Frequently Asked Questions
Key Stage 1
What is Key Stage 1 (KS1)?
Key Stage 1 is the first two years of the National Curriculum after EYFS and consists of Year 1 and Year 2.
What are the timings for the school day?
Gates open at 7.00 am and the school day starts at 7.15 am. This is when external classroom doors open and pupils can be handedover to an adult in the classroom. Doors will remain open until 7.30 am. At this point, our classroom doors close, and any pupils arriving after 7.30 am must sign in at the Front Office. The school day finishes at 1.55 pm, and pupils are collected from their classrooms. Pupils attending Co-Curricular activities (CCA’s) must be collected at 3.05 pm, from the CCA location.
What are the attendance and punctuality expectations?
Pupils should be present and ready by 7:25 am in classrooms ready to start lessons at 7.30 am. Aim for 100% attendance and punctuality.
Who can drop off and pick up my child?
The safeguarding of all pupils is our highest priority at Doha College. For this reason, KS1 pupils can only be dropped off and picked up by an adult. This may be a nanny or driver. Please communicate with your child’s class teacher who will be picking up and dropping off your child each day, particularly if there is a change to these arrangements on any given day. We are unable to hand a child over to an unknown adult, without prior consent given by the parent. This can be done via a message on Class Dojo.
Siblings who are in the 6th Form may drop off and pick up pupils in Year 1 and 2.
What
does my child need
to bring to school?
Your child will need to bring their belongings in one small/medium sized rucksack each day. We ask that your child does not bring a bag on wheels as these do not fit inside our lockers. Inside their bag, they will need:
• A full water bottle
• Their food for the day, kept inside a secure bento or snack box
• A DC branded hat
• Library / Reading folder (provided by school)
When do the pupils eat and do you provide food in school?
Pupils in KS1 have two breaks per day. These last approximately 30 minutes each. We do not provide any food in school; all food must be sent in from home. We are a ‘no nut’ school due to pupils who have severe allergies so we ask that no nuts or nut products (such as Nutella) are included in lunchboxes. We also ask for a healthy range of foods to be included within your child’s snacks as well as water bottle. Chocolate and sweets are not permitted and treats and cakes cannot unfortunately be shared with the class for birthdays.
If your child is attending a CCA after school, please ensure that you pack an additional snack to keep them full through the afternoon.
What does a typical day look like in KS1?
Morning Routine
7:15–7:30: Morning welcome, register, and settling activities.
7:30–9:15 (P1&2): Lessons such as Maths, Arabic, Phonics, or Islamic Studies. 9:20–9:50: Morning Break.
Mid-Morning Lessons
9:50–11:40 (P3&4): Core learning time
11:40–12:10: Lunch and playtime – an important opportunity to eat, socialise, and relax.
Afternoon Sessions
12:10–1:55 (P5&6): Focused learning continues Home Time
1:55pm: Dismissal – pupils leave with lots of new learning and stories to share.
What
subjects are taught in KS1?
The KS1 curriculum includes core subjects of Phonics, Maths, English, Science and Topic Work. Specialist lessons are offered for PE, Swimming, Music, French and Arabic.
Languages are tailored for native and non-native Arabic speakers. Muslim pupils will be offered Islamic studies while non-Muslim pupils will participate in PSHE and Global Citizenship lessons.
Do the pupils have swimming lessons in KS1?
Swimming lessons as part of our PE curriculum in KS1 and pupils will be grouped by ability. Each class will have 1 swimming lesson per week.
What are Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs)?
ELO’s are homework opportunities and will always link to consolidating information that has been covered in class. Homework is set each week through Class Dojo and includes short daily tasks in Maths, English, and Science. All pupils are expected to read daily, and this can be recorded by parents in their reading journal.
What are CCA’s (Co-curricular activities)?
Co-curricular activities take place after the school day and run from 2.05 pm3.05pm. We offer a variety of CCAs for KS1 pupils to ensure that we are balancing the demands of a busy school day and the opportunity to partake in additional activities. Further information about days, times and how to sign up will be sent to all parents at the beginning of the school year from our CCA team.
For our CCA guide CLICK HERE
How often will I receive updates about my child’s progress?
You will receive regular updates regarding your child’s progress and their next steps in learning. Formal grade reports are issued each term through our parent portal. Alongside this, we also hold two Parents’ Evenings within the academic year, where you will meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and next steps. You will also be provided with an academic report at the end of the year. We also have regular ‘Show and Share’ events across the year, which will allow you to visit your child in their classroom to share their work.
How do I communicate with my child’s class teacher?
We use an application called Class Dojo to communicate with parents on a daily and weekly basis. This can be downloaded onto your personal device, and instructions regarding login details will be provided at the beginning of the academic year. Teachers will post regular photos and updates related to the activities that have been taking place in the classroom, as well as notifications about upcoming events. Class Dojo also allows you to send a direct message to your child’s class teacher if you need to get in touch with them for any reason. Please note for any urgent messages, Please call the Front Office on +974-44076777, as Class Dojo messages may not be seen during the teaching day.
Do you offer a bus service?
A bus service is available, and there are several routes in place to pick up and drop off DC pupils across Doha. Pupils from FS1 onwards can avail of the school bus service. The bus service offers a service at the end of the school day and an additional service at the end of the CCA programs.
As a not-for-profit British International School, Doha College develops confidence, creativity and intellectual curiosity in a safe, caring and inclusive environment for our students to make a lasting contribution to global society
For pup ils, not for
To enable personal grow th, instil a passion for learning and create aspirational minds.
Excellence for all, excellence from all.