CONTENTS
HEADTEACHER’S WELCOME
INTRODUCING OUR TEAM
KEY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND PUPILS
Academic Assessment
Attendance & Absence Reporting
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD Years 3-6 only)
Communication
Drop off & Collection
Canteen
Ramadan
In School Programme
Key Policies
Medical forms
School Fees
Term Dates
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The School Day
Transport
Uniform
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR CHILD’S FIRST DAY
LOCATION
HEADTEACHER’S WELCOME
Dear Parents,
May I offer you a very warm welcome to Sherborne Qatar Preparatory School Bani Hajer, part of the Sherborne Qatar family of schools; one which believes in preparing well-educated, well- rounded children, who achieve their potential in happy and nurturing schools.
The start of the new school year can be a daunting prospect for even the most confident of children, especially if they are joining a new school and potentially in a new country. We completely understand and that is why our priority will be to make sure your child is happy and settles as quickly as possible into their new surroundings.
We have a wonderful network of staff, led initially by your child’s Form Teacher, who will support your child and their whole family with the journey through the rest of the year and beyond. It is this relationship that will help your child to grow, develop and achieve, encouraging them to challenge themselves in a whole range of areas, secure in the knowledge that they are being supported and cared for every step of the way.
Sherborne Prep Bani Hajer is the only stand-alone Prep school within the Sherborne family, and we have an exciting year ahead. These Prep years are where childhood is embraced and nurtured, where exploration and curiosity underpin the curriculum, and where children begin to make sense of the world around them from within our supportive school family.
If there is anything you need or questions you have, please do get in touch - we are here to help you and your child from this moment on as they embark on The Sherborne Way.
With my very best wishes,
Heidi Berry Headteacher
INTRODUCING OUR TEAM
With our outstanding pastoral care, built on our moral values of: Respect, Kindness, Honesty, Teamwork, Responsibility & Perseverance we know that for our children to thrive and find their brilliance they need to feel secure and happy in their environment, which is why all we do is based upon their needs as individuals. With a whole-school approach to well-being, underpinned by our wonderful House system, we pride ourselves on feeling part of ‘a family, within a family’.
Led by Mrs Heidi Berry as Headteacher, with Mrs Eva Taggart and Mrs Zara Dada leading the PrePrep (Pre School to Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 6) respectively, and supported by Mrs Sarah Bennett and our wonderful Heads of Year, we ensure that children throughout our school are cared for.
As part of our all-round approach to education, children are encouraged to share and discuss their thoughts and feelings, whether in class through our carefully crafted Well-being & PSHE (Personal, Social, Health & Economic) programme, or in smaller groups with our School Counsellor or Learning Support department.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Heidi Berry Headteacher hberry@sherborneqatar.org
Eva Taggart Deputy Head/Head of Pre-Prep etaggart@sherborneqatar.org
Leadership Team
Zara Dada Deputy Head/Head of KS2 zdada@sherborneqatar.org
Sarah Bennett Deputy Head Operations sbennett@sherborneqatar.org
Heidi Berry Headteacher hberry@sherborneqatar.org
Eva Taggart Deputy Head/Head of Pre-Prep etaggart@sherborneqatar.org
Zara Dada Deputy Head/Head of KS2 zdada@sherborneqatar.org
Sarah Bennett Deputy Head Operations sbennett@sherborneqatar.org
Jannath Rahman
Larissa Hughes School Counsellor rjannath@sherborneqatar.org Head of Learning Support lhughes@sherborneqatar.org
Lindsey Wilkin Runa Ali
Nicole Chambers Head of Pre-School lwilkin@sherborneqatar.org Head of Reception ruali@sherborneqatar.org
Head of Year 1 nchambers@sherborneqatar.org
Sally Nixon
Head of Year 2 snixon@sherborneqatar.org
Head of Year 3 jdeane@sherborneqatar.org
Zahra Mohammed
Head of Year 5/6 zmohammed@sherborneqatar.org
Kathryn Mills
Head of Year 4 kmills@sherborneqatar.org
Specialists
Cecilia Jin Head of Music cjin@sherborneqatar.org
Larissa Hughes Head of Inclusion lhughes@sherborneqatar.org
Suzan Saada Head of Arabic ssaada@sherborneqatar.org
Simon McDonough Head of PE smcdonough@sherborneqatar.org
Cesar Rozmus Head of Modern Foreign Languages crozmus@sherborneqatar.org
Senior
ACADEMIC
With the foundations of our Learning Dispositions: Communication, Creativity, Risk-taking, Independence, Resilience and Curiosity we have developed a curriculum, The Sherborne WAY, that is Wholeness, Aspirational and personalised - all about You (our pupils). The Sherborne WAY curriculum has the National Curriculum for England (2014) as its underlying structure but tailors all parts of the learning to the Sherborne Qatar pupils to ensure our content is enriching and purposeful – with our moral values and learning dispositions at its core.
Throughout the school, Read Write Inc. and the White Rose Maths schemes of work are followed. The Talk for Writing structure is also used and these all ensure we do not lose the British nature of our education. The British nature of the school is also very evident in the themes and topics which are taught.
ASSESSMENT
We believe in a formative approach to assessment, starting in Pre-School with regular observations, carried out in partnership with home and school. This involves children identifying their ‘next steps,’ which are communicated regularly through written reports and online / in person parent meetings across the year.
End of term or ‘unit’ assessments are carried out in our core subjects (as well as in Arabic, Islamic and Qatar History), but these help to provide evidence and are not the ‘defining grade.’ Through our outstanding teaching, we know your children, and therefore professional judgements, communicated clearly and regularly with you is what we believe is best.
Placing importance, as we do, on our moral values and learning dispositions, we also regularly ‘assess’ how pupils in the later years of school (Years 4, 5 & 6) are performing in relation to these, alongside the curriculum skills and objectives that they are investigating through our thematic approach. This helps to provide evidence for children in relation to the well-rounded education on which we pride ourselves. We aim to help children grow into role models, rich in character.
ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE REPORTING
Please note that our target attendance is 90% and this matches the Ministry of Education’s requirements for pupils attending Qatari Independent schools. Attendance is something which Form Teachers and the Senior Leadership Team monitor closely. Allowing for periodic illness and any authorised absence, Form Teachers will send a warning letter to the parents of any pupil whose attendance is significantly below the target figure. This letter will state the current attendance % and say that the school is looking for a significant improvement. We would hope that this will be sufficient but, for those pupils whose attendance does not improve, there will be further periodic letters, which will escalate in seriousness and which will also be logged with the Ministry of Education & Higher Education.
Parents are reminded that whenever a child is absent an email should be sent to the Form Teacher with an explanation so that the correct entry can be made in the Register. Please note that all applications for leave of absence should be made, in writing and in advance, to the Deputy Heads, Mrs Taggart (Pre Prep: Pre School – Year 2) at etaggart@sherborneqatar.org or Mrs Dada (Key Stage 2: Years 3-6) at zdada@sherborneqatar.org .
Applications are judged on a case-by-case basis and parents will be notified of the decision. Making an application does not guarantee that any absence will be an authorised absence and leave will normally only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE
As new technologies continue to change the world in which we live, they also provide many new and positive educational benefits for learning.
Sherborne Qatar Prep School Bani Hajer is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) School for Years 3 to 6 inclusive. We encourage pupils in Years 3 to 6 to use laptops with a Windows operating system. This is for them to participate effectively in classroom learning and develop their skills in presenting media, safely exploring the digital world and computer science.
It is essential that these laptops have the following specifications;
• Windows operating system 10 or above
• Touch screen
• Window ink
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Stylus
• Webcam
Why not an iPad or Apple Mac?
For the purpose of learning, we are encouraging the use of laptops because although Apple devices provide learning facilities, we have noticed that they do not support the use of Microsoft software as easily as laptops with a windows operating system. Additionally, the use of iPads has affected our curriculum provision because not all software we use in the classroom is available for both iOS and Windows.
To suit the specification we recommend that the most suitable option is a Microsoft Surface Pro. Surface Pro 8 or 9.
Some other suitable suggestions for devices are:
• Microsoft Surface Go 2: Introducing the Surface Go 3
• Microsoft surface Go 2 LTE Advanced
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 4: New Surface Laptop 4
• Microsoft Surface Pro 8
• Microsoft Surface Pro X
Local Suppliers: There are a number of ways to purchase these Micorsoft devices. We suggest:
• Jarir Bookstore - Qatar Shopping Guide (jarir.com)
• Virgin Megastore - MICROSOFT Online Store | MICROSOFT 2021 Products| Virgin Megastore Qatar
Additionally, Amazon can deliver to Qatar relatively quickly but with a delivery charge.
Now that you are part of the Sherborne family it is vital that we have open lines of communication between us, yourselves and your child/ren. Form Teachers will remain your key points of contacts throughout your time with the school.
We greatly value face-to-face meetings and there are numerous formal and informal opportunities for this to happen. As a parent you will be given access to the Parent Portal where you can find all the key policies, and this is where your child’s school reports are published.
The school uses the Class Dojo Application to share messages and information with parents through ‘Class / School Story.’ The school also uses email to share important letters or key details when necessary. As well as our social media platforms, we also have Parent Notices which are shared weekly, providing brief overviews from the week just gone, important reminders of what’s coming up, as well as other useful pieces of information.
Finally, all parents have access to the Parent Portal which is part of our management information system. This portal allows for all policies, documents, reports, grades to be accessible at any point while a pupil is registered at the school. All parents will receive an activation email when their child joins the school and this will include guidance on how to access reports. If you do not receive the email kindly contact our Data Officer Sameer Aziz on saziz@sherborneqatar.org.
We consider ourselves to be an open and friendly school, so if you have anything on your mind, please pick up the phone, send an email or come into school, we are always here to help
DROP OFF & COLLECTION
For the safety of the whole community we ask you to please take a note of the information listed below, so that at the busy times of the day, we are all working together.
6 EYFS
Gate 5 Year 1 and 2
Gate 4 Year Groups 2,3 and 4
Gate 1 Year 3-6 (in mornings, Y5-6 children can be dropped off at gate 1 but no parking is permitted). Gate
Gate 6 EYFS
Gate 5 Year 1
Gate 4 Year Groups 2,3
Gate 3 Year Groups 4, 5, and 6
All visitors should enter through Gate 1 and report to reception.
For families of children across all key stages, parents and children should enter through the gate of the youngest child
There is plenty of parking close to the and we politely request that you find a space and walk a short distance to school rather than parking immediately outside the gate or in the central reservation. Doing this improves the safety of children and road users.
Please respect the instructions of teaching staff on duty and our security team.
CANTEEN
Our provider offers a wide variety of healthy snacks, drinks and meals from our spacious Cafeteria before, during and after school. The canteen is currently available as an alternative to packed lunch for pupils in Years 2 to 6 only.We operate a cashless system with pupils using cards to purchase food and drink. Credit can be added to the cards by parents online, and by pupils before and after school.
Your child will receive a card from the tutor at the beginning of the year, or new or replacement cards can be purchased from the cafeteria staff directly.
In terms of packed lunches, please note in line with our health-promoting school ethos, sweets, chocolate and fizzy / energy drinks are not allowed.
Pupils can bring a healthy balanced packed lunch or lunch can be pre-ordered and will then be provided through our canteen provider.
Finally, due to the allergies of others, seeds and nuts are forbidden in school. Thank you for your understanding.
RAMADAN
Ramadan is the Holy Month in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims fast (also known as sawm) from sunrise to sunset for approximately 30 days (sometimes 29 days) and is one of the five pillars of Islam. The dates change annually as they’re determined by the sighting of a new moon – for many Muslims, from Saudi Arabia. The start and end of Ramadan will be declared the day before. Look out for announcements from school and Instagram pages such as ILoveQatar.net regarding the start of Ramadan.
Muslims will not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. It is also about practising generosity, goodwill and self-control. Generally, fasting is not recommended to people who suffer from medical conditions or women who are pregnant. Non-Muslims, menstruating women and young children are also exempt from fasting during Ramadan. Drinking and eating in public is considered very offensive and can even attract a fine or a reprimand from the police in Qatar, even if you are exempt from fasting. Everyone is expected to be respectful by not eating or drinking in public places or to use designated screened off areas within public places.
Here are a few things to be mindful of in Ramadan:
Restaurants are closed during the day and most shops according to industries have different opening times. It is important to double check times before heading out to avoid disappointment. Also try and get government, ministry or any official work done before Ramadan, as things slow down during this period.
With a large proportion of the community fasting, it is also important to consider refraining from wearing anything revealing or tight, avoid public display of affection or swearing and refrain from playing loud music. Although these are emphasised throughout the year in Qatar, the importance is heightened during Ramadan. Finally, be careful when driving during Iftar time (sunset) as this becomes rush hour. Please note, during the month of Ramadan, the school day is shorter. Timings are approved by the Ministry of Education, and these are usually confirmed a few days before the start of the Holy Month. In recent years, Ramadan hours for the Prep School have been 8:30am –12.45pm but are always subject to approval.
IN SCHOOL PROGRAMME FOR INSPIRATION
RECREATION AND ENRICHMENT
Complementing our exciting curriculum, our INSPIRE programme comes in many forms and at many different times throughout the school day – seeking to provide our pupils with further challenge, inspiration and motivation. With over 40 activities provided each week by school staff and specialist outside providers. Every Shirburnian has the opportunity to broaden their experiences and further develop their skills, whether on-campus or through a range of locations around Doha, with more specialist facilities.
KEY POLICIES
SCHOOL FEES
All parents will be asked to read and sign the Fees Policy when they register their child. The Fees Policy can be found on our website. Sherborne Qatar Schools have 3 terms per year. Invoices will be emailed to parents by no later than one month prior to the payment due date. The Finance Office is open Sunday to Thursday from 7.00am to 3.00pm. Holiday opening hours may differ. For any queries relating to the payment of fees and the Qatari education voucher scheme, kindly email Mrs Amilasan on aamilasan@sherborneqatar.org.
TERM DATES
TERM DATES 202 4-2025
TERM DATES 2024-2025 Autumn Term 2024 Sunday 1st September
Autumn Term 2024
At Sherborne Qatar we have a comprehensive range of policies that cover all facets of school life. Many of these are readily available on our website or on the parent portal. Other useful information, including up-to-date inspection reports can be found on the website too.
Parents will be asked to complete and submit an online Home School Agreement and relevant ICT Child & Parent User Agreement before their children start school. Our Admissions Department will send you the link separately.
MEDICAL FORMS
The health and well-being of our pupils is so important. To ensure we are giving your child the appropriate care and advice, it is essential that our medical records are up to date. As such, all new parents are asked to complete and submit an online medical form before their children start school. It is your responsibility as parents to keep us informed of any changes to the medical needs of your child or medication. Failure to keep us informed may result in your child not being able to enter school.
If you have any queries relating to the medical care provided at our schools, kindly email our Lead Nurse Mrs Baron at rbaron@ sherborneqatar.org.
Sunday 1st September Term starts for all pupils at 10:00
TERM DATES 2024-2025
starts for all pupils at 10:00 Sunday 27th to Thursday 31st October
Sunday 27th to Thursday 31st October Half Term
Autumn Term 2024
Term Tuesday 17th December
ends at normal time for pupils
Tuesday 17th December Term ends at normal time for pupils
Sunday 1st September
Spring Term 2025
starts for all pupils at 10:00
Monday 6th January
Monday 6th January
Spring Term 2025
starts for all pupils at 10:00
Sunday 27th to Thursday 31st October Half Term
Tuesday 17th December
Term starts for all pupils at 10:00
ends at normal time for pupils
Tuesday 11th February National Sports Day
Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th February Half Term
Tuesday 11th February National Sports Day
Spring Term 2025
Monday 6th January Term starts for all pupils at 10:00
Thursday 27th March Term ends at normal time for pupils
Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th February
Half Term
Tuesday 11th February National Sports Day
Thursday 27th March
Sunday 13th April
Summer Term 2025
Wednesday 12th & Thursday 13th February Half Term
Sunday 20th April
Sunday 13th April
Term ends at normal time for pupils
Summer Term 2025
starts for all pupils at 10:00
CLOSED
Thursday 27th March Term ends at normal time for pupils
*Thursday 5th to Thursday 12th June
Sunday 20th April
1st July
Summer Term 2025
Term starts for all pupils at 10:00
Sunday 13th April Term starts for all pupils at 10:00 Sunday 20th April
CLOSED *Thursday 5th to Thursday 12th June
CLOSED *Thursday 5th to Thursday 12th June
1st July
Pre-School and Reception pupils have a staggered start / shorter day initially. Parents will be notified of their child’s schedule.
1st July
Parents of pupils in the examination years (Years 11, 12 & 13) must note that some external examinations will be held on Fridays, during Ramadan & national holidays and may continue up to 1st July 2025. You should avoid committing to travel arrangements during these times.
Pre-School and Reception pupils have a staggered start / shorter day initially. Parents will be notified of their child’s schedule.
Pre-School and Reception pupils have a staggered start / shorter day initially. Parents will be notified of their child’s schedule.
Sherborne Qatar reserves the right to make amendments to dates as and when necessary and will endeavour to give as much notice as possible.
Parents of pupils in the examination years (Years 11, 12 & 13) must note that some external examinations will be held on Fridays, during Ramadan & national holidays and may continue up to 1st July 2025. You should avoid committing to travel arrangements during these times.
Parents of pupils in the examination years (Years 11, 12 & 13) must note that some external examinations will be held on Fridays, during Ramadan & national holidays and may continue up to 1st July 2025. You should avoid committing to travel arrangements during these times.
Sherborne Qatar reserves the right to make amendments to dates as and when necessary and will endeavour to give as much notice as possible.
Sherborne Qatar reserves the right to make amendments to dates as and when necessary and will endeavour to give as much notice as possible.
Mrs Rebecca Baron Lead Nurse
THE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
Dear Parents,
A warm welcome to Sherborne Qatar Schools! On behalf of the Sherborne Qatar Parent Teacher Association (PTA), I am delighted to introduce you to the PTA. We are a group of parents and teachers, whose priority is the well-being of our children and supporting the school community.
Throughout the year we have various fundraisers and events designed to provide funds to enrich our children’s educational experience, over and above what the school would be expected to provide from fees.
We are excited to build community across all of the schools within the Sherborne Qatar family. We are proud to bring those schools together and create connections across the schools and foster community amongst our parents and children.
In March 2023, we were thrilled to welcome over 2,000 people from the Sherborne Qatar community to the Spring Fair, hosted at the Senior School. It was the first time since 2019 we have been able to host such an event and it was a huge success. This is just one of the events we have planned for the year to come.
Your involvement and support are highly valued and greatly appreciated. If you would like to know more then please contact us on SherborneqatarPTA@gmail.com. Please keep an eye on regular notices from the PTA. Kind Regards
Lucy Fowlie Chair Sherborne Qatar PTA
THE SCHOOL DAY
Please note:
6.50am 7.00 - 7.30am 12.30 or 1.35pm (parents can choose either time)
6.50am 7.00 - 7.30am 1.45pm 2.45pm
• The times have been designed for curricular needs and to help with traffic flow
• Pupils must be in their classrooms in time for Registration
• Pupils who arrive late for Registration must ensure they register with their Form Teacher. This is to ensure that we have an accurate record of who is in school
UNIFORM
Sitting alongside our high expectations of attendance are our standards of school uniform. We are very proud of our school and the high expectations we set ourselves. A visible sign of these high standards is our school uniform. We believe wearing the Sherborne uniform:
• Promotes pride in ‘The Penny’,
• Engenders a sense of community and belonging towards the school and each other,
• Identifies the children with our school, with the Penny, which in turn, symbolises all the values and learning dispositions that we stand for. EYFS
GIRLS’ DAYWEAR
Pre School / Reception
YEAR 3 TO YEAR 6 GIRLS’ DAYWEAR
YEAR 1 TO YEAR 2 GIRLS’ DAYWEAR
Parents have a duty to send their children to school correctly dressed and ready for their daily schoolwork. One of the responsibilities of parents is to ensure that their child has the correct uniform, and that it is clean and in good repair. Thank you for your support.
All items on our uniform list are available to purchase from Noble House at www.noblehouse.qa and our unique school code is SG0805
Here is the uniform list and Noble House’s items can be viewed here.
Due to new ministry guidelines as we go to press, boys from Year 4 wearing shorts must ensure they are not above the knee and girls’ skirts must not be above knee and require non-transparent long tights. For PE kit, girls need to wear non-transparent tights or leggings beneath their shorts or can wear PE trousers.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR CHILD’S FIRST DAY?
On your child’s first day, we ask that you meet us in the Main Reception where our School Receptionist, the Headteacher and Deputy Head will be there to welcome you and take you up to class, so you can see the environment and briefly meet your child’s Form Teacher –helping to put your mind at ease! We will then talk with you about morning and afternoon routines and answer any questions you may have. At the end of the day, like every day, your child’s Form Teacher will be on hand to meet with you let you know how well the first day went. Finally, please ensure your child brings in plenty of water and a healthy packed lunch.
Pre School / Reception
