Creative subjects at Doha College
Myth: creative subjects are easier than mathematics, English or sciences, require less effort and are chosen by some students as a means to reduce their workload.
Truth: Art, design and technology, drama and music exams involve a range of challenging components which are designed to test technique, knowledge and composition. Controlled assessments in Art at GCSE level, for example, can take up to 10 hours. They are just as challenging and demanding as mathematics and English, if not more so. Studies have demonstrated that participation in creative subjects is vital in improving learning across all academic areas. These subjects teach valuable skills such as creative problem-solving, mental and visual agility, communication skills, and mastery of a range of media and technology.
Doha College offers the broadest range of A Level subject choices in the country, without restricting the possible combinations through subject blocks or otherwise. It provides courses in art, design technology, drama and theatre studies, media, music, and photography at the highest standards. This blog will explain why our school pulls all the stops to teach these subjects at the highest standards, alongside the ever-popular core disciplines.
Besides the curriculum, creative subjects instil a myriad of other competencies that greatly enhance other aspects of students' lives. Here are some of the most valuable skills that come with each subject:
Art and Photography
Art students learn to interpret visual information, take creative risks, develop deferred-reward working habits, act with the interests of the larger community in mind, know and appreciate diverse societies, interpret and evaluate others’ perception of reality, be fluent with emerging technology, as well as appreciate the power of artistic expression.
Design and Technology
Students must reconcile the creative tension between ideas, time, costs and client demands, using techniques that are usually supported through extensive use of computer-aided design tools. Students draw on their understanding electronic systems, mechanical systems and resistant materials to manufacture creative solutions to real-life problems.
Drama
Drama students learn how to work collaboratively, give and accept feedback, communicate with or without words, manage insecurities; they acquire memorising techniques, the ability to express emotions. They learn discipline, routine and structure, all without going to military school! For example, if they miss a performance, their absence affects the whole dynamics of the show.
Music
It has long been proven that learning music sharpens the intellect. More specifically, music has been linked to spatial intelligence, which is particularly relevant to geometry. Stage performance helps overcome anxiety. A little anxiety is a good thing and the ability to deal with it early on in life greatly boosts self-confidence - one of the critical attributes that employers seek when recruiting.
Media Studies
Media Studies provides students with a critical understanding of media's societal impact, honing their analytical skills to interpret and evaluate various forms of media. It gives students hands-on experience in media production, achieved through various photography and videography software, it cultivates effective communication abilities and fosters media literacy.
Potential Careers
These subjects give students a diverse skill set that can be applied across various creative industries and open up a wide range of potential careers. They may pursue professions such as graphic design, theater and film production, music performance, composition or production, industrial or product design, advertising, journalism, digital media production, marketing and more.
Our students' results are a clear testament to the quality of the teaching of creative subjects at Doha College. Over the years (minus the pandemic gap, which halted external examinations), their performance was nothing short of stellar. Here are some who achieved highest marks in Qatar, in the Middle East or indeed in the world:
| Jay Stearns | GCSE | Music | 2017 | Highest mark in the Middle East |
| Jay Stearns | GCSE | Photography | 2017 | Highest mark in the Middle East |
| Aaleen Ahmed | GCSE | Music | 2017 | Highest mark in the Middle East |
| Sarah Mekhaimar | GCSE | Music | 2017 | Highest mark in the Middle East |
| Danya Khalid Al-Thani | GCSE | Art | 2017 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Hayat al Dasooqi | GCSE | Photography | 2018 |
Highest mark in the world |
| Anastasia Ceban | GCSE | Photography | 2018 | Highest mark in the world |
| Francesca Jones | A Level | Art | 2018 | Highest mark in the world |
| Jerehmico Bautista | A Level | Media Studies | 2018 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Jack Dillon | GCSE | Music | 2018 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Fathima Farhan | GCSE | Art | 2018 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Alison Goonan Villavicencio | GCSE | Photography | 2019 | Highest mark in the world |
| Amy Lawrie | GCSE | Art | 2019 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Phoebe Lawrie | A Level | Art | 2019 | Highest mark in the world |
| Jack Dillon | AS | Music | 2019 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Maha Al-Abduljabar | GCSE | Photography | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
| Eliza Bjorkhammer | GCSE | Drama | 2022 | Highest mark in Qatar |
| Jack Daly | A Level | Design and Technology | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
| Alisha Hidayat | A Level | Design and Technology | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
| Yusra Bint Sajaad | A Level | Photography | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
| Amilia Katie May Daley | GCSE | Art | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
| Yusra Mariam Khaliq | GCSE | Art | 2022 | Highest mark in the world |
I have been pursuing my passion, in a full-time position, as a High Degree Apprentice in Electronics Systems at Jaguar Land Rover Research and Development Centre in the UK. As a part of my training, I am also completing a degree at Warwick University, in Electronics. I love the balance of both work and study, enabling me to apply what I learnt at university, in my workplace. I have been involved in several exciting, but highly secretive projects at JLR, some aimed at the company meeting the new launch date of the new fully electric car. Looking ahead, I am eager to explore placements that focus on ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist Systems).
Watch his speak with unparalleled passion about Design Technology, in his final year at Doha College:
Jack's "Microcade" Space Invaders machine, next to its larger scale brothers...
...and here it is next to an adult hand, for a more accurate idea of its actual size.
By choosing creative subjects for A levels, students select an education that will not only challenge them but will also equip them with valuable competencies for their future success. To learn more about our broad range of A level subjects, tap below: