Our Learning Approach

The Primary Years Programme is a curriculum framework for children Early Childhood through grade 5. It is transdisciplinary, where concepts are explored to support and structure children's inquiries and where 'big ideas' with global significance can be uncovered. Students are provided with learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, challenging and significant. They are given opportunities to ask questions, explore and interact with the environment and make sense of the world around them. Learning experiences are differentiated to meet the needs of a range of abilities and learning styles. Students are empowered to value and take responsibility for their learning. ISL Qatar promotes international mindedness across the whole school community and strives to develop students who are active inquirers and life-long learners.

The IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) offers a rigorous and challenging framework of academic study and life-skills appropriate for 11 to 16 year olds. It is designed to serve the particular needs of adolescents in an international framework. Emphasis is placed on developing critical and creative thinking skills, which are going to be highly valued in the future.

The International School of London was an early pioneer in offering the IB Diploma and has over 35 years of success with the programme. Whilst ISL Qatar has recently introduced the Diploma, the vast experience from London has helped to shape the ISL Qatar programme. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognized, pre-university course of study, which is accepted by virtually every country in the world for university entrance. The two-year programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment that equips students with the skills and attitudes necessary for success in higher education and employment. ISL has a proud record of launching students into their higher education at universities around the world.

Although the language of instruction is English, mother tongue literacy is supported from an early age. Beginning with the four-year-olds, between 3 to 5 class periods of mother tongue or Language Acquisition lessons are provided each week within the class day. Current mother tongue languages include: Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, German, Italian , Dutch, Japanese, Russian, Turkish, and Swedish. We are constantly adding more languages depending on need and availability. 

Students who have English as their Mother Tongue, or those for whom we are unable to provide classes in their own Mother Tongue, will have to choose one language offered at ISL Qatar in the scope of Language Acquisition programme: French or  Spanish .

From Grade 6 onwards, all students study three languages, English and two others. This may be English, Mother Tongue and one of the Language Acquisition offered (Arabic or French or Spanish) or it may be English and two language acquisition classes.  

Environmental awareness is promoted throughout the school. Students learn about the major world environmental issues and are encouraged to be responsible citizens and caretakers of our limited natural resources. Similarly, health and social education topics are integrated across the curriculum. All students participate in community service programmes to encourage them to develop a sense of social justice, service and compassion.