Durham School for Girls Doha, Qatar’s first British school just for girls delivering a British curriculum integrated with Qatari values and culture, has officially announced its opening in Qatar in September 2019.

The press conference, hosted by Durham School for Girls and supported by Durham School UK and Durham International, was held at the Intercontinental Hotel Doha on the 8^th October 2018. It was wonderful for both Heads of School, Kieran McLaughlin and Vanessa Whay to have the opportunity to present the shared vision of Durham education and its impact on girls in Qatar in the future. The schools were honoured by the presence of His Excellency, Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and His Excellency, Ajay Sharma, British Ambassador to Qatar.

His Excellency Ajay Sharma, British Ambassador to Qatar spoke at the ceremony saying: “I am delighted to be at the launch of Durham School for Girls Doha, to see such a prestigious school opening here in the heart of Doha. This initiative reflects not only the historic friendship and alliance between our two countries, but also our strong support for Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which aims to deliver a knowledge-based society and unlock the human potential of the people. The opening of Durham School for Girls Doha will further contribute to strengthening our ties for the benefit of UK and Qatar. This is my objective as Ambassador here, and I believe there is no better way to achieve this than through education.”

Chairman of Durham School for Girls Doha, Engineer Saad Ebrahim Al Muhannadi, said: “Durham School for Girls Doha reflects the need to educate girls in Qatar with the very best of British education available in the region in order to support the country’s vision for its young women, to empower them and prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of life across the world.”

“It is my honour to welcome His Excellency, Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, on this special occasion and to mark the beginning of a new chapter in Doha’s educational offering. I am proud of such a significant partnership with Durham School UK, one that I am certain will raise the bar on the education sector in Qatar” concluded Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi.

Kieran McLaughlin, Headmaster of Durham School UK also commented saying: “Building on 600 years of tradition and education experience, it is with great excitement that Durham School for Girls Doha joins Durham School UK. This marks a new milestone for Durham School in Qatar where we share the vision of delivering outstanding education, one that will help shape our future leaders.”

Vanessa Whay, Founding Head of Durham School for Girls Doha, furthermore commented on the School’s opening saying: “Opening in September 2019, Durham School for Girls Doha will be the first British all girls school in Doha. The school will have an all female campus including women teachers and staff.”

“At Durham School for Girls Doha, we aim to create confident women who are ready for the future whilst providing a safe, secure and warm environment where girls can have the confidence to reach their full potential. Girls and young women of Durham School for Girls Doha will be broadly educated whilst being imbued with a rich sense of Qatari national heritage and Islamic values,” concluded Vanessa Whay.”

Situated in Al Messila, Durham School for Girls Doha has opened its registrations for interested parents having already received over a hundred enquiries from interested families in Qatar.

Durham School for Girls Doha is a sister school of Durham School UK and will draw its inspiration from both the Qatari National and wider Islamic culture and tradition as well as Durham School’s 600-year heritage of outstanding British education.

Durham School for Girls Doha will benefit from a governance overlap and shared co-curricular programmes with Durham School UK, as well as a provision of pastoral care that is to the same high standards in both Durham School and Doha.

As part of its Phase 1 opening in 2019, the School will be open for the Early Years Foundation Stage Programme (EYFS) as well the Primary School Years 1 to 6 and the first year of Secondary Year 7, and will be fully operational and open for all academic years by 2022.

For more information, please visit: www.durhamqatar.com

Twitter: @DurhamQatar; Instagram: @DurhamQatar ; Facebook: DurhamQatar.

Cover image courtesy of Durham School for Girls Doha

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