Choosing an international school

Curricula and where they lead

• British (IGCSE and A-levels), American (AP), the International Baccalaureate, Australian, French, German, Japanese and Thai-English bilingual programmes are all offered, sometimes in the same city.
• Ask where the last two graduating cohorts went, not just what the marketing says.
• If your child may return to a home country mid-schooling, check how the curriculum transfers back.

The full cost of a place

Published tuition is one line in a longer schedule. Add application and registration fees, refundable and non-refundable deposits, uniforms, transport, lunches, trips and annual capital or building fees. Ask for the total for your child’s year and for the following year, since increases are usually announced in advance.

Applications and timing

• Places at the most sought-after schools go early, and waiting lists are common. Start the conversation before you finalise your housing, because the commute decides the school as much as the fees do.
• Most schools assess English and mathematics, and may offer support classes (often called EAL) at an extra cost.
• Mid-year entry is usually possible where places exist. Previous school reports and immunisation records are normally requested.

The checks worth making

• Travel time from where you will actually live, at the time of day you will actually drive it.
• Whether English-language support is included or charged separately, and whether class sizes match what you were told.
• Accreditation and inspection status, and how long senior teachers tend to stay.
• Whether the school helps with student visas and the paperwork that goes with them.