Cities / Doha / Park House English School
Park House English School
Founded in 1994 and now part of International Schools Partnership (ISP), Park House follows the British curriculum from Nursery through Sixth Form across a single Abu Hamour campus. BSO-inspected in 2024 and accredited by CIS, COBIS, BSME, and QNSA, with…
In brief
One of the oldest British schools in Qatar, founded in 1994 by the Brennan family and now operated by International Schools Partnership. Around 1,000 students from Foundation Stage through Year 13 on a purpose-built campus in Abu Hamour.
BSO, COBIS, CIS and BSME accredited. The 2024 BSO inspection confirmed standards across teaching, premises and safeguarding. John Smith has been head since August 2017, which gives the school a settled leadership profile by Doha standards.
The longstanding family voice is positive. Parents who have been there for several years cite a strong sense of community, dedicated secondary teachers and genuine investment in students. Sharper criticism shows up around expectations that students self-teach parts of the syllabus and around building maintenance, which BSO did note as good but parents grade more critically. The Brennan family also operates Northview International School in Umm Qarn, so families who want the British route stay at Park House while families opting for the American track are now redirected.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery (age 3-4) | 3 | Annual | QAR 22,934 |
| Reception - Year 2 | 5 | Annual | QAR 31,651 |
| Year 3 - Year 6 | 7 | Annual | QAR 31,651 |
| Year 7 - Year 9 | 11 | Annual | QAR 37,684 |
| Year 10 - Year 11 | 14 | Annual | QAR 41,711 |
| Year 12 - Year 13 (Sixth Form) | 16 | Annual | QAR 52,423 |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | One-time | QAR 230 | |
| Assessment fee | One-time | QAR 576 | |
| Consumables (EY, per year) | One-time | QAR 576 | |
| Consumables (Primary, per year) | One-time | QAR 921 | |
| Consumables (Secondary, per year) | One-time | QAR 1,727 | |
| Advance deposit (refundable) | One-time | QAR 2,302 | |
| Registration fee (one-time) | One-time | QAR 3,453 |
Reviews
- Across multiple r/qatar threads from 2023 through 2025, Park House is consistently named on every shortlist of British schools families would consider in Doha, alongside Doha College, Doha British School and a small group of newer entrants.
- Posters routinely flag a long waiting list and an admissions process described as competitive, with one parent saying applications fill quickly each academic year.
- One commenter called the list of Qatari schools they would happily work at "pretty short" and put Park House on it, alongside Doha College, Compass, Oryx and Hamilton; teachers and parents on directory sites echo strong views about teaching quality.
- Negative threads focus on three areas: a perception that admissions are exclusive and fee-driven, gaps in performing arts provision, and traffic and parking around drop-off.
- Academic reputation is anchored by published outcomes (a 100% A Level pass rate cited for 2025) and a positive 2024 BSO inspection, with International Schools Partnership ownership since 2015.
Head of school
John Smith
John attended university in Liverpool before spending the first decade of his professional career working in Investment Banking with organisations including Charles Schwab, Barclays, and a joint venture between Merrill Lynch and HSBC. He later returned to the University of Birmingham, where he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and began his career in education as a Teacher of Geography at Hall Green Secondary School in Birmingham. During this time, he held a range of leadership roles while also completing a Master’s Degree in Education (MEd) at the University of Birmingham. In 2010, John relocated with his family to Qatar, joining a prominent British school where he served as Head of Secondary for just under four years. In 2015, he moved to Singapore to take up headship at Dover Court International School, a British curriculum school. He was awarded the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in January 2016 and the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) in January 2022. John joined Park House English School as Principal in August 2017. Alongside his school leadership role, he serves as the elected Honorary Treasurer of the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) Executive Committee and is a board member of the British Chamber of Commerce Qatar (BCCQ). He also acts as a Team Chair for the Council of International Schools (CIS), leading evaluation teams across Europe and the Middle East, and is a lead facilitator for the UK National Professional Qualifications programmes, including NPQLT, NPQSL, and NPQH. Outside of school, John is an avid reader and enjoys travelling with his family to experience different cultures and cuisines. He is also a keen follower of Rugby Union and football.
Accreditations
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 01
- Council of International Schools 02
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 03
- British Schools in the Middle East accreditation 04
Academic results
- A-Level pass rate 2025 100%
- IGCSE grades 9-7 (2025) 96% of students