THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL GUILDFORD IN QATAR Help<strong>in</strong>g Children to Reach their Highest Potential 52 02 | December <strong>2018</strong> | T H E TM NOWLEDGEREVIEW Education. Innovation. Success
THE <strong>10</strong> BEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN QATAR <strong>2018</strong> T R “We want to be a community which is <strong>in</strong>ternationally recognised for the quality of learn<strong>in</strong>g, where our pupils can excel and develop <strong>in</strong>to car<strong>in</strong>g and confident <strong>in</strong>dividuals who are well prepared for the challenges ahead”. Located <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong>, <strong>The</strong> Royal Grammar School Guildford, <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong> (RGSGQ) is the first <strong>in</strong>ternational branch of the UK’s prestigious, 500-year-old Royal Grammar School Guildford (RGS), which has reta<strong>in</strong>ed a worldwide reputation for academic excellence. <strong>The</strong> School’s facilities are first class and their plans for the future are ambitious, which will see pupils aged 3 to 18 receive an RGS education <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong>. <strong>The</strong> School currently has pupils from over 30 countries and will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to expand its global endorsement. <strong>The</strong> School’s multi-cultural education aims to <strong>in</strong>still a lifelong love of learn<strong>in</strong>g and a determ<strong>in</strong>ation to excel for their multi-national community. Inception Story In 2015, the now owner and Chairman of the RGS Guildford <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong>, Mr Hamad Al Qamra, first approached the Governors of the RGS, UK with his aim to establish a school <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong> that would offer the highest standard of education, for which the RGS is renowned. Follow<strong>in</strong>g months of negotiations, it was agreed that the RGS would open a brand new school, offer<strong>in</strong>g a first-class education to boys and girls, <strong>in</strong> Doha, <strong>in</strong> September 2016. At the core of the RGS’ mission and values are tradition, <strong>in</strong>novation and diversity, whilst creat<strong>in</strong>g a place where all pupils can learn with<strong>in</strong> a happy environment. Mr Hamad Al Qamra provided the location and fund<strong>in</strong>g for a brand new school build<strong>in</strong>g to be constructed on the site of a previous school <strong>in</strong> Umm Salal Mohammed. Many challeng<strong>in</strong>g months of construction works took place, alongside the recruitment of a highly-qualified and experienced team of staff led by the current Head of School, Mr. Alistair Downs. A specific market<strong>in</strong>g plan was created to promote the School’s reputation to parents <strong>in</strong> <strong>Qatar</strong>. Phase 1 of the RGSGQ for boys and girls Early Years and Alistair Downs Head of School THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g a well-established School from the UK to <strong>Qatar</strong> required hir<strong>in</strong>g a high-calibre <strong>in</strong>dividual with a strong sense of commitment, significant experience and specific knowledge of sett<strong>in</strong>g up an educational establishment from <strong>in</strong>ception. Mr. Alistair Downs, the Head of School at RGSGQ has a proven track-record of such an assignment. From the onset, Mr Downs has set a precedent whereby the needs and safety of the pupils are, above all else, the utmost priority. Whilst the Head of School has high expectations from all the pupils attend<strong>in</strong>g RGS, his message to staff and parents is that every child must feel safe, respected and happy <strong>in</strong> order to fully realise his/her potential. <strong>The</strong> Head of School’s achievements are clearly visible, hav<strong>in</strong>g created a nurtur<strong>in</strong>g environment where the whole school community, pupils, parents and staff all benefit from the support of each other's efforts. <strong>The</strong> Head of School’s cont<strong>in</strong>uous collaboration with the UK Govern<strong>in</strong>g body and the Chairman, to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> the ethos and values of the RGS, has achieved a successful transition of a top-class educational establishment <strong>in</strong> the UK, to adapt<strong>in</strong>g and fulfill<strong>in</strong>g the requirements of a newly opened school with<strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>ternational market: and without compromis<strong>in</strong>g the traditional RGS academic standards of excellence. T H E TM NOWLEDGEREVIEW Education. Innovation. Success | December <strong>2018</strong> | 53 02