International Schools in Bahrain: Curricula, Areas and Fees

How schooling works for expats

Most expat children attend private schools, which are licensed by the Ministry of Education. Bahrain's Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) inspects schools and publishes review reports, which are worth reading before you apply.

The academic year usually runs from late August or September to June. Demand is strongest for the start of the year, and popular schools keep waiting lists.

British curriculum schools

British schools follow the English National Curriculum, leading to IGCSEs and then A levels or the IB Diploma. They are the most popular choice for British, European and many Arab families.

St Christopher's School has its junior campus in Saar and its senior campus in the Riffa area. The British School of Bahrain is in Hamala and offers both A levels and the IB Diploma in its sixth form.

• St Christopher's School: junior in Saar, senior in the Riffa area, IGCSE, A level and IB
• British School of Bahrain: Hamala, IGCSE, A level and IB Diploma
• Other British-curriculum schools operate across Saar, Janabiya, Isa Town and Riffa

American curriculum schools

American schools follow US standards and graduate students with a high school diploma, often with Advanced Placement courses. They suit families heading to North American universities.

Bahrain Bayan School in Isa Town offers an American-based programme alongside the IB Diploma. Bahrain School in Juffair serves mainly US military and government families and has its own eligibility rules.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB is offered at several schools, either as a full continuum from primary to diploma or as a sixth-form option. It suits internationally mobile families because it travels well between countries.

Riffa Views International School, in the Riffa Views community, is an IB World School. Ibn Khuldoon National School in Isa Town is a long-established IB school with a bilingual Arabic and English approach.

Indian and other community schools

Indian schools follow the CBSE curriculum and are the most affordable international option, with fees well below British and American schools. The Indian School in Isa Town is one of the largest.

Bahrain also has Pakistani, Filipino, French and other community schools, which follow their home country's curriculum and calendar.

• Indian (CBSE): large schools in Isa Town, Riffa and Manama
• Pakistani: national curriculum schools
• Filipino: Philippine curriculum schools
• French: a French-curriculum school accredited by the French education system

Indicative fee ranges

Fees vary by school and year group, rising as children get older. The ranges below are indicative annual tuition only, and each school publishes its own fee schedule.

Expect extra one-off and annual costs, including application and registration fees, a refundable or non-refundable deposit, uniforms, buses, trips and exam fees.

Other curricula and special needs

Beyond the main options, some schools offer bilingual Arabic and English programmes that suit families who want their children to keep strong Arabic. Ibn Khuldoon National School and several other private schools follow this approach.

Support for special educational needs varies a lot between schools. Ask early about learning support staff, assessment, extra fees and class sizes, and be open about your child's needs so the school can say honestly whether it can help.

Early years provision is widely available through nurseries and school foundation stages. Nursery fees vary by hours and setting, and good nurseries also keep waiting lists.

Choosing by area

Traffic at school run times is the main daily cost of a poor choice, so many families pick a home near the school rather than the other way round.

Saar, Janabiya and Hamala suit families at the western schools, while Riffa and Riffa Views suit the southern ones. Families buying in the south, such as Al Areen or Bilaj Al Jazayer, often look at Riffa-area schools.

Admission tips

Apply as early as possible, ideally six to twelve months ahead for popular schools and key entry years. Many schools run assessments, and some years fill quickly.

Children joining from abroad may need school reports, transfer certificates and, for some schools, attested documents. Ask each school for its exact list.

• Shortlist three or four schools and visit them
• Read the latest BQA review for each school
• Ask about waiting lists and assessment dates
• Check sibling priority and corporate places
• Budget for fee increases, which usually need Ministry approval

Fees, rises and corporate support

Private school fee increases in Bahrain are regulated and generally need approval from the Ministry of Education. Even so, plan for some increase over the years your children are in school.

Many employers contribute to school fees as part of a package, especially for senior roles. If you are negotiating a job offer, ask whether education support is included and whether it is capped per child.

Golden Residency holders without an employer pay fees themselves, so build schooling into your long-term budget before you buy.

Universities and after school

Bahrain has public and private universities, including the University of Bahrain and branches of international institutions. Most expat students still go abroad for university, and international schools run strong university counselling for the UK, US, Canada and elsewhere.

Higher education institutions are licensed by the Higher Education Council, which is worth checking before enrolling in any local programme.

Questions people ask.

Sources: Ministry of Education, Bahrain · Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) · St Christopher's School · British School of Bahrain · Riffa Views International School · Ibn Khuldoon National School · International Baccalaureate school finder