New British curriculum school to open in September

The announcement of the new GEMS management contract comes just days after GEMS concluded an agreement to manage the Cambridge Girls School in Doha, a new school due to open in September 2004.

Responding to the growing demand for quality international education in the country, The Sheffield School will teach The National Curriculum for England, to students form Kindergarten to Year 7 initially and eventually up to Year 12 in subsequent years. At capacity, the school is expected to accommodate 1400 students collectively in the Primary and Secondary sections.

Set in a quiet side street of Al Qusais, the purpose built Sheffield School features well-appointed architecture in the colonial style. Soaring columns flank double storey paned glass windows, enhancing the bright and spacious feel of the school's interior. Facilities aimed at enhancing children's overall educational experience include a 25 meter swimming pool, a number of covered courtyards and separate Kindergarten activity areas, both indoor and outdoor.

In addition, the new school will provide students with a variety of recreational areas. ICT labs, Music and Dance room, art suite, science labs and a spacious library further complement the school, currently in the final stages of construction.

"We are responding to the need for more high quality international schools," said Abuali Shroff, Managing Partner of The Sheffield School. "Especially for the families that live in the Mirdiff and Garhoud area where there is not enough provision of schools that offer the National Curriculum for England," he added. "We appointed GEMS to manage The Sheffield School because GEMS has a successful track record in quality assurance programmes, and are industry leaders for successfully operating schools in the region and in the United Kingdom," he commented further.

The Sheffield School will offer families of all nationalities another option in a market where school places are becoming increasingly difficult to secure.

"The school has been built to high standards and will provide an excellent environment for high quality teaching and learning," stated Hugh MacPherson, Chief Operating Officer of GEMS. "We are currently recruiting experienced and qualified teachers for the school who will also participate in GEMS teacher training and professional development programmes," he commented later.

The school will place special emphasis on providing a nurturing learning environment for students and will incorporate the same core values, World Citizenship, Universal Values, Leadership Qualities and Forward Thinking that is part of the educational programme in all GEMS managed schools in the region and in the United Kingdom.