Staff Reporter

THE Cambridge International School for Girls (CISG), described as the first of its kind in Qatar, is set to open in three weeks, a spokesperson told Gulf Times yesterday.

The new school is a joint venture of the Taleb Group and Global Education Management Systems (GEMS), a member of the UAE-based Varkey Group.

The CISG will be the first exclusive girls’ school, from Year 5 onwards, in the private sector.

"We envisage to provide international quality education for girls within the ambit of Qatar’s tradition, culture and values," Taleb Group’s commercial adviser Jayashankar Pillai said.

The purpose-designed school building, located in a 22,000sq m plot in the Al Hilal Area, is receiving the finishing touches.

A swimming pool, a well-resourced science block, information communication technology suites and an art studio are among the facilities of the campus.

CISG is currently enrolling both boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 4 and exclusively girls for Years 5 and 6.

The school, following the national curriculum for England, will be adding additional year groups annually, eventually up to Year 13. "We are looking forward to enrolling between 150 to 200 students in the first year," Pillai said.

The initial phase capacity is 1,000, with provision to expand the infrastructure to accommodate up to 1,800 students.

CISG will be affiliated to The Cambridge School Doha (TCSD), also a GEMS managed institution, which opened in September 2001.

"Boys who complete Year 4 in the new school can be assured of getting admission to TCSD to continue their studies," Pillai said.

TCSD is set to grow to its full capacity of 930 students when the new academic year begins next month.

Lynette Seymour, the principal of CISG, arrived on Sunday, from Queensland in Australia, for her first assignment in the region.

Seymour, who holds a master’s degree in education, was till recently the director of a government department in Queensland.

A former deputy principal for Windsor, Raceview and Collingwood Park State schools, she has won the Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Award (2001) and the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal (2003).

"I am very passionate about education of girls," she told Gulf Times yesterday, saying the new assignment presents an exciting opportunity.

Citing Seymour’s vast experience in leadership of schools, government and community projects, GEMS chief operating officer Hugh MacPherson has expressed confidence that CISG will provide academic excellence and an ideal atmosphere for students to maximise their all-round potential.

With the addition of CISG, GEMS now manages 35 international schools worldwide, including four in Doha.

The Taleb Group and GEMS have also announced plans to open a new-concept Indian school in Doha in April next year.