Best International School in Riyadh for a13yr old ??

[user1491933480]

Hi ladies,

I am moving from the UK with my 13 year old son to join my husband in Riyadh.

Any idea on which of the International Schools is best?

We have considred UK boarding and that's not the route we want to take.

We have been there a number of times and our son has made friends with other boys in the compound.

We just need some feedback on the schools

Many thanks
C

I can't comment specifically on Riyadh, but would suggest deciding what system you are after (IGCSE, IB, US diploma would be my 3 suggestions) and narrow some of it down that way.
It sounds like the compound is already determined. Do any of the schools have transport links with the compound? What International schools are in that area of the city?

I'd also be wary of schools offering Cambridge curriculum. We had a (primary) disaster with that British schooling system and transfered to British International School /City/.

I know friends who went to BISR, and were ok with it.

Many thanks for that. The compound has buses that go to and from the Int Schools. IGCSE or Cambridge will be good. The plan is for him to attend University in the UK.

C

Don’t do US diploma without AP classes. Otherwise, it’s not much and doesn’t prepare for major exams.
Also, consider whether your son will pick up local values. The misogyny and abuse of women is very high in Saudi. I’d rather be a English dog than aSaudi woman.

There will be expat of Riyadh type Facebook groups and I would ask there and also ask the embassy which are the British curricula schools.

BISR has two campuses in Riyadh. One offers IB and the other the more traditional A Level. A third campus will open next year and offer GCSE & A level with the old campus becoming housing a smaller intake of primary and technical for secondary I think , more vocational.
BISR is the most favoured British School for secondary. Other schools either don't offer full secondary yet or aren't really of good standard. BISR has a real internarional demographic but alot of UK students leave for boarding /return for GCSEs and beyond.
Results vary . Many parents supplement with tutors. The fees are somewhat high for middling education.