Frequently Asked Questions

Durham School for Girls, Doha, delivers a British curriculum enriched by a strong commitment to Qatari culture and Islamic values, in full alignment with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar. Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Qatar History are integral components of the curriculum, not supplementary subjects, ensuring that every student develops a deep sense of identity, language proficiency, and moral understanding alongside academic excellence. Through this balanced approach, we nurture globally minded young women who remain proudly connected to their heritage, embodying confidence, character, and respect for their culture.

At Durham School for Girls, Doha, academic excellence is driven by highly qualified teachers, a clear educational vision, and a structured approach to assessment and progress. Through the ISP Learning First™ framework, students also benefit from purposeful lessons, continuous reflection, and personalised support tailored to their individual learning journeys. We place equal emphasis on achievement, confidence, and independent thinking, nurturing capable young women who take ownership of their learning and are well prepared to succeed academically and beyond.

Durham School for Girls, Doha, takes the safety and wellbeing of students seriously. The school is equipped with a Designated Safeguarding Team, 24 hour CCTV, specifically trained security and a collection of already-established safeguarding procedures.

In addition, students and staff take part in regular emergency drills conducted together with fire and lockdown practices, ensuring everyone is confident about what is expected of them in case of an emergency

Durham School for Girls, Doha, has a no-tolerance policy for bullying and a very strict anti-bullying policy in place. The school’s anti-bullying policy is based on a combination of preventive educational measures, teacher training, and quick intervention as the key components.

By establishing an atmosphere of gentleness, respect, and understanding, the school consequently enables the students to constantly experience being safe, appreciated, and supported.

Durham School for Girls, Doha follows the local culture in Qatar and is conscious of Islamic Values. The school's code of conduct elaborates on the standards of clothing and decency in detail, and these guidelines are also communicated to the parents during admission.

Currently, the school does not provide any transport facilities.

Yes. The school accepts MOEHE vouchers as well as company-sponsored payments, subject to standard admissions procedures.

Yes. A school uniform is required for all students every day. Parents receive all necessary uniform information during the enrollment process. Our uniform is contemporary and practical, so we request all students to come to school in uniform every day. To see our uniform, click here.

At present, sibling discounts are not offered.

Yes 

We adopt a highly personalised approach to learning, with our staff carefully trained to ensure that the needs of every girl are understood, supported, and nurtured throughout her educational journey.

Yes, homework is assigned regularly. The assignments and the learning materials are shared with the students and parents through ClassDojo or Microsoft Teams, based on the age group.

Clear and regular communication with parents is done through:

• The iSAMS Parent App
• Bi-weekly newsletters
• Email updates
• Class WhatsApp groups

This multi-channel approach ensures parents remain well informed and actively involved in their child’s education.

Yes, we have extracurricular activities. We offer a wide range of activities during the academic year and these activities target the physical fitness and key interests of students while also allowing them to further develop skills like leadership, problem solving, creativity and teamwork. The choice of activities can vary between terms and parents are recommended to enquire about the current offering at the school.

Our teachers and academic leaders provide personalised guidance to help every girl transition confidently into the British Curriculum. With the right support, students quickly adapt to new learning approaches, including language and assessment styles. While we support successful transitions at all stages, joining earlier often allows for an even smoother and more confident academic journey.

Yes. The school partners with Fitlicious Catering to provide nutritious hot and cold meals. Primary students use a dedicated canteen, while older students have access to a convenient “Grab and Go” service.

We have CCTV monitoring, trained security personnel, and emergency response protocols with regular drills for both fire and lockdown. ISP work with us to ensure that our staff and students are as safe as they possibly can be.  

We have a designated university counsellor who works individually with pupils and arranges many university visits and talks, to ensure that our girls are not only informed about their university options, but are helped throughout their future pathways journey.

Whether applying to universities in Doha, or anywhere in the world, students are guided through the specific requirements and timelines of each system, ensuring a smooth and successful application process that results in many first choice university offers.

Durham School for Girls, Doha is a part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), which is a global group of more than 100 schools in over 25 countries. We, as an ISP School, enjoy a robust local identity and the advantages of sharing of global best practice, ongoing professional growth of staff and networking with other ISP schools from around the world.

The average number of pupils in Primary and Secondary classes is roughly 24, which supports concentrated teaching and personal attention. Classes in EYFS are smaller, and also have a teaching assistant.

Durham School for Girls, Doha is an all-girls British curriculum school that provides internationally recognised academic pathways within a supportive environment rooted in Islamic Values and Qatari Culture. Learning is carefully designed in line with the English National Curriculum, ensuring students receive a high-quality education that balances global standards with local values.

At Key Stage 4, students prepare for their IGCSE examinations, followed by AS and A Levels in Years 12 and 13. These qualifications provide students with pathways to leading universities in Qatar and around the world.

The following documents are to be submitted by parents::

• Copies of passports and Qatar IDs for the student and both parents
• Birth certificate of the student
• Health card and vaccinations certificate
• Past report cards from the previous school (for the last completed year and current term for FS2 and above)
• Health record from the school (for EYFS and Year 1)
• Three passport-sized pictures

We accept girls between the ages of 3 years to the age of 18 years.

Entrance assessments are age-appropriate and that they help to allocate the correct level of support for the students. 

EYFS 1 & EYFS 2:
Informal assessment targeting early numeracy, colors, communication, and social interaction. 

Year 3 and above: 
Assessments in English reading and writing, Arabic, and Mathematics. 

Year 7 and above: 
CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) is used to measure the student's academic potential and learning preferences.

Parents can apply by visiting us at the school or by submitting an online application through our official channels. Our Admissions team is always available to guide and support families throughout the process.

After the submission and the required documents are received and assessments are done, the academic leadership team evaluates the application. The families are mostly updated on the decision within 48 hours, thus guaranteeing a quick and clear admissions process.