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Oryx International School

Qatar, Doha

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees QAR 34,000 - 47,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1520
Type Co-educational
Opened 2016
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Taught languages Arabic, English, French, Spanish
Typical class size 10
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Academic and Intellectual, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Oryx International School provides a distinctive British education exclusively for the children of Qatar Airways employees and its subsidiaries. Located in a modern campus in Mesaimeer, the school follows the English National Curriculum, from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to IGCSE and A-Level qualifications. The school is renowned for its Orbital Education management, ensuring high academic standards and a global perspective. The campus features exceptional facilities designed to support a broad curriculum, including a 450-seat auditorium for the performing arts, specialist science and eSTEM laboratories, and extensive sports grounds with a swimming pool. A key highlight is the school's commitment to language development, offering Arabic, French, and Spanish, alongside support for native languages. With a strong focus on community, the school offers the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, fostering leadership and resilience in students. Oryx International School creates a supportive, international environment where students are encouraged to excel both academically and personally.

Barwa City Street, Doha, Qatar

The Essentials

Oryx International School has 1,520 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
Mesaimeer Campus, Barwa City Street, Mesaimeer, Doha, Qatar. The campus is in the Mesaimeer/Barwa City area and is accessible via Barwa City roads, with the site designed to serve families working with Qatar Airways and its approved subsidiaries. The address is Mesaimeer Campus - Barwa City Street, Mesaimeer, Doha, Qatar.

Stages
Oryx International School serves boys and girls from age 3 through 18, with a structure that includes Primary and Secondary sections. The curriculum combines the English National Curriculum framework with UK IGCSE/GCSE offerings.

Type
Co-educational day school. It operates exclusively for the children of Qatar Airways employees and approved subsidiaries. There is no boarding facility offered for any year group.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body comprises more than 90 nationalities. The school describes itself as globally diverse, but the most common nationality and the local-to-international student ratio are not publicly published.

Additional learning support
The school provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and has received ALFRI accreditation for EAL provision. An Inclusion Team supports SEND and EAL needs, and the school holds a SENDIA Inclusion Award for inclusive education. There are ongoing parent-facing EAL initiatives, including parental language classes.

Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation is stated; the school offers a British curriculum and is part of Qatar Airways and Orbital Education.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is indicated.

School day structure
School days run Sunday to Thursday from 07:15 to 14:00, with morning gates opening at 06:50 and registration from 07:15–07:30. After the regular lessons, after-school activities run from about 14:05 to 15:00.

Bus service
New Image Building Services provides the school's dedicated bus service with routes across Doha. Parents arrange seats directly with New Image; the school notes that Qatar Airways Education allowances can be used to pay for bus costs. For 2025–26, there are designated transport contacts (transport coordinator, payment/contract contact, transport manager) and enrolment documents are available on the Parent Zone.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are supplied by Noble House Trading and a uniform brochure is available. All items should be clearly labelled, and the school operates a No Name - No Claim policy for lost items. House Kits with colours Blue (Saturn), Red (Mars), Yellow (Jupiter), Green (Venus) and Orange (Mercury) are allocated when a child starts and are used for house competitions; plain black leather shoes are required and trainers are not permitted.

Food Options
Newrest Gulf Catering provides meals for the school. EYFS to Year 2 may bring packed lunches or use the Classroom Delivery Service; Years 3 to 6 have access to an onsite canteen with hot and cold options, and Years 7 to 13 have onsite catering with rotating menus. The school maintains a Nut Free policy and uses a Canteen Card system for purchases.

House System
Pupils are allocated to one of five houses: Saturn (Blue), Mars (Red), Jupiter (Yellow), Venus (Green) and Mercury (Orange). House Kits with the house colours are used for House Competitions and Activity days, and a house is allocated to a child when they start at the school.

Governance and Ownership
Qatar Airways owns Oryx International School and Orbital Education manages the school. The school is described as owned by Qatar Airways and operated by Orbital Education, and is part of the Orbital Education group.
Fees

Annual tuition at Oryx International School ranges from QAR 34,000 to QAR 47,000 for 2026/27.

Application and Admissions Fees

- Application fee: QAR 450 (non-refundable) payable prior to any assessment.
- Registration fee: QAR 3,190 (non-refundable) payable once an Offer Letter is issued to secure the place; one-off payment.
- Annual seat reservation fee: QAR 2,000, charged each year to confirm re-enrolment and deducted from the first term's tuition invoice for the forthcoming academic year.

Tuition fees by year group (2025/26) — per term and annual total

- FS1: Autumn term QAR 13,600 · Spring term QAR 10,200 · Summer term QAR 10,200 · Annual total QAR 34,000.
- FS2: Autumn term QAR 13,600 · Spring term QAR 10,200 · Summer term QAR 10,200 · Annual total QAR 34,000.
- Year 1: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000.
- Year 2: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000.
- Year 3: Autumn term QAR 14,400 · Spring term QAR 10,800 · Summer term QAR 10,800 · Annual total QAR 36,000.
- Year 4: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 5: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 6: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 7: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 8: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 9: Autumn term QAR 15,600 · Spring term QAR 11,700 · Summer term QAR 11,700 · Annual total QAR 39,000.
- Year 10: Autumn term QAR 18,000 · Spring term QAR 13,500 · Summer term QAR 13,500 · Annual total QAR 45,000.
- Year 11: Autumn term QAR 18,400 · Spring term QAR 13,800 · Summer term QAR 13,800 · Annual total QAR 46,000.
- Year 12: Autumn term QAR 18,800 · Spring term QAR 14,100 · Summer term QAR 14,100 · Annual total QAR 47,000.
- Year 13: Autumn term QAR 18,800 · Spring term QAR 14,100 · Summer term QAR 14,100 · Annual total QAR 47,000.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition fees are invoiced termly. The Autumn term invoice for 2025/26 is due by 31 August 2025. The Spring term invoice is due by the first day of Term 2 and the Summer term invoice is due by the first day of Term 3.
- The school reserves the right to apply a 10% surcharge to late payments. No reduction in fees is made for temporary absence or illness, or for early withdrawal.
- When a student joins during the first half of a term the full term fee is payable; when joining in the second half of a term a 50% term fee is charged.
- The annual seat reservation fee (QAR 2,000) is deducted from the first term's tuition invoice. Registration and application fees are charged separately and are non-refundable.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable; fees published are for day pupils and there are no boarding fee schedules.

Other costs and items excluded from tuition

- Included in tuition: academic textbooks, student journals, exercise books and some stationery.
- Not included in tuition (examples of additional costs parents should expect): school uniforms, bus transportation, educational trips, extra special needs requirements, fees charged by external after-school activity providers, BYOD requirements for Secondary students, IGCSE and A‑Level examination fees, before- and after-school care, one-to-one learning support/shadow teacher costs, and canteen/lunch purchases.
- School uniform purchasing and bus service payments are handled separately and are chargeable in addition to tuition.

Refund and non-refund information

- The Application fee (QAR 450) and Registration fee (QAR 3,190) are non-refundable. No reduction in tuition is made for temporary absence, illness, or early withdrawal. The school may apply its published surcharge for late payment.

Fee payment options and bank details

- Accepted payment methods: bank transfer or cheque. Credit card facilities are not available. Cheques may be dropped at the school security gate for handover to the Finance Department; bank transfers must include the child's first and last name as the payment reference.
- Bank details for transfers: Account Name: Oryx International School · Account Number: 4580-585935-001 · IBAN: QA87 CBQA 0000 0000 4580 5859 3500 1 · Bank: Commercial Bank of Qatar · Swift Code: CBQAQAQA. Payment from outside Qatar should be made by bank transfer.
Academics

Oryx International School teaches British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Oryx International School follows a modified English National Curriculum for its international student body, with Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 3-5) and Primary (Key Stages 1 and 2) delivered through a topic-based approach that integrates literacy, numeracy, and creative subjects. In Secondary (Key Stage 3, ages 11-14), students follow a variant of the English National Curriculum, progressing to International GCSEs in Years 10-11 (ages 14-16) and then Sixth Form (Years 12-13, ages 16-18) offering A Levels or Level 3 Diploma/Subsidiary Diploma. Core IGCSE subjects include mathematics, English, and at least one science, with Arabic for Arab passport holders and Islamic Studies, plus complementary subjects such as Core PE, PSHE, and Qatar History. Language programmes include EAL support, Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) from KS1, Arabic First Language for eligible students, Arabic as a Second Language after school, and home-language GCSE/A-Level options (Italian, Portuguese, Urdu, Sinhala) depending on availability. Regular assessments with personalised targets and parent reporting support progress across all stages, and IGCSE/A-Level syllabuses are UK-based (JCQ) and regulated by Ofsted.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Oryx International School supports Social and Emotional Learning through a planned wellbeing program and events that promote emotional, physical, and mental health. Wellbeing Week engages pupils and staff in a range of activities designed to strengthen connections, resilience and self awareness, with World Mental Health Day alignment. The school has earned the Wellbeing Award for Schools from Optimus Education, which recognizes sustained emphasis on mental health and wellbeing for students and staff. The safeguarding framework underpins SEL, with staff training and a designated safeguarding lead to handle concerns confidentially and promptly. Staff undergo background checks and annual safeguarding training, and leaders and safeguarding staff are trained to standard levels to ensure a safe school environment.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Oryx International School has the SENDIA Inclusion Award, recognizing inclusive education for children with special needs and/or disabilities, and is the first school in Qatar to receive this award. The inclusion award demonstrates a formal commitment to supporting students with SEND within the mainstream school setting. Public information does not itemize the specific kinds of Special Educational Needs the school can support. The school indicates it pursues inclusive education principles and supports students with SEND within the regular school environment. The English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision is listed separately as part of the school's language programme, and is delivered by specialist staff; this reflects a broader approach to supporting multilingual learners.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
An English as an Additional Language programme is provided to develop non English speaking students and is delivered by specialist teachers. In addition to EAL, the school offers Modern Foreign Languages including Arabic, French and Spanish. The school is working toward accreditation by The Bell Foundation ALFRI for exceptional EAL provision. The school notes the student body includes many nationalities, and EAL support helps students access the curriculum. The school also offers parent EAL classes to support families in using English to engage with the curriculum.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing Week in October 2025 focused on emotional, physical, and mental health with themes such as connections and self care. The event involved students and staff across Primary and Secondary with activities designed to promote wellbeing and self awareness. Oryx International School holds the Wellbeing Award for Schools from Optimus Education, recognizing ongoing emphasis on mental health and wellbeing. Public information does not specify the staffing of mental health professionals, such as counsellors. The school emphasizes wellbeing initiatives as a core aspect of school life.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported through a formal program with staff background checks before engagement with students. All staff undergo annual safeguarding training and the school has a Designated Safeguarding Lead to manage referrals. Senior leaders and key staff are trained to Level 3 safeguarding standard. The safeguarding policies are based on UK statutory guidance and Qatar expectations. Concerns are raised and addressed through official channels, with confidentiality and appropriate escalation.
Parent Experience

History
Oryx International School opened in January 2016 as a Qatar Airways initiative, established in partnership with Orbital Education to provide a British-style education for the children of Qatar Airways staff. It joined the Orbital Education family in 2016 and moved to a purpose-built Mesaimeer campus in 2018. In 2021 the school launched the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award for its Sixth Form, and in 2023 it earned Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation and ALFRI accreditation. The school is owned by Qatar Airways and operated by Orbital Education. In January 2024 the school was awarded the IEnvA Stage 2 Compliance Certificate.

Community
The Oryx community brings together staff and families from over 90 nationalities, with more than 70 languages spoken, reflecting a diverse international environment. An active PSA coordinates volunteering opportunities and provides a two-way line of communication between staff and families. Within the PSA, Parent Class Representatives and Parent Contact Representatives support class-level involvement and help welcome new families. The community organizes events such as Pink Day, the School Fair, International Day, sports days, and school productions, with notable celebrations including the Oryx Fair and TEDx events. Parent involvement is supported through English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes for parents and wellbeing initiatives, including a monthly event calendar and parent workshops.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PSA is the school's Parent Staff Association, bringing together parents, teachers and staff to plan and facilitate school events. The PSA coordinates volunteering opportunities and provides a two-way link between families and school life. Within the PSA, Parent Class Representatives and Parent Contact Representatives support class-level involvement and help welcome new families. Parents can express interest in joining by completing an Expression of Interest Form and contacting psa@oryxschool.qa. PSA activities include coordinating events such as school productions, International Day, Pink Day and the School Fair. The school supports ongoing parent involvement through EAL classes for parents and a monthly event calendar and wellbeing-focused communications.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Campus in Mesaimeer opened in September 2018, providing a five-star environment for teaching and learning. It has state-of-the-art facilities for science, technology and robotics, including laboratories for physics, biology and chemistry as well as food technology and resistant materials. Classrooms are equipped with interactive smart screens, and students have access to Chromebooks, Apple Macs and other computers as needed. The Sixth Form has a dedicated area with break-out rooms, a lecture theatre, a large study area and a social space with its own kitchen facilities. Performing arts spaces include music, drama and dance classrooms, audio-visual and music recording studios with a school radio station, and the auditorium seats over 400 people.

Sports Facilities
The school has a six-court sports hall with a fully equipped training gym, and an indoor 25m swimming pool with a teaching splash pool. Outdoor facilities include basketball, netball and tennis courts, an athletics track and a full-sized 4G football pitch with FIFA standard floodlights.

Academic Facilities
The school has science laboratories for physics, biology and chemistry, plus labs for food technology and resistant materials. Classrooms are fitted with interactive smart screens, and students have access to Chromebooks, Apple Macs and other computers as needed. The Sixth Form is served by a designated area with break-out rooms, a lecture theatre, a large study area and a social space with its own kitchen facilities. There are well-equipped fine art and design classrooms, music and drama classrooms, and AV and music recording studios. The auditorium seats over 400 people.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Performing arts spaces include exclusive music, drama and dance classrooms, as well as audio-visual and music recording studios with a school radio station. Fine art and design classrooms are well equipped. The auditorium seats over 400 people and is used for school productions, music and drama recitals, assemblies and other events with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is part of the school's extra-curricular programme.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school follows a modified version of the English National Curriculum for England and Wales to suit its international student body in Doha. The curriculum is balanced, including academic work as well as music, drama and sports. A personalised target setting approach uses baseline assessments with regular monitoring and reporting to parents; the Secondary School (11-18) progresses from KS3 to IGCSE and A Levels with externally assessed examinations.

Arts & Creative
The curriculum includes time for music, drama and sports. A comprehensive programme of extra-curricular and after-school activities includes sports, arts, languages and expeditions. The facilities are designed to support growth across subjects including the creative arts.

Cultural & Language
Language programmes include Arabic 1 and Arabic 2, French and Spanish delivered by specialist staff, along with an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme. The Bell Foundation ALFRI accreditation is being pursued for exceptional EAL provision. Regular provision includes Spanish and French for all students; Arabic is mandatory for Arab nationals, and Arabic as a first language is available at GCSE; Home languages such as Italian, Portuguese, Urdu and Sinhala are provided at GCSE level where feasible; Arabic 2 is offered as an after-school activity.

Social & Hobbies
The school provides a comprehensive programme of extra-curricular and after-school activities including sports, arts, languages and expeditions. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at Oryx International School. Expeditions and other activities broaden student interests beyond the classroom.

Community & Service
The school is described as a school at the heart of the community. It is supported by the Parent Staff Association and has forums for parent involvement; EAL classes for parents are available to support families. The wellbeing and community environment is reinforced through student support and safeguarding practices.

Leadership & Professional
Sixth Form offers leadership opportunities and enrichment programmes, with a more flexible timetable, a personal tutor and dedicated study spaces. The Head of Sixth Form and University Counsellor guide students through future career and university decisions. There are three Sixth Form pathways: A Level, A Level Diploma or Subsidiary Diploma.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing and mental health are prioritized: the school promotes positive mental health and wellbeing for pupils, staff and parents and uses a whole-school approach to support resilience. A Wellness Committee organizes events, fitness challenges and other activities; the school counsellor is available to staff and students. Safeguarding and staff training are in place, and a child protection policy supports the school community.
Languages

Language Provision
Arabic 1, Arabic 2, French and Spanish are delivered by specialist staff, and an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme supports non-English-speaking students; the school is working towards ALFRI accreditation. Regular provision includes Spanish and French for all students, while Arabic (First Language) is compulsory from FS1 to Year 12 for students with Arabic passports. Home Languages are offered at GCSE level (and potentially A Level) including Italian and Portuguese, with Urdu (to be confirmed) and Sinhala; availability depends on staff. Arabic 2 is offered as an after-school activity once per week.
Reputation

Awards
None specified for students here.

Accreditations
COBIS Beacon School Status ( Primary ); The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program is part of school activities.
Admissions

Admissions
The school serves children aged 3 to 18 years, covering Foundation Stage 1 to Year 10 and Year 12 for Sixth Form. It is open to local and expatriate students. At least one parent or guardian must be a full-time employee of Qatar Airways or one of their approved subsidiaries. Admissions are currently open for the 2024/25 academic year for FS1 and FS2 applications. Applications are submitted via the online admissions portal after completing the Application Form, and a non-refundable 450 QAR application fee applies. January starters are accepted in most year groups with the exception of Years 10–13. Tours for prospective parents can be booked online. The admissions process consists of six steps: Step 1 Eligibility (must be a full-time Qatar Airways employee or approved subsidiary); Step 2 Submit an Enquiry & Visit Us; Step 3 Submit Your Application via the online Admissions Portal (the portal remains open for the duration of the admissions journey and editing after submission is not possible); Step 4 Assessment (FS1–Year 2 are assessed via Soft Assessments; Year 3–Year 13 complete a formal CAT4 assessment); Step 5 Offer & Acceptance (an Offer Letter and Admissions Enrolment Agreement are issued; a non-refundable Registration Fee of 3,190 QAR must be paid by the stated deadline, typically 7 days); Step 6 Welcome to Oryx International School (the Academic Administration Team provides further information after joining). Mandatory documentation includes attested report cards (Year 2 and above), MOEHE registration requirements, and health-related certificates. For arrivals, health certificates (Fit to Join) must be obtained from a local health centre, and new students must meet MOEHE health and paperwork requirements. Sixth Form admissions require prior English National Curriculum background and completion of I/GCSEs where applicable. The school is managed by Orbital Education and coordinated by the Admissions Team. Tours or enquiries can be made via the Admissions pages, Online Application, or Enquiry pathways.

Scholarships
Sixth Form students have received university offers and scholarship opportunities. A May 2025 news post highlights that Sixth Form students secured offers to top universities worldwide, including instances of unconditional offers and scholarship opportunities. Examples include a Kyushu University offer with a full scholarship (including monthly living allowance and return flights) and scholarships to Massey University and the University of Canterbury. The article notes a substantial number of offers to Russell Group universities and other leading institutions, illustrating that students benefit from university-level opportunities through the school's Careers & Guidance Counsellor and Sixth Form leadership.

Waitlist
The school does not publish information on any existing waitlist.
School Events
The school has not added events
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