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Mar Qardakh International School

Iraq, Erbil

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Arabic
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Mar Qardakh International School is a private Catholic coeducational day school in Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. An International Baccalaureate World School, it offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP uses a transdisciplinary approach guided by six themes: Who We Are, Where We Are in Place & Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves and Sharing the Planet. PYP subjects include Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arabic, Arts, Music, Physical Education and Religion, with the PYP5 Exhibition. MYP connects studies to real world. ASIC Premier Status accreditation. Coordinators include PYP Coordinator Ms. Tara Shaoul and MYP Coordinator Ms. Bianca De Leon. The campus has a soccer field for field days, laptops for students, Starboards in classrooms, ManageBac for IB planning and MQSMS for administration. Activities include a school concert, science fairs, field days and university tours, and the PYP5 Exhibition: Then and Now.

Mar Qardakh Street, Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, 44001

The Essentials

Mar Qardakh International School has instruction in English.

Location
Ankawa, Erbil, Iraq.

Stages
Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3–12; Middle Years Programme (MYP); High School.

Type
Private, Catholic, coeducational, day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body, faculty and staff are comprised of multiple nationalities.

Religious affiliation
Catholic.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
No boarding is provided. The school is a private, Catholic coeducational day school in Ankawa, Erbil.

Food Options
Lunch is provided. KG2 Pizza Day shows pizzas are served during lunch.

Governance and Ownership
Private Catholic coeducational day school. The School Governor is Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda and the Head of School is Ms Hala Warda.
Fees
Application fees
- No published application or registration fee amount is available for Mar Qardakh International School for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 intake. The school operates a formal admissions process with stated application and assessment steps, but no fixed application fee figure is published.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a fee schedule showing tuition by year group, term, or full year. No specific per-term or per-year tuition figures for any grade are publicly available for the 2026/27 academic year or for 2025/26.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- No published billing schedule, invoicing cadence, payment deadlines, or formal payment terms (for example: number of instalments, late fee policy, or required deposits) are available. The admissions process has defined application and assessment months but no public statement of fee billing cycles or contract terms is listed.

Boarding fees
- Mar Qardakh International School is a day school; boarding services are not offered and therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs and typical extras (uniforms, books, activities, transport, lunches, exams)
- No published, itemised schedule of ancillary costs (uniforms, textbooks, activity fees, transport, lunch plans or exam fees) is available. Parents should expect that standard school-related costs (uniforms, books, extracurricular activities, exam fees) may apply, but no amounts or mandatory/optional designations are publicly specified.

Refund information
- No published refund policy or schedule (for example, refund on withdrawal before term start, pro-rata refunds, or non-refundable deposits) is available. There is no publicly stated procedure or timeline for fee refunds.

Fee payment options (credit card, bank transfer, other)
- No published list of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, online payment portal, cash) is available. The school provides administrative contact phone numbers and an administration email for enquiries.

Brief operational notes relevant to fees
- The school follows a defined admissions timetable (application/assessment/interview cycle beginning in January–February with decisions communicated by April). This admissions timeline is published but no fee schedule tied to that timetable is published.

Summary of availability of fee information
- Precise monetary amounts for application fees, tuition by grade (per term or per year), billing schedules, ancillary fees, refund rules, and payment methods are not published or available in the school's publicly posted materials for the 2026/27 academic year or for 2025/26. The school is a day school (no boarding fees). For any enrolment planning that requires exact figures, the school's administration and admissions contacts are the channels listed on the school materials.
Academics

Mar Qardakh International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
Mar Qardakh International School is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP prepares students for course work in the IB MYP and IB Diploma Programme (DP). The PYP uses a transdisciplinary approach guided by six themes: Who We Are, Where We Are in Place & Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves and Sharing the Planet. PYP subjects include Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arabic, Arts, Music, Physical Education and Religion, with the PYP culminated by a PYP Exhibition for PYP5. The school is ASIC accredited with Premier Status, and the MYP is described as a framework that connects studies to the real world; Coordinators are PYP Coordinator Ms. Tara Shaoul and MYP Coordinator Ms. Bianca De Leon.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Learning Diversity Department includes a school counselor and an LD specialist. It identifies, assesses and supports students with diverse learning needs. It develops Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. The Programme Coordinator provides guidance on academic, behavioural and social-emotional needs and coordinates interventions with teachers. Inside and outside the classroom, students receive learning support, including pull-out language support and one-on-one assistance; counseling sessions are available to support wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Learning Diversity Department provides special educational needs support. It develops Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to meet students' needs. Support is provided inside and outside the classroom, including pull-out language support and one-on-one assistance. IEPs are developed for IB students and progress is documented with confidential records and regular reviews. The school may refer students to external specialists and involves parents in progress reviews.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The language of instruction is English; all courses are taught in English with Kurdish and/or Arabic offered as additional languages. English language learning support is provided, including pull-out classes, differentiated resources, language breaks and visual aids. Additional language and literacy instruction is arranged on a case-by-case basis for students with special educational needs or language learning difficulties. All PYP units are taught in English and all teachers are language teachers, modelling correct language skills. The school recognises linguistic diversity, with Neo-Aramaic as a mother tongue for many students and English serving as the global lingua franca.

Mental Wellbeing
The Programme Coordinator provides guidance on the academic, behavioural and social-emotional needs of students. The Learning Diversity Department includes the school counselor and LD specialist who identify, assess and support students with diverse learning needs and work to promote wellbeing. They develop IEPs and coordinate with families to support student wellbeing. Counseling sessions and targeted interventions are available inside and outside the classroom. Staff development includes training on social-emotional competence and inclusive practices to promote student wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The Child Protection Policy was developed in December 2021 and is reviewed in December 2024. The policy promotes zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other acts of abuse. A Child Protection Committee (CPC) is established, chaired by the Head of School with a Guidance Counselor as Vice Chair and representatives from teachers, parents and students. The CPC develops and implements a child protection plan, disseminates information and coordinates referrals to authorities as required. School personnel are responsible for safeguarding students' physical and mental health and following procedures for handling incidents, with confidentiality and a formal Code of Conduct.
Parent Experience

History
Mar Qardakh School is a private, Catholic coeducational day school in Ankawa, Erbil. It is located in the heart of the Middle East and seeks to perpetuate a great and ancient heritage. Iraq is described as the cradle of civilization, with Babylon, Mesopotamia and Assyria associated with the beginnings of languages, writing and education. Today the school provides a comprehensive, rigorous education centered on the holistic development of the whole person to invest in the well-being of each individual and of the community as a whole.

Community
Everyone at Mar Qardakh School is part of a learning community that includes parents, students, teachers and staff. All constituents mutually help and support each other by fulfilling their respective roles in the school. Mar Qardakh School also fosters interchange with the greater community, involving members of the community in school events, and helping the community through its service projects.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Mar Qardakh School has a Parents-Teachers Association. A representative of the Parents is designated by the PTA to the school's Child Protection Committee. Parents participate in school life through events such as PYP Student Led Parent Conferences. Family events illustrate school–parent partnership, including PYP Family Fun Day. Parents and guests attend exhibitions and IB events, such as the PYP Exhibition, which welcomed Archbishop Bashar Warda and other attendees. The school notes a strong school–parent partnership within the MQS community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Mar Qardakh International School is a private Catholic coeducational day school in Ankawa, Erbil. It is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The campus includes a soccer field used for field days and other outdoor sports. Every student owns a personal laptop for school use, and Starboards are used in classrooms to access school systems. ManageBac supports IB planning and assessment, and MQSMS handles attendance, ministry reporting, and daily announcements.

Sports Facilities
The school has a soccer field used for outdoor sports and field days. Field days are held for Early Years, Primary Years, and Secondary sections. A sports program has been established with activities including football. MQIS participates in inter-school competitions and tournaments. Students participate in school sports events such as football tournaments with other schools.

Academic Facilities
MQS is an IB World School offering PYP and MYP programmes. ASIC Premier Status accreditation is held. PYP subject areas include Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arabic, Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Religion. Every student has a personal laptop for school use, and the school uses ManageBac for IB planning and assessment, plus MQSMS for administration. MQS publishes PYP and MYP brochures with programme details.

Extra Curricular Facilities
MQIS hosts events such as an annual school concert. Science fairs and student exhibitions are part of the program, including the Spring 2025 Science Fair. Field days occur regularly, involving EY through HS. Students participate in university tours and external activities. Exhibitions like PYP5 Exhibition: Then and Now are part of the program.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Mar Qardakh International School offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP emphasizes inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning and includes Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arabic, Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Religion; the PYP culminates in a collaborative Exhibition for PYP 5 students to research, design, and present an action for the school or the local/global community. The MYP connects studies to the real world and is inclusive by design. The school holds ASIC accreditation with Premier Status.

Arts & Creative
Arts and Music are included in the Primary Years Programme.

Cultural & Language
Arabic is taught as part of the Primary Years Programme.

Community & Service
The school fosters interchange with the greater community, involving community members in school events, and helps the community through its service projects.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Physical Education is included in the Primary Years Programme.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction; all courses are taught in English, with additional language classes available. The majority of students have Neo-Aramaic as their mother tongue, and English, Arabic, and Kurdish are taught as additional languages. Kurdish is offered as a government-required language, while Arabic is taught as an Arabic Language Acquisition course in PYP and MYP; English remains the language of instruction for core subjects. English language learning support is provided through pull-out classes, differentiated resources, language breaks, and supplementary materials, with staff multilingual in Neo-Aramaic, Arabic, Kurdish, and English.

Bilingual Teaching
English is the language of instruction; all courses are taught in English except for additional language classes. Neo-Aramaic is the mother tongue for many students, with English, Arabic, and Kurdish taught as additional languages. The school maintains a multilingual environment, supported by teachers who are multilingual in Neo-Aramaic, Arabic, Kurdish, and English.
Reputation

Accreditations
ASIC accreditation with Premier Status for operational areas.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Prospective students must complete an entrance assessment in English for their programme (PYP or MYP). 2. They must attend a school interview together with their parents. 3. They must submit documentation: the school application, two passport-size photos, a copy of the student's passport or other identity card, and records from their previous school showing academic and behavioural reports from the previous academic year. 4. They must read the school's ethical code and return it with the students' and parents' signatures. At the admissions committee's discretion, additional documents may be required, such as one letter of recommendation from a former teacher or mentor and older school records.

Waitlist
The school uses a waiting list. Students who qualify for acceptance but there are not enough openings are placed on a waiting list and will be notified when an opening in their grade becomes available. The school prioritises Mar Qardakh Kindergarten students, students with siblings already in the school, and students from the local Christian minority; other factors such as achievement, completion of requirements, openings, and diversity are also considered.
School Events
The school has not added events
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