Bangkok Patana School vs International School Bangkok (ISB)
Bangkok Patana School and International School Bangkok (ISB) are both in Bangkok, about 29 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Bangkok Patana School also offers British, EYFS and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, and International School Bangkok (ISB) also offers Advanced Placement (AP) and American. Published annual fees are THB 495,000 - 975,000 at Bangkok Patana School and THB 640,000 - 1,162,000 at International School Bangkok (ISB), which puts International School Bangkok (ISB) roughly 23% higher. Bangkok Patana School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and International School Bangkok (ISB) from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 2,200 and 1,800 pupils. Typical class sizes are 22 at Bangkok Patana School and 20 at International School Bangkok (ISB).
IB (DP), British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Curriculum
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
2,200
Pupils
1,800
Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1957
Opened
1951
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Bangkok Patana School is located on La Salle Road (Sukhumvit 105), in the Bangna district of eastern Bangkok. The campus is easily accessible via the Bang Na BTS Skytrain station and major roads such as the Bang Na–Trat Expressway. It is situated in a residential area with close proximity to international communities and commercial hubs like Mega Bangna and BITEC.
Location
International School Bangkok is located in the Nichada Thani estate in Nonthaburi, a suburb to the northwest of central Bangkok. The area is a gated residential community popular with expatriate families. ISB is approximately a 30–45 minute drive from downtown Bangkok, depending on traffic.
Stages
Stages
Bangkok Patana School is divided into Early Years, Primary, and Secondary sections. The Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery, Foundation Stage 1 and 2. The Primary section runs from Year 1 to Year 6, while Secondary includes Year 7 through Year 13, ending with the IB Diploma Programme.
Stages
ISB is divided into three main divisions: Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5), Middle School (Grades 6 to 8), and High School (Grades 9 to 12).
School type
School type
Bangkok Patana School is a day school and It does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
ISB is a private, co-educational day school serving international students from Pre-K through Grade 12.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Bangkok Patana offers a structured Additional Educational Needs (AEN) programme. Learning Support is available across all school levels, with specialized staff such as learning support teachers, educational psychologists, and speech and language therapists. Interventions may include small group sessions in literacy and numeracy, one-on-one academic coaching, and targeted support for executive functioning or language development. The school also runs an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme from Year 1 to Year 9 for students who need support accessing the curriculum in English. Additionally, a Gifted and Talented programme identifies and extends learning for high-ability students within the classroom and through enrichment.
Additional learning support
ISB provides a range of support services for students with additional learning needs through its Learning Support and Intensive Needs programs. These include individualized support plans, small group or one-on-one instruction, and collaboration with classroom teachers. The school also offers access to counselors, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialists, and educational psychologists where appropriate.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Country affiliation
The school does not have a formal affiliation with any single country, though it primarily follows a U.S.-based curriculum and serves an international student population.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Bangkok Patana School is not affiliated with any religion. It is a secular school that welcomes students from all faiths and cultural backgrounds.
Religious affiliation
ISB is a non-sectarian school with no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school does not have publicly available information on their day structure.
School day structure
The school day runs from 7:35 am to 1:10 pm for Pre-K. Elementary students attend from 7:35 am to 2:25 pm (1:50 pm on Wednesdays), Middle School from 7:40 am to 2:45 pm (2:00 pm on Wednesdays), and High School from 7:45 am to 2:50 pm (2:00 pm on Wednesdays).
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school does offer a bus service. The service is divided into several distance-based zones: Zone 1A, 1B, 1C, and Zone 2. Shuttle bus options are also available for specific routes.
Bus service details
ISB provides a door-to-door school bus service within the Nichada Thani estate and surrounding areas. The service is operated in partnership with Montri Transport, a company experienced in school transportation. Buses are air-conditioned, supervised by bus monitors, and follow strict safety protocols. After-school activity buses are also available for students participating in extracurricular programs.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
One-Time Fees Application Fee: THB 4,000
Non-refundable. Paid at the time of application; does not guarantee placement. Entrance Fee: First Child: THB 250,000 Second/Subsequent Children: THB 200,000
Non-refundable. Payable upon acceptance before first entry. Staggered payment options available:
Foundation Stage entrants: THB 40,000 first, remainder before Year 1
Year 1 entrants: THB 40,000 first, remainder before Year 3
Deposit: THB 50,000 (refundable)
Returned upon withdrawal with notice and clearance of all dues.
Annual Tuition Fees (by year level) These are paid termly in 3 installments. Fees include residential visits (Years 3–10 & Year 12) and lunch (Nursery–Year 6).
Nursery: THB 495,000 (Term 1: 220,000 / Term 2: 145,000 / Term 3: 130,000)
Foundation Stage 1: THB 555,000 (245,000 / 165,000 / 145,000)
Foundation Stage 2: THB 615,000 (275,000 / 180,000 / 160,000)
Year 1–2: THB 720,000 (320,000 / 210,000 / 190,000)
Year 3: THB 760,000 (335,000 / 225,000 / 200,000)
Year 4–5: THB 765,000 (340,000 / 225,000 / 200,000)
Year 6: THB 780,000 (345,000 / 230,000 / 205,000)
Year 7–9: THB 810,000 (360,000 / 240,000 / 210,000)
Year 10: THB 920,000 (410,000 / 270,000 / 240,000)
Year 11: THB 680,000 (410,000 / 270,000 / Term 3: waived)
Year 12: THB 975,000 (435,000 / 285,000 / 255,000)
Year 13: THB 720,000 (435,000 / 285,000 / Term 3: waived)
Capital Assessment Fee Annual: THB 30,000 Term 1: 13,400 Term 2: 8,800 Term 3: 7,800
Paid termly alongside tuition.
EAL Fee (English as an Additional Language) Applicable to Year 1–9 students only if required by the school.
Annual: THB 105,000 Term 1: 46,700 Term 2: 30,900 Term 3: 27,400
Maximum of six terms of charges even if provision continues.
Transport Fees Fees depend on distance zone and one-way vs round-trip:
Zone 1A: One-way: THB 45,200 Round trip: THB 77,000
Zone 1B: One-way: THB 48,000 Round trip: THB 82,300
Zone 1C: One-way: THB 60,100 Round trip: THB 102,800
Zone 2: One-way: THB 67,800 Round trip: THB 116,100
Refund Policy No refunds for short-term or authority-mandated closures.
Refunds are available only on a half-term basis for:
Tuition, capital, transport, and lunch (if leaving before half-term break)
Prorated by remaining school days.
Year 13 deposit refunds processed by 31 July.
No refunds after first week of: ECAs Instrumental Music Sports Programme
Payment Methods All payments must be in Thai Baht:
Cash (only if ≤ THB 10,000) Cheque or cashier’s order (payable to Bangkok Patana School) Credit card (AMEX, KBank, Citibank/UOB; Thai cards only; installment plans available) Bank transfer via KBANK/CIMB Bill Payment (forms via Parent Gateway) Online payment via Parent Gateway (SCB, PayPal, QR Code) Direct bank transfer
Fee details
Application and Registration Fees:
* Application Processing Fee: THB 4,700 (non-refundable, payable upon application). * Registration Fee: THB 260,000 (one-time, non-refundable unless withdrawal occurs within the first 20 days of enrollment).
Annual and Membership Fees:
* Annual Fee: THB 22,000 per year or THB 11,000 per semester (non-refundable; applicable to Kindergarten through Grade 12). * International School Association (ISA) Membership Fee: THB 10 per year.
Tuition Fees for 2025/26:
* Pre-Kindergarten : THB 640,000 per year * Elementary : THB 985,000 per year * Middle : THB 1,104,000 per year * High : THB 1,162,000 per year * Life Centered Education (Additional to tuition fees) : THB 980,000 per year
Payment Methods:
* Payments can be made via cash, check, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex), or wire transfer. * All payments must be in Thai Baht, net of any bank charges. * A late payment fee of 0.75% per month applies to overdue payments.
Refund Policy:
* The registration fee is refundable only if a new student withdraws within the first 20 days of enrollment. * Tuition and transportation fees are prorated if a student withdraws before completing 50 days of a semester.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
In the early years and primary school, the school uses the English National Curriculum, starting with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in Nursery and Foundation Stage. From Year 1 to Year 6, students continue with the UK national curriculum, covering core subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, alongside specialist instruction in subjects like Music, Art, Physical Education, and Thai.
In secondary school (Years 7 to 11), students continue with the English National Curriculum, and in Years 10 and 11, they study for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams, primarily under the Pearson Edexcel examination board.
In Years 12 and 13, students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This is a two-year academic programme that includes six subject groups along with core components like the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
Curriculum details
International School Bangkok (ISB) offers a U.S.-based curriculum enriched with international standards, providing a cohesive educational experience from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. In the early years and elementary levels, the focus is on inquiry-based learning across core subjects, arts, physical education, and world languages. Middle School (Grades 6–8) continues this approach, integrating interdisciplinary studies and social-emotional learning. High School students can pursue the ISB High School Diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or a hybrid pathway combining IB and AP courses. The curriculum is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is designed to be transferable for globally mobile families.
1. Document Preparation Parents prepare scans of all required documents: recent school reports (last 2 years), birth certificate, parents’ and student passports, photos, and for dual nationals, Thai ID and house registration. Existing forms, such as the Application Agreement and doctor’s letter, must be completed and uploaded online.
2. Online Submission Applications must be submitted through the school’s online portal (non-Thai or Thai national streams), with all documents uploaded and the application fee paid. The process begins with login/registration and proceeds only when files are complete.
3. Assessment & Review The admissions team reviews all application materials. Depending on age and needs, students may undergo assessments such as EAL for English proficiency or readiness checks for early years. Teacher recommendations and writing samples are also required.
4. Decision & Offer Based on assessments, past school reports, recommendations, and available space, a formal offer letter is issued by the Head of School. A THB 50,000 acceptance fee (deposit) is due once the offer is accepted.
5. Enrollment Upon receipt of the signed offer letter, deposit, and (for non-Thai students) valid non-immigrant visa documents, student enrollment is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Book a campus visit or virtual tour. Families are encouraged to schedule a visit to explore the campus and meet the admissions team. This can be arranged through ISB’s admissions portal.
2. Complete the online application. Submit the application via ISB’s OpenApply platform. Required documents include academic records, birth certificate or passport, immunization records, and teacher recommendations. A non-refundable application fee of ฿4,700 is payable at this stage.
3. Assessment and interview. Depending on the grade level, students may be required to undergo assessments or interviews to determine appropriate placement. The admissions team will provide details after reviewing the application.
4. Receive admission decision. The admissions committee reviews applications holistically. Decisions are communicated via email, and successful applicants will receive an offer letter outlining the next steps.
5. Confirm enrollment. To secure a place, families must pay a non-refundable registration fee of ฿260,000 within the specified timeframe. Additional enrollment documents may be required at this stage.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Bangkok Patana does not offer in-house academic scholarships.
Scholarships
ISB does not publicly advertise scholarship programs.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does maintain a waiting pool when year groups are full. Placement on the waitlist depends on factors such as availability, siblings at the school, returning students, date of application, and the need for support services.
Waitlist
ISB operates a waitlist system when grade levels reach capacity. Applicants are placed on the waitlist based on the date of application completion and other criteria. The admissions team contacts families as spaces become available.
