The Guide
Wed, 24 June 2026

Cities / Doha / Durham School for Girls Doha

Durham School for Girls Doha

All-girls British school in Al Messila, opened in September 2019 as Qatar's first British girls-only school and a sister site of Durham School in the UK.

Durham School for Girls Doha campus
Durham School for Girls Doha, Zone 36. Photograph · School

Curriculum
A-Levels
Fees, annual
QAR 46k–60k
Ages
3 to 18
Founded
2019

All-girls British school in Al Messila, opened in September 2019 as Qatar's first British girls-only school and a sister site of Durham School in the UK. English National Curriculum from Early Years to A Level, integrated with the Qatar MOE programme and Islamic studies.

Operated under the International Schools Partnership network, Durham School for Girls Doha leans on the 600-year heritage of its UK namesake while building its own identity around single-sex education for Qatari and Arab families. BSO, BSME and QNSA accredited. Early university destinations include Carnegie Mellon Qatar, VCUarts Qatar, St Andrews and Qatar University.

Reviews split. Strong feedback on the caring atmosphere, the spacious building and the proposition of a girls-only environment that respects local culture without dropping British academic rigour. Sharper feedback flags inconsistent teaching quality, late delivery of textbooks and exam materials, and weaker organisation in the admin layer. Best fit for families who want the single-sex setting and are comfortable with a young school still finding its operational rhythm.


Annual fees

Year level Age Fee
EYFS1-EYFS2 3 QAR 46,200
Year 1-Year 6 5 QAR 46,200
Year 7-Year 10 11 QAR 51,975
Year 11-Year 13 16 QAR 60,000

One-time fees

Item Age Fee
Seat Reservation QAR 2,000
Registration QAR 2,500

  • Conversation about Durham School for Girls is dominated by detailed teacher accounts, posted by current and former staff and corroborated by follow-up posts. Parents reading this signal should weight it for what it implies about leadership and stability rather than as direct parent feedback.
  • One ex-teacher said the principal sent emails reminding staff she could "make sure you won't be able to work in Doha again" if they broke contract. Another described the school running out of exercise books for the first term and high staff turnover. Multiple staff accounts describe a 6.45am start, last-minute meetings, and fired teachers after parental complaints.
  • A more recent post asks whether the picture has improved; no current staff or parents have responded to dispute the earlier accounts. A separate post from someone offered a non-teaching role thanked the original posters for steering them away.
  • The pupil-side signal from other reviewers is thinner and more positive, with a small pool averaging around and short comments from former pupils. Some parents praise the kind teachers and supportive girls-only environment.
  • Other parents flag inconsistent teaching quality, disorganised course material delivery, and concerns about discipline and toilet hygiene. The picture is polarised, with adult operational concerns sitting alongside positive pupil experiences.

Considerations

  • Staff turnover and leadership. Multiple detailed teacher posts describe contract disputes, intimidation, high turnover and poor planning under current leadership
  • Day-to-day organisation. Reports of late course materials, last-minute schedule changes and supply shortages affect classroom continuity
  • Pupil experience and pastoral care. Former pupils and some parents describe kind teachers and a supportive single-sex environment, even as adults flag operational issues
  • Discipline and facilities. Parents report inconsistent behaviour management and hygiene concerns alongside others who praise cleanliness and atmosphere

Leadership

Jo Hayward

Jo completed her university studies at Downing College, Cambridge with a MA in Geography. Following on from two years working in industry, she obtained her PGCE from the University of Leeds. Jo becomes Principal of Durham, following a short period as its Head of Secondary. She has over 12 years of experience in senior leadership positions involving both secondary and primary provision, including several years experience as a Head of school for pupils age 3-18 years old. Jo is also an experienced international inspector, and has inspected schools across the world including in the UK, Hong Kong and Cyprus.

Accreditations

  • British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
  • QATAR_MOEHE 02
  • British Schools in the Middle East accreditation 03

  • Outstanding achievement in Arabic at IGCSE & A-Level Recognition of students' success in Arabic Language Examinations.
  • Durham girls shine in International Kangaroo Math Competition Medals and certificates earned by students.

Ahmed Bin Majid St, Doha, Qatar

School website