A History of International Schools in Sukhumvit



International schools in Bangkok have exploded in popularity over the last twenty years.  There are currently over 95 international schools in Bangkok alone[1], furthermore, this number is steadily rising over time. For expat families living in Bangkok, with the myriad of options for education and a variety of different curriculums to choose from, hand-picking the best fitting school for your children may be a nerve-wracking task. That being said, dwelling in the Sukhumvit area are some of the most notable and well-established schools that may be just what you are looking for: a short commute, a lively community, and a world-class education. To aide you, the parents, in the decision-making process, we have compiled a list of schools that may be suitable for your children. On top of that, they also make for a pretty fun read!

St. Andrews International School (Nord Anglia)

Tuition Fees (per year) : 331,000 - 617,000 Thai Baht (Early Years to Sixth Form)

St. Andrews International School

Nord Anglia St. Andrews International School prior to 3 years ago was located at Pridi 9 (now exclusively their primary campus) where it was well-known for being a warm and homely environment with a small, intimate community to match. Over the years, this community grew to include many more students of varying backgrounds when eventually a new campus was built to accommodate the larger number of students. This new secondary campus, neatly located on the main Sukhumvit road, was previously a Thai international school known as Srivikorn and is also nicknamed the Srivikorn campus by students.

The Srivikorn campus now features new facilities and a much larger community from over a hundred different nations around the world. More importantly, however, STA is now one of the few schools accessible via the BTS, a truly coveted commodity for the sleepless international students of the IB diploma (meaning, you will see a lot of STA on the Ekamai BTS). With a truly standout teacher and student body, St. Andrews International School is a great choice and deserves at least a consideration.

Bangkok Prep

Tuition Fees (per year) : 488,000 - 560,000 Thai Baht (Early Years to Sixth Form)

Bangkok Prep

 

Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School, or Bangkok Prep, has the hallmarks that every good international school has. This international school located at the Thong Lor BTS station (Primary campus) and Sukhumvit 77 (Secondary campus) is nearing its 16th anniversary, and therefore is one of the younger international schools in the Sukhumvit area. What will strike you most about Bangkok Prep is both of its campuses—spacious, modern, and striking. The sports and recreational facilities of Bangkok Prep are on par with some of the best international schools of Bangkok.

Bangkok Prep is the only international school on this list that utilises the A-Levels instead of the IB diploma. While this topic of choosing between these diplomas deserves extensive discussion on its own, Bangkok Prep offers credible academic assistance to its students[2].

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NIST International School

Tuition Fees (per year) : 533,700 - 961,400 Thai Baht (Early Years to Sixth Form)

NIST International School is a well-known and respected international school in Bangkok established in 1992, the gold rush period of new international schools in Bangkok, making it one of the oldest in the city (in which prior to 1992, very few existed in Bangkok, ISB being the first).

To be considered as a reputable educational institution, experience truly matters; and this is something which NIST shows off with flying colours. NIST is known for being one of the pioneers of implementing the IB diploma in Bangkok, integrating the ideals of the IB into every part of NIST school life. Headlined on the front page of their website are the words “The first full, not-for-profit IB World School in Thailand”.

What often goes unmentioned about NIST are the extravagant festivals and school events that take place both on and off campus. Events such as the student-organised “Mixed-Up” annual Battle of the Bands, with the purpose of raising money for endangered sloths in the wild, are popular amongst the international student community in Bangkok. Overall, NIST has been and still is a great learning institution and environment for students all over Bangkok.

 

Photo source: http://wikimapia.org/240944/NIST-International-School#/photo/6442676

This brief history of international schools in Bangkok is simply a representation of what these schools have to offer to students in terms of school life, academics, and facilities available. While statistics, accreditations, and grades are deciding factors for your children’s education, it is just as crucial to know about these schools from a student’s perspective presented in this article.

 

© Sun Property Consultant

 

References 

Office of the Private Education Commission, 8 June 2016, data taken ; 2 April 2017, https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=b3BlYy5nby50aHxvcGVjfGd4OmVmMjAyN2M4NWM1Yjk1Yw

IB Website, Review of St.Andrews Bangkok International School https://www.ibyb.org/listing/st-andrews-international-school-bangkok-thailand

Bangkok Prep Website, Secondary Campus page https://bkkprep.ac.th/our-campus/secondary-campus/

Accomplishments and accreditations of Bangkok Prep https://bkkprep.ac.th/international-awards/

WikiMap website http://wikimapia.org/240944/NIST-International-School#/photo/6442676 

By : Sun Property Consultant

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