If you’re going to Bangkok to work or for business and you’re bringing your family along, the first thing you need to consider is whether your child will receive the same quality of education in this new city. Fortunately, Bangkok is an international city with an abundance of schools in its vast metropolis. But these schools are not just ordinary institutions. Over the past sixty years, international schools have been founded as an answer to the needs of the city’s diverse expatriate community. Many of these international schools are centered in Bangkok’s upscale Sukhumvit district. If you’re an expatriate who is moving to Bangkok in the coming months or you’re starting a family in Bangkok and you think it’s best to shop for schools as early as possible, then check out the list below to learn more about the top international schools in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district.
1. Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School
Also known to locals as Bangkok Prep and located in the heart of Sukhumvit, the Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School is one of the best international schools in Bangkok and providers of British education. It follows the English National Curriculum for Primary and Secondary schools and admits children from ages between 3 (Nursery) and 18 years old (Year 13). Upon reaching Year 10 and Year 11, Bangkok Prep provides a stringent IGCSE programme to prepare your child for the Cambridge-approved A-levels for Years 12 and 13. Apart from its rigorous academic programme offerings, Bangkok Prep provides a well-rounded curriculum which includes sports, arts, music, technology, and more. Its expansive campuses host different facilities, such as an indoor sports complex, library, sports fields, computer rooms, jogging track, fitness centre, gymnastics studio, dance studio, and outdoor swimming pool. An average class at Bangkok Prep has 22 students to ensure that each student gets the attention he or she needs. The institution is committed to its diverse and international roots, that’s why children enrolled at Bangkok Prep have a chance to learn Mandarin, French, Japanese, Thai, and other languages. Plus, its convenient location in Sukhumvit is ideal for expat parents and their children. If you want a well-rounded British education for your child right in the center of the city, Bangkok Prep is the way to go.
2. St. Andrew’s International School – Sukhumvit
St. Andrew’s International School is one of the international schools located in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district. The school’s curriculum is patterned after National Curriculum for England, as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework during the primary years. At St. Andrew’s, Year 10 and Year 11 pupils study under the IGCSE curriculum, while those who reach Year 12 and Year 13 study under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to prepare them to meet entry requirements set down by the world’s top universities. St. Andrew’s campus in Sukhumvit is vast and hosts world-class facilities including state-of-the-art science laboratories, a well-stocked library, art rooms, and a large auditorium. The school also has a standard football pitch, basketball courts, and a swimming pool. If you live in or near Sukhumvit, you can find St. Andrew’s International School along the Sukhumvit 107 Road.
3. Bangkok Patana
Considered as one of the oldest international schools in Thailand (it was founded in 1957), the Bangkok Patana has become one of the city’s most respected educational institution. The school caters to children from Nursery to Year 13. It offers a well-rounded education based on the English National Curriculum during the Primary School years and IGCSE programme for Years 10 and 11. To prepare your child for higher education, the Bangkok Patana offers a curriculum under the International Baccalaureate Programme upon reaching Year 12 and Year 13. To ensure that its students get the best education possible, the Bangkok Patana has extensive libraries and state-of-the-art computer rooms. Year 5 students and beyond are even allowed to use their own laptops in the classrooms. The school has an expansive campus located along La Salle Road. The school boasts of outdoor sports complex fields, an outdoor classroom, multiple swimming pools, arts centre, and more.
4. NIST International School
If you’re looking for a truly international school in Bangkok, then the NIST International School is your best bet. Founded in 1992 with the help of United Nations staff in Bangkok, the NIST International School stands out as one of the few schools in the world that offers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes for all stages–from Primary stage up to Senior Years. As part of its mission to ensure that students get the best international education possible, NIST allows its students to immerse in different world languages and offers different programmes such as the Global Citizen Diploma and Experiential Education. The vast NIST campus is situated on Sukhumvit Soi 15 and boasts of world-class facilities which include a football pitch, science laboratories, technology centres, theatre, recording studio, and sports complex.
5. ELC The City School
The ELC City School is perhaps the most unique international school in the Sukhumvit district, if not Bangkok itself. In The City School, education doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. The school boasts of modern and native-inspired buildings designed to complement its verdant surroundings and make you and your child feel like you have arrived in a haven in the city. The City School’s approach to education is holistic and unconventional yet effective. Be forewarned, however, that The City School admits only children between the ages of 3 and 11. so you need to be prepared when your child hits Year 7.
