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Doha British School - Ain Khaled

Qatar, Doha

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees QAR 24,101 - 69,411
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1900
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Typical class size 25
Introduction

Doha British School — Ain Khaled is an independent British international school in Doha (Ain Khaled campus, Rawdat Al Sagah St) serving boys and girls aged 3–18 from Preschool through Sixth Form. The school delivers the English Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum of England in primary and lower secondary, follows IGCSE courses at Key Stage 4 and offers four post‑16 pathways in Key Stage 5, including the IB Diploma, AS/A‑levels and BTEC. English is the medium of instruction; Arabic is taught from Preschool for native speakers and modern foreign languages (Spanish and French) are offered across the school. The campus is described as purpose‑built and includes facilities such as two libraries, music rooms, science laboratories, design and graphic suites, two indoor gymnasiums, a swimming pool, sports pitch and outdoor courts, cafeterias, an adventure playground, a nurses' clinic, a career and learning centre and a Sixth Form common area. The Ain Khaled campus is identified on the school site as an IB World School with an established Diploma Programme.

Rawdat Al Sagah St, Doha, Qatar

The Essentials

Doha British School - Ain Khaled has 1,900 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in English.

Location

The Ain Khaled Campus is at Rawdat Al Sagah Street, Ain Khaled, Doha, Qatar. It sits in the Ain Khaled district, a residential area northeast of central Doha, with straightforward road access. The campus address is Rawdat Al Sagah Street, Doha, Qatar, and DBS operates across three Doha campuses (Ain Khaled, Wakra and Rawdat Al Hamama).

Stages

DBS Ain Khaled combines Early Years Foundation Stage (Preschool to Reception), Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) in Primary, followed by Secondary (Year 7–11) and a Sixth Form (Year 12–13). In Secondary, pupils study a broad range of subjects with IGCSE in Years 10–11 and then choose from pathways in the Sixth Form (IB Diploma, AS/A Levels and BTEC).

Type

The school type (2-3 sentences max)

Pupil Nationality Mix

DBS serves a highly international community. Third-party sources report around 84–90 nationalities represented, with the student body described as international across its campuses. The most represented nationalities are not published, and the local-to-international ratio is not publicly disclosed.

Additional learning support

The Inclusion Team leads provision for Additional Learning Needs/SEN across all phases. The SENCO Lead, SENCO/EAL Teacher and Learning Support Assistants coordinate accommodations, interventions and collaboration with families, ensuring access to internal and external assessments as appropriate.

Country affiliation

DBS Ain Khaled is a British international school in Doha. It follows the English National Curriculum for the core stages and offers IGCSE, AS/A Levels, IB Diploma and BTEC through its Sixth Form. The school is accredited by CIS, BSME, QNSA and BSO, and is described as a British overseas/international school in Qatar.

Religious affiliation

There is no formal religious affiliation stated for the school. (Islamic Studies may be taught as part of the Qatar curriculum where relevant, but the school does not publish a religious affiliation.)

School day structure

A typical school day starts at 7:00 am for Primary and Secondary. Early Years runs 7:00 am–1:00 pm; Primary 7:00 am–2:00 pm; Secondary 7:00 am–2:00 pm. Breaks run from 8:55 am–9:15 am and lunch from 10:55 am–11:35 am. The day finishes at 2:00 pm, with ECAs often extending to 3:00 pm. Gates open 6:45 am for drop-off.

Bus service

There is no published information about a DBS-managed bus service for the Ain Khaled campus on the school's pages. Families should contact Admissions for transport options and arrangements.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement

Uniforms are required for all DBS Ain Khaled students. The uniform is year-group specific; Primary includes a DBS polo shirt with skorts/shorts and a navy jumper/fleece optional, while Sixth Form requires a blazer and tie, a white shirt, and black trousers or a skirt. Uniforms can be purchased from Zak Uniform Store Doha (Al Rayyan Municipality, Industrial Area Road).

House System

House System: The House system is a distinctly British feature of the school that encourages collegiality and healthy competition amongst students. Students are assigned to houses representing elements of Qatar and participate in inter-house competitions throughout the year, earning recognition through house points. The system fosters a sense of belonging and active participation in school life.

Governance and Ownership

The school is owned by Artan Consulting and Educational Services (ACES), a private education group that owns, manages and operates educational institutions in Qatar. Governance is provided by a Board of Governors (comprising the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership Team) that guides overall direction, management, and policy, with a Constitution and Instrument of Governance in place.
Fees

Annual tuition at Doha British School - Ain Khaled ranges from QAR 24,101 to QAR 69,411 for 2026/27.

Admission / one‑off fees

- Application fee: QAR 350.
- Assessment fee (per child): QAR 300 (payable when assessment is arranged and described as non‑refundable).
- Registration fee (due on acceptance of a place, per child): QAR 3,650. The registration fee is a non‑refundable, one‑off payment.

Tuition fees – invoicing and amounts by year group (termly)

- All tuition fees are invoiced termly. For the current academic year the published termly amounts are shown below for Term 2 and Term 3. Parents are billed on a termly basis.

- Pre‑School (per term): QAR 10,333. (Term 2: QAR 10,333; Term 3: QAR 10,333).
- Reception (per term): QAR 13,443. (Term 2: QAR 13,443; Term 3: QAR 13,443).
- Year 1 to Year 6 (per term): QAR 13,443. (Term 2: QAR 13,443; Term 3: QAR 13,443).
- Year 7 to Year 9 (per term): QAR 15,945. (Term 2: QAR 15,945; Term 3: QAR 15,945).
- Year 10 to Year 11 (per term): QAR 17,291. (Term 2: QAR 17,291; Term 3: QAR 17,291).
- Year 12 to Year 13 (per term): QAR 22,395. (Term 2: QAR 22,395; Term 3: QAR 22,395).

Annual equivalents (where published)

- The school also publishes a per‑annum schedule (three terms) for reference. Those published annual figures are: Pre‑School QAR 23,377; Reception QAR 34,259; Year 1–6 QAR 35,621; Year 7–9 QAR 45,449; Year 10–11 QAR 49,402; Year 12–13 QAR 67,185. These per‑annum figures are provided by the school as part of the fee schedule.

Resources levy / consumables

- Resources Levy (annual, payable per child with the term fees in which the child starts):
- Pre‑School: QAR 724 per year.
- Reception to Year 6: QAR 1,670 per year.
- Year 7 to Year 13: QAR 2,226 per year.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Fees are invoiced termly. The Resources Levy is levied with the first term tuition fees payable for each academic year. Fees are reviewed annually and any increases are subject to approval by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
- The application fee and assessment fee are described as payable at the time of application/assessment and are non‑refundable. The registration fee is non‑refundable and payable on acceptance of a place.

Boarding

- Boarding is not applicable for the Ain Khaled campus; the campus operates as a day school (no boarding fees apply).

Other costs and typical extras

- The Resources Levy (listed above) is a mandatory annual charge per child.
- School uniform costs, transport (bus) charges, examination fees, optional extracurricular activity fees and trip charges are not set out as fixed amounts on the public fee pages; uniform consultation and related information is published but uniform prices are not listed. Any such additional or optional charges (uniform, transport, ECAs, trips, external exam fees) are handled separately and are not shown as fixed amounts in the published fee schedule.

Refunds and cancellations

- The application fee and assessment fee are described as non‑refundable. The registration fee is a non‑refundable, one‑off payment. There is no separate, detailed tuition‑refund schedule published on the public fees and terms pages; terms and conditions state that fees and terms are subject to the school's policy and Ministry approval. For specific cases (withdrawal, cancellation, absence) no specific tuition refund formula is published on the fee pages.

Fee payment options (how payments may be made)

- The public fee and admissions statements do not list a standard list of accepted payment methods for all invoices. For overseas applications, application fees may be paid by bank transfer; online payment routes are referenced for assessments. Detailed, itemized payment instructions for term invoices (for example specific bank account details, card acceptance, parent portal payment methods) are not published on the public fee summary pages.

Notes on approvals and reviews

- All fees are reviewed annually and any increases are subject to approval from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The school's fee pages and admissions material state that terms and conditions and fee tables are subject to school policy and Ministry approval.

(Contact details published for fee enquiries: phone +974 4019‑8000; email info@dohabritishschool.com.)
Academics

Doha British School - Ain Khaled teaches British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum

The Ain Khaled campus serves Preschool through Sixth Form and follows the English Early Years Foundation Stage and the English National Curriculum through Key Stages 1–3, with IGCSE offerings at Key Stage 4 and Post-16 pathways in Key Stage 5. In the Sixth Form, four pathways are available: AS/A Level, IB Diploma, BTEC, and a City University Qatar progression route to a bachelor's degree. Arabic language and Islamic Studies remain a curricular priority within the school. The school holds international accreditations from CIS, BSME, QNSA and BSO. The IGCSE results cover subjects including Arabic (1st language), Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, and more, with notable 2024 award recognitions.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Doha British School Ain Khaled integrates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) within its wellbeing framework. The Wellbeing section states that the Wellbeing Counselling Team supports students' personal, social, and emotional development and that services align with the SEL curriculum, including small-group interventions of 5-6 sessions with information shared with parents. The school-based counselling offers one-on-one support and works with teachers to remove barriers to learning, while the pastoral approach promotes a positive, supportive, and secure environment. The Inclusion Team coordinates support across Early Years through Secondary, ensuring a consistent, whole-school approach to inclusion and student wellbeing. The Inclusion Team includes a SENCO Lead (Sarah Bayley) and a SENCO/EAL Teacher (Saima Kouser), supported by Learning Support Assistants (Ramandeep Kaur Sarin and Shukriya Vamanjoor).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

SEN support is provided through an Inclusion Team led by SENCO Lead Sarah Bayley and SENCO/EAL Teacher Saima Kouser, with Learning Support Assistants Ramandeep Kaur Sarin and Shukriya Vamanjoor. The team operates a Graduated Approach to SEN, using a tiered system of support and regular reviews of provision in partnership with parents. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss SEN needs with the SENDCo Lead. The inclusion approach extends across Early Years to Secondary, ensuring consistent SEN support throughout the learning journey. These arrangements are embedded within the school's inclusive model across all year groups.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

An SENCO/EAL Teacher, Saima Kouser, is part of the Inclusion Team, indicating that EAL support is provided within the inclusive framework. The SENCO/EAL Teacher role centralises EAL provision within the school's SEN and inclusion structure, with explicit contact available for families seeking EAL support. The presence of an EAL teacher within the SEN team signals integrated language support alongside academic and pastoral provisions.

Mental Wellbeing

Wellbeing services at DBS Ain Khaled include school-based counselling that supports students' personal, social, and emotional well-being, aligned with the SEL curriculum. The Wellbeing Counselling Team provides one-on-one support and may run small-group interventions, collaborating with teachers to identify barriers to learning and to build resilience. The Wellbeing Counselling Team's work is described as central to promoting students' personal, social, and emotional well-being and to curriculum-aligned SEL. A School Counselor and dedicated wellbeing staff are listed as part of the team managing student wellbeing. Mental health-focused professional development, including a Mental Health Awareness Week led by Mind Your Health Ltd and the school counselling team, demonstrates ongoing commitment to student mental health.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is recognised as a core responsibility, with DBS stating a commitment to protecting students from harm and promoting welfare and to maintaining a safe, secure environment. The Pastoral Care section also provides safeguarding contacts for Primary and Secondary staff, underscoring a structured safeguarding approach. The esafetypolicy documents safeguarding matters and outlines proactive safeguarding policies and contacts. The school aims to ensure students feel secure, are listened to, and can access appropriate safeguarding support through its pastoral and safeguarding structures.
Parent Experience

History

The school began in 1997 as Doha Montessori British School (DMBS). It was rebranded as Doha British School in November 2011. The Ain Khaled campus opened in January 2008 as the first purpose-built DBS campus. The DBS group has since expanded to three campuses: Ain Khaled, Al Wakrah (opened 2014), and Rawdat Al Hamama (opened 2022). The school is owned by ACES (Artan Consulting and Educational Services) and holds accreditations from CIS, BSO, QNSA, and BSME, with CIS reaccreditation achieved in 2025.

Community

The Ain Khaled community includes students, staff, parents, and alumni and hosts events such as International Day featuring cultural stalls. In October 2022, the school staged a 25th anniversary carnival at the Ain Khaled campus with performances, sports, and parent vendors across all three DBS campuses. Sustainability Week in 2024 and other community activities promote environmental awareness and cross-campus engagement. Other community activities include One Community, One Cause Fair organized by the Friends of DBS Committee, bringing together students, staff, parents and alumni.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The school's PTA operates as the Friends of DBS Committee, a parent-led group coordinating volunteering, events and fundraising. The committee runs events such as One Community, One Cause Fair to support charitable causes. It played a key role in the 25th anniversary carnival, with parent vendors and student ambassadors across campuses. International Day involvement includes parental participation through cultural stalls and attendance at parades. Annual events like the Winter Fair provide opportunities for families to engage with DBS across its campuses.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

The Ain Khaled campus has purpose-built facilities to support learning. There are two libraries (primary and secondary), plus music rooms and Art & Textiles spaces. Science and computer laboratories, Design Technology workshops, and graphic design suites support a wide range of subjects. Indoor facilities include a multi-purpose hall and two gymnasiums; outdoor spaces include a swimming pool, football pitch, basketball court, and outdoor games courts.

Sports Facilities

Two large indoor gymnasiums support PE and indoor activities. A multi-purpose hall hosts indoor sports and events. The swimming pool, football pitch, basketball court, and outdoor games courts provide outdoor sport options.

Academic Facilities

There are two libraries serving primary and secondary students. Science laboratories support practical work across core subjects. Computer laboratories provide ICT and computing facilities; Design Technology workshops and Graphic Design suites support hands-on projects.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Music rooms support music clubs and rehearsals. Art & Textiles spaces and Graphic Design suites enable arts and design activities. The multi-purpose hall hosts performances and enrichment events; Adventure Playground supports outdoor activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

The school educates boys and girls aged 3–18 for Pre-school through Sixth Form. It operates Ain Khaled Primary, Ain Khaled Secondary, and a Sixth Form Centre. The Sixth Form provides AS and A-Levels, BTEC, and the IB Diploma. The Curriculum includes the National Curriculum of England and IB programmes. The school is an IB World School.

Cultural & Language

Languages available for study include French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Pastoral care is provided and there is a broad range of extra-curricular activities, including ECAs, sports, MUN, and trips and visits.
Languages

Language Provision

Languages taught at Ain Khaled include Arabic, French and Spanish. Arabic lessons are offered to native Arabic speakers from Pre-School onwards, while Spanish is introduced to all other students from Reception. In secondary, Arabic (1st and 2nd language), French and Spanish are offered as modern foreign languages, taught by specialist language teachers using a four-skills approach with cultural context. Small-group language support is available for students learning English as an additional language.
Admissions

Admissions

Admissions Process: The admissions cycle for the next academic year usually opens in November of the preceding year, while admissions for the current year can be accepted in term 1 and term 2. Doha British School Ain Khaled is a popular international school and places are sometimes limited. Priority is given to siblings of current students, and all applicants are assessed to determine suitability for the curriculum and English language proficiency. The steps below outline how the admissions process works.

Step 1: Read the Admissions Policy thoroughly. The policy governs the admissions process and indicates that priority is given to siblings and that all applicants must be assessed for curriculum access and English language skills. Understanding the policy helps families prepare for the application. The policy provides guidance on submission requirements and timelines.

Step 2: Complete the Admission and Medical Form and return it to the Admissions Office with all required documents, including acknowledgement that the Admissions Policy has been read. Submission of the form and documents is required for processing; failure to do so will result in the application not being processed.

Step 3: Pay the application fee (non-refundable) to the Finance Office. The fee is non-refundable. The payment confirms the application submission for consideration. A receipt from the Finance Office should be kept for records.

Step 4: After review of the application, the child may be invited to attend a formal assessment, either in a group or individually. There is a non-refundable assessment fee payable. The assessment results are the property of the school and places are allocated at the discretion of the Principal. Assessments by year group include: Preschool and Reception are assessed by the Head of EYFS with a focus on communication and social skills; Year 1 and Year 2 are assessed by the KS1 Leader with an age-appropriate test; Year 3 to 6 are assessed using an online test and a writing task; Year 7 to 12 are assessed using the Digital Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT). Application fees may be paid by bank transfer. Online assessments may be coordinated with an overseas school if required. Overseas applicants should expect the same assessment process as domestic applicants.

Step 6: Sixth Form Applications – IB Diploma: Read the full brochure online. Applicants seeking entry into Year 12 for the IB Diploma must meet minimum entry requirements: 6 A*- C IGCSE grades including Maths and English (5+ for subjects graded 9-1); Bs or 5s in subjects chosen to study at Higher Level; A* or 8/9 required for Higher Level Maths. Copies of predicted grades or IGCSE results must be provided for review by the IB Coordinator before being offered a provisional place; applicants from other systems will be assessed by the IB Coordinator.

Step 7: International AS & A Levels: Read the full brochure online. Applicants seeking entry into Year 12 for the AS Programme must meet minimum entry requirements: 5 A*- C IGCSE grades including Maths and English (5+ for 9-1); Bs or 5s in subjects chosen to study at Higher Level preferred. Copies of predicted grades or IGCSE results must be provided for review by the Head of Secondary or Head of Sixth Form; applicants from other systems will be assessed.

Step 8: BTEC: Read the full brochure online. Applicants seeking entry into Year 12 for the BTEC Programme must meet minimum entry requirements: 5 A*- C IGCSE grades including Maths and English (5+ for 9-1); Bs or 5s in subjects chosen to study at Higher Level. Copies of predicted grades or IGCSE results must be provided for review by the Head of Secondary or Head of Sixth Form.
School Events
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