More Than a School: How Belgravia High School Builds Confidence, Character & Excellence

Edarabia had the opportunity to interview Sdaqat Jabeen, the Principal of Belgravia High School Doha. In the interview, we discussed the school’s plans for 2025, their approach to academic decision-making, and how they ensure a positive and inclusive environment for students. The following are the responses from Sdaqat Jabeen on the interview.

1. What are your plans for 2025?

Belgravia High School plans for 2025 to continue to grow and fulfil our mission and vision of an exceptional education for all. Last year, we obtained the Outstanding School Award from the Pearson Exam Board as we received 9 Outstanding Learners Awards, 2 Awards for the Highest Mark in Qatar, 2 for the Highest Mark in the Middle East, and 5 Awards for the Highest Mark in the World in nine different subjects.

2. How do you decide what to focus on academically each year, and which new ideas are you pursuing?

We ensure that student, parent, and staff voices are at the heart of all our academic decisions, and these will vary year by year as each cohort has its own unique needs. Each student has their own academic journey, we incorporate modular exam systems and new technologies into our teaching strategies.

3. What challenges do you anticipate in the field of education over the next 5 years?

Education must always evolve with the needs of the students and future technological developments, so it is very important to develop life skills such as resilience, autonomous learning, and communication skills. Our goal for the next five years is to become the best High School in Qatar.

4. How do you keep students interested in learning, especially those who struggle or seem unmotivated?

Our student-centred learning approach is at the heart of our success, and it ensures that students remain interested in learning. We have a broad and creative curriculum on offer, which ensures that students can choose the subjects that they are interested in. We offer strong academic subjects as well as several creative ones, such as Photography and Media Studies.

5. How does the school ensure all students feel welcome and have the same chances to succeed?

We offer Taster Days, tours, and a buddy system to ensure that students have a smooth transition into the school. The sense of family permeates through the school, everyone knows each other, and you will see Year 10 through to Year 13 all playing sports together; it is a great thing to see.

6. How proactive is the school in matters of student stress and bullying?

As all feel happy and safe at school, the students naturally start to feel a sense of success as they also know that the staff will go the extra mile for them. We have a zero tolerance for bullying. Our school counsellor and mini-university style approach enables students to manage stress effectively. You will see students during a study period anywhere from the library, the canteen, playing chess, football, table tennis, or just taking a break. This ensures that they start to learn how to manage their time so that the pressures of academia do not become overpowering. Our results have gone from strength to strength, with 40% of students attaining A-A* grades in all their IGCSEs.

7. How do you help students build the skills they need for life after graduation?

We have an extensive career guidance program ranging from University Fairs, assistance with applications, and references as well as offering students a wide range of extracurricular activities which ensure that they obtain admission into their chosen universities. These range from the MUN, numerous Olympiads, scientific research competitions, INJAZ, numerous sports, and much more.

8. How involved are parents and the community in making the school better?

Parents play an active role in the school, the school maintains an open-door policy as we truly believe that a three-way partnership between school, parent, and student is the only way to ensure success. Belgravia plays an active part in the community through charity campaigns, walkathons, and voluntary activities.

9. How do you develop a school culture that attracts and keeps great teachers?

The teachers are the heart and soul of a school, ensuring that they feel happy, valued, and trusted, we have managed to minimise staff turnover. Again, it comes from being part of the Belgravia Family.

10. Do teachers at your school have growth opportunities for leadership roles?

Teachers deliver CPD sessions to all staff. Leadership roles are being developed as we continue to grow. There is mutual respect between all.

11. Which after-school activity would you say has the biggest positive impact on a student’s future?

The MUN has a huge positive impact on students’ future, and over 30% of our students take an active role, winning many awards as well as having leading roles in the MUN committee.

12. As a Principal, what is your definition of success?

As a Principal, my definition of success is when the sense of family permeates the school and where everyone is in a safe and happy learning environment, which will then automatically lead to academic excellence for all.

13. If you had the opportunity to inspire the world in one sentence, what would that sentence be?

As the Principal of Belgravia High School, if I could give one sentence to inspire the world, I would say ‘Remember we are all part of the human race family, so treat each other with kindness, trust each other, and the world would be the amazing place it actually is’.