Doha English Speaking School

DESS delivers an education to children through the British curriculum, a world renowned education system which will allow your child to continue their education into the British education system or internationally whether that will be secondary education or through a seamless transition back to the UK. With virtually all of the teachers being British trained and facilities and grounds of the highest quality, they have a basis for learning which reminds the students and parents of a traditional British school, whilst still having a strong, multi cultural and international feel.

Started as an English Speaking Primary School catering for British children in 1971, the junior school was opened in February 1979 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, the present Emir’s father. DESS has enjoyed visits from other members of the British Royal Family, including Diana, Princess of Wales.

They achieve academic results which are considerably above those demonstrated in the UK national average statistics and their sporting achievements are outstanding. The wide range of extra curricular provision also helps your children to become well rounded individuals with moral, creative, personal and social development. Students at the end of Year 6 leave DESS well prepared for UK independent schools, grammar schools and local schools they then go on to attend.

DESS has state of the art facilities on a campus which is surrounded by green trees and land where students can learn and play. The classrooms have full network access each with an interactive television, an exceptional library with over seventeen thousand books, two fully equipped gymnasia, a covered swimming pool, a grass pitch and hard courts. Also on offer for children to enjoy is a theatre (as part of the multi-purpose hall), dedicated music and computing suites, an art/design technology room and a cookery room.

One of the most recent additions to the outside areas of campus is a garden which is constructed from recycled material, uses sustainable energy and has a weather station collecting live data and a water fountain– an area where children can relax or learn about the environment and sustainability.


DESS is sponsored by two prestigious oil companies in the region, ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum, Qatar. DESS have strong ties with the local community and have a special relationship with the British Embassy who they are sponsored by. Many of their UK qualified teachers have been teaching at DESS for many years and they have strong ties with their Alumni community who hold dear their memories of attending DESS keeping in close contact with us, something which is remarkable for a primary school