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The Gulf English School

Qatar, Doha

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees QAR 29,130 - 56,050
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1600
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Typical class size 26
Introduction

The Gulf English School is a co‑educational international private school on Al Gharrafa Street in Ar‑Rayyan (Doha), serving children from age three through to 18. Its published curriculum framework applies the National Curriculum for England (EYFS to Key Stage 3) with the International Primary Curriculum in primary, and offers GCSE/iGCSE and BTEC pathways at Key Stage 4 and AS and A‑Level and an International Baccalaureate Diploma option at Key Stage 5; school documents and IB reporting also refer to the wider IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). Instruction is in English; all students follow Arabic, Islamic and Qatar History programmes as required by the Ministry of Education and modern foreign languages (for example Spanish) are offered. The campus description lists extensive specialist facilities including multiple science laboratories, five networked ICT suites (around 350 computers), three libraries, music and art suites, climate‑controlled swimming pools, a large sports hall, FIFA‑approved astroturf pitch, padel court, sixth‑form study areas, performance spaces and on‑site clinics. The sixth‑form offer explicitly cites three post‑16 pathways: IB Diploma, AS and BTEC.

2440 Al Gharrafa St, Al-Rayyan, Qatar

The Essentials

The Gulf English School has 1,600 pupils, typical class sizes of 26, instruction in English.

Location
The Gulf English School is located on Al Gharrafa Street in the Ar-Rayyan district of Doha, Qatar (Al Gharrafa St, Ar-Rayyan 2440). The campus is accessible by road and serves families in Doha. A bus service operates in Doha for student transport.

Stages
The Gulf English School serves students aged 3 to 18, from early years through secondary education. The curriculum follows the National Curriculum for England (2014) from EYFS through KS3, with GCSE/iGCSE and BTEC pathways at KS4 and AS/A-Level qualifications at KS5.

Type
The Gulf English School is an international private day school and is co-educational, teaching a British curriculum to boys and girls aged 3–18.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The school hosts a diverse student body with hundreds of nationalities represented. The International Schools Database lists about 1,650 students across 45 nationalities, with the most represented nationality being Qatari and a local-to-international ratio of roughly 70% Qatari to 30% international. In 2022, 95 graduates from 11 nationalities completed the year, and in 2025, 108 graduates reflected the school's diverse intake.

Additional learning support
The school provides Learning Support to maximise learner potential, including in-class support, personalized learning programs, curriculum modification, alternative assessment frameworks, and individual education plans (IEPs); support is coordinated with parents as partners.

Country affiliation
The Gulf English School is licensed by the Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOE) in Qatar.

Religious affiliation
There is no formal religious affiliation; the curriculum includes Arabic, Islamic, and Qatar History content as required by the MOE.

School day structure
The normal school day runs Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a start time of 7:15 for Pre-School and for Reception/KS1, and 7:30 for KS2/Secondary. End times vary by year group (e.g., Pre-School 12:45, Reception/KS1 13:30, KS2 13:50, KS4/KS5 around 13:45 on regular days). On Tuesdays the day is shorter to accommodate staff development (e.g., Pre-School 12:30, KS4/KS5 12:50).

Bus service
GES provides a bus service in Doha. Upon admission you complete a bus form to apply. Buses run on the second day of school, and on the first day it is the parents' responsibility to bring their child to school. Bus safety rules and punctuality are emphasized.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
From Pre-school to Year 11, pupils are expected to be smartly dressed at all times, wearing their school uniform or P.E. kit as appropriate. The uniform is available on sale at Uniform Mart, Al Maszhabiliya St, Near Al Meera Izghawa and Garrafa Sports Club Doha; Tel: +97444115925, +97444691459; from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

Food Options
There is an on-site cafeteria. The Primary School building includes a cafeteria, and Cafeteria is listed among the school's facilities.

Governance and Ownership
The Gulf English School is governed by a Board of Trustees that sets broad school policy, maintains long-term financial stability and hires and evaluates the Leadership Team. The Board consists of five appointed members in addition to the Leadership Team and meets three times a year. Ownership details are not disclosed on the site.
Fees

Annual tuition at The Gulf English School ranges from QAR 29,130 to QAR 56,050 for 2026/27.

Entrance / Application Fees

- Entrance test (application) fee: QAR 550. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable and is payable before each entrance test.

Registration and Re‑registration

- Registration fee (one-time, for each child): QAR 4,000. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Re-registration (re-enrolment) fee (to secure a place for the next academic year): QAR 4,000, payable at re-enrolment.

Tuition fees by year group — amounts shown per term and total per year (academic year 2025/2026)

- Pre‑School: First term QAR 11,180; Second term QAR 8,350; Third term QAR 8,350; Fees per year QAR 27,880; Book levy QAR 1,250.
- Reception: First term QAR 11,180; Second term QAR 8,350; Third term QAR 8,350; Fees per year QAR 27,880; Book levy QAR 1,250.
- Year 1–6: First term QAR 13,120; Second term QAR 9,900; Third term QAR 9,900; Fees per year QAR 32,920; Book levy QAR 1,500.
- Year 7–8: First term QAR 17,230; Second term QAR 12,850; Third term QAR 12,850; Fees per year QAR 42,930; Book levy QAR 2,500.
- Year 9: First term QAR 17,810; Second term QAR 13,250; Third term QAR 13,250; Fees per year QAR 44,310; Book levy QAR 2,750.
- Year 10 (IGCSE): First term QAR 19,180; Second term QAR 14,200; Third term QAR 14,200; Fees per year QAR 47,580; Book levy QAR 2,750.
- Year 11 (IGCSE): First term QAR 19,180; Second term QAR 14,200; Third term QAR 14,200; Fees per year QAR 47,580; Book levy QAR 3,000.
- Year 12 (IB 1 & AS): First term QAR 20,850; Second term QAR 15,600; Third term QAR 15,600; Fees per year QAR 52,050; Book levy QAR 4,000.
- Year 13 (IB 2): First term QAR 20,850; Second term QAR 15,600; Third term QAR 15,600; Fees per year QAR 52,050; Book levy QAR 4,000.

Examination and assessment fees (additional to tuition)

- Year 11 (IGCSE): QAR 650 per subject.
- Year 12 (AS‑Level): QAR 800 per subject.
- Year 13 (IB): IB Certificate fee QAR 4,500 per year; IB Diploma fee QAR 6,000 per year.

Bus / Transport fees

- 1‑way bus: First term QAR 1,600; Second term QAR 1,200; Third term QAR 1,200.
- 2‑way bus: First term QAR 2,800; Second term QAR 2,100; Third term QAR 2,100.
- Bus service is provided on fixed routes and is subject to seat availability and location.

Boarding

- No boarding fees are listed. The school operates as a day school with an organised bus service; there is no boarding provision shown in the published fee schedule.

Other potential or occasional charges

- Book levy / Stationery / Laboratory fees are charged as shown above per year group (labelled as Book Levy / Stationery / Lab. Fees).
- Additional support services (ASL, ESL, SEN) are provided where required and are chargeable at an additional fee.
- Uniform is not included in tuition; the school's uniform is available from the named supplier (Uniform Mart) and parents purchase uniforms from that supplier. Individual uniform prices are set by the supplier.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Term due dates for the 2025/2026 academic year: First term due 1 September 2025; Second term due 1 December 2025; Third term due 1 March 2026.
- Billing frequency: tuition is billed on a yearly basis for company‑sponsored students and on a quarterly/term basis for individual payers.
- Full‑term tuition fees are charged regardless of the date of admission within a term. To reserve a place for a full term while the student is absent, half of that term's fees will be charged.
- If payments are not made within six weeks of the due date, students will not receive their progress reports, per school policy.

Refunds and cancellations

- Registration, re‑registration and entrance test fees are non-refundable. No refund of tuition is given if a student withdraws from the school mid-term.

Accepted payment methods and how payments are processed

- Credit and debit card transactions are supported and processed via third‑party payment processors; the school does not itself store card data.
- Other common payment channels used in practice include bank transfer, cheque, cash and point‑of‑sale (POS) systems; specific payment options and instructions are provided by the school's accounts office when completing enrolment or re‑enrolment. Evidence of cash/cheque/bank transfer/POS being used appears in published school fee information and local school listings.

Notes for parents

- Examination fees, book levies and any additional support charges (ASL/ESL/SEN) are charged on top of the tuition figures quoted above and should be budgeted for separately.

(Amounts and policies above apply to the 2025/2026 fee schedule as published for the current academic year.)
Academics

The Gulf English School teaches British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The Gulf English School Qatar delivers a British-style curriculum framework taught in English, combining the National Curriculum for England (2014) from EYFS through KS3 with the International Primary Curriculum for Primary foundation subjects. KS4 offers GCSE, iGCSE, and BTEC pathways; KS5 provides AS and A-Level qualifications. All students study Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Qatar History in line with Qatar MOE requirements. The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), is an approved Edexcel examination centre, is a member of British Schools in the Middle East, and is licensed by the Qatar Ministry of Education. In practice, EYFS through KS3 follow the English National Curriculum, KS4/KS5 provide progression routes, with IPC in Primary and MOE-mandated subjects across all year groups.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Gulf English School Kuwait supports social and emotional learning through a safe, caring, and happy community and a strong emphasis on the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural aspects of education, with a culture of mutual respect and open communication with families.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides extra care for vulnerable students including those with SEND or mental health needs, and maintains a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy DSLs with annual safeguarding training for all staff; there is no indication of a dedicated SEN department or specialist SEN facility.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The Gulf English School Kuwait does not publicly disclose information regarding English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through pastoral care and safeguarding practices, with explicit attention to vulnerable students including those with SEND or mental health needs.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding follows UK guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2025); there is a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deputy leads, annual safeguarding training for all staff, and a secure RecordMy system for recording concerns.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1993, Gulf English School (Qatar) began as an international co-educational school offering a UK-aligned program. It developed into one of Qatar's most respected international schools, expanding its curriculum and student body over time. In 2005 the school joined the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) and gained IB accreditation for its Diploma Programme. In 2012 Gulf English School achieved Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation, signaling adherence to international standards. CIS reaccreditation was earned in 2019, confirming ongoing commitment to international best practices.

Community
GES maintains a strong, inclusive community that celebrates diversity and encourages collaboration. The school runs a broad extracurricular programme in sports, the arts, leadership, and community service, including participation in national and international events and sustainability initiatives. The alumni network reflects the school's global orientation, with graduates progressing to universities worldwide.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTA is active for the 2024-2025 school year and works in collaboration with teachers and staff to support students. In the past, PTA activities have included International Week, Book Week, Qatar National Day celebrations, silent auctions, book clubs, and the GES careers' fair. This year the PTA plans to create purposeful activities across Infants, Juniors, and Secondary and to collaborate with teachers on annual school events. Parent volunteers help organize events, contribute to communications, and support student development. Membership and participation are encouraged to ensure the PTA makes a meaningful impact on the school community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Gulf English School occupies a large campus designed to support the National Curriculum. The facilities include three fully furnished ICT suites and interactive panels in all classrooms, plus three music rooms and a drama studio. The campus provides sports facilities with indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a gymnasium, and an indoor 25-meter heated swimming pool. Practical learning is supported by breakout areas, a large hall for productions and assemblies, and a spacious playground with climbing equipment. On-site amenities include a canteen, a mosque, and a clinic to support daily student needs.

Sports Facilities
Indoor and outdoor basketball courts and a gymnasium provide spaces for team and recreational sports. The campus also features an indoor 25-meter heated swimming pool for swimming and aquatic activities.

Academic Facilities
Interactive panels are installed in all classrooms, and there are three ICT suites to support technology-enabled learning. Fully equipped classrooms are designed to deliver all aspects of the National Curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extra-curricular activities are described as a diverse range of clubs and activities, including PE, music, arts and crafts, and more, offering opportunities beyond the regular curriculum.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Gulf English School Doha follows the National Curriculum for England (2014) from EYFS through KS3, the International Primary Curriculum in Primary, GCSE/iGCSE and BTEC pathways in KS4, and AS/A‑Levels in KS5. Arabic, Islamic Studies, and the Qatar History Curriculum are provided in line with the Qatar Ministry of Education. Enrichment is delivered through programs such as Model United Nations (MUN), the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and a Student Council that develops debate, diplomacy, and leadership skills. The Gifted and Talented program offers enriched opportunities beyond the classroom, including short-term projects, enrichment groups, clubs and trips, and participation in internal, regional and international competitions; university preparation and career guidance also support post‑secondary planning.

Arts & Creative
The campus provides arts and performance spaces, including a Music Suite and Art and Media Suites, plus a multi‑purpose stage for productions. The facilities support music, visual arts and drama, including spaces for rehearsals and school productions. Students can engage in arts and creative pursuits through the Extra-Curricular program and school productions.

Cultural & Language
Arabic, Islamic Studies, and the Qatar History Curriculum are provided as part of the MOE framework. Model United Nations exposes students to international issues and diplomacy, with weekly meetings and participation in national/international conferences such as THIMUN. International and Local Trips broaden intercultural understanding, with destinations including the UK, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Spain and other locations.

Social & Hobbies
The Extra-Curricular program includes sports, arts, music, and other creative pursuits, with offerings evolving each term. The Student Council fosters leadership and runs community outreach events such as charity fundraisers, wellbeing days, awareness campaigns, food drives and environmental projects. Social clubs and hobby groups provide additional opportunities for informal student engagement beyond the classroom.

Community & Service
Service learning is a core component of the school ethos, linking classroom learning with community service. Students undertake hands-on projects that address local and global issues, developing teamwork, problem‑solving, empathy and leadership. Projects include environmental initiatives and social outreach in collaboration with local organizations.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership is developed through the elected Student Council, which represents each year group and helps shape school policies and events. The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is an official licensed Independent Award Centre at GES, offering Bronze, Silver and Gold levels for students aged 14 and above, focusing on teamwork, resilience and personal development. University preparation and career guidance provide tailored support to help students navigate higher education and career options.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus provides extensive sporting facilities including a 25‑meter indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium and all‑weather pitches for outdoor activities. A large multipurpose hall supports PE and school productions, while dedicated arts facilities support wellbeing through performance and creativity. Pastoral care and wellbeing services are available and integrated with the PHSE curriculum to support student health and resilience.
Languages

Language Provision
The school follows the National Curriculum for England (2014) from EYFS through KS3. The International Primary Curriculum is used to teach foundation subjects in Primary. KS4 offers GCSE, iGCSE, and BTEC pathways. KS5 includes AS and A-Level qualifications. All students follow an Arabic, Islamic, and Qatar History Curriculum as set by the Qatar Ministry of Education.
Admissions

Admissions
1. The Gulf English School offers the National Curriculum of England and Wales, taught in English, for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. The school accepts students of all nationalities who meet age and language requirements, and space is needed. The language of instruction is English, and the campus is located at Al Gharrafa St, Ar-Rayyan, Doha, Qatar. 2. The first step toward enrollment is completing the online application and uploading all relevant documents, including previous school records and a reference form from the previous school before entrance testing. If shortlisted, you will be notified of the entrance exam date; admissions testing occurs throughout the year as places are available or during Spring (March/April). The entrance test includes reading, mathematics, and a writing sample. 3. Admission decisions can be full acceptance, conditional acceptance, or denial, and parents will be notified of the decision. If a year group closes, a waiting pool is established and parents/students will be notified if an opening becomes available; the school does not accept applications or testing if places are unavailable. 4. Documentation and evaluation: Applicants must provide the previous two years of school reports and any additional information to assist the evaluation. All records must be submitted in English; translated copies with official stamps are acceptable, and records from local government schools may be in Arabic. The Gulf English School can refer to the Student Support Team for assessment of special needs, and parental disclosure of any learning or behavioural needs is required. Priority for pre-school is given to siblings already at GES. Attendance, progress, and behaviour are considered for progression to the next year; the school welcomes campus tours. For progression from year to year, students must meet specified expectations in core subjects, attendance, and behaviour as outlined by the school.

Waitlist
Waiting lists are online and managed as a pool when a year group closes. A waiting pool is established if places become unavailable mid-year, and parents and students are notified if an opening becomes available. Submitting an online application or initiating an entrance assessment does not guarantee placement.
School Events
The school has not added events
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