Ellesmere College Riyadh - Al Hamra Campus vs Modern Global International Schools - Qortuba

	E Ellesmere College Riyadh - Al Hamra Campus Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	M Modern Global International Schools - Qortuba Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year SAR 48,000 - 68,000	Fees / year SAR 30,000 - 56,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 1 - 15 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, American Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 900
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2017
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Ellesmere College Riyadh operates on two campuses in Riyadh: the Al Hamra campus at 6591, Khoufafa Al Tamimi Street, Alhamra District, Riyadh 11211, and the Salwa campus at 13454, Al Rimal, Riyadh. The Al Hamra address is listed by the British Council as Khoufafa Al Tamimi, Alhamra District, Riyadh 11211. Both campuses are situated in central Riyadh and are accessible by the city's major roads.	Location MGIS operates two campuses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Digital City and Qortuba. The Digital City campus is located on Prince Turki Bin Abdulaziz Al Awal Road in the Al Nakheel district, and the Qortuba campus is on Abdallah Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Seif Street in Qortuba. The campuses are centrally positioned in Riyadh with access to major road networks. Transportation is available for students in designated areas via MGIS buses, which include features such as daily rider logs, bus inspections, a female bus nanny, a maximum bus age of five years, licensed drivers, first-aid training, and a parent-tracking app.
Stages	Stages The school serves pupils aged 3–18. It offers Early Years (Pre-nursery, Nursery, and Reception), Primary Years (Years 3–12) under the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years (Years 11–16) under the Middle Years Programme, and Diploma-level study (Diploma Programme, American Diploma, and IGCSE Programme) for ages 16–19.	Stages MGIS provides education from Nursery through Grade 9. The curriculum combines an American Core Curriculum (US Common Core Standards) with the IB Primary Years Programme framework.
School type	School type The school is co-educational and operates as part of the Ellesmere College international network. Boarding facilities are not publicly described for the Riyadh campuses.	School type Co-educational; MGIS serves both boys and girls and operates across two campuses in Riyadh.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix MGIS has a diverse student body with representation from 32 countries.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Pupil wellbeing is a stated priority and safeguarding is in place. Specific provisions for Additional Learning Needs/SEN are not publicly disclosed for the Riyadh campuses.	Additional learning support MGIS has a Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy that covers early identification, development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), differentiation and classroom modifications, SENCo leadership, parental involvement, and engagement with external agencies as needed.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Affiliation with the United Kingdom; Ellesmere College Riyadh is part of a British international school network offering British-style curricula.	Country affiliation Saudi Arabia (the school operates in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No explicit religious affiliation is stated for Ellesmere College Riyadh.	Religious affiliation No formal religious affiliation is stated; the curriculum includes Arabic and Islamic Studies per the Saudi curriculum guidelines, with Arabic as a second language support for non-native speakers.
School day structure	School day structure Exact start and end times for the school day are not publicly published. The school does publish term dates and admissions information relevant to day-to-day planning.	School day structure School days run Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM; Friday and Saturday are closed.
Bus service details	Bus service details No in-house bus service for the Riyadh campuses is publicly listed. Families typically arrange private transport or may inquire about transport options via admissions.	Bus service details MGIS offers transportation buses for students in designated areas. Buses include daily rider logs, daily inspections, a female bus nanny, a maximum bus age of five years, licensed drivers, first-aid trained staff, driver conduct requirements, and a parent-tracking app.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Overview of published fees (academic year 2024/2025) - Pre‑KG (annual): SAR 50,000. Based on the school's three‑installment payment option, this equates to approximately SAR 16,666.67 per installment (50,000 ÷ 3). - KG 1–3 (annual): SAR 48,000. Based on the school's three‑installment payment option, this equates to SAR 16,000. - Grade 1–6 (annual): SAR 55,000. Based on the school's three‑installment payment option, this equates to approximately SAR 18,333.33 per installment (55,000 ÷ 3). - Grade 7–9 (annual): SAR 61,000. Based on the school's three‑installment payment option, this equates to approximately SAR 20,333.33 per installment (61,000 ÷ 3). - Grade 10–12 (annual): SAR 68,000. Based on the school's three‑installment payment option, this equates to approximately SAR 22,666.67 per installment (68,000 ÷ 3). Application / seat reservation fee - A seat reservation fee of SAR 5,000 is required; this amount is deducted from the total tuition fee. The seat reservation fee is refundable if enrollment is withdrawn at least two weeks before the start of the academic year. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school publishes an option to pay tuition in three installments; the first installment is due at the start of the academic year. The school also offers the option to pay the full tuition amount up front. - A 5% discount applies for full payment of tuition in advance. Sibling discounts are published as 0% for the first child, 10% for the second child and 15% for the third child; a 15% partner referral discount for certain corporate/embassy partners is also published. The maximum combined discount that may be applied is 20%. Tuition fees are stated as exclusive of VAT. - Consequences for late payment are published: if payment is not made within two weeks of the start of any term (or a student's file remains incomplete), the school reserves the right to revoke the student's admission; outstanding payments must then be settled immediately. Discounts may be rescinded after 15 days past the scheduled payment date. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are published. The school's published fee pages and admissions materials list day tuition by year group and do not publish any boarding provision or boarding rates. Other costs and additional charges - Tuition is described as covering the standard educational programme; additional costs explicitly excluded from tuition include textbooks, uniforms, extracurricular activities, field trips and specialised learning materials. Uniforms are required by policy, though the school's public materials do not publish uniform price lists. - Some items or programmes (for example, special programmes or optional activities) may be charged separately and may be non‑refundable. Refund and withdrawal policy (published schedule) - Withdrawal and refund rules are published on a term‑by‑term timetable. The school's stated schedule is: withdrawal during the first week of the term incurs payment of 30% of that term's tuition; withdrawal during the second week incurs 40% of that term's tuition; withdrawal during the third week incurs 75% of that term's tuition; withdrawal in the fourth week or later requires payment of the full term's tuition. Certain fees (for special programmes) are stated as non‑refundable regardless of timing. Fee payment options and notes on methods - The school publishes two core payment structures: full payment of tuition upfront (eligible for the 5% advance payment discount) and a three‑installment plan. Details on any other payment mechanisms (for example, which card types, online payment gateway, or bank transfer details) are not published in the fee schedule or admissions policy made available with the tuition figures. Key published notes - Tuition figures above are the school's published annual fees for the 2024/2025 academic year and are stated as exclusive of VAT. The school indicates a detailed schedule of fees and further financial information is maintained by the admissions/finance office.	Fee details Tuition fees (annual and per semester by year group) - Nursery / Pre‑K — SAR 30,000 per year. Per semester: SAR 15,000. - KG 1 — SAR 32,000 per year. Per semester: SAR 16,000. - KG 2 — SAR 34,000 per year. Per semester: SAR 17,000. - KG 3 — SAR 36,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 18,250. - Grade 1 — SAR 40,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 20,250. - Grade 2 — SAR 42,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 21,250. - Grade 3 — SAR 44,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 22,250. - Grade 4 — SAR 46,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 23,250. - Grade 5 — SAR 48,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 24,250. - Grade 6 — SAR 50,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 25,250. - Grade 7 — SAR 52,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 26,250. - Grade 8 — SAR 54,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 27,250. - Grade 9 — SAR 56,500 per year. Per semester: SAR 28,250. Application / reservation fees - Seat reservation fee: SAR 5,000. The seat reservation payment is for the entire academic year and is non‑refundable if withdrawal occurs before the academic year starts. Billing schedule and payment terms - The academic year is split into two semesters and fees for each semester are required to be paid in advance; the reservation payment covers the academic year rather than a single semester. Payments made in full at the start of the academic year (covering both semesters) are eligible for an additional early‑payment discount. Withdrawal charges apply as follows: withdrawal within 30 days of semester start — charge of 50% of the entire current year's fees; withdrawal after the first month of the semester — charge of 100% of the entire current year's fees. The final financial settlement is issued only after all fees are fully paid. VAT is not included in the listed fees and will be charged where applicable. Boarding fees - Boarding is not provided; MGIS operates as a day school serving Nursery through the primary/early secondary grades across its campuses. No boarding fees apply. Other costs and optional services - Books/textbooks: Not included in tuition; charged separately to parents. - Uniforms: Available for purchase through ZAKs at an additional cost. - Lunch meals: Not included in tuition; charged separately. - Transportation (optional): - One‑way: SAR 450 per month or SAR 4,000 per year. - Round‑trip: SAR 900 per month or SAR 7,500 per year. - VAT: All fees listed exclude VAT; VAT will be added where applicable. Refund and withdrawal information - Seat reservation fee (SAR 5,000) is non‑refundable if withdrawal occurs before the academic year starts. If withdrawal occurs within 30 days of the first semester start, 50% of the full year's fees is charged. If withdrawal occurs after the first month of the semester, 100% of the full year's fees is charged. A withdrawal is only official when the school administration has received a written withdrawal letter. Fee payment options and account details - Accepted payment methods: Mada (in person) and bank transfer to the school's account at Riyad Bank. Account number: 2000016449941. IBAN: SA2420000002000016449941. All payments must comply with the school's billing schedule and payment terms. Notes on discounts (applies to fees above) - New student, returning student, long‑term returning student discounts, sibling discounts and an early‑payment discount for full payment at the beginning of the year are available according to the school's published discount eligibility rules. These discounts reduce the tuition amounts listed above when applicable.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Ellesmere College Riyadh offers an IB continuum across its divisions, with Primary Years (grade 1–5) pursuing the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years (grade 6–10) the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme (ages 16–19) alongside alternative senior qualifications. In Primary Years, the curriculum is inquiry-based under the PYP, with English, Mathematics, Science, and Humanities taught inhomerooms; Arabic and Spanish are offered at Language & Literature and Language Acquisition levels, with Arabic Social Studies (Saudi History) and Islamic Values, plus specialist PHE, drama, STEM, and the arts. In Middle Years, students follow the MYP with balanced subjects including English, Mathematics, Sciences, PHE, drama, STEM, and arts; Arabic/Spanish are available at Language & Literature and Language Acquisition levels, alongside Arabic Social Studies (Saudi History) and Islamic Values. For the senior phase, the Diploma Programme includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay, and CAS, with six subject groups spanning Language & Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts or Electives. Also available are the American Diploma (AD) for grades 11–12, described as a pre-university programme with cross-curricular research and a service-learning portfolio, and the IGCSE Diploma for grades 11–12, described as an IGCSE-based curriculum.	Curriculum details MGIS operates two Riyadh campuses, Qortuba and Digital City, offering Nursery through Grade 9. The Qortuba campus follows an American Curriculum integrated with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework. Curriculum components include English Language Arts and Mathematics aligned to the US Common Core Standards (CSS), and Science aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Arabic and Islamic Studies follow the Ministry of Education (KSA) curriculum, with Arabic as a Second Language offered for non-native speakers. In Grades 7–9, MGIS Middle School uses the US CCSS for English and Mathematics. The curriculum emphasizes transdisciplinary units under the PYP six themes to develop inquiry, literacy, numeracy, and global citizenship.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Higher education progression is supported through IB DP and AD offerings, both described as pre-university or university-preparatory tracks designed to prepare students for higher education and future careers. The DP emphasizes university readiness via TOK, Extended Essay, and CAS, while the AD program positions students for higher education and professional pathways. The IGCSE Diploma serves as another pathway in the senior years. These tracks align with Ellesmere College Riyadh's stated aim of preparing students for higher education globally.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial Application Review. Submit the online admission form with all required documents. The admissions team reviews the submission to ensure the application is complete and meets basic entry requirements. This step confirms that the applicant and family meet the school's initial criteria for movement to assessment. It signals readiness to proceed to the evaluation stage. 2. Admissions Exam. All applicants complete an entrance examination designed to assess academic ability in key subject areas. The exam results help determine whether the student is eligible for unconditional acceptance or will require conditional acceptance. If results indicate the student does not pass or achieve a low score, the school may offer conditional acceptance and develop an educational plan. Parents are expected to follow the plan and may need to arrange additional tutoring. 3. Interviews. Following the assessment, students and parents may be invited to an interview with the admissions team and, in some cases, with key academic staff. The interview provides an opportunity for the school to learn more about the student's interests, goals, and fit with the school community. The process may be used to confirm information gathered during the exam and review the student's readiness for the programme. 4. Conditional Admission. Based on assessment and interview, admission may be offered conditionally. Conditions may include attending additional support classes or engaging in enrichment activities to address identified needs. Parents are responsible for meeting the conditions and for arranging any recommended tutoring or supports. The school will communicate the conditions and the educational plan. 5. Finalization of Admission. Finalization occurs once all conditions have been met and financial obligations have been satisfied. This includes official registration in the school system and the creation of a comprehensive student file. The process formalizes the student's entry into Ellesmere College Riyadh. 6. Formal Registration within the School System. Formal registration within the school's system is completed. This step confirms the student's enrollment in the school database. All necessary documentation and approvals are stored in the student's file. 7. Ministry Authorization and Certificates. The school requires authorization from the Ministry of Education and submission of the required sequence of certificates. This step ensures compliance with national education requirements. The family provides the necessary certificates as part of enrollment. 8. Noor System Printout. A printout from the Noor system of the student's previous school is obtained. The Noor record is necessary for transferring student records. 9. Financial Obligations and Policies. Fulfillment of all financial responsibilities and adherence to the school's policies. The policy covers seat reservation, tuition, payment plans, and refunds. A seat reservation fee of SAR 5,000 is required and is deducted from tuition; payments can be made in 3 installments; there are refunds schedules and VAT applies. Scholarships are available for eligible applicants.	Admissions 1. Submit online application via the Apply Now form. The form collects the student's Name, Nationality, Date of Birth, Previous name of school, and Grade, and it asks for Guardians' credentials (Father's Name, Mother's Name, Father's Phone, Mother's Phone). You select the campus branch as Digital City or Qortuba, and you can download the registration form from the Apply Now page. 2. The English language ability of the applicant is assessed during the application process. MGIS accommodates non-English speakers and does not require fluency for entry to elementary and primary levels. The language assessment is part of the application process. 3. MGIS offers Nursery through Grade 9, with grade-age alignment that starts at KG1 (about 3 years old) and progresses to Grade 9 (about 14 years old). The program provides high-quality standards from Nursery to Grade 9. 4. If admitted, a seat reservation is involved. A seat reservation fee of 5,000 SAR applies, and withdrawal before the academic year starts makes that fee non-refundable. The academic year is organized into two semesters. 5. Discounts are available on tuition. New Students (2025-2026) receive a 20% discount at Digital City and a 10% discount at Qortuba. Returning Students (enrolled 2021–2025) receive a 20% discount at Digital City and a 15% discount at Qortuba; Long-Term Returning Students receive a 30% discount. 6. In addition, MGIS offers sibling discounts (second sibling 5%, third and subsequent siblings 10%) and other payment incentives, including early payment discounts (5% for full-year payment), a Digital City referral program (500 SAR per referred family), and a Digital City employee discount (30%). Home to two campuses, MGIS provides transportation options in certain areas and uniforms are available through ZAKs. Visits can be scheduled by contacting the campuses, and the registration form can be downloaded from the Apply Now page.
Scholarships	Scholarships Scholarship Programs: Ellesmere College Riyadh offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships and financial aid packages based on need and merit. Scholarships recognize exceptional academic, artistic, or athletic talents and contribute to the student's education. Details and eligibility are outlined in a separate document available from the admissions office.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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