British Concordance International School vs Varee Chiangmai International School
British Concordance International School and Varee Chiangmai International School are both in Chiang Mai, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer British, Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels programmes. British Concordance International School also offers BTEC Qualification and EYFS, and Varee Chiangmai International School also offers Cambridge International AS Levels. Published annual fees are THB 187,000 - 330,000 at British Concordance International School and THB 244,000 - 524,000 at Varee Chiangmai International School, which puts Varee Chiangmai International School roughly 49% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. Varee Chiangmai International School is the larger school, with around 300 pupils to British Concordance International School's 200. Typical class sizes are 22 at British Concordance International School and 20 at Varee Chiangmai International School.
British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
200
Pupils
300
Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2022
Opened
2010
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
British Concordance International School (BCIS) is located at 216 Moo 1, Tambon Nong Kwai, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand. It sits in a suburban area with access by car or school transport and is about a 30‑minute drive from the city centre, providing a quieter residential neighbourhood setting.
Location
The school is situated at 59 Moo 6, Mahidol Road, Nong Hoi, Mueang District, Chiang Mai, Thailand. It lies within easy reach of shopping centres, hospitals, supermarkets, and bus and train stations.
Stages
Stages
BCIS follows the British curriculum, structured into three main stages: Early Years (Nursery through Reception, for ages 2–5), Primary (Years 1–6), and Secondary (up to Year 12/13, ages approximately 11‑18).
Stages
VCIS serves children aged 2 to 18, from Pre‑Nursery up through Year 13.
School type
School type
The school is co‑educational and does not offer boarding facilities.
School type
The school is fully co‑educational and currently operates as a day school. No boarding facilities are provided.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
BCIS provides in-class support for students with special needs through curriculum adjustments, modified assessments, and behaviour support strategies. For example, a student with dyslexia might receive extra time on tests, while a student with autism could be offered alternative assignments or oral assessments. The type of support depends on individual needs and may include behavioural interventions such as reinforcement techniques or calming strategies. Parents are encouraged to work with the school’s special education advisor to tailor the support to each child. To support students with limited English proficiency, BCIS uses a range of strategies, including ESL programs, multilingual staff, and buddy systems.
Additional learning support
Varee Chiangmai International School provides Learning Support and English as an Additional Language Programme.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have any official affiliation to one particular country beyond its British curriculum heritage.
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any specific country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation.
Religious affiliation
The school has no affiliation with any religion.
School day structure
School day structure
The school day includes a morning session, a mid‑morning break, lunchtime, and an afternoon session; specific start and finish times are not listed.
School day structure
Early Year and Primary School classes run from 8.00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday. Secondary School is from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. After-school activities for children in Primary run from 2:45 PM to 3:30 PM. For Secondary, after-school activities run from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM.
Bus service details
Bus service details
BCIS offers a school bus service for students, with annual transport fees calculated depending on the route and distance.
Bus service details
The website does not mention any school bus or transport service.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
One-Time Payment Fees Entrance Exam Fee: THB 3,300 Entrance Fee: THB 70,000 Lifetime Books Fee: THB 20,000 (This covers book use for the entire duration of a student’s time at BCIS)
Annual Tuition Fees Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Reception: THB 187,000 Year 1 – Year 4: THB 242,000 Year 5 – Year 6: THB 275,000 Year 7 – Year 9: THB 308,000 Year 10 – Year 13: THB 330,000 Note: A 25% tuition fee discount is available if parents pay full yearly tuition in advance for more than 3 years.
Other Annual Fees Lunch: THB 20,000 Capital Improvement / Material Fees: THB 20,000 School Bus: Ranges from THB 30,000–50,000 per year ESL Support: THB 50,000 per year Accident Insurance: THB 1,000 Uniform (5 sets): THB 4,500 (one-time purchase) Visa Fee: THB 3,000 per person EMS Fee (for visa processing): THB 1,500 per person Stationery Sets: Year 1–6: THB 400 per year Year 7–13: THB 800 per year Yearbook: THB 800 per year
Summer School Fees EYFS – Year 10: THB 10,000 per week / THB 39,000 per 4-week session
Sibling Discounts First child: Full fee Second child: 10% tuition discount Third child and up: 15% tuition discount
Payment Methods Accepted via bank transfer, Alipay, and credit card
Fee details
Application and Placement Fee: THB 6,000 (one-time, non-refundable)
Enrollment Fee (non-refundable): New student: THB 80,000 2nd and subsequent child: THB 60,000 Entry at A Level: THB 40,000
Sibling Discounts 5% for the second child 10% for third and additional children
Other Required Fees English Support (IEP/EAP): THB 30,000 per semester Lunch (Early Years to Key Stage 2): THB 9,000 per semester PTA Fee: THB 750 per family per year DoE Registration (if applicable): THB 2,000
Payment Options Cash, Visa/MasterCard, and Bank Transfer.
Refund Policy New students: 75% refund if withdrawn within 7 business days after semester start.
Current students: Full refund if withdrawal notice is given 15 days before the semester start.
No refunds for mid-semester withdrawals.
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
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
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
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
BCIS follows the British national curriculum from Early Years through to Sixth Form. In the Early Years (ages 2–5), children follow the UK EYFS framework, focusing on seven areas of development including communication, maths, and physical development. Primary students (Years 1–6) study core subjects like English, maths, and science, alongside foundation subjects such as art, PE, and computing. In Secondary (Years 7–11), students follow Key Stage 3 and then prepare for Pearson Edexcel IGCSEs and BTEC qualifications in subjects such as science, business, and travel & tourism. In Years 12–13, students take A-Level courses through Pearson Edexcel. The school also includes PSHE across all stages and offers additional ESL support where needed.
Curriculum details
Varee Chiangmai International School follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years through to Year 13. In the Early Years (Pre-Nursery to Reception), the curriculum is based on the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with a focus on language, numeracy, and learning through play in English and Thai contexts. The Primary phase (Years 1–6) continues with subjects such as English, maths, science, humanities, computing, arts, Thai language, and physical education. In Secondary (Years 7–9), students prepare for Cambridge Checkpoint exams in English, mathematics, and science, alongside subjects including geography, history, ICT, and the arts. For Years 10–11, the school offers the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum with a combination of core and elective subjects. In Years 12–13, students choose three A-Level subjects and continue with non-exam subjects such as Thai language, PE, and university preparation activities.
Complete the online application form via the BCIS website Provide student details (name, birthdate, nationality, previous school history, languages, contact info).
Submit the application Once submitted, the admissions team reviews the information and contacts you to arrange a campus tour or discussion.
Book a school tour/visit Explore facilities and ask admissions questions in person.
Receive feedback and guidance School responds with next steps, assessments, and timelines based on your submitted information.
Admissions
Initial interview Parents and students meet with the English Language Specialist. Students entering Key Stage 2 (Year 3) or higher complete assessments in English, Mathematics, and Science as appropriate for their level.
Complete application form & pay fee If successful in the interview, submit the application form and pay the non-refundable 6,000 THB application and placement test fee.
Placement Test Tests are scheduled at the beginning or end of the day. Younger students (Early Years, Years 1–2) join classroom activities for assessment.
Acceptance Decision The Principal recommends, and the Director makes the final admission decision.
Enrollment Following acceptance, complete enrollment forms, pay the enrollment fee and tuition (due one week before term start), and receive a copy of the Parent Handbook.
Scholarships
Scholarships
BCIS does offer an internal scholarship programme for students entering Year 3–9.
Categories & Number of Awards: 10 Academic Excellence scholarships 5 Creative & Performing Arts scholarships 5 Sport & Athletics scholarships
Eligibility: Applicants entering Years 3 through 9 for the upcoming academic year.
Must demonstrate excellence in academic, creative, or sporting areas.
Supporting documents (recent transcripts, letters of recommendation).
For arts: portfolio or performance recordings.
For sports: record of achievements and awards.
Selection Process: Review by committee, possible interview shortlist.
Awards may cover partial/full tuition, travel, accommodation or enrichment resources.
Scholarships
The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does not have a waitlist.
Waitlist
VCIS operates a rolling admissions policy. If space is available and assessment criteria are met, children may join at any time during the year. However, entry into Year 9, Year 10, and Year 12 is restricted to the beginning of the school year.
