Cities / Doha / International School of London Qatar
International School of London Qatar
Full IB continuum school in North Duhail, serving 1,190-plus students from 80-plus nationalities across Early Childhood through Grade 12. Home language programmes available in 13 languages, with top IB scores reaching 43 points against a global average of 30.
In brief
Full IB continuum school in North Duhail, opened in 2008 at the invitation of the Ministry of Education and part of the ISL Group with sister campuses in London and Surrey. Around 1,190 students from over 80 nationalities.
PYP, MYP and DP across the whole school, with a mother-tongue language programme that runs in 12 languages and is one of the more genuine versions of that promise in the region. CIS and NEASC accredited. 2024 results showed an average around 36 with a top score of 43 and 16 bilingual diplomas; 2025 sat at an 82 percent pass rate with 46 diplomas.
Diversity is the practical advantage here. No single-nationality block dominates the parent body, which is the draw families repeat. Teachers and the head of school attract warm parent voice on care and approachability. The flip side is that the IB-only path suits families who want it; families who would prefer the option of an American or British exit will find that route is somewhere else.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood - Grade 5 | 3 | QAR 54,436 |
| Grade 6 - Grade 8 | 11 | QAR 60,565 |
| Grade 9 - Grade 10 | 14 | QAR 67,929 |
| Grade 11 - Grade 12 | 16 | QAR 77,766 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation fee (per child) | QAR 530 | |
| Re-enrolment deposit | QAR 2,000 | |
| Registration (new students) | QAR 2,652 | |
| Home Language Programme (optional, per year) | QAR 7,426 |
Reviews
One of Doha's two full-continuum IB schools, sitting in the same conversation as Qatar Academy when families compare PYP-through-Diploma options. The mother-tongue programme, now spanning a dozen-plus languages with daily teaching from age four, is the feature parents talk about most, and it's the main reason families with non-English home languages land here. Diploma results are strong year on year, and university destinations track with that. The community reads as warm and unusually international, with staff drawn from around fifty countries and a student body spanning more than eighty nationalities. Negative notes exist but cluster around isolated incidents rather than recurring structural complaints.
Positives
- Full IB continuum. PYP, MYP and Diploma run end to end on one campus, with Diploma results that consistently sit well above the global average and a steady record of placements at selective universities.
- Mother-tongue languages. Home-language teaching five times a week from age four, currently covering Arabic, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Greek and Swedish among others. The standout reason multilingual families choose ISL Qatar over peers.
- International community. Students from over eighty nationalities and staff from around fifty countries. Parents describe a friendly, diverse community with active involvement in school life and curriculum events.
- Pastoral and teaching staff. Teachers come up repeatedly as caring and invested, with the IB programme described as transformative by families further along the journey. Admissions and finance teams also draw praise for professionalism.
Considerations
- Bullying and student experience. Most accounts describe a kind peer culture and quick staff response when issues come up. A small number of accounts go the other way and describe sustained negative experiences. The pattern reads as isolated rather than systemic, but the contrast is sharp enough to mention.
- Fees. Annual tuition runs from around QAR 54,000 in early years to roughly QAR 78,000 in Grades 11 and 12, plus a QAR 2,652 registration fee per new student. Sits in the upper tier of Doha pricing alongside the other established IB schools.
Leadership
Dr. Sean Areias
Dr. Sean Areias is passionate about learning and leadership and has been an educator for nearly three decades, with the last twenty-two years spent in international schools across Mexico, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. Originally from California, USA, he began his education career as a primary school teacher assistant while studying at the university level. He holds a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of San Diego, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (with an emphasis in Bilingual Education) from the same institution, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University. Outside of school, Sean dedicates most of his time to his family. He is accompanied by his wife, Imelda, an Early Childhood teacher, and their three children. Together, they enjoy outdoor activities, sports, and traveling.
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01
Academic results
- Top IB score 43 points (global average 30)