Bromleyboy

Before we made the decision to come to doha as a family I spent ages trawling websites and forums trying to research the place... Trying to figure out things like visas, work/ family life balance, accommodation, cost of living... all the usual stuff you do.... including schools.

What I found was that everything online pretty much said I would find it impossible to get school places for my 5 and 4 y/o and on the back of this info we kind of wrote doha off for a while and nearly didn't come out. Anyway, the reason for writing this post is an attempt to balance some of the info available out there... Hopefully, families back in the uk that are considering a move to doha will see this post and it'll spur them on to take the plunge....

I arrived in doha end march 2013 and Within 6 weeks of arriving I had been offered places at 2 different schools... Doha college and park house- we're chuffed.

I'm not saying my situation is typical of how things go... There is definitely a problem with a lack of school places here but the point I'm making is that, if you work at it, then it's very possible to get places and families shouldn't be put off by coming because it.

The biggest tip I can give is to get the applications in ASAP... For the ones that allow you to apply online, do it from the uk before you come. Once you are here, visit the registra every couple of weeks but also make sure you call them once a week. Yes, you'll be a bit of nusence but keep the calls brief and polite and they don't mind.... You need them to remember who your kids are so that they know youre serious.

The big thing that made a difference to me I think was my employer... They knew that I had my work cut out getting places and were also aware that, if I didn't get places, then I would have to back to the uk. What they did was actively tell me to stop working and instead spend some time on schools, by this I mean they got me a driver once a fornight to drive to the 8 schools I had applied to so I could speak to them in person. You need the support of your employer, you shouldn't be expected to chase schools in you lunch break or take annual leave to do it... Clear all this with them before you come as its key!

I could write a load of info here (already waffling) but the post will end up a mile long, so Ill leave it there for now, but anyone reading this post who needs to know more then just ask away.... I've had a crash course in all things doha schools and I'm happy help...

Johnnyboy11

The kids education was the deciding factor in me electing to work in Doha whilst the wife and kids remained in the UK. We reckoned that the cash was better spent puting the kids through private school in the UK, and that's just what we are doing. We were unconvinced that the standard of education in Doha would be up to scratch, and don't get me started about the public schools in Scotland and the 'Curriculum for Excellence' socialist experiment.

We spend a surprising amount of time together as a family. They visit me in Doha during the school hols and I visit them during my work hols. Then there's Skype to catch-up in the evenings. Looking forward, we'll be together for a month in July, two weeks at Eid Al Fitr, two weeks at Eid Al Adha, two weeks in October and three weeks at Christmas. Been that way for three years now.