Education
International Schools in Phuket
Phuket has 20+ international schools and kindergartens, and between them they cover British, American, IB, French, Finnish, Canadian, Montessori and Waldorf-inspired approaches. All are taught in English, with a French-language option at BCIS.
The larger schools run from early years through to 18. Many smaller ones stop at primary or early secondary, so check the age range before you shortlist.
Inbar has personally visited every established international school on the island, so what you read here comes from walking the campuses, not reading brochures.
Table Of Contents
What to Expect from Schools in Phuket
There is real choice here, which also means a real decision. Before browsing the list below, it helps to know what separates one school from another.
Curriculum options
Most international schools in Phuket follow a British, American or IB curriculum. A smaller number offer French, Finnish, Canadian, Montessori or Waldorf-inspired approaches.
British curriculum schools lead to IGCSEs at 16 and A Levels at 18. American curriculum schools suit families planning an eventual return to the US, or a move to American-system schools elsewhere in the world.
Only UWC Thailand offers the IB from early years all the way to the Diploma. A few others, including the British International School and Ruamrudee, offer the IB Diploma at 16 to 18 alongside their main curriculum. That continuity appeals to families who expect to move countries again.
Switching systems is not always easy. IB, IGCSE and A Level programmes can be a hard step for a child coming from a different system, especially in the later years. Whether a child transitions well depends on the child and their specific situation, which is why it is worth talking it through before you choose.
No curriculum is better than another. The right fit depends on your child and where they are likely to study next.
“If I had to pick one thing, it’s price. Work out what you can really afford, and don’t waste your time on schools outside that. Everything else comes after.”
What international schools in Phuket cost
Fees vary widely by school and year group. Annual tuition runs from around 175,000 THB at the smaller schools to over 980,000 THB for secondary at the largest, based on 2026/27 fee schedules.
Budget for more than tuition. Most schools also charge one-off enrolment fees, from a few thousand baht up to 200,000 THB at the largest, and many take a refundable deposit or bond on top.
Bilingual options such as Kinderville’s campuses sit at a lower price point for younger children. The comparison table below shows each school’s fee range.
How to choose the right school
Location matters more than most families expect before they arrive. Schools cluster in Cherng Talay and Bang Tao in the north, Koh Kaew, Kathu and Wichit in the centre, and Chalong and Rawai in the south. A school on the other side of the island means a long daily commute, so shortlist schools near where you plan to live. Our comparison of Cherngtalay vs Rawai for families covers the two most popular areas.
Then visit your shortlist in person, check real class sizes, and ask each school about space in your child’s specific year group.
For how school choice fits into the wider move, see moving to Phuket with your family.
International School Fees and Curriculums
Fees are annual tuition for the 2026/27 academic year unless marked otherwise, taken from each school’s published fee schedule. One-off costs such as enrolment fees and deposits are extra. Schools review their fees every year, so confirm current figures with the school before you commit.
| School | Area | Curriculum | Ages | Annual tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British International School | Koh Kaew | British, IB Diploma | 2 to 18 | 489,000 to 982,700 THB (Little Ducks, age 2 to 3, from 179,000 THB) |
| UWC Thailand | Thalang | IB | 2 to 18 | 345,000 to 933,000 THB |
| Ruamrudee International (RIS) | Chalong | American, IB Diploma | 2 to 17 | 538,400 to 824,400 THB |
| HeadStart International | Wichit and Cherng Talay | British | 2 to 18 | 347,000 to 540,000 THB |
| BCIS International | Chalong | British (Cambridge), French | 2 to 18 | 302,000 to 502,500 THB |
| Kajonkiet International (KIS) | Kathu | British | 2 to 18 | 285,000 to 454,000 THB |
| QSI International | Kathu | American | 2 to 18 | US$4,600 to US$15,100 |
| Finnway International | Koh Kaew | Finnish | 2 to 13 (growing school) | 260,000 to 447,000 THB |
| Oak Meadow International | Wichit | American | 2 to 18 | 231,000 to 408,240 THB |
| Lighthouse International | Chalong and Rawai | Canadian, Cambridge IGCSE, French department | 2 to 18 | 210,000 to 348,000 THB |
| Prasan Gateway International | Chalong | International Primary Curriculum | 2 to Year 8 | 240,000 to 340,000 THB |
| Montessori House (MHP) | Chalong | Montessori | 3 to 12 | 241,000 to 305,700 THB (2024/25) |
| ISP International | Chalong | Cambridge | 5 to 14 | 174,600 to 238,320 THB |
| Bamboo Valley | Cherng Talay | Waldorf-inspired | 2 to 9 | Contact the school |
British, American, Thai and Israeli School Years Compared
Each system names its years differently, which causes real confusion when families compare schools. Use this as a guide to where your child is likely to be placed by age. Cut-off dates differ between systems and between schools, so a child born close to a cut-off can land a year either side. Each school confirms the final placement.
| Age at start of year | British | American | Thai | Israeli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 3 to 4 | Nursery | Pre-K | Anuban 1 | Gan (Trom-Trom-Chova) |
| Age 4 to 5 | Reception | Pre-K | Anuban 2 | Gan (Trom-Chova) |
| Age 5 to 6 | Year 1 | Kindergarten | Anuban 3 | Gan Chova |
| Age 6 to 7 | Year 2 | Grade 1 | Prathom 1 | Kita Alef (1) |
| Age 7 to 8 | Year 3 | Grade 2 | Prathom 2 | Kita Bet (2) |
| Age 8 to 9 | Year 4 | Grade 3 | Prathom 3 | Kita Gimel (3) |
| Age 9 to 10 | Year 5 | Grade 4 | Prathom 4 | Kita Dalet (4) |
| Age 10 to 11 | Year 6 | Grade 5 | Prathom 5 | Kita Hei (5) |
| Age 11 to 12 | Year 7 | Grade 6 | Prathom 6 | Kita Vav (6) |
| Age 12 to 13 | Year 8 | Grade 7 | Matthayom 1 | Kita Zayin (7) |
| Age 13 to 14 | Year 9 | Grade 8 | Matthayom 2 | Kita Chet (8) |
| Age 14 to 15 | Year 10 | Grade 9 | Matthayom 3 | Kita Tet (9) |
| Age 15 to 16 | Year 11 (IGCSE) | Grade 10 | Matthayom 4 | Kita Yud (10) |
| Age 16 to 17 | Year 12 | Grade 11 | Matthayom 5 | Kita Yud-Alef (11) |
| Age 17 to 18 | Year 13 (A Levels) | Grade 12 | Matthayom 6 | Kita Yud-Bet (12, Bagrut) |
In the British system, primary runs from Year 1 to Year 6 and secondary from Year 7 to Year 13. American schools usually split into elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 5), middle school (Grades 6 to 8) and high school (Grades 9 to 12). In Israel, elementary school (Yesodi) covers grades 1 to 6, junior high (Hativat Beinayim) grades 7 to 9 and high school (Tichon) grades 10 to 12, ending with the Bagrut exams. Most international schools in Phuket use British or American year names.
Kindergartens and Nurseries in Phuket
Phuket has a wide spread of international kindergartens and nurseries, from Montessori settings to bilingual early years centres, most of them in Chalong, Rawai and Wichit. Use the Kindergarten & Nursery filter in the list below to see every option for children from 18 months to 6 years.
Choosing an early years setting is a different decision from choosing a school, with different priorities. Our Kindergartens in Phuket chapter walks you through it.
Watch this before you book a single school tour
Reading about curriculums only gets you so far. Our Schools & Education chapter walks you through how Phuket’s school system works, which curriculum fits where your child is likely to study next, and the questions to ask before you enrol.
You get the full video to stream or download.
Presented in Hebrew, with English captions coming soon.
฿1,150 as a single chapter, or included in the Family Bundle alongside every other chapter.
Where Families Go Wrong
A few patterns come up again and again, and most are avoidable.
Choosing a school before setting foot in it. A prospectus only tells you so much. The feel of a campus, the real class sizes, and how staff speak to your child are things you can only judge in person.
Choosing a school outside your real budget. Fees are usually the largest line in a relocation budget, and it is easy to fall for one you cannot comfortably sustain for several years. Set the number first, then shortlist.
Choosing the school the parents love rather than the one that fits the child. The right fit depends heavily on your child’s age and temperament, not on which campus most impressed you on the tour.
Arriving before sorting your visas, then trying to enrol. Enrolment, housing, and visas are tangled together. Leaving the paperwork until you are already here narrows your options and adds pressure at the worst possible time.
Finding the right community for your child
Every school has its own feel, and the community your child joins matters as much as the curriculum when it comes to settling in. Families often want to know who their child will be learning alongside, whether there is a broad mix of nationalities, and whether there are other children who share their first language or background. There is no universal right answer here, only what helps your child feel they belong. It is worth asking each school directly about its student community and the languages spoken on campus, and it is one of the things we can talk through honestly in a consultation.
Full List of International Schools in Phuket
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which international school in Phuket is best?
There is no single best school, only the best fit for your child. It depends on the curriculum you want, your child’s age and temperament, where you plan to live, and your budget. A British school leading to IGCSEs and A Levels suits one family, an IB school suits another. Narrow by curriculum and location first, then visit your shortlist in person.
How much does international school in Phuket cost?
Annual tuition runs from around 175,000 THB at the smaller schools to over 980,000 THB for secondary at the largest, based on 2026/27 fee schedules. Most schools also charge one-off enrolment fees of up to 200,000 THB, and many take a refundable deposit on top. The fee table above shows each school’s range.
Do international schools in Phuket have waiting lists?
Some do, and it’s rarely a simple yes or no. Places usually depend on your child’s year group, so a school can be full in one grade and have space in another. Some schools say they have a waitlist when they don’t. Others give priority to siblings once one child has a place, and some will make room for a child who stands out. The only reliable answer comes from asking each school about your child’s specific year group, and asking early.
When should I apply to schools in Phuket?
Start several months before you plan to arrive. Space depends on the year group, so contact your shortlisted schools early and you will be choosing from what is open rather than what is left.
Can I sort out my child’s school after I arrive in Phuket?
It is far better to start before you arrive. Schooling, housing and visas are tangled together, and leaving enrolment until you are on the ground narrows your options and adds pressure at the worst time. Shortlist and make contact first, then confirm once you visit.
Can someone help me choose the right school?
Yes. Inbar has personally visited every established international school on the island and can give you an honest read on the ones you are considering. The first ten minutes of a consultation are free, so if you have two or three quick questions, that is often all you need.
Not sure where to start?
Inbar has visited every established international school in Phuket. Ask her what she thinks of the ones on your shortlist.
The first ten minutes of a consultation are free. If you only have two or three quick questions, that is often all you need, and if you want to go deeper we can take it from there.
