How diverse is the student body?
Compass International School Doha has students enrolled from all over the world. Currently there are over 50 countries represented at the school with an exciting mix of linguistic and cultural backgrounds to give our students a truly international mix.

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Do you accept children who do not speak English or do not speak English fluently?
Yes. During the evaluation process, CISD assesses each prospective student's ability to access the curriculum, including language ability. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available through the school. The school does not generally accept students into examination courses (Year 9 and above) if their English is very limited.

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Is there a dress code or uniform requirement?
Yes. Compass International School Doha has a school uniform for all students. School uniforms eliminate distractions from the classroom so the focus can be on learning. Full details may be found in the parent handbooks. School uniform is only available through our online supplier.

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ENROLMENT

What is the deadline for admissions?
In order to accommodate such an international student body that frequently has students that are relocating throughout the year, Compass International School has an open admissions policy and accepts applications throughout the academic year as long as space is available. The majority of students begin at the beginning of the academic year, but CISD is able to admit children as and when a space is available throughout the year.

For more information about the upcoming dates and deadlines, visit the Admissions webpage.

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How do you handle admissions of students from varying educational backgrounds?
All students are assessed prior to entry. If a child is found to have gaps in his or her learning, the student's programme is tailored to give extra support. Occasionally a student will be required to obtain additional external support if there are gaps that the school cannot accommodate. Because all lessons are differentiated by ability, CISD is able to easily accommodate varieties in ability and knowledge. The school's curriculum encourages exploration of student background as a starting point for many lessons so diversity is definitely an advantage.

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Do you admit children with special educational needs?
Compass International School Doha is an inclusive school and decisions about the admission of children with special educational needs are taken by the Head of School in the light of this policy. Such decisions are based on the extent to which the school is able to meet the student’s needs. Individual assessments are required for these students and often the school will request a recent Educational Psychologist’s report to ensure that the school can cater for the student. Some students are admitted on the condition that they receive full time support from a Learning Support Assistant.

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TRANSFERRING TO AND FROM CISD

Will a student be on par with other students if they are transferring to or from another international school?
All students are assessed prior to entry. If it is found that a student has gaps in his or her learning, there is a programme in place to give extra support.

The award winning International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is used in over 1000 schools worldwide and gives students an excellent preparation in terms of knowledge, skills and understanding. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is internationally recognised by school and colleges as preparation for advanced study leading to university entrance and is acceptable for admission to International Baccalaureate Diploma Programmes (IBDP) or similar courses.

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EXPECTATIONS FOR PARENTS

What level of involvement is expected from CISD parents?
Compass International School Doha prides itself on creating a close links between home and school. There are open lines of communication between the school office, teachers and parents. The school website provides access to school news, forms, class contacts and student report cards. Parents are asked to continue to stay updated through the website as well as through email communications from the school's staff. There are also opportunities throughout the year for Parent and Teacher Conferences.

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Does the school require or expect parents to assist in fundraising?
Compass International School Doha does not do any active fundraising except for charity work and does not expect parents to participate in any fundraising activities. Operating expenses for the school come from tuition fees.

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Is there a parent council or advisory group at CISD?
There are two active parent groups at the school. The Class Parents, a group made up of one or two parent volunteers from each class, support the non-academic activities of the classroom, helping to organise class parties, recruit volunteers for field trips, etc. There is also a School Consultative Group (SCG), a group elected by the parent body consisting of parents and community members and staff. The SCG works to support the school in developing effective partnerships with parents, teachers, staff, and the local and international community.

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CURRICULUM

What is CISD's curriculum (Early Years & Primary)?
The International Primary Curriculum is one of the first whole-school curricula to be based on recent evidence about the brain and the impact this evidence is having on classroom learning. CISD’s curriculum has been specially designed to enable teachers to plan effective and exciting learning experiences for students.

Student’s learning is planned, dynamic and, just as important, fun. The school assesses and evaluates individual student’s learning too. Assessment materials that provide international comparisons of the child’s development and feedback are used to help students improve their learning.

At the very heart of the IPC is clarity about what children should learn. There are learning goals, or standards, for all of the subjects of the curriculum, including personal development. Uniquely, there are learning goals for the development of children's international understanding. The learning goals for each subject – language arts, mathematics, science, history, geography, art, music, society, physical education, second language, information technology and technology – have been especially designed to help teachers plan effectively and to provide children and parents with clear guidelines about the progress students are making.

Children whose first language is English will learn French from Year 1. Dutch children will take Dutch lessons at this time. All children also learn Arabic and about Arabic culture.

Visit the Classroom Experience section of this website for more information about the school's curriculum.

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What is CISD’s curriculum (Secondary)?
CISD’s secondary school, situated at the Madinat Khalifa Campus, offers programmes for students aged 11 to 14 (Year 7 to Year 10). The secondary school programme is built on the foundations provided by the National Curriculum of England. The learning programme includes English, mathematics, science, history, geography, modern foreign languages (Dutch and French), Arabic, Islamic Studies (Muslem students only) information and communications technology, art and design, music, citizenship and physical education. Learning is differentiated to ensure that it is appropriate to the individual needs of students.

In subsequent years, the school plans to add Years 11 to 13. Students follow a secondary programme leading towards the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) from Cambridge International Examinations and EDEXCEL in Year 11 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Years 12 and 13 for university entrance.

Visit the Classroom Experience section of this website for more information about the school's curriculum.

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What type of extra-curricular activities (clubs, athletics, etc.) does CISD offer?
Students from Early Years 2 and up are able to participate in extracurricular activities each day. All after-school clubs and athletics are offered by the school's staff and include a wide variety of activities which change each term. View the current clubs and activities offered.

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