The Top Ten International Schools in Bangkok

The Top Ten international schools in Bangkok

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For the last couple of decades international schools in Bangkok have been gaining significant popularity, and also growing in number. These have come in the form of foundation proprietary schools along with a huge increase in overseas institutions, brands and franchises, and now, seemingly more than ever is there a demand for a high quality education in Thailand.

As Bangkok has always been deemed as the hub of education in the nation, international schools for both the local and expatriate communities are a high priority.

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One of the major factors related to the demand and success of international schools in Bangkok is that the quality of education provided far surpasses the local schooling system.

This is due in no small part to the fact that the Thai government system of education still uses a rote learning system which has suffered for eons from a major lack of funding and the seriously short-sightedness of the education ministry powers-that-be, who have as yet seemingly been unwilling and unable to update to modern, global learning systems such as those used in the west.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has led to a high demand for places in international schools for those who can afford it. There are, of course, also huge, if not magnanimous differences between the fees for local Thai schools and those using curriculums such as the British or American ones.

Competition is also high. Although there are some children of expats in many of the Bangkok international schools, the main proportion of learners are from Thai families who can afford to send their children to these schools, in a bid to take advantage of the much higher standard of education.

International schools as such teach an international or foreign curriculum and have a more multicultural student body than any Thai school is going to have.
International schools in Bangkok have far more well-qualified, Western, native English speaking teachers who are much less likely in local schools due to the low wages and general working conditions – and most Thais are aware of this.

The foreign staff don’t actually make up the majority of employees in an international school though – they are still largely owned, run and managed by Thais – but generally, the higher the fees, the more qualified and well-vetted native English speaking teachers you are likely to find.

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Having said that, it is not always the case that the most expensive international school is the best, as there are indeed a variety of factors involved in what constitutes ‘the best’ school, or even a good school, especially in Thailand.

Originally most of Thailand’s international schools would have begun as missionary schools, and although there are still a few Christian colleges and schools maintaining a religious ethos, every other type of school promotes its own particular code of ethics more in line with modern times and requirements.

So here we have compiled our Top 10 International Schools in Bangkok list – in no particular order — based on various factors such as rating, popularity, reviews, ‘word-of-mouth’ and how well established they are as international schools in Bangkok.

However, the list is by no means exhaustive, or even that extensive considering that new schools are opening all the time and others are constantly making changes to either their programs, their campuses, or both. Any choice made by those considering sending their children to any international school in Bangkok should always be based on one’s own requirements, including location and budget.

1. Bangkok Pattana

Bangkok Pattana International School is one of the largest in Bangkok, with more than 2000 students. It is also one of the oldest and hence most established schools.

The school is located just out of the city centre around on the outer reaches (city-centre wise) of Sukhumvit Road. Bangkok Pattana’s curriculum and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program has various subjects as its focal point in line with the strict international specifications expected of any high-fee-paying and renowned institution.

The school’s program includes a lot of outdoor-based activities, aiming at providing the children with a wide range of experiences. There is also an emphasis on clubs including sports and activities such as Tennis, Football, Swimming, Gymnastics, and Acting. The emphasis is on the idea that students can gain academic knowledge whilst acquire

Address: 643 La Salle Road (Sukhumvit 105), Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand

 WEBSITE: https://www.patana.ac.th/

2. Bangkok Prep (BIPSS)

Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School, or Bangkok Prep for short, is a highly-ranked international school in Bangkok.

This school has two locations: one in the upmarket urban Thong Lor District, which is the Primary Campus, and a bit further up the Sukhumvit Road towards Bang Na is the Secondary Campus. The curriculum provided here is the current British one, from Early Years until Year 13, with the aim of playing a key role in the preparation of the young learners for eventual entrance to top international universities.

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This school also has a backdrop of other, experience and skill-building activities that focus around a supportive learning atmosphere, including facilities such as a theatre, a photography darkroom, a 50-meter swimming pool, tennis courts, a rock-climbing wall, and a sports center, to name but a few.

Address: Secondary Campus (Ages 11 to 18) 77 Sukhumvit 77, Vadhana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

Address: Primary Campus (Ages 3 to 11) 23 Sukhumvit 53, Vadhana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

WEBSITE: https://bkkprep.ac.th

3. Concordian International School

Concordian International School is a private international school located in Bangkok with a multicultural environment supported by the inclusion of 3 different languages. The school’s program is fully accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization and is presented in three stages.

This Bangkok International School is somewhat unique in that the students are encouraged to be multi-lingual through the study of Mandarin and English, in a Thai environment. The school promotes the idea that fluency across a range of languages helps build communication skills and cultural understanding.

The school encourages an environment that is positive and diverse, instilling in its students the ability of critical and creative thinking. Needless to say, Concordian is a well-equipped institution in terms of technological and comprehensive facilities.

Address: 918 Moo 8 Bangna-trad Km.7 Road Bangkaew Bangna-Trad km7 Bangkaew, Bangkok 10540

WEBSITE: https://www.concordian.ac.th/

4. Harrow International School Bangkok

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Harrow was another one of the first UK branded international schools in Thailand and is considered as one of the best international schools in Bangkok incorporating the British curriculum.

The school has a strong focus on the empowerment of its students to become potential leaders. This ethos is supported by the school’s Leadership in Action Course, with its emphasis on building and developing the necessary skills for leadership in their students.

Harrow International School is another highly-equipped facility that features sports and other recreational activities such as chess and archery alongside its academic studies. The school also plays host to the prestigious Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Awards, a competition that is held to find those who excel in physical, emotional, social, and intellectual areas.

Address: No. 45 Soi Kosumruamchai 14 Don Mueang, Bangkok 10210

WEBSITE: https://www.harrowschool.ac.th/

5. International School Bangkok (ISB)

International School Bangkok (ISB) was actually the first international facility to open its doors in Bangkok and is still considered as one of the top schools in Bangkok.

The school was known as the International Children’s Centre when it originally opened in 1951. The primary function of the school was initially to teach the children of US Embassy staff, along with other Bangkok-based ex-pats.

Needless to say, the private school is American-style and follows an international curriculum. ISB is a non-profit school, and is also one of the largest with a student population just under 2000, with learners aged from 4 to 18 years old. This is another school with top-notch facilities located on a 37-acre campus in the Nonthaburi area, on the outskirts of the main city areas.

Address: 39/7 Soi Samakee Road, Bang Talad, Nonthaburi, 11120

WEBSITE: https://www.isb.ac.th

6. NIST International School

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Right in the center of one of Bangkok’s main ‘downtown’ areas is NIST (New International School Thailand). The school is situated on Asoke Road, meaning that it is easily accessed by BTS Skytrain and MRT subway stations – which unfortunately also puts it in one of the main traffic congestion zones.

NIST is also considered by many as one of the top international schools in Bangkok, and there is an association between the school and the UN (United Nations). NIST is actually known as the first school in Thailand to incorporate the IB Curriculum.

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A progressive and forward-thinking approach is promoted by the school, which encourages its learners to be adaptive and flexible to a modern, fast-changing world. This international school offers a huge range of extra-curricular activities in line with the children’s ages. Included in these activities are sports, drama, music, arts, linguistics, and social responsibility activities.

Address: 36 Soi Sukhumvit 15, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

WEBSITE: https://www.nist.ac.th

7. Shrewsbury International School Bangkok

Shrewsbury is another highly-regarded school that has been established since 2003. The school has two campuses that offer a co-educational system of education based on the English National Curriculum.

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This Bangkok international school has a scenic riverside campus on the outer limits of the old town which accepts students aged 3-18 years, while the city campus facilitates only primary school children aged 3-11 years.

IGCSE level is the focal point of study for the upper secondary level, along with AS Level, and A-Level curricula facilitating a path to leading universities around the world. A co-curricular programme, complemented by specially designed learning and performance facilities, is offered on both campuses.

Image by SIS sourced from wikimedia commons

Address: 1922 Charoen Krung Rd, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120

WEBSITE: https://www.shrewsbury.ac.th

8. St. Andrews International School

St. Andrews International Schools in Thailand are part of an established global learning network known as the Cognita family of schools, which consists of around 70 schools in eight countries and comprises over 40,000 students across the world.

The school presents international learning along the lines of what is basically a hybrid of both the British Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Programmes. St. Andrews in Bangkok consists of 3 different, fairly small campuses, with each school promoting an emphasis on a supportive and nurturing community environment.

High School ( Ages 11 to 18)
Address: 1020 Sukhumvit Rd, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Primary School (Ages 2 to 11)
Address: 9 Pridi Banomyong 20/1 Sukhumvit 71 Road Phra Khanong, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

WEBSITE: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/bangkok

9. Brighton College

A relatively new addition to the ever-expanding range of international schools in Bangkok, Brighton College Bangkok opened in 2016.

This school has gained a fair amount of repute in a short amount of time, and offers education programs to children aged between 2 and 18 which follow the UK curriculum to IGSCE and A-Level, and is geared towards assisting students to gain entrance to the world’s best universities.

The facilities on offer are also of high quality, and aim to facilitate the pursuit of sports and other activities, with an Olympic-size swimming pool, an athletics track, tennis courts, a football pitch, and a massive sports hall.

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Like many of the other top international schools, there is lots of scope for a variety of learning activities, and at Brighton College, this comes in the form of performing arts facilities like dance studios, practice rooms for music, and even a huge theatre to allow students to indulge and demonstrate their abilities in other areas.

Address: Soi Krungthep Kreetha 15/1 , Krungthep Kreetha Road, Huamark, Bangkapi, Bangkok
WEBSITE: https://brightoncollege.ac.th/

10. Rasami British International School (RBIS)

Rashmi British is a bit more on the smaller side as international schools go, and promotes an emphasis on being family-friendly and having high levels of academia and excellent teaching.

This ethos is further echoed by an environment of community and pastoral care with the focal point on ensuring that learners are happy but still challenged enough to be able to bring discovery and achieve their fullest potential.

The school’s smaller size is used as a selling point as being an advantage to students by fostering a friendly learning environment. Although small in size, this Bangkok school still has traits, standards, policies, and procedures of an independent British school.

RBIS has pupils between 18 months and 18 years and boasts graduate students who are well educated and are well-rounded individuals who are able to demonstrate, continue, and serve as examples of the school’s code of conduct which is based around being caring, courteous, and confident.

RBIS an Early Years Foundation Stage, along with Primary and Secondary, inquiry based learning with an emphasis on cooperative learning.
Extensive use of ICT is incorporated into the programs in order to facilitate access to learning materials and support with the aim of encouraging an attitude of independent learning.

Address: 48/2 Soi Rajavithi 2, Rajavithi Rd., Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
WEBSITE: http://rbis.ac.th/