A SCHOOL in Taunton held the official opening of its expansion 4,000 miles away.

King's College Taunton's sister school was officially opened in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, March 12.

The new school, for 200 children aged three to nine-years-old, opened its doors in September 2016 in the Al Thumama district. Eventually the school will cater for students up to 18-years-old.

King's College Doha was officially opened in the presence of the British Ambassador, Ajay Sharma, representatives from the Qatar Ministry of Education and chairman of the school Sheikh Mansoor bin Jassim bin Thani Al Thani. Head of King's Hall School in Taunton and chairman-elect Linda Nash also made the trip.

Mr Nicholas Gunn, headmaster of the school, said: “Having only recently begun our educational journey in Doha, we are delighted with the progress made thus far and we are grateful for the support and interest we have received from both the local, British and international communities.”

The British Ambassador to Qatar, Ajay Sharma, said: "A British education is seen as among one of the best in the world and I am delighted to be able to support King’s College’s development here in Doha. Their track record in education speaks for itself. "I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Education, Sheikh Mansoor Jassim Al Thani and King’s College on their partnership and look forward to watching them develop as a leader of education in the region."

The Doha school’s daily programme of activities, based on the King’s enhanced British curriculum, is delivered by highly qualified UK trained teachers, and highly skilled teachers of Arabic and Islamic studies.

Justin Chippendale, headmaster of King’s Hall School, said: “The opening is a proud one for King’s in developing our family of schools.

"It has been an exciting and hugely rewarding experience to develop such a strong and effective partnership here in Doha.

For 137 years, King’s College has been nurturing young people on its beautiful campus in the South-West of England and we look forward to King’s College, Doha building on this reputation and developing a compelling history in its own right.”

King’s Hall School and King’s College, Taunton continue to work with their sister school in Doha alongside King’s College India where another overseas partnership is developing.