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.
In brief
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.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| EYFS1-EYFS2 | 3 | Annual | QAR 46,200 |
| Year 1-Year 6 | 5 | Annual | QAR 46,200 |
| Year 7-Year 10 | 11 | Annual | QAR 51,975 |
| Year 11-Year 13 | 16 | Annual | QAR 60,000 |
| Seat Reservation | One-time | QAR 2,000 | |
| Registration | One-time | QAR 2,500 |
Reviews
- Online 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 posts describe a 6.45am start, last-minute meetings, and fired teachers after parental complaints.
- A more recent thread 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 on aggregator sites is thinner and more positive, with a small Edarabia pool averaging around and short comments from former pupils. Some parents praise the kind teachers and supportive girls-only environment.
- Other parent-facing reviews 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.
Head of school
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
Academic results
- 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.