DOHA, Qatar, 2016-Nov-15 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways has officially opened its new Oryx International School, a premium education facility dedicated to the children of the airline’s employees. The school reflects Qatar Airways’ commitment to its staff, by ensuring both employees and their children receive the first-class training and education needed to excel.
The school was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
The school inauguration was also attended by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ajay Sharma; Sheikha Hanoof Al Thani; Chairman of Orbital Education, Mr. Kevin McNeany; Director of Private Schools, Mr. Hamad al-Ghali and Brigadier Ibrahim Abdulrahman Al-Muftah. To mark the occasion, H.E. Mr. Al Baker revealed a commemorative plaque, which was followed by a tour of the school’s facilities.
H.E. Mr. Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways has a commitment to its employees, and we are proud to extend this commitment to now include their children by providing them with a facility that is dedicated to ensuring they receive the highest level of education. The Oryx International School will deliver to the same standard as our airline, offering impeccable education, delivered through a strong curriculum by the finest teachers. This is our way of ensuring that Qatar Airways is not only the best airline but also provides the best opportunities to our colleagues and their families too.”
Chairman of Orbital Education, Mr. Kevin McNeany included: “We are delighted to have launched Oryx International School in Doha, in partnership with our good friends at Qatar Airways. Companies like Qatar Airways need to attract and retain the best talent and when employees are moving around the world, the availability of top class schools is often a factor in the decisions they make. We wanted to make sure that, for Qatar Airways employees, moving to Doha allows them to access the finest in international education, supported by their employer and with the assurance that there is no better school in the city for their children.”
Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Human Resources, Ms. Nabeela Fakhri added: “Providing the best possible facilities and care for our staff is a priority for Qatar Airways and supporting development and learning does not end with our employees, their children too are a vital part of the Qatar Airways family. Through the provision of a world-class education we aim to ensure our staff and their families continue to develop and grow with us here in Qatar.”
Oryx International School is ideally located to be easily accessible to Qatar Airways employees, with the school day planned in line with the airline’s office hours to increase convenience. The school follows the National Curriculum for England, providing students with educational breadth, balance, challenge, continuity and coherence in an interactive, participative environment.
Catering to students from Early Years through to Primary, Oryx International School is committed to recognising students as individuals with their own unique learning needs. Exciting plans are already underway for a state-of-the-art new 41,000m² school campus to be built in Abu Hamour, which will house both primary and secondary students. The futuristic design encompasses a fully-equipped auditorium, 11,200m² playground and sees all students benefit from the most advanced technology throughout the building.
Oryx International School offers an environment that enables a rich learning experience, providing the nurturing needed for students to become successful learners, ethical individuals, and international citizens. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy numerous after school activities, which will change on a termly basis, some of these include Science Club, arts and crafts, Book Club, sport multi-skills, gardening, construction, and more, all of which will be carried out in a safe and caring environment.
Principal, Mr. Jarlath Madine added that: “The opening of Oryx International School by Qatar Airways and Orbital Education is a landmark event for the airline and its employees. I am hugely honoured to be Principal of this exceptional school. We aim to ensure that every student leaves the school enabled, confident and ready to take on the challenge of their next stage of life. They will have effective behaviours for learning and attitudes for life that will enable them to thrive and succeed as global citizens of the 21st Century.”
The school will operate in synergy with the Qatar Airways community and has tailored the school day to meet the needs of the employees by ensuring it is in line with their office hours. One of the first projects the new school will undertake is the China Exchange; a teacher exchange programme with rural schools in China allowing participants to benefit from cultural and knowledge interchange.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 191 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was awarded World’s Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 World Airline Awards managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ inflight entertainment system offers passengers up to 3,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 as well as select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways is one of the world’s leaders in sponsoring global sporting events, including the strategic team sponsorships of FC Barcelona and Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia FC. Qatar Airways’ strategy reflects the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest cargo carrier, serves more than 50 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally on 191 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet now includes eight Airbus 330Fs, 11 Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747 freighters.
For more information, visit our homepage www.qatarairways.com or our sites on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
For Qatar Airways corporate images, please click here: http://www.qatarairways.com/corporateimages
About Orbital Education
Orbital Education was founded in 2005 by Kevin McNeany, who is recognised as a pioneer of British international education. Kevin had an impressive career as the founder of Nord Anglia Education in 1972, which is now seen as one of the foremost international schools groups in the world. He led the IPO of the company in 1997 and it is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
In 2005, Kevin started Orbital Education, which now owns and operates 10 schools in Russia, Spain, Qatar, Hungary, Slovenia, Ecuador and China. Orbital Schools offer the English National Curriculum in all schools and the International Baccalaureate in some. Orbital is British owned and British based, with its headquarters near Manchester. The head office team includes school development professionals, finance, IT and marketing specialists. Their remit is to support the growth and development of Orbital schools. Orbital is successful because it provides a British education, which is renowned for its quality, discipline and the respect it nurtures in its students. As a foundation for future academic success, British schools are second to none, which is why they have great appeal for parents.
Orbital is a growing company, developing many opportunities throughout the world, with its latest venture being Oryx International, the new school opened in Doha for Qatar Airways.
Contact:
Tel: +974 4036 0063
Email: reception@oryxschool.qa
Website: www.orbitaled.com
School Website: www.oryxschool.qa
For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 40222072
Fax: +974 40225350
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Website: www.qatarairways.com
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- A ribbon cutting took place to open Oryx International School led by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education (centre left) and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker (centre right), alongside (from left) Brigadier Ibrahim Abdulrahman Al-Muftah; Chairman of Orbital Education, Mr. Kevin McNeany; British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ajay Sharma.
Source: Qatar Airways