a while, so I suppose that this means that the school has overcome all of its initial "teething troubles" and now everything is fine.
Anyone know the contact number of Newton (D-ring branch), and where is this school actually located in D-Ring? My kids will be arrving in Doha soon but still couldn't get any firm enrollment for any of them (age 7, 9 & 11). Help please.... thanks.
Discussion on NIS is very interesting and informative if we all take it positively.
I would like to add my comment on the other aspect of this debate that at the same time when English parents are worried about their child's language problem to be in a class with majority of non-English students, it is wish of the parents of non-English parents to send their children in English schools to improve their English. That's why they pay big amount for fees in these English schools. And the only way to improve other language skills is to give students an environment where they can get chance to speak more and more.
If an English child is going to learn Arabic, he can learn only when he is surrounded by Arabic class fellows and if a non-English child wants to learn English, he can learn only when that environment is available to him where he can learn to speak English. Mixup of nationalities makes it possible.
Life is name of compromises. If you have many choices, opt your own and if you don't have, don't blame.
Homework has indeed been light during the bumps of opening weeks, in addition to Ramadan. Isn't homework light in other schools during Ramadan as well? I assume it will pick up more seriously when kids are actually having breakfast, lunch and staying longer hours.
i have my manager kids in there and so far he said it is good and infrastrcture for scholl but for one month now they nealy have studied anything :) , i will recheck and come back to u
All I will say is, keep your options open! This school has fantastic teachers who are all committed to give our children the best education possible. Trying to teach in a limited amount of space, many different timetables, lack of staff rooms, textbooks, and staff all add up to a very stressful environment. Yet still the teachers do their best.
This school has also seen new management since the summer, who will not like to be criticised and I have a feeling i'll get some reply to this about that because how dare I have an opinion about the new management.
This has a dedicated owner who is being let down by shoddy management - this school will fail because of that and it shouldn't because it had the potential to be one of Doha's best.
My advice - look around, be patient and wait for a space somewhere else. If you're confident,and you have younger children and you've got the time (a luxury that most of us haven't) then pick up some books yourself and take a shot at home teaching - from what i've seen there are some great resources avaialable in Qatar and it might be worth it till something else opens up.
This is just my opinion and i'll be saying no more on this subject, suffice to say, i've had a bad experience, perhaps you wont?
His building is clean with no problems with water, toilets or unsafe construction. He has textbooks,homework and a written schedule. I can already tell that the curriculum is so much better than the IPC crap he was "studying" last year at Al Jazeera. I love the fact that they let students arrive early to unwind before class and wait inside until they get picked up (My daughters school is very strict that students must exit the building immediately after school and wait in the scorching heat until they are picked up).
My son did mention that some teachers haven't arrived yet because they are waiting for visas, so apparently there are staffing issues that are up in the air. In addition, the busing situation is still being finalized. Personally, I am willing to tolerate these unfinished matters as long as my son is excited about learning and is given a strong curriculum, which I think is the case here.
InDoha, what the grades of your friend's children?
Hello, I am glad I have come across the this board and the discussion surrounding Newton International School. I am new to Doha and have been looking into schools to enrol my son. I have looked at and considered 3 schools. Doha College, Park House School and Newton International School. Since the first 2 schools have long waiting lists I have been enquiring further into the last mentioned school among colleagues and friends in Doha (some of whom have kids at the school on D Ring Rd). I have found it hard to contact the school directly and can never get through to the office number.
I have heard from other families that the school is not finished building wise and that there is limited running water and working toilet facilities. Among other things such as unfinished and unsafe building works.
My colleagues children have not been given any textbooks to use yet and said they are often moved around classes and teachers with no indentifiable class timetable. One of the children commented that some their teachers have already left the school, and we are only into the third or fourth week.
I am wondering if any other parnets have heard of similar events surrounding Newton International or know of any other good schooling options in Doha before i move my son over to be educated here.
Hippo, you seem to make a lot of assumptions. Firstly, in your earlier post, you say - "perhaps it might have been more constructive to have discussed these issues with her personally and directly, rather than posting them on this website". How do you know that I have not already done so? Infact I have spoken to her.
Secondly, nobody at the school has mentioned to me that you have an English As An Additonal Language (EAL) specialist. Can you give me their names please? I have many friends (parents) at the school that share my concern re the usage/learning of English language. I actually am a teacher too holding a B.Ed(Hons)Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from the UK, so I know the various teaching methods that can be adopted. However, I feel it may still prove difficult due to the number of students per class and also the ratio of non English speaking to English speaking students.
I have seen how various countries cater for non-English speaking children as I attended schools in England, America, New Zealand, etc as an expat child. In the developed countries they have English Language labs to take children out maybe for an hour a day for more intensive one-on-one English lessons, also there are English specialists assigned to students in the class (like a Special Needs teacher)to help them keep up with the learining/teaching pace in the class. I would be interested to know what exactly Newton Intl is doing or planning.
Finally, I had not mentioned anything about private education in the UK or costs, that was never up for discussion. Fyi, I atended mainstream government schools in all the countries above and they took neccessary steps to ensure the non English speaking students received the extra help/attention in order to learn English satisfactorily.
As I said in my orginal posting, I believe that the opinions of parents about the school their children attend are very important. That is why I drew the attention of Mrs Cross to your posting.
I understand that parents are naturally concerned when their English-speaking child is in a class in which many of the children do not speak English or else they have very limited English. This is why I felt that I should try to explain that Newton International Schol does indeed have teachers' assistants and English As An Additonal Language (EAL) specialist teachers.
My point about school fees is a valid one, but it is not one that most parents want to consider. It simply is not fair to compare private education in the U.K. with private schools in Doha, given that many independent primary schools in the U.K. charge around £6000 per term for a day place (that's £18,000 or 126,000QAR a year). For many international schools, recruiting and retaining teaching staff is more expensive and more difficult than it is in the U.K., especally when the school is also expected to provide accommodation for staff. Like you, I am an enthusiast when it comes to being in the Middle East, but perhaps there are many teachers in the U.K. who are not so keen to be teaching in this part of the world.
Similarly, I was not being awkward, stupid or rude in pointing out that many children at international schools start with limited English. This was certainly my experience when I was teaching in Egypt and in Romania. Effective use of differentiated learning (which is teacherspeak for putting the children into groups and giving them work that is appropriate to their ablities) is not always easy and some inexperienced teachers may find this difficult to operate, but this should mean that your child is being given tasks that are going to develop his or her skills and knowledge.
In your original posting, you express strong dissatisfaction with the facilities at Newton International School. As a professional teacher, I cannot possibly comment on this, except to say that one of the first homeworks I gave to my class was to write a letter to Madam Afaf, the owner of the school, asking for a new swimming pool, some tennis courts and a sports field.
Thanks PM, you read and understood my message correctly. On the under hand, the Hippo got it totally wrong. I feel I need to clarify a few things because I did not like the Hippo's tone and assumptions.
Firstly, I have no problem with my child being surrounded by Arab students. I have enjoyed living in the Middle East for over 3 years and have many Arab friends. Infact, I am currently learning Arabic. However, I am concerned with the language aspect as over half the children in the class do not speak English. I'd like to mention this is made up of predominantly Arabs, but also a few other nationalities such as Europeans and South Americans. This may pose as a problem for the speed/quality of teaching/lessons because majority of the class is not able to understand English (AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEACHER'S ABILITY). As a parent I am worried that this may affect my child's learning.
Secondly, re class size, in the first 2 weeks there were around 35 students and in the third week they managed to find another teacher and split the class down to 27 students and they are now trying to bring this number down to 23-24 in the next week (although if I'm not mistaken their class size should be a max of 20).
The purpose of my comment, is merely to share my honest experience of the school with parents who have asked for this information. I'm sure most schools go through teething problems which will hopefully be sorted out in the near future.
If you would care to re-read my original posting, you will see that the words "racism" and "racist" do not appear in what I actually wrote. However, it does indeed seem strange to me that a parent can complain about there being a significant number of Arab children in her child's class. We are, after all, in Qatar! If I were to take my family to live in France, would it not be natural for my child's classmates to be French? Or does Handbag Shopper expect all schools to operate a quota system of some kind, so that perfectly able and deserving children are turned away simply because their first language is not English? Are you suggesting that it is okay if a child cannot speak or write English, as long as they do not speak Arabic?
If you read through the many posts on the subject of education that you will find on the QL site, you will find that some of them were written by parents whose children are at schools where the classes are of less than twenty students. You should also note that the fees for these schools are significantly higher than Newton International's fees.
I have drawn Mrs Cross's attention to your posting, as I believe that comments from parents should always be taken seriously. However, perhaps it might have been more constructive to have discussed these issues with her personally and directly, rather than posting them on this website.
Of course we have a significant number of Arab students at N.I.S. We are in the Middle East, after all. If you really do not want your child to associate with Arab children, do you think that it was wise to move your family to Qatar? (In my class I have a wide mix of nationalities and I suspect that this holds true for most classes in the school.)
I would dispute your claim that we have "very large classes". I think that a class of forty or fifty might fairly be described as "very large", but classes at N.I.S. are nowhere near that size.
When I was teaching at The British School of Bucharest, many of the children started the academic year with little or no English. One of the reasons N.I.S. employs teaching assistants is to help children with limited English to be assimilated quickly and we also have several EAL staff to assist with this. Differentiated learning groups within a class should mean that children are not all given the same tasks, but instead they should be given work that is appropriate to their age and to their abilities.
Yes, it is true that N.I.S. is in the process of recruiting more teachers, but I think that it would be fair to say that most international schools have a problem when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff. Of course, paying the staff more might make it easier to recruit more teachers, but that would almost certainly mean a substantial increase in the school fees.
I have a daughter at Newton (westbay). I was happy with the school last year, but this year the number of students have increased dramatically and there is a shortage in teachers, resulting in very large classes. The facilities are limited as it's really a villa. I recopmmend parents to visit the school first and talking to potential class teachers re size of class and ratio of different nationalities per class. My daughter's class this year consists of mainly Arab children and over half of the class do not speak English! So make sure you think hard before moving your child to this school. My daughter attends this scholl because when we arrived in Doha last May, it was the only scholl I could get her into, so it's not like I was spoilt for choice.
Do you mean that the waiting list is closed for the existing school in West Bay or that the waitng list for the new school by the D Ring Road is closed? Or both? Are there two, separate waiting lists or only one?
I do not know a great deal about Newton International School, as their school website is still under construction. However, it does follow the British National Curriculum and most of the teachers are recruited from the U.K.
The new principal of the Newton International School is Mrs Irene Cardwell. She has been princiapl since March.
If a school follows UK cirriculum they tend to emlpoy UK certified teachers. Its a newish school but better location than DESS or others for you, although QIS is near west bay (?). Nationalities are always a mix in any school, 10% UK, 10% EU 10% Qatari, 20% Indian, 10% phillipino etc. ethnic diversity is somethnig you get here no problem.
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I wouldn't worry too much it is the 1st grade after all
Please do you Know what does the evaluation test for grade 1 consist in Newton ?
hello all,
I am tutally agree with MRS.P, this school is hoarabilre the teacher are sucs and the assestant are dangerous for your child language devolpment, non of those assetant has a good accent they even don't know speak english, i have a freind from austrila applied for the assestant position with a bachelor degree in educations, but they didn't offer her the job they give it to the philipinos which couldn't talk ingish only (I SORRY OR ME BLA BLA)
can you imagen they don't hire a person with alot of qualifications, what a principle they have? I think she or he dosn't know what is hapend in the shcool.
the teachers are aout for smoking every 30 min,and came back with a horabile smells wich is make your child sik.
please don't waest your mony at that school.
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....
Who or what is ISC?
Please do not tell me that you are seriously thinking of sending your chilk to the International "School" of Chewyfat. Why?
Any recent reviews for NIS Westbay? I am torn between NIS Westbay and ISC because both are located in the same area and both have also received good reviews. My wife wants NIS Westbay over ISC. Any comments?
Thanks
Great, many thanks.
Newton Westbay just opened with new villas not far away from the old place.
It is practically possible that almost every grade has its own villa.
They got some new teachers and really working on every thing like parent teacher meetings and so on.
We have our daughter there for the second year right now and we won't take her into another school.
We live in Gharaffa and I need around 15 min to pick up my daughter from school.
So the location is very good .
Hi,
Can anybody give me some current feedback/information on Newton International school in West bay and Qatar International school. I am looking for a school for my 3 half yr old daughter who is Australian. We will be living close by to QIS so this would be ideal from location perspective. Any thoughts on which is the better school?? Many thanks
Can anyone inform me about the latest development in NIS concerning the currriculum and the student's composition. from the comment posted on this page in the past, i can deduce that most students do not understand english. I am new in Qatar and i want to enroll my children but i want them to be in an English school. We just arrived so i have limited options as most english schools are already full. Can someone inform me about the present status of the school?
... and we are happy with our decision to bring her to Newton International school.
The teachers are friendly and helpful and even call or inform you as parents if there is anything what they are concerned about.
Our daughter is looking forward that new school year starts.
School is not so big, so the teachers know the kids and atmosphere is very friendly.
So far we have no complains !
PARENTS, ANY NEWS/UPDATES/EXPERIENCES ON THIS SCHOOL?
My best wishes to all the staff and students at the West Bay "branch" of Newton International School.
I can't find more comments on the new Newton British School near Villagio. Any expereience will be very helpful.
Thanks
hi i knew a lot about Newton. I don't know about Newton in westbay but in Newton d ring road , most of the students are arabic and all of the teachers in secondary are from england but in primary they have south african and other nationalities. but westbay campus doesn't have secondary so you better move to d ring road .
Newton west bay seems to be a good school the teachers there are cheerful and kind but 2008 there was some trouble with year 6 looking for a classroom but overall it was a good school.Newton D.ring (the other newton)bathrooms in the pe rooms does not have locks so there is no privcey when changing and the school in term one had problems with a science teacher who punishs children but he is now gone and the school had trouble finding a new teacher.The school says fatty foods are not alowed but yet they sell hem in machines.I will reccomend Newton westbay as a good school but if your children are going to year 7 or up then you have to go to Newton D.ring.The owners of the school might not know about these teachers so if you are concerned talk to these teachers.I hope you took your time to read this in understanding about Newton, sincerly school looks hope you enjoy Newton:)
mmmmm, I, ofcourse ,have to bear these places in mind if my 3 year doesn't pass her interview (if she gets one)!
Is Newton an Indian school?
Ahlan wa sahlan. Regarding extra Arabic for your children, I offer group tutoring sessions in Arabic for children age 3-8 in my home using the learn-through-play approach. The spring session will start on February 14. Also, I will be having an open house for interested family this Tuesday. Just send an inquiry e-mail to [email protected] and I'll forward additional information on the Open House this week and also the Spring schedule with full details on the classes offered, registration, and tuition. Thanks and best of luck with Newton!
according to me in doha newton international school is the best.If you are putting you child there then im sure that your child will love it.The children will get along with your child very well.The teachers are so lovely.If there is a problem then the school will handle it.Im 100% surew that it will be the best school for your child to put.I hope you believe me.
a father who put his child in newton international school
I would advise you to leave Arab country on priority basis and try settling in UK rather than pin pointing, what do you mean that the childrens are not speaking in English ? I feel pity what you have mentioned and I can just imagine your sarcastic thoughts in this thread could be of, please try to avoid such malign thoughts in future else you deserve something better. This is something which would definately hurt any Arab in my view. You still have time to correct your choice think it twice.
m
Hi there and thank you for your comments. My kids are in Newton British School. Can you tell me what kind of private support you have been able to get for your child in Arabic and Islamic studies? Are you satisfied with the arrangement, and can you please give me advice on this? I am looking to arrange for private tuition for my kids in these areas but am not sure where to start. I would appreciate your suggestions.
My son is in grade 2. I agree with the comment that the school is in its teething stage being in operation for its third year. Its growth has not matched the capacity building necessary for the infrastructure to become settled. However, we have had two good years so far and from my perspective as an educator, my son is happy and gaining as good an education as can be expected in an education system I describe as flexible. I think our experience is largely based on the fact that we have been lucky with the teachers we have had. Our first year was dodgy at the beginning with some issues relating to bullying which the school addressed promptly. I have found the admin to be responsive generally. My son is in class of multicutural backgrounds and is reading above his age group. Homework is regular and organised though lacking in feedback to parents. The school has great potential and as parents we need to identify what we are looking for in circumstances where choices are limited. I have found the Arabic and Islamic instruction below standards and have opted for a private support in those areas but that is generaaly the case in Qatar.
sooooooooooooooo....put your good and bad experiences out there. Prospective parents deserve to hear the positive and the negative. And who knows? Maybe the parent has no choice anyway due to the lack of space. So, even your negative comments could help that parent deal with damage control after enrolling their children.
Anyway, space is a big issue in Doha...not enough schools period.
Forget the added difficulty---not enough high quality schools.
This puts parents in the position of prioritizing those services that they absolutely can't compromise in their child's school over those that are flexible.
And while it is frustrating, one year in your second choice school at the early primary stage probably won't dash your child's chances at being accepted into university and force him into a life of selling kleenex on street corners.
With that said, I hope everyone has a great academic year!
Education...... quantity and quality of workload, assignments etc, vary from school to school; and parents have their own perceptions regarding such.
The reason why a DESS parent probably thinks it's strange that your yr 2 child is doing EXAMS, is because exams are not the 'norm' for this age.
I am a little critical, because I personally feel that a 5 year old (my child goes to NIS) should not have to spend 2hr plus a day on homework, and then do Exams!
Sure the school tells you, "it's not a competition".....yadiyadiya......but when a kid is pressured at this age to excel, it's only setting them up for disappointment. I don't understand why the parent has to spend so many hours doing homework with ours kids....... if I had wanted to do that I would have home-schooled!
Anyway, I finally secured a place in a better school.
Don't get me wrong though.....I didn't move my kid because of the curriculum. My decidion was based on lack of safety. Bad construction and lots more.
My son is in year 2 in NIS D-ring, so far we are happy with the school. He has been getting homework since year 1. And now they are having their term exams.
I have a friend whose son is in DESS and she was surpised when I told her that my son has exams for every end of term. She told me that her son's school never had kind of exams.
How about others school?
We always want the best for our kids. So we keep trying to find the best school for them although we always stuck in the waiting list or passport problems. But there is always a hope.
Look
There is NO good school in Qatar!!!
THIS is the worst place on earth in terms of schools
Chaos, waitling lists, rude teachers and employees and children. Terrible buses. No safety and no security.... Children are treated like cattle!
Go see any public school (no FEES!) in Canada or US and compare!!! WOWWWW! What a difference
The absurd thing here is American school unlike one in Saudi or UAE etc. does NOT give a damn about US Citizen and give priority to employees of certain companies like Oil companies etc.
My son is grade 3 in NIS and since grade 2 he's been getting many homeworks everyday. I don't know if that's not the case for grade 1. So far he is very happy there. Interestingly, there are about 15 nationalities from 25 pupils in his class.
All I can say is Im happy with NIS and we dont have any bad thing to said ...I know every school will have some lack NO MATTER what ...I've been a homeschooler mom for 2 year in America and all i can say ...I love that my kids have an interaction with arab speaking kids and take arabic class ...I love that Idea ...when we going back to USA they will be able to speak arabic and definitely we will continue to learn it ...We do bring some curriculum from the USA ....again if you think your kids lacking of homework or knowledge ...YOU as a parent should help them ....beside that ...is not only the teacher responsibility to educate your kids .... You were right if you said ...that you pay for the school ...just for your information i know some family dont have education allowance and they been force to homeschooling their kids ...is not by choice ...you imagine you have to do that .....at least you will teach your kids half day .... anyway I wont speak anymore but I LOVE NIS and will keep my kids there ....
by the way, i want to sell my son's uniform half price(two shirts and a sweater - size 2 - suitable for receptions, year 1)
IS ANYBODY INTERESTED??
listen all! I just moved my litttle boy from NIS D RING, but the eldest is still there UNFORTUNATELY. The school programs are are so poor and ridiculus, never homeworks, most of time fun, no books, often change teacher, during school year ... it is a mess! This school is just made for the owner's profit. All NIS parents should make a revolution!we spend money and our children are wasting their years without receiving a decent education.
Hello.My son was waitin list for N.I.S new branch.School management told us that would inform us soon but could not get any news. Could you tell me when new branch has started register studends? Rregards.
DD attends Newton (West Bay) and it seems like an OK school. The teachers are dedicated but the context is lacking. First, the supplies are somewhat limited (coloured paper, scissors, glue, craft items, etc.). Actually, my church's Sunday school program has a better supply than Newton.
Second, the management is obsessed with making money. The school's owner (the wife of the physics teacher at QU) only cares about making money -- and not the quality of the education of the students. That is why she is expanding her "business" by opening up another Newton in Villagio. And please don't say making money from education is "Haram" because, I've heard, the owner funnels it through other projects so the profit doesn't appear as profit.
I got my kids into Compass School. It is much more expensive, but I think I am getting value for money there. Much more impressive and warm staff than the reception I got at newton
im one of the ones you probably consider didnt keep to her contract lol
hi hippo i worked at newton school and im not posting any info on the school but i have been reading this blog its a good laugh really lol!
But i do think that you are really harsh on what the parents are saying i think that the way you are going at some of them is enough to put people of the school and should calm down a bit just let the people have there say lets put it this way if its in a blog you can read it and put the problems to right if its people on the street saying it then you wont hear them and theres nothing you can do! anyway its called constuctive critism in other words listen and try and help instead of getting the tar and feathers out!!
Hi rpmba, my son goes to Newton International School. What year group will you teach, if you take the position? I met the interim principal a few weeks ago, and she seems very nice and understanding, and she is working hard to sort out the problems the school is encountering. You sound like a caring teacher, i hope you decide to teach there.
Hi all.....I have been enthusiasically reading about NIS, as there is a very good possibility of my going to work there.
Firstly, I am not suprised at the content - both negative and positive - a school does not suit everybody, staff or students.
However, as a teacher of some years standing in a variety of both good and 'not so good' schools, my experience dictates that you really have to wait and see...as a professional, you should always try and be an enthusiastic teacher, and a supportive parent.
ALL schools have teething problems which sometimes last for years...it is quite natural as departments are being developed, teachers are settling in a new, environment that is far removed from their comfort zone, and even management and owners experience a little fear in wondering---is what I am doing is right?..Is this or that action good for the students and the school, or will it alienate both parents and staff?
Lots of decisions all around.....I suggest that for now, try and leave negativity on the back shelf...I have worked in a few International Schools,and they are all different in their methods and management...if you are a member of staff, think what you can do in a constructive way,..if a parent, how can you support the school?..After all, schools are not just schools....but communities....and I for one am extremely proud of being a teacher, and will always do my best for a child and his/hers education......
I think there is a real confusion here. Some are talking about the west bay site, which has been established for over a year in a sound location and hasn't experienced the same problems that the D ring road site has. Although under the same management it may be best to look at it as two different schools. Some confusion on this forum has come from the fact that the problems mentioned are confined to the D ring road and people are then defending the west bay site.
hmm
Una palabra no dice nada, Y al mismo tiempo, Lo esconde todo - Outlandish
Hippo, I love Newton and dislike Creative Child. Sorry but I mixed up the references. Newton isn't perfect but it is good for Doha. The Newton administrators were not completely honest about how long the Sept 2008 waiting list would be for the DD's class. To "perusde" me to enroll DD in this present semester (and collect more tuition), they said that the waiting list for Sept 2008 was so long that she probably would not be able to enter UNLESS she joined this present semester. Now, my colleague has easily put his daughter into the same class as DD was going to enter. Something is shady here.
But I'm not complaining but shedding light on what some schools may do to increase enrollment. I'm glad that DD is in such a fine school as Newton.
The school is facing some "pressure" from some Qatari parents whose son was hit by a classmate in school. I hope things turn out well b/c it's such a good school.
Teachers' pay and benefits below average for Doha.
I'm curious??? Do you work for Newton? The reason is that you seem to the vehemently defend the running of the school? What the school could do well with, is accepting criticism and applying change. No school here, or abroad is "so wonderful" that it has no room for improvement! Aside from the fact that I actually like the teachers I have met and my kid is happy there......In actual fact I could write a two page letter regarding the improvements that I have waiting to see the D ring branch implement since it opened(late I might add)in September 2007! The fact that at least 'some'parents take a keen interest in the well being and safety of their children should only be a bonus to the admin and the staff at NIS, not a burden. Because it seems to me that your attitude reflects only a negative aspect. Defend the school at all costs, even when it has some improving to do.
You REALLY want me to list all the problems, and the improvements to be made? Should I list the things that I turn a blind eye to every time I take my kid to school?
I wonder if the school (after one full school year) really wants to see what I have to write, on a PUBLIC FORUM for all the world to see!?
I for one, have decided to wait until next year. Believe me, when school opens in September 2008 for the new academic year, I will have a good look around and 'see' if I need to go 'PUBLIC'. I really hope that i won't need to do that, considering that they will have had one year plus the summer holidays to finally fix stuff!
PS....Baedaebok I think is referring to something completely aside from NIS.
"Also, the teacher from Calfifornia doesn't seem comfortabnle teaching kids. The nurse there is nuts and the admin is inflexible and money-hungry." I think that this is an exaggeration. Newton International School does have a few problems, but this is not an accurate description.
Newton teaches Arabic but dd seems scared of the Arabic teacher for the yellow preschool class.
Schools for 3-4-5 year olds are tough to get into these days. If I were you, I'd place your kid into ANY school that is open. Don't use Creative Child's 3-year-old class. It's a dead-end class. Also, the teacher from Calfifornia doesn't seem comfortabnle teaching kids. The nurse there is nuts and the admin is inflexible and money-hungry.
golden
French is perhaps the weakest link in Newton. One of my colleagues went to french teacher(west bay) for he felt he was not learning much, the teacher was like, so what, he'll learn in next grade.
Hi,
Thanks Baedaebok for your quick reply...
You know what? the problem that we want usually the best for our kids.... and usualy your different opinions about schools ... so u don't know what to decide... but i think about trying Newton for preschool and if it's not suitable i can start again searching for another school for receiption but i don't know if it's a good idea....... also i want to know if the frensh language is good in Newton or no....
QIS has better facilities than Newton. Newton is stuck in a converted villa with a few portacabins. Room is always a problem. But I think Newton is more international...Arabs, Europeans, Americans, Indians, etc. but, from what I saw, had more Arab students.
Personally I would suggest Newton b/c of the facilities and international make-up.
My daughter is 3 y.o. and i would like to know which shool is better ..?? is it Newton (D ring road) or Qatar International School. ...?
Please i need a quick advice.
Per term is 7300
At NIS (West Bay), today's pajama party left dd (darling daughter) crying because somebody stole or "took by accident" the bag containing her pajamas. So she was one of 6 kids who was wearing her uniform during the pajama party time (40 minutes) while all the other kids were wearing pajamas. For a 3-year-old, that's a big deal. The Arab teacher assistant was not helpful in finding the bag. Closer to the mark, she was useless. I really don't know why they have this woman being an assistant. She only assists her bank account with her salary.
The problem at NIS is the lack of space. The 3-year-old class leaves all the kids bags outside the door. This is in the space where a lot of kids horse around and disrupt things. I have suggested NIS admin put a locked box or chest to put the kids bags in.
May I know how much per term for NIS let's say for KGI? Please advise.
Things are great at West Bay especially in the Foundation and KS1 dept.
The children are delightful and work very hard to master English. Teachers love the children and try very hard to offer a child friendly working environment. Yes there are no fancy facilities but everyone tries to do their best with what there is. Result. Happy well adjusted children who seem to enjoy school.
What is wrong with telling people that Newton follows the English National Curriculum? I have also acknowledged that the sports facilities at N.I.S. are not as good as they could be and I have done what I can to draw this to the attention of the headmistress. Why does this show a bad "tone"?
Yes, Antihippo, leaving a school is often easier than staying and trying to do what you can to improve the quality of the education that is offered to the children. One of the reasons that the owner of the school, Madam Afaf, feels that she has to be actively involved in the running of the school is that, unfortunately, some teachers have been unprofessional and have not kept to the terms of their contracts.
Any update on NIS?
Dear All,
I am amazed at some of the comments that Hippo has posted, the assumptions she/he jumps to and the fact that this person works at Newton is worrying.
However I also worked at the school, and decided to leave, due to my deep feelings of frustration due to the owners interfering manner in the running of the school.
Due to the acute shortage of places at schools in Doha, parents are forced to send their children to schools that would otherwise not be attractive and hat goes for local Qataris as well as the expats.
I didn't like Hippos tone one bit and deeply empathise with both groups of parents. What other choices do parents have?
Antihippo
I hope ENC is recognized in the (or the US) Canadian public schools. I've heard IB is excellent because it excels the student past his/her level. She can skip a grade (in other words).
No, the West Bay branch of Newton International School folows the English National Curriculum. At present, the school only goes up to Year 6, but the Al Manoura branch (on D Ring Road) also follows the English National Curriculum for secondary school students.
I just got dd (darling daughter) into Newton (West Bay) by the skin of our teeth! We had to pull her out of Creative Child (mid-term) and stick her into the current Newton term just to guarantee that she can get into the Sept class at Newton. It's not good and will be a shock to her. She's developed friendships @ Creative Child but knows nobody @ Newton.
It is pretty full (as are most schools in Doha). The staff there seem rather nice and decent. dd is starting after the break on February 17th so I'll let you guys know my views of the school.
Does it follow the IB program (like Qatar Academy)?
Sadly, I was really disappointed by the end of last term. My son's class increased from 17 to 30 students by break time. Consequently, there was an increase in fighting, misbehavior and teacher resignations. I also think my son's education has suffered for it. There is much less individualized attention and more teacher, let's say, fustration. I mean,come on, in government schools in Syria there are 30 kids per class. What are we paying for? This term the class was split into two but the depressing fact is that there is no other school for my son here that will be any better.
Perhaps another change in management has helped? :)
No one seems to have written very much about N.I.S. for a while, so I suppose that this means that the school has overcome all of its initial "teething troubles" and now everything is fine.
Anyone know the contact number of Newton (D-ring branch), and where is this school actually located in D-Ring? My kids will be arrving in Doha soon but still couldn't get any firm enrollment for any of them (age 7, 9 & 11). Help please.... thanks.
-bh642-
Discussion on NIS is very interesting and informative if we all take it positively.
I would like to add my comment on the other aspect of this debate that at the same time when English parents are worried about their child's language problem to be in a class with majority of non-English students, it is wish of the parents of non-English parents to send their children in English schools to improve their English. That's why they pay big amount for fees in these English schools. And the only way to improve other language skills is to give students an environment where they can get chance to speak more and more.
If an English child is going to learn Arabic, he can learn only when he is surrounded by Arabic class fellows and if a non-English child wants to learn English, he can learn only when that environment is available to him where he can learn to speak English. Mixup of nationalities makes it possible.
Life is name of compromises. If you have many choices, opt your own and if you don't have, don't blame.
Homework has indeed been light during the bumps of opening weeks, in addition to Ramadan. Isn't homework light in other schools during Ramadan as well? I assume it will pick up more seriously when kids are actually having breakfast, lunch and staying longer hours.
i have my manager kids in there and so far he said it is good and infrastrcture for scholl but for one month now they nealy have studied anything :) , i will recheck and come back to u
All I will say is, keep your options open! This school has fantastic teachers who are all committed to give our children the best education possible. Trying to teach in a limited amount of space, many different timetables, lack of staff rooms, textbooks, and staff all add up to a very stressful environment. Yet still the teachers do their best.
This school has also seen new management since the summer, who will not like to be criticised and I have a feeling i'll get some reply to this about that because how dare I have an opinion about the new management.
This has a dedicated owner who is being let down by shoddy management - this school will fail because of that and it shouldn't because it had the potential to be one of Doha's best.
My advice - look around, be patient and wait for a space somewhere else. If you're confident,and you have younger children and you've got the time (a luxury that most of us haven't) then pick up some books yourself and take a shot at home teaching - from what i've seen there are some great resources avaialable in Qatar and it might be worth it till something else opens up.
This is just my opinion and i'll be saying no more on this subject, suffice to say, i've had a bad experience, perhaps you wont?
His building is clean with no problems with water, toilets or unsafe construction. He has textbooks,homework and a written schedule. I can already tell that the curriculum is so much better than the IPC crap he was "studying" last year at Al Jazeera. I love the fact that they let students arrive early to unwind before class and wait inside until they get picked up (My daughters school is very strict that students must exit the building immediately after school and wait in the scorching heat until they are picked up).
My son did mention that some teachers haven't arrived yet because they are waiting for visas, so apparently there are staffing issues that are up in the air. In addition, the busing situation is still being finalized. Personally, I am willing to tolerate these unfinished matters as long as my son is excited about learning and is given a strong curriculum, which I think is the case here.
InDoha, what the grades of your friend's children?
Hello, I am glad I have come across the this board and the discussion surrounding Newton International School. I am new to Doha and have been looking into schools to enrol my son. I have looked at and considered 3 schools. Doha College, Park House School and Newton International School. Since the first 2 schools have long waiting lists I have been enquiring further into the last mentioned school among colleagues and friends in Doha (some of whom have kids at the school on D Ring Rd). I have found it hard to contact the school directly and can never get through to the office number.
I have heard from other families that the school is not finished building wise and that there is limited running water and working toilet facilities. Among other things such as unfinished and unsafe building works.
My colleagues children have not been given any textbooks to use yet and said they are often moved around classes and teachers with no indentifiable class timetable. One of the children commented that some their teachers have already left the school, and we are only into the third or fourth week.
I am wondering if any other parnets have heard of similar events surrounding Newton International or know of any other good schooling options in Doha before i move my son over to be educated here.
Thank you
Hippo, you seem to make a lot of assumptions. Firstly, in your earlier post, you say - "perhaps it might have been more constructive to have discussed these issues with her personally and directly, rather than posting them on this website". How do you know that I have not already done so? Infact I have spoken to her.
Secondly, nobody at the school has mentioned to me that you have an English As An Additonal Language (EAL) specialist. Can you give me their names please? I have many friends (parents) at the school that share my concern re the usage/learning of English language. I actually am a teacher too holding a B.Ed(Hons)Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from the UK, so I know the various teaching methods that can be adopted. However, I feel it may still prove difficult due to the number of students per class and also the ratio of non English speaking to English speaking students.
I have seen how various countries cater for non-English speaking children as I attended schools in England, America, New Zealand, etc as an expat child. In the developed countries they have English Language labs to take children out maybe for an hour a day for more intensive one-on-one English lessons, also there are English specialists assigned to students in the class (like a Special Needs teacher)to help them keep up with the learining/teaching pace in the class. I would be interested to know what exactly Newton Intl is doing or planning.
Finally, I had not mentioned anything about private education in the UK or costs, that was never up for discussion. Fyi, I atended mainstream government schools in all the countries above and they took neccessary steps to ensure the non English speaking students received the extra help/attention in order to learn English satisfactorily.
Dear Handbag Shopper,
As I said in my orginal posting, I believe that the opinions of parents about the school their children attend are very important. That is why I drew the attention of Mrs Cross to your posting.
I understand that parents are naturally concerned when their English-speaking child is in a class in which many of the children do not speak English or else they have very limited English. This is why I felt that I should try to explain that Newton International Schol does indeed have teachers' assistants and English As An Additonal Language (EAL) specialist teachers.
My point about school fees is a valid one, but it is not one that most parents want to consider. It simply is not fair to compare private education in the U.K. with private schools in Doha, given that many independent primary schools in the U.K. charge around £6000 per term for a day place (that's £18,000 or 126,000QAR a year). For many international schools, recruiting and retaining teaching staff is more expensive and more difficult than it is in the U.K., especally when the school is also expected to provide accommodation for staff. Like you, I am an enthusiast when it comes to being in the Middle East, but perhaps there are many teachers in the U.K. who are not so keen to be teaching in this part of the world.
Similarly, I was not being awkward, stupid or rude in pointing out that many children at international schools start with limited English. This was certainly my experience when I was teaching in Egypt and in Romania. Effective use of differentiated learning (which is teacherspeak for putting the children into groups and giving them work that is appropriate to their ablities) is not always easy and some inexperienced teachers may find this difficult to operate, but this should mean that your child is being given tasks that are going to develop his or her skills and knowledge.
In your original posting, you express strong dissatisfaction with the facilities at Newton International School. As a professional teacher, I cannot possibly comment on this, except to say that one of the first homeworks I gave to my class was to write a letter to Madam Afaf, the owner of the school, asking for a new swimming pool, some tennis courts and a sports field.
Thanks PM, you read and understood my message correctly. On the under hand, the Hippo got it totally wrong. I feel I need to clarify a few things because I did not like the Hippo's tone and assumptions.
Firstly, I have no problem with my child being surrounded by Arab students. I have enjoyed living in the Middle East for over 3 years and have many Arab friends. Infact, I am currently learning Arabic. However, I am concerned with the language aspect as over half the children in the class do not speak English. I'd like to mention this is made up of predominantly Arabs, but also a few other nationalities such as Europeans and South Americans. This may pose as a problem for the speed/quality of teaching/lessons because majority of the class is not able to understand English (AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEACHER'S ABILITY). As a parent I am worried that this may affect my child's learning.
Secondly, re class size, in the first 2 weeks there were around 35 students and in the third week they managed to find another teacher and split the class down to 27 students and they are now trying to bring this number down to 23-24 in the next week (although if I'm not mistaken their class size should be a max of 20).
The purpose of my comment, is merely to share my honest experience of the school with parents who have asked for this information. I'm sure most schools go through teething problems which will hopefully be sorted out in the near future.
Dear PM,
If you would care to re-read my original posting, you will see that the words "racism" and "racist" do not appear in what I actually wrote. However, it does indeed seem strange to me that a parent can complain about there being a significant number of Arab children in her child's class. We are, after all, in Qatar! If I were to take my family to live in France, would it not be natural for my child's classmates to be French? Or does Handbag Shopper expect all schools to operate a quota system of some kind, so that perfectly able and deserving children are turned away simply because their first language is not English? Are you suggesting that it is okay if a child cannot speak or write English, as long as they do not speak Arabic?
If you read through the many posts on the subject of education that you will find on the QL site, you will find that some of them were written by parents whose children are at schools where the classes are of less than twenty students. You should also note that the fees for these schools are significantly higher than Newton International's fees.
Dear Handbag Shopper,
I have drawn Mrs Cross's attention to your posting, as I believe that comments from parents should always be taken seriously. However, perhaps it might have been more constructive to have discussed these issues with her personally and directly, rather than posting them on this website.
Of course we have a significant number of Arab students at N.I.S. We are in the Middle East, after all. If you really do not want your child to associate with Arab children, do you think that it was wise to move your family to Qatar? (In my class I have a wide mix of nationalities and I suspect that this holds true for most classes in the school.)
I would dispute your claim that we have "very large classes". I think that a class of forty or fifty might fairly be described as "very large", but classes at N.I.S. are nowhere near that size.
When I was teaching at The British School of Bucharest, many of the children started the academic year with little or no English. One of the reasons N.I.S. employs teaching assistants is to help children with limited English to be assimilated quickly and we also have several EAL staff to assist with this. Differentiated learning groups within a class should mean that children are not all given the same tasks, but instead they should be given work that is appropriate to their age and to their abilities.
Yes, it is true that N.I.S. is in the process of recruiting more teachers, but I think that it would be fair to say that most international schools have a problem when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff. Of course, paying the staff more might make it easier to recruit more teachers, but that would almost certainly mean a substantial increase in the school fees.
I have a daughter at Newton (westbay). I was happy with the school last year, but this year the number of students have increased dramatically and there is a shortage in teachers, resulting in very large classes. The facilities are limited as it's really a villa. I recopmmend parents to visit the school first and talking to potential class teachers re size of class and ratio of different nationalities per class. My daughter's class this year consists of mainly Arab children and over half of the class do not speak English! So make sure you think hard before moving your child to this school. My daughter attends this scholl because when we arrived in Doha last May, it was the only scholl I could get her into, so it's not like I was spoilt for choice.
Do you mean that the waiting list is closed for the existing school in West Bay or that the waitng list for the new school by the D Ring Road is closed? Or both? Are there two, separate waiting lists or only one?
NIS is opening a new school on D-Ring Road for September 2007. West Bay is full also the waitlist is closed.
I do not know a great deal about Newton International School, as their school website is still under construction. However, it does follow the British National Curriculum and most of the teachers are recruited from the U.K.
The new principal of the Newton International School is Mrs Irene Cardwell. She has been princiapl since March.
I am also planning to move my kids from their present school to the Newton International School and I hope that it is good .
Thanks all for your comments
the question is ,is it good? hope it is not too new! actually i am planning to move my children from the present school.
If a school follows UK cirriculum they tend to emlpoy UK certified teachers. Its a newish school but better location than DESS or others for you, although QIS is near west bay (?). Nationalities are always a mix in any school, 10% UK, 10% EU 10% Qatari, 20% Indian, 10% phillipino etc. ethnic diversity is somethnig you get here no problem.
Hi,
I am moving to the west bay area and I want to rigester my kids in Nweton International School.
Does anybody has his kids there?? How is the school ??
I know that they offer the National Cirriculun of England but are all the teachers from England??
What are the students nationalities there??