Doha College primary booklet

Love learning WITH DOHA COLLEGE

A WONDERFUL LEARNING ADVENTURE

A new school adventure is extremely exciting and momentous for any family. As a leading British International School in Qatar, Doha College has over 40 years of experience delivering academic excellence. With our inclusive approach to education, we aspire to ignite every child’s excitement for learning.

Putting children at the heart of everything we do allows us to adapt to the individual needs of every child that enters Doha College, providing happy and memorable first experiences.

We are a united and forward-thinking college, working together to shape a relevant and multi-skilled education for our young people. Primary education is a critical stage in every child’s development – it shapes them for life. As well as providing the essential tools for learning, we positively prepare and develop our students for their progression to Secondary through regular collaboration and joint projects with our Secondary campus.

The Primary School at Doha College is one of the most successful of any British International School. Pupils love their learning, they are happy, they are incredibly well cared for, they achieve unbelievably well and they thrive due to the outstanding teaching of a vibrant and inspirational curriculum.

DAVID TONGUE, PRINCIPAL

THE CURRICULUM

Doha College Primary follows the National Curriculum for England, providing an education for children between the ages of 3 and 11, covering EYFS to Year 6.

It provides a broad and balanced curriculum that enables all students to achieve their full potential and ensures an excellent basis for skills required in later life.

Our Primary fosters an environment where students feel comfortable and happy, which leads to success and where the education, care, happiness and wellbeing of every student is a priority.

KEY STAGE 1 (YEARS 1 AND 2)

Children in Key Stage 1 are taught through an approach called ‘IDL’. Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) is an engaging pedagogy that develops a mastery approach with the Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum at its core and is underpinned by rigorous and responsive assessment.

It is the development of authentic and meaningful learning opportunities that enable autonomy and ensure high levels of creativity and engagement in which learners are challenged.

Across Key Stage 1, children have autonomy in their learning to choose their area of focus and decide how they want to demonstrate their understanding.

This stage consists of three core subjects:

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is based on a spiral curriculum which includes numbers, shapes, space and measures.

ENGLISH

In Year 1, English focuses on the development of phonics to teach reading and writing through our Read, Write Inc. Programme.

In Year 2, these skills are developed further by focusing on key texts to support reading and writing. We also focus on the development of spelling skills by teaching common exception words and spelling patterns.

SCIENCE

We teach science as part of our interdisciplinary approach to learning in an engaging and exciting way.

In addition to the three core subjects, seven foundation subjects are also taught through an IDL approach:

• Geography

• History

• Design Technology (DT)

• Art

• Music

• Physical Education (PE)

• Computing.

KEY STAGE 2 (YEARS 3 TO 6)

The IDL approach students become familiar with in Key Stage 1 is continued into Key Stage 2 and spans across the core and foundation subjects.

For example, if a Year 3 class is studying the Stone Age, their core text in English would be based around this topic. This approach allows us to immerse students in a chosen genre and fully develop their understanding of this.

Children engage in diverse learning contexts ranging from the rainforest and space to sound and the Vikings. Doha College students are given ownership of their learning, and teachers work tirelessly to ensure that each child can develop their interests within these broad topics.

Mathematics in Key Stage 2 at Doha College is based on the principles of teaching for mastery. This means we believe in all children having the opportunity to work at the appropriate standard for their age group. It also means that we do not believe in grouping children by ability. Our maths lessons are highly dynamic and allow teachers and pupils to differentiate based on a learner’s performance in an individual task rather than in a predetermined group.

We have invested significantly in resources, and these play a fundamental role in acquiring new mathematics learning at every stage in the school. Every lesson in mathematics includes opportunities for our students to think more deeply about their learning. They are often challenged to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills in a range of contexts.

LANGUAGES

Language continues to be developed throughout Key Stage 2 with Arabic and the addition of French. Arabic lessons are taught by specialist Arabic teachers, and lessons are split according to native and non-native Arabic speakers. French lessons are delivered by the class teacher in Year 3 and then by a French specialist for Years 4 to 6.

ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES

Muslim students are required to study Islamic Studies and students of Arab nationalities must study native Arabic as a mandatory subject option. Students who fall under the regulation of Native Arabic will continue this program of study through all stages of Primary and Secondary school and will not be offered the option to study other languages.

CCAs

Beyond the classroom, Doha College places great importance on an extensive and accessible programme of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).

CCAs are one of the pillars of a holistic education that goes hand-in-hand with our strong academic and pastoral pillars. Our programme offers students the chance to extend and enrich their interests, as well as to provide opportunities for personal development and to mix with other students from different year groups.

CCAs focus on four core categories: physical, academic, creative and service and ranges from rollerblading, chess, triathlon, Mandarin and coding to baking, sign language, sketching, sailing and choir, to name a few.

Our CCAs in Primary run each school day from 2.05–3.05pm, with schedules varying depending on religious and national holidays.

INSPIRING STAFF

Providing an exciting, vibrant, engaging and welcoming environment for every student is impossible without our dedicated, qualified and passionate staff.

Each Primary class is small and led by a fully qualified teacher. Classes are also supported by a team of excellent teaching assistants in each year group. We have dedicated specialist teachers in Arabic, French (Year 4 onwards), music and PE to enhance learning from an early age. This encompassing approach to learning allows students at Doha College to flourish and experience stimulating, exciting and fun learning that takes place in a superb, well-resourced learning environment.