Ascot International School vs Garden International School Bangkok

Ascot International School is situated in the leafy Saphan Sung area of Bangkok, on Ramkhamhaeng 118 Alley.

The campus is accessible via major roads and is a short drive from Sukhumvit and Lat Phrao districts, offering a quieter, suburban setting with good transport links.

The school serves children aged 18 months to 18 years, with clearly defined stages: Early Years (18 mo–4 yrs), Primary (Years 1–6), Secondary (Years 7–11), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13).

Ascot is a co-educational day school.

The school offers dedicated EAL (English as an Additional Language) support across all levels, including in-class inclusion and out-of-class extraction. It also provides tailored programs and adaptive technologies to support students with disabilities or specific learning differences.

Ascot does not have formal affiliation with any specific country.

The school has no religious affiliation.

Nursery–Reception sessions run from 08:00 to 14:30. Year 1–13 students attend from 07:40 to 15:00, with scheduled breaks and a lunch period mid-day.

Ascot’s website does not mention a dedicated school bus or coach service.

The school operates as a day school with no boarding facilities.

The school requires a uniform. The Ascot Boutique uniform shop is located adjacent to the New Secondary building and sells Ascot uniforms. It is open Monday to Friday during normal school hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM during school holidays.

Meals are catered by Premier Chef. Snack and lunch menus for EY and PY-SY are published for the current academic year. Meals include vegetarian, dairy-free, and egg-free options, and menus rotate to provide a diverse range of dishes.

Ascot has a House System with four houses. In 2021–2022 the houses were renamed from Trojans, Aztecs, Vikings, and Titans to Thai mythical creature names: Trojans became Phraya Insee (purple); Aztecs became Phraya Kochasarn (green); Vikings became Phraya Naga (blue); Titans became Phraya Rachasee (orange). Throughout the year, students can earn house points through various activities, and House Colours Days provide competition; end-of-year trophy is awarded to the top house.

Ascot International School is an IB World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Early Years and Primary (Pre-Nursery to Year 6). In Secondary (Years 7–11), the school delivers a blend of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) (currently in candidacy) and the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum. Students in Years 10 and 11 sit for IGCSE exams. In Years 12 and 13, students pursue the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). Core subjects across the school include English, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, Arts, Languages, and Physical Education, with instruction in English. Additional support for English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided where needed.

Ascot embeds SEL within its IB PYP framework, focusing on emotional intelligence through inquiry-based learning in Early Years and Primary stages. The school’s pastoral system, including form tutors and daily/weekly check-ins, supports social and emotional growth from the first day of school. Specific mindfulness programmes are available to help students manage stress and improve focus. SEL is reinforced during activities like Harmony Day, which promotes cultural understanding and peer relationships.

Ascot is not a specialist SEN institution, but it incorporates a multi-agency Inclusive Learning Practices strategy to support students with learning differences or disabilities. Teachers use differentiated instruction, adapt environments, and deploy adaptive technologies to address physical, cognitive, and sensory learning barriers. Staff anticipate individual needs before the first day and adjust teaching materials, processes, and environments accordingly.

Ascot offers EAL support at all levels, with Early Years incorporating language through play and repetition and primary through in-class inclusion and small-group extraction support. In Secondary Years 7–9, students are withdrawn from Mandarin classes for extra English lessons and may receive support during English lessons. At Key Stage 4, students are placed on either English First Language or English Second Language IGCSE tracks and sit external Cambridge English exams.

Ascot’s wellbeing initiatives include mindfulness programmes and a structured pastoral support system provided by form tutors, with regular meetings and close communication with parents. The school emphasizes mental health by integrating wellbeing into the curriculum and offering resources for stress management. Extracurricular activities - including sports and arts- are offered to support student engagement and emotional balance.

Ascot maintains robust safeguarding and child protection policies, with mandatory staff training and embedded procedures to ensure a safe environment. All community members are held responsible for student safety and trained regularly in child protection protocols. The school emphasizes proactive safeguarding, viewing student welfare as a fundamental responsibility of the institution.

1. Book an Open House or school tour. Attending sessions - such as the one held 31 January 2025 - lets you walk the campus, meet teachers, and see the environment firsthand.

2. Submit an application. Once you've visited, complete the online form, attach required documents (e.g. birth certificate, passport) and pay the non-refundable THB 4,000 application fee.

3. Attend assessments and interviews. Pre-Nursery–Year 2 applicants have a parent interview and informal assessment; Years 3–6 take English and Maths tests plus an interview; Years 7–13 complete assessments and meet with the Head of Secondary.

4. Receive results and offer. Within 3–5 working days, the Admissions Team informs you of your outcome and issues an Offer of Place, including a fee invoice.

5. Confirm your child’s place. To secure enrolment, pay the enrolment fee by the deadline and complete tuition payment. At this stage, uniforms and resources can also be purchased.

The school offers academic scholarships for entry into Years 4, 5, 10, and Year 12 (IB Diploma Programme) for the 2025–2026 academic year. Applicants must submit a THB 1,000 registration fee and sit an examination in late March. Results are communicated shortly afterward. The scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and are limited to those year groups.

Ascot operates an open-entry policy and does not maintain a formal waitlist. Admission is offered to families whose children’s needs can be met by the school’s programmes and resources.

Located in Sathorn, central Bangkok, the school sits in a leafy enclave close to Lumpini and Chong Nonsi BTS stations. This central area offers easy access to major roads and public transport, and is nestled among embassy and residential precincts, with dining and parks nearby.

The school is structured into Early Years (ages 2–5), Primary (Years 1–6), Lower Secondary (Years 7–9), Upper Secondary/IGCSE (Years 10–11) and Sixth Form/A‑Levels (Years 12–13). Each stage prepares students progressively for the next, following UK-adapted curricula.

Garden International School is a co-educational day school.

Support for English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is provided through in-class assistance, differentiated lessons, teaching assistants, and personalized learner passports with regular reviews.

The school does not have any formal affiliation to Thailand or another country.

The school is secular and has no religious affiliation.

Early Years (Ages 2–5)
The school day starts at 7:30 AM and ends at 2:10 PM, with an option to stay until 3:00 PM for extracurricular activities. There are morning and afternoon breaks, and lunch is served around midday.

Primary (Years 1–6)
The school day begins at 7:30 AM and finishes between 2:45 PM and 3:00 PM, depending on the year group. Students have a morning break and a lunch break. Optional ECAs run after school.

Secondary (Years 7–11)
Lessons start at 8:00 AM and the day ends around 3:00 PM. There is a morning break and a lunch break. Additional activities and revision sessions may take place after school.

Sixth Form (Years 12–13)
The day begins at 8:00 AM and generally ends by 3:00 PM. Students follow a flexible timetable and have breaks between lessons, including a lunch break. Independent study periods are built into the schedule.

Garden offers a termly bus service across four routes covering Sathorn, Silom, Thonglor/Sukhumvit and Bangrak. Costs depend on the route and can be paid per term.

The school has a uniform policy. A Uniform Shop provides the standard uniform and PE kit for Foundation through A-Levels. The uniform includes a shirt, skirt or shorts, PE kit, jumper, hat, tie, and a house shirt for House events.

The canteen serves Thai, Western and vegetarian options. Meals are freshly prepared on site with local produce, and the canteen can cater for most dietary requirements and allergies.

Garden International has a House System with four houses: Gecko, Eagle, Cobra and Tiger. Pupils and staff are allocated to a House for the duration of their time at school. The system includes House events, two Captains per House, and a points-based reward structure with termly rewards and a year-end party.

Garden International School Bangkok follows a British-based curriculum tailored for an international student body. In the Early Years (ages 2–5), children follow the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Primary students (Years 1–6) study a broad version of the English National Curriculum, including core subjects such as English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Computing, PE, Music, and Languages. In Secondary (Years 7–9), subject-specialist teaching continues across a wide range of academic and creative subjects. Students in Years 10–11 follow the Cambridge IGCSE programme and sit formal exams at the end of Year 11. Sixth Form students (Years 12–13) pursue Cambridge A Levels, typically selecting 3–4 subjects alongside optional leadership, service, and university preparation programmes.

The school emphasizes social and emotional development through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and ‘experience days’ that nurture resilience, reflection and self-awareness. Students take part in vertical group activities, student leadership roles, including Student Council and House Captains and school-wide ‘special days’ that support social cohesion. Qualified pastoral staff, including a counsellor, support this SEL framework.

Garden operates inclusive support under the UK’s SEND Code of Practice, assisting students across four main need categories: social–emotional and mental health, communication and interaction, sensory or physical, and cognition and learning. SEN support includes learner passports, an assess–plan–do–review cycle, in-class teaching assistant help, specialist referrals (e.g. to speech or occupational therapists), and support from an Inclusion team and counsellor. It is not a specialist SEN school, but a mainstream one offering tailored provisions

The school supports EAL learners via Quality First Teaching combined with specialist input, using a WIDA-based approach to assess and support language acquisition from Foundation through Year 13. Inclusive strategies include translanguaging, maintaining home language, and targeted interventions for students below WIDA proficiency level 2 or 3.

A dedicated school counsellor works closely with the Inclusion department to support students, especially in social–emotional and mental health areas. The school’s staff includes qualified pastoral care professionals who monitor students and coordinate wellbeing support . Counselling forms part of the broader learner support framework, adapting to individual needs via learner passports.

Details on safeguarding and child protection policies are not publicly disclosed on the school’s website.

Attend a Campus Tour (optional)
Prospective families can book a tour to view the facilities and observe classes.

Submit Application & Documents
Following the tour or enquiry, you'll complete the online application, pay the application fee, and supply required paperwork (e.g., transcripts, ID, visa documents).

Assessments and Interviews
Younger applicants may take a basic readiness check, whereas Year 7+ students sit entrance exams and attend an interview or school visit. Admissions contacts support preparation.

Offer and Enrolment
Successful applicants receive an offer, after which they pay the one-time enrolment fee and sign the contract. The school then issues documents for visa and placement.

Garden International School Bangkok does not publicly disclose any scholarships or bursaries on its website.

The school’s official site does not detail any waitlist or placement pool.