Aside from the beautiful landmarks, Thailand is also increasingly becoming a hub of modernization, globalization, and great education. International families may benefit from enrolling their children in the best international schools in the country’s major cities.

Here are some of the best ones: 

1. Bangkok

International School Bangkok (ISB)
Photo: ISB International School Bangkok Facebook Page

International School Bangkok (ISB) is one of the first schools in Thailand to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This is a rigorous two-year pre-university curriculum, aimed at students aged 16 to 19. This leads to getting interested students to the top universities of the world.

Technology also plays an important role in their curriculum. In their Elementary School, students have access to laptops or iPads in class whenever they need them. From grade 6 onwards, each student is issued with a MacBook Pro for personal use. Their campus also covers 37 acres of land and is home to sports, cultural, and art centers that include a 400m track, tennis courts, swimming pools, and an amphitheater.

St. Andrews International School
Photo: St. Andrews International School Bangkok

St. Andrews International School in Bangkok aims to provide an exceptional learning environment for children aged 2-18. The school has more than 1,900 students representing about 55 different nationalities. These students are consistently achieving excellent and above global average grades in their examinations. Students graduating from St. Andrews also show an excellent record of securing places at some of the world’s top 100 universities. 

St. Andrews International School Bangkok is accredited by and affiliated with several highly respected international and regional bodies including the Center for British Teaching Education Trust (CfBT), British Schools Overseas (BSO), and International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) among many others. Their campus also has a resource center with an extensive collection of non-fiction and fiction books, comprehensive computer research facilities, as well as sports facilities, and a 260-seat theatre with state-of-the-art light and sound equipment.

NIST International School
Photo: NIST International School

NIST International School is one of the first schools in Thailand to receive triple accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA). They’re also the first and only full, not-for-profit International Baccalaureate (IB) international school in Bangkok.

The school welcomes over 1,700 students of over 65 nationalities, one of the most diverse schools in the country. These students enjoy the exceptional facilities that the school offers which include a creative arts building, counseling lounges, science labs, a sports complex with a FIFA-standard pitch, a theatre, and a tech center. These facilities support over 300 extra-curricular activities students can participate in.

Bangkok Patana School
Photo: Bangkok Patana School Facebook Page

Founded in 1957, Bangkok Patana School is the oldest international school in Thailand. Maintaining its British heritage, the majority of its teachers are British. Aside from upholding their academic excellence with their IB Curriculum, Patana is mainly known for its focus on arts and sports. Their facilities include a 600-seat Rosamund Stuetzel theatre, a 300-seat black box, an orchestra practice room, multi-media production studios, and drama studios.

The school also has swimming galas, inter-class tournaments, sports days, an aquathlon, and other competitions. Their sports facilities include a sports hall with a climbing wall, mini tennis courts, dance studios, and swimming pools.

Bromsgrove International School Thailand
Photo: Bromsgrove International School Thailand

Bromsgrove offers a traditional British education in an international setting. The school is academically selective, following an enhanced form of the English National Curriculum for England, while incorporating the flexibility to effectively respond to global change. The school is also affiliated with Daewon Foreign Language High School in Korea, which is ranked 13th among the top high schools in the world that have the highest success rate in gaining entry to top universities around the globe. This affiliation allows them to balance both eastern and western cultures.

BIST also has a comprehensive extra-curricular activity program, consisting of over 40 activities across the school. Activities range from academic subjects to sports, music, hip hop, and ballet, among many others.

Brighton College International School
Photo: Brighton College Bangkok Facebook Page

Brighton College in Bangkok, run in close partnership with England’s Independent School of the Decade, offers education to children aged 2-18. The school offers a rich and broad British Curriculum and has around 40% of its pupils of foreign nationality. Aside from ensuring the highest academic standards, the school also excels in a variety of co-curricular activities. This includes building robots, debating and public speaking, and creating podcasts, among many others.

Their campus provides a green and spacious learning environment, a 650-seat theatre, professional drama and music studios, football field, 400m running track, 50m and 25m swimming pools, four tennis courts.

2. Phuket

British International School
Photo: British International School Phuket

The British International School Phuket (BISP), Phuket’s largest international school, has one of the best campuses in Thailand. Their 44-acre campus includes eight boarding houses, science labs, sports facilities, a refectory, art and music centers, and a 300-seat auditorium. 

BISP offers education from pre-school (18 months old) to Year 13 (18 years old), with both primary and secondary schools consistently achieving high results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams. The school offers Aspirational Curriculum which includes sports, art and design, business, and STEM Academy.

UWC Thailand International School
Photo: UWC Thailand Facebook Page

United World College Thailand (UWCT) is located near one of Phuket’s national parks, which makes it one of the schools with an exceptional campus. Aside from the campus, the school is recognized internationally for its focus on embedding mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). This means that their program covers not only academic distinction but also other co-curricular activities.

Students can enjoy the school’s performing arts center, sports hall, black box theatre, and multi-purpose hall. The school is also situated near the Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort, which provides the students access to the resort’s swimming pools, athletics track, and fitness centers.

UWCT offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum as their academic foundation.

3. Pattaya

Regents International School Pattaya
Photo: Regents International School Pattaya Facebook Page

Regents International School Pattaya is one of the top international day and boarding schools in Eastern Seabord. The school offers the British curriculum, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Collaborating with MIT, Regents is particularly known for its innovative teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The school also emphasizes global citizenship, leadership, languages, as well as music.

Their music curriculum is based on a repertoire curated by Juilliard. The school has a state-of-the-art music technology suite as well as fully-equipped art studios. Students can also join different musical clubs including school choirs, orchestra, tuned percussion ensemble, and rock bands.

4. Chon Buri

Rugby School Thailand
Photo: Rugby School Thailand

Rugby School is a British international day and boarding school that aims to help children get a well-rounded student life. The school follows the British curriculum and British private boarding school model. This typically means that children have longer days to incorporate more co-curricular activities.

Students are also in smaller class sizes where they can have a more personalized time with their instructors. While the school is all about academic excellence, it also advocates having fun, developing passions, and adopting strong core values. They have over 70 activities each term including sport, music, art, and drama.

Featured Image: www.bisphuket.ac.th