Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA) Candidacy Forms

QNSA-Expect Excellence

Dear Esteemed School Heads of the Qatar School Community,

The Supreme Education Council (SEC) is proud to initiate the formation of the Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA) system, as part of the Evaluation Institute. The goals of QNSA are to ensure that all private and community schools in Qatar are accredited, and to develop a system with schools to validate their school programs, and ascertain that each child in Qatar is attaining an optimal learning experience. QNSA will support schools to develop learning outcomes, guided action plans, and certify school success by demonstrated student learning using research-based pedagogy. Through QNSA, a school will be able to ensure that it meets the standards for school re-licensing and enter the Ministry of Education’s school voucher system for Qatari students.

In order to initiate the accreditation process, applying for school candidacy through QNSA is important. Through this process, schools will be in alignment with the Qatar education reform movement, ensuring that all schools in Qatar match global accreditation standards and quality, while at the same working towards continuous and consistent school improvement. The forms in this packet aim to detail the steps involved for receiving initial candidacy status with QNSA, and the skeletal standards that will be used in assessing schools for candidacy though completion of candidacy forms, school description reporting and format, and school visit by QNSA.

As the QNSA process becomes mandatory for all private and community schools in Qatar, please feel free to contact QNSA for any questions, clarifications or support, as we will work closely with you to ensure school success through the QNSA process. At QNSA, we look forward to introducing the standards, goals, and procedures for successful candidacy and accreditation. We also welcome your valuable input always, in working cohesively in our collective commitment to achieving school excellence.

Sincerely,

Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA)

Evaluation Institute

Supreme Education Council

Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA)

Candidacy Eligibility Conditions

School must have been in operation for at least two years, while at the same time fulfilling the following conditions:

  • Have a developed and published a clear statement of purpose.
  • Clear curriculum that supports statement of purpose.
  • Have a management system including school officer that provides appropriate direction and oversight for the overall program.
  • Have an established and adequate financial base to support school stability.
  • Have an organization, facilities, course offerings, and staffing acceptable for school’s development, including qualified instructional staff.
  • Have a school plan that includes objectives for student achievement and assessment plans to measure progress toward those objectives.
  • Have plans to provide access to extracurricular and enrichment activities, if appropriate.

Steps to Achieving Qatar National School Accreditation

(QNSA) Candidacy

Step 1. Complete and Submit Request for Qatar School Accreditation

Candidacy Form along with Initial Visit School Description Report

Schools must complete the request for Qatar National School Accreditation Candidacy Form and return it to the Supreme Education Council (SEC) Evaluation Office, along with the School Description Report to initiate the candidacy process with QNSA.

Deadlines:

Those schools wishing to receive candidacy notification by the SEC-QNSA by the end of the school term, must have forms and reports completed and in the QNSA Office no later than April to schedule an end of school year visit during the month of May and early June. Schools may also choose to apply for candidacy the following session by October. Accordingly a school visit will be scheduled by December or early January. In addition schools that apply for end of school term candidacy and are denied by the SEC, may wish to reapply for candidacy by October and April the following year.

Step 2. On-site Initial Visit

A Visiting Committee of two-three members from the SEC School Evaluation Office will be sent to your facility for a two-three day visit to review the information contained in the School Description report, and to gather supporting/additional information. A mutually acceptable date for the visit will be selected by the school and QNSA . Please make sure that supportive evidence will be made available for visiting committee. These documents and other evidence should be clear, and support school description report.

Step 3. SEC Evaluation Office Action & Decision

The Visiting Committee from QNSA will provide a report and recommendation to the SEC Evaluation Office. The SEC will make a final determination whether to grant Candidacy for Accreditation, or to deny candidacy until items of concern are addressed sufficient to the SEC. You will be notified in writing of the SEC Evaluation office decision and will receive a copy of the Visiting Committee Report.

Decision Factors for Candidacy will be based on the following:

Candidacy:
Candidacy is a status of affiliation indicating that a school has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward, but has not yet attained accreditation with the QNSA.

The school must provide evidence of sound planning with sufficient resources to implement these plans, and must appear to have the potential for attaining its goals within a reasonable time. Schools are expected to apply for full accreditation by the second year of candidacy. Schools who receive candidacy will be eligible for school vouchers as determined by the SEC and may re-apply for school re-licensing.

Denial:
Denial of accreditation may result if it is determined that the school does not fully meet SEC criteria for accreditation candidacy. A school may wish to reapply after deficiencies have been resolved during the next candidacy cycle or hereafter.

Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA) Candidacy Form

School Site Name:

School Site Address:

Phone: Fax:

School Email: Website:

School Owner Name:

Nationality of School Owner:

Head of School: Phone:

Contact Person:

Email:

1- Type of School (Check all that apply):

 Kindergarten Program  Primary School  Preparatory School  Secondary School  Private Arabic School  Community School

 Private International School

 Other, please specify:

2- Curriculum Type (check all that apply):

 British Curriculum  American Curriculum  IB

 Other Curriculum, which?

3- Enrollment Numbers:

Number of Qatari Students:

Percentage of Qatari Students:

Grade Span:

Number of Teaching Staff:

Number of Support Staff Including Administration:

4- Does the school have more than one campus?

If so, how many?

Location(s)?

Year School First Opened:

5- Accrediting Information:

Is school currently accredited by another international accrediting organization?

If so, what accrediting organization(s)?

Term of Accreditation:

Expiry Date:

QNSA School Description Report for Candidacy

School Site Name:

School Site Address:

Phone: Fax:

School Email: Website:

Head of School: Phone:

Contact Person:

Email:

To help the Supreme Education Council better understand your school, please write descriptive answers in a report format, to the following prompts:

  1. Brief History: Please include information on the school’s initial fundamental purpose, when and why it was founded, what its founders hoped to accomplish, and what changes in direction may have occurred in subsequent years since its inception.
  1. Mission Statement: The mission statement guides the school and tells us why it exists today. It should be well-known to all stakeholders, and should be promoted/reflected throughout the school. This statement should be clear and concise, unique and meaningful to the school, and should be published widely.
  • Please attach the school’s statement of philosophy and objectives, if one exists, and promotional literature used currently by the school which states the school’s purpose.
  • Describe the qualifications of the students the school seeks to serve.
  1. Curriculum: Please describe the school’s curriculum. Detail teaching strategies used to meet each student’s educational needs.
  • Provide a brief description of the curriculum in a form appropriate to the school.
  • Does the school have a comprehensive, written curriculum?
  • What language are core courses/subjects taught in? What courses are not taught in English? Can all students begin and complete their studies in English?
  • What support is available to students who have limited comprehension/understanding of the language that core subjects are taught in, to ensure their academic success?
  • If part of the curriculum must be taught in the national language, is there sufficient support to allow non-speakers of the language to be successful?
  • Are differentiated learning methods in place? What technological tools support teaching?
  • Describe any special education programs.
  • Describe the extracurricular program of the school. (Include athletics, arts, activities, extended day and vacation programs if not described above as parts of the regular curriculum.)
  • Describe how sufficient library resources (books, reference materials, periodicals, non-print resources, etc.) are made available to students to support the educational program of the school.
  • Describe the learning environment in classrooms, i.e. is class work displayed throughout, how are students grouped?
  • What assessment and other systems are in place to evaluate students on a consistent basis?
  • What classroom and school management techniques and policies exist to handle behavioral infractions and support positive discipline?
  1. Governance & Finance: Please provide a description of the governing body responsible for policy formation and decision-making. How does the authority of the governing board (or owner) differ from the authority of the Head of School? Are clear short and long term action plans in place?
  • Please describe the financial health of the school. For each of the last three years, did the school have a budget surplus, deficit, or break even?
  • Describe the governance of the school. Where does final decision-making rest with regard to different issues? Are there written bylaws which describe the school’s governance structure?
  • Please attach to this section the names and occupations of those responsible for governance.
  • Does the school have a long-range strategic plan? If yes, when was it last updated?
  • Does the school have a current operating budget?
  • Do the financial resources meet the needs of the school in terms of its own stated mission?

5. Administrative Organization & School Environment: Describe the administrative organization of the school. This description should include the administrative support staff. How are finance, admissions, and development supervised and other administrative functions handled? Describe the school environment, including staff and parental connectedness and communication. Describe staff qualifications and what policies are in place to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Is there a professional development plan in place? Describe the evaluation systems in place for staff.

  • State the school’s policy guidelines for admissions.
  • Include in the statement the school’s position with respect to heterogeneity in the student body; socio-economic mix; ethnic and religious diversity; and range of academic ability and promise.
  • Describe briefly the physical facility of the school and include a map of the campus showing the classroom, office, and residential buildings. Include information on IT lab, language lab, classrooms, resource rooms, nurse’s clinic, canteen, mosque, gm, and school facilities that support students.
  • Describe staff qualifications.
  • Describe professional development plans at your school site including the staff evaluation process.
  • How does your school promote effective communication between stakeholders with an emphasis on parents?
  • Is there a grievance/complaint process in school for staff, students, and parents? How are matters resolved?
  • How does the school promote school culture and community activities and events?

Please certify below that you have the authorization to complete these forms as a representative of the school, and that information as presented in these forms is correct.

Authorized School Official Name:

Title:

Signature:

Date: