Director

Awsaj Academy is a specialist school for, currently 520 children in its day program, who have diverse learning needs and challenges from Pre 4 to Grade 12. The majority of its students have mild to moderate learning needs, and an increasing profile of students who have a clearly defined medical diagnosis and may present more complex learning challenges. Awsaj Academy is the only school of its kind in Qatar and is a recognized leader in the region for students with disabilities.

The Academy provides high quality academic, social, emotional and research based programs and provides a curriculum that is responsive to students' needs and abilities. Through multi-tiered systems of support, Awsaj can ensure that their students receive the necessary behavioral, therapeutic, and academic interventions to enable their students to succeed in their aspirations for further study, higher education, employment and community life.

Awsaj Academy has been awarded a dual accreditation by two internationally renowned accrediting agencies, the Council of International Schools (cis) (www.cois.org) and the Middle States Association (MSA) (www.middlestates.org), both of whom are recognized by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. This dual accreditation represents a significant accomplishment for Awsaj Academy, and an acknowledgement of the success of the school’s academic program.

Awsaj Academy is an American licensed school with the Qatar Ministry of Education & Higher Education, and offers an American High School Diploma for students graduating in Grade 12.

Awsaj Elementary School is a place of joyful learning. Children come to the school with a variety of strengths and needs which they embrace and celebrate. Teachers are passionate about their students and their work, and they strive daily to help each child reach his or her highest potential. This year brought the whole elementary school on board with their adoption and implementation of a new standards-based curriculum, which focused around subject, personal and international learning goals. Their new curriculum is committed to the holistic development of learners through enjoyable academic, personal and international learning that prepares them for opportunities and challenges now and in the future.

For the past 4 years, Awsaj Secondary School has been shadowing the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) by Fieldwork Education for grades 6-10 and the IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme) by IB for grades 11-12. In August 2022, they will continue to follow the AERO (American Education Reaches Out) and CCSS (Common Core State Standards) however will be moving away from the IMYC and IBCP frameworks. They are currently in their curriculum adoption cycle and plan on adopting an American curriculum resource that will provide support for their range of learners while still comprising of a diverse range of exciting, engaging and globally relevant units of learning.

English is the language of instruction in all disciplines and subjects except Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History, which are taught in Arabic. Over 98% of Awsaj students are Qatari and are English Language Learners. Students are taught in mixed gender classes. Over the last two years the school has increased its profile of bi-lingual teachers and is developing high impact dual language programs.

In keeping with all QF schools, Awsaj has exceptional teaching and learning facilities and is located in the center of the inspirational and innovative Education City.

As a specialist school, Awsaj students present a wide range of learning challenges requiring a dynamic, flexible and responsive learning environment. In addition to grade level classrooms with teacher student ratio of 1:10, the school has a number of specialist resources bases, its Empower classes for higher needs students with corresponding higher levels of staffing. They also offer the innovative afternoon Prime programs (3.30-7.30pm) for students 17-25 in Grade 10, 11 & 12. This is designed for students with learning challenges that have failed to graduate from public and private schools. They currently have 235 students attending their Prime programs. In August 2021 they launched the afternoon ‘Foundation’ program (2.00pm-5.00pm) for students with complex learning needs from Pre 4-Gr 1. This was in response to continued demand for Awsaj places and the day program at all grade levels at capacity numbers.

The holistic approach to meeting individual needs is supported and enhanced by a strong multi-disciplinary team of Speech & Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, and Autism Specialist provided by The Learning Centre (TLC). The school also employs a team of Learning Support Staff, Education Counsellors, School Nurse and Behavior Interventionists. They have a strong and highly specialist Arabic & Islamic Studies team who work with students across the spectrum of learning needs.

At the heart of Awsaj is the concept of family and that every child matters and belongs. Awsaj Academy aim never to give up on a student and are responsive to, and respectful of, the challenges their students may experience at different stages of their school journey.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about this post or the organisation, please contact Edward Clark on +44(0)1256 862840 or +44 (0)7718 588616 or email at edward@lsceducation.com.