Bellevue Education, which operates schools in the UK and Switzerland, will open its first school outside Europe next year as a joint venture with the State of Qatar.
The Swiss International School of Qatar, located in Al Luqta, Doha, was established in response to growing demand for school places in the city, according to Bellevue. The K-12 school will cater to both Qatari nationals and expatriates.
“The school will prepare students for an increasingly globalised world and provide them with invaluable intercultural awareness”
It was founded under the leadership of Qatar’s Attorney General, Ali Bin Fetais Al-Marri, who described the partnership as “an important milestone in the development of this great country”.
“Education is one of our key development goals,” he said. “This flagship school will ensure that families in Doha know that their children are receiving the very best education available.”
The majority of teaching will be in English, but as a Swiss school, some French language and elements of Swiss culture will be included in the curriculum.
A statement from the school adds: “The local language, history and culture of Qatar will be celebrated and valued within the school community.”
“Through delivering a multilingual international education, the school will prepare students for an increasingly globalised world and provide them with invaluable intercultural awareness and communication skills,” commented Bellevue’s chairman, Marwan Naja.
The Swiss International School of Qatar will accept its first intake of three to five year olds in January, before opening up to all ages up to 18 in September 2017.
The school is now taking registrations and has already seen “unprecedented” demand for places, according to Bellevue.
Demand for school places is driving rapid growth in international schools in the Middle East, contributing to 55.7% growth in Asia over the last five years, according to the latest ISC Research Global Report.
Bellevue Education currently operates ten preparatory schools in the UK as well as two senior schools in the UK and Switzerland.
