Dukhan English School

1. General Information

​Dukhan English School (DES) is one of the oldest international schools in the Middle East tracing its origins back to the early 1950s.

DES provides education for the children of QatarEnergy employees who live in Dukhan.

Dukhan English School Vision

​OUR VISION is for our students to be high achieving, healthy and happy individuals, well prepared to take their place as global citizens and leaders of the future.

OUR MISSION is to achieve this by inspirational teaching that places high value on learning, enjoyment and the well-being of all our students.

Dukhan English School is a British International School operated by QatarEnergy. We promote unity, respect, cultural diversity and understanding; we aim for excellence in learning and we recognise and celebrate success.

All members of the Dukhan and school community are valued as partners who can contribute a significant role to our students’ learning. We strive to create a safe and happy, productive learning environment where everyone is equally welcome. We aim to inspire, challenge and cater for all needs so that our students can achieve of their best and fulfil their potential.

The school acknowledges that we are all life-long learners and therefore seeks to create opportunities for students to access new and changing information and technologies, enjoy learning and gain skills of personal responsibility, to become reflective, creative thinkers, leaders and team members and global citizens.

We currently have over 1200 students aged 3 to 18 years with over 100 teachers and support staff at the school, predominantly British trained.

There are five sections to the school:

EYFS, age 3-5 (PreNursery-Reception)

Key Stage 1, age 5-7 (Years 1-2)

Key Stage 2, age 7-11 (Years 3 - 6)

Key Stage 3, age 11-14 (Years 7- 9) Key Stage 4 age 14-16 (Years 10 -11)

Sixth Form, age 16-18 (Years 12 – Year 13)

The academic year mirrors the British system of three terms, beginning in September. Local religious and QP holidays are observed. The school week runs from Sunday to Thursday, the weekend being Friday and Saturday. For teachers the school day begins at 6.45am and finishes at approximately 2.30pm, unless staff have other commitments, CPD sessions and after-school clubs.

2. Students

We have over 50 nationalities in the school. Many of our students speak English as a second language and on the whole are hardworking, enthusiastic and caring towards each other.

3. Parents and Home/School Communication

We believe the relationship between school and the parents is vital. Parents are encouraged to be involved by attending open evenings, parents’ evenings, parent workshops, informal school activities, community events and formal events.

Home/School books are also used to record homework/reading records or day-to-day information.

4. School Buildings and Facilities

The school has operated on various sites in Dukhan since being founded in 1954.  Originally located on the Dukhan beach, it moved into the township proper and expanded at its’ current location rapidly as numbers grew.  The campus, although at the heart of the community and ample in size, needed renewal to be able to provide QatarEnergy's vision for quality education in its’ oldest and one of its’ most important townships.  Nine months later, the new Primary school opened in September 2018.  With Primary relocated, work began in earnest on the Secondary school sharing the site.

This Primary building houses the main classrooms and is designed for 1000 students (5-form entry).  There is a self-contained EYFS unit with ample space for preschool provision.  Each classroom is fully equipped with utilities and a smartboard to engage and enthuse learners.

The Secondary project has completely renewed both the teaching spaces and the shared sports facilities in a coherent masterplan to reunite our 3-18 school, a hallmark of the community we serve.  The bright and airy classrooms are grouped by Faculty alongside providing a base for each of our 4 houses.  The school also has 9 ICT suites, 3 PE Halls, a shaded pool complex with both a 16m training pool and a 25m competition pool.  There is an Assembly Hall fit for 1500 students which functions as an indoor break space and canteen for up to 800 secondary students, twinned with an 800 seat Auditorium.  With outdoor spaces we have a number of playing areas, 7 a-side Hockey MUGA and 2 grass fields.

The school is at the heart of the town and nearby facilities we regularly use are:  the Dukhan Cinema, badminton and squash courts at the JRC, a full size grass cricket pitch, slightly further afield is the Dukhan Water Sports club with sailing facilities.

5. Houses

The House system is designed to promote school spirit, cooperation, a healthy sense of competition and a feeling of pride in belonging. It provides an extra layer in the pastoral system. Students and their siblings are placed into one of four Houses on joining school.

HOUSE COLOUR

Umm Bab Wolves Green

Shahania Leopards Yellow

Zikreet Stingrays Blue

Khattiya Scorpions Red

Students are placed in Houses depending on any previous family association with a House, or in order to balance the membership in terms of gender and talents. Heads of House lead the members of staff and students allocated to each House.

6. Sports

Dukhan English School has been involved in the Qatar Private Primary and Secondary Schools Sports Association since its beginning in 1999. This currently involves twelve schools and participation in various sporting events including football, netball, basketball, swimming, athletics and cricket throughout the year, both in Dukhan and in Doha.

Our students love these events and are regularly commended for their politeness, attitude and good sportsmanship.

7. Drama Productions and Concerts

Several productions and performances are held throughout the year. Students perform to a variety of audiences including classmates, year groups, Key Stages and the whole school, as well as parents, friends and families in the Dukhan community.

8. Trips and Visits

The curriculum at DES is supported by a wide range of stimulating educational experiences. During the course of the year there are many opportunities for the children to be involved in excursions to a variety of places within the local area. These trips are generally linked to class work.

9. Extra-Curricular Activities

After-school activities provide enriching opportunities to learn something new, extend particular skills beyond the levels gained through the normal school curriculum, and to make new friends with similar interests.

Activities are held after school each day. All students will have an opportunity to spend some time engaged in a club, society or activity designed to broaden their experience and improve their knowledge.

Students have opportunities to participate in activities that may be closely related to the subjects they study during the day, for example, a sporting club such as tennis, badminton or netball. There are creative clubs such as art, drama or cross stitch. They might enjoy chess, public speaking or computer club, or a totally new experience such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award scheme. All staff are expected to contribute to the programme.

10. Summary

DES is a vibrant and growing school which welcomes all students from the QatarEnergy Dukhan Community. Along with the support of QatarEnergy, parents and the wider community it truly is committed to “Unity in Diversity, Trust and Partnership, Learning for Life”.