Looking for the best British schools in Riyadh? We can help. – London Governess

Looking for the best British schools in Riyadh? We can help.

Why Riyadh?

Riyadh is an amazing place to live, with its sprawling shopping malls and local markets, the safety of living in compounds, the glorious sunshine, and the good salaries. If you are going to settle there, whether you are Saudi or British, you will want to know that you can provide your child with an excellent education. And if you do not want your child to receive the standard one-size-fits-all education programme offered by government schools, then you need to find a private school. But this will likely still be based on the Saudi curriculum. If what you want for your child is a British education that will be fitting anywhere in the world, you need to find a British international school.

What are British international schools?

You would expect a child attending a school in Italy to follow the Italian syllabus and learn everything in Italian; and likewise for a child in Turkey, for example. Well, international schools do not operate this way; they are schools operating in one country but following the syllabus of another. These are all private schools – not free – and some of them are very prestigious.

Like embassies, they are like little slices of one country within another. When you step into an international school, it is like you are in another country. An international school in Italy, for example, will not have walls covered with only Italian schoolwork, notices, and signs. Tuition will mostly be in English, there may be some bilingual instruction. And this also applies to the curriculum.

The school is independent of any national system of education, and teaches what it chooses to. It does not adhere to the curriculum of the host country, although it may respond to the host country’s requirements in some ways. There is a strong emphasis on helping students develop ‘international mindedness’. Modern society is pushing for diversity and inclusion, but international schools already achieved this long ago.

The body of students attending the school are multilingual and multinational. Some might be locals from the host country whose parents want their children to be exposed to international education, and some will be children whose parents have moved to the host country.

Why send your child to one?

A British international school is one that focuses on the British curriculum, teaches in English, and is basically like a British school lifted out of the UK and placed in another country. This kind of school is aimed at parents who want their children to receive a British education while living abroad. Similarly, there are international schools for Americans, Germans, etc. This schooling system benefits parents and children alike. Before there were international schools, the only way to give your children a British education while you lived overseas was to send them to a British boarding school.

So now that the schools have come to your country, your whole family can enjoy the splendour of living in Saudi Arabia. You have the opportunity to live together and your child can come home to you from school every day.

Why are some better than others?

Schools all over the world can be rated according to many criteria. These could be the quality of education; test score results; facilities, equipment, and teaching resources; the school’s premises; tuition fees (where applicable); and even the school’s reputation. But when someone says that a particular school is the best, how do you know you can trust that opinion? Here are some things you can consider and weigh up for yourself.

·       Is the school accredited?

Accredited schools follow curricula that are matched to specific standards. Accreditation also allows students to transfer educational credits between different schools.

·       Is the school part of any educational organisations?

International school organisations set standards for international schools.

·       Do staff keep their positions for long periods or is there high staff turnover?

As with any company, long-term staff shows they are treated well and have respect for their workplace, colleagues, and management. High staff turnover is a bad sign.

·       Is the school’s website appealing, informative, and up to date?

The school calendar should be up to date, as should the staffing list. It shows the school is attentive and keeps parents in the know and pupils involved. Are the pictures actually from the school? Does it make you want to visit?

·       What is the culture of the school? i.e. what are their values?

Is it overly academic or are other aspects prioritised, such as diversity and freedom of expression? If you take a tour, what feeling do you get? Ask the staff about the school’s values.

·       Does the school value languages?

English is likely the language of instruction. Students’ first languages should be respected and encouraged in order for them to sustain and develop them.

·       Are the facilities and equipment up to date?

Are there sufficient facilities for students to do the sporting activities they want? If not, does the school provide access at other locations. For example, if the school doesn’t have its own swimming pool, do they have the use of one elsewhere? Do the classrooms have the appropriate level of technology for a school in the 21st century?

·       Is there a library?

Technology has its place, but real books and printed resources are invaluable. A library is like a goldmine of knowledge, and rather than just a store room for books, it is a place to study and discover vital information. A library should be up to date, organised, and staffed.

·       What extra-curricular activities are provided?

Extra-curricular activities are not merely small, fun add-ons to the school day, they offer students the opportunity to explore and even excel at other, often non-academic skills. Find out what’s on offer and whether the school takes activities further by entering competitions or helping students join related external organisations.

·       Does the school have a good reputation?

Rather than consulting the school’s own website for this, there will be forums where various schools in your country are discussed by the parents and students.

Here is our pick of the best five

After giving due consideration to the British international schools in Riyadh, we have a list of the five best for you. This list of five is not in order – they are all very highly rated.

1. British International School Riyadh (BISR)

Website  www.bisr.com.sa

Locations  Primary: Salwa, primary & senior: Al Hamra, newest primary & senior: Diplomatic Quarter

Age range  Boys & girls, 3 to 18

Curriculum/curricula followed  British, and International Baccalaureate

Language of instruction  English

Native English teachers  Yes

Extra languages  Yes

Extra-curricular activities  Yes, many sports covered

Number of students  2,350 mostly British

Accreditation  Council of International Schools (CIS), British Schools Overseas (BSO)

With over forty years of history in Riyadh, the school has three campuses in Riyadh: a primary, and two primary & senior campuses. A truly multinational student body, with over fifty nationalities represented at any time. The list of extra-curricular activities on offer is vast.

Contact

Al Hamra Campus      +966 9200 33963

DQ Campus                +966 11 520 9050

Salwa Campus           +966 11 445 9300 ext 4474

Tabuk Campus           +966 14 422 0648 ext 3301

Taif Campus               +966 11 724 0099 ext 1603

2. Aldenham Prep Riyadh

Website  www.aldenhamprepriyadh.com

Location  Al Noura, As Sahafah

Age range  Boys & girls, 3 to 11. Accepting 11 to 18s from 2025

Curriculum/curricula followed  British

Language of instruction  English

Native English teachers  Yes

Extra languages  Yes

Extra-curricular activities  Yes, including chess, ballet, karate, football, tennis, dance, drama, animation, and many other subjects

Number of students  170 mostly British

Accreditation  Recently opened at time of writing, expecting to be accredited with IAPS, COBIS,  and BSME in 2023

A smaller school that stems from the deep roots of its original school in London, founded in 1597. The teaching programme at this school mirrors that of its UK parent school. With its smaller school population, students become part of a supporting and nurturing family.

Contact

[email protected]

3. Reigate Grammar School Riyadh (formerly Multinational School Riyadh)

Website  https://reigategrammar-riyadh.com

Location  Ghirnatah

Age range  3 to 18

Curriculum/curricula followed  British

Language of instruction  English

Native English teachers  Yes

Extra languages  Yes

Extra-curricular activities  Archery, rumba, chess, public speaking, reading, running calligraphy, tennis, maths and more

Number of students  775

Accreditation  Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)

Opened in 2020, this school comes from the original Reigate Grammar School, founded in the UK in 1675. This is a well resourced school that aims to be an innovative, forward-thinking international school that provides children with the opportunity to be nurtured into global leaders.

Contact

[email protected]

+966 55 501 8531

4. Saud International School

Website  https://sis.edu.sa/home

Location  Saluaimaniyah

Age range  Boys & girls, 3 to 18

Curriculum/curricula followed  British

Language of instruction  English

Extra languages  Yes

Extra-curricular activities  French, several sports including karate

Accreditation  Cognia, Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), CAIE

Established in 1998, Saud International School has continuous improvement ingrained into its staff culture, which directly benefits the students. Their vision is to provide a supporting1000 environment that promotes students’ intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development.

Contact

[email protected]

+966 920002877

5. King’s College Riyadh

Website  https://kingscollegeriyadh.com/

Location  Diriyah

Age range  Boys & girls, 3 to 18

Curriculum/curricula followed  British

Language of instruction  English

Native English teachers  Yes

Extra languages  Yes

Extra-curricular activities  Long list of physical activities, including ballet, yoga, tag rugby, basketball, athletics. Academic and recreational activities are also provided.

Number of students  188, mostly Saudi

King’s College Riyadh benefits from the pedigree of its original, highly respected King’s College in London, which spans over 140 years. The education is all-round British with some adaptations making it fit Riyadh perfectly.

Contact

Phone             +966 (0) 11 508 8022

Whatsapp        +966 50 888 9673

[email protected]

How do I settle my child into one?

If you are moving to Riyadh and intend to send your child to a British international school, it will be a monumental change for the child. There is an enormous number of things to get used to: this could be the weather, the culture, and finding new friends. And all of this is aside from the totally new school. It’s a big ask to lay at your child’s feet. But there is a way to make it easier and less stressful. A proven way of helping your child stay on track with schoolwork is to bring a governess into your home.

We have observed an increase in the number of governesses we supply to assist children in making the transition. A governess will understand this situation and all the problems facing a child at this time. Governesses have the ability to break down the big problem – my parents brought me to Riyadh and I’m in a new school and it’s all too much – into manageable pieces that can be addressed individually.

How long this takes depends on the child’s age and other factors. Sometimes a governess is only required for a month or so, and sometimes they stay for up to a year. It’s because they can be so incredibly helpful that it becomes difficult to let them go.

What are the next steps?

Do you think your child will be able to battle through all the changes of moving to another country, leaving friends behind, and settling in to a new school while simultaneously maintaining their level of performance in their schoolwork? Parents can help, but sometimes it needs someone, a professional, who is not part of the family to make the difference. As we have said, this is a huge change. That ideal ‘someone’ who can help make the transition could well be a governess. So the ideal next step is to contact a respected governess agency. When you explain your situation, a good agency will understand exactly what is needed to help your child.