MIDDLE EAST


ADVICE ON SELECTING A SCHOOL When it comes to making an international-school choice, Amin Makarem, managing director of the ISL Group, suggests parents consider a number of factors, including checking out the student population and the proportions of the different student nationalities, finding out which countries teachers are recruited from, researching the external examination results of the school (or standardised tests, if they are applicable), and reviewing school accreditations. He adds, “Very


government requirements, children having


Many of these schools will be accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), which demands that a member school “has achieved high standards of professional performance in international education and has a commitment to continuous improvement judged by peer review and self-study”. COBIS and BSME have a similar accreditation process, but require member schools to have undergone an inspection by a UK Department for Education-recognised body. Accreditation is just one of the means by which a family


importantly, check out the local such as


identifications before they can be enrolled, and admissions deadlines, which are often also dictated to the schools.” Christopher Charleson, head of school at ISL Qatar,


believes that parents should look carefully at a school’s website and see what activities and events students are involved in by reading school newsletters and requesting a yearbook. “If there is information about university destinations, that is also a good measure of the quality of a school,” he adds.


BEYOND QATAR AND THE UAE According to the ISC, in addition to Qatar and the


UAE, Saudi Arabia offers extensive options in the Middle East, with 245 international schools. There are also good choices in Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman.


can judge the suitability of a school; many other factors will impact their decision.


“Think calmly when it comes to school choice,” advises


Andrew Wigford, former international school headteacher and now director of Teachers International Consultancy, which specialises in international school recruitment. “In a region like the Middle East, where there are so


many choices but also so much demand and often a race for school places, it’s very easy for parents to panic and not think about the specific needs of the child.


“Make a shortlist of the ideal school for your child. Think about the curriculum, learning orientation, ethos of the school, extracurricular activities that really matter to your child, and support services they may need, and use this as your guide. “Decide which elements you are prepared to compromise or adapt around, and those that are your priorities. Then you’ll always be keeping the needs of your own child as the focus.”


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