The prestigious British independent school, Sherborne, will hold a celebration to mark the launch of its Doha campus, Sherborne Qatar, on September 9, 2009. The new school will start its academic session for junior students on September 27. Colin Niven, the Founding Principal of Sherborne Qatar, said the school had been recruiting pupils for the last few weeks. “We have been recruiting pupils from some 30 countries, competence in English being a key requirement in all the very youngest. Our teachers of the English National Curriculum are all native English speakers, and the Arabic language and Islamic studies, for those requiring them, are taught by experts whom we have recently appointed”, Niven said in a statement posted on the school’s website. The school is aiming at teaching around 300 pupils in 16 classes, and the places are filling up fast. There is a great interest in the school among the local professional companies and educational centres, he said. The school received quick response from applicants for teaching jobs. Within a week of advertising the start of Sherborne Qatar, it received more than 400 applications from teachers. After rigorous interviews in London, it appointed a powerful, experienced and enthusiastic staff, all of whom are well qualified and many of whom have taught both in Britain and internationally. All are well versed in the English National Curriculum. “We open in September with our Junior School. In the following years this will lead up to IGSCE and, in keeping with Sherborne, Dorset and other Major HMC schools, to the International Baccalaureate”, he said. The school will be following the subjects of the English National Curriculum for Junior School and Reception classes. However, it will not be conducting SAT tests, as these are being phased out rapidly in Britain, but will closely monitor the progress of each child in regular consultation with the parents. All non-Arab children will learn basic Arabic and learn about the local culture, history and environment. The Arab children will learn more advanced Arabic and, as required by Qatari law, be instructed about Islam. Meantime, the other children will have Personal, Health and Social Education. Classes will be coeducational and have a maximum of 20 pupils. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=August2009&file=Local_News2009082923256.xml

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