Al Sedra Secondary - Welcome Message

Dear Students, Parents and Families,

It is a pleasure to welcome everyone back to The Gulf English School for the start of another academic year. I hope that all our students and families have enjoyed a relaxing and enjoyable summer break and are returning refreshed, positive and ready for the year ahead.

We begin this academic year with a great deal to celebrate. Our students achieved fantastic results in their external examinations this summer across GCSE, BTEC and AS Level. These results are a reflection of the hard work, determination and resilience of our students, and I would like to congratulate them on their achievements. I would also like to recognise the dedication of our teachers and staff, whose support, encouragement and commitment throughout the year played such an important part in helping our students achieve their potential. Finally, thank you to our parents and families for the continued support you provide both to your children and to the school.

As we begin the new academic year, our focus remains firmly on providing every student with the opportunity to be successful. Academic achievement is, of course, extremely important, but we also believe that a successful education is about much more than examination results. We want our students to develop into confident, responsible and well-rounded young people who demonstrate our school values of being Responsible, Respectful and Resilient in everything they do.

Last year provided some fantastic examples of the wider experiences we want to offer our students. For the first time in a number of years, we were delighted to see international school trips return, with students travelling to Japan and Madrid. These trips provided opportunities to experience different cultures, visit some incredible attractions and, importantly, experience life beyond Qatar and their usual surroundings. Our Madrid trip also gave students the opportunity to attend a Real Madrid match and take part in football training sessions with professional coaches. Experiences such as these are about far more than simply visiting another country; they help our students develop independence, confidence, resilience and valuable life skills, while creating memories that will stay with them long after they leave school. We hope to continue providing opportunities such as these in the future.

This year, we are particularly keen for students to make the most of the opportunities available beyond the classroom. We will once again be offering a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs, sporting opportunities and other experiences throughout the year. I would strongly encourage every student to become involved in school life, try something new and take advantage of opportunities that broaden their experiences. Whether through sport, the arts, academic clubs, leadership, service, trips or other activities, these experiences are an important part of the holistic education we want to provide at The Gulf English School.

The beginning of a new school year also provides an opportunity for a fresh start and new goals. I encourage all our students to set high expectations for themselves, work hard, attend school regularly and approach each day with a positive attitude. There will inevitably be challenges along the way, but we want our students to embrace these challenges, learn from them and continue to grow.

It has already been wonderful to see our students returning to school, reconnecting with friends and teachers and settling positively into their lessons. There is a real sense of energy and optimism around the school, and we are excited about everything that the year ahead will bring.

On behalf of everyone in Secondary, I would like to wish all our students, staff and families a happy, successful and rewarding academic year. I look forward to working together and celebrating many more successes throughout the year.

Mr Daniel Langfield
Head of Secondary