Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus vs Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS)
Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus and Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS) are both in Phuket, about 4 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes. Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus also offers BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels, and Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS) also offers IEYC, IPC and Chinese National. Published annual fees are THB 347,000 - 491,000 at Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus and THB 238,000 - 394,500 at Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS), which puts Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus roughly 32% higher. Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS) from 2 to 13. Typical class sizes are 22 at Headstart International School Chaofah City Campus and 16 at Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS).
British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,500
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
16
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2005
Opened
2025
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
HeadStart’s Chaofah City Campus is located in Mueang Phuket District, on the island of Phuket, Thailand, at 39/99 Moo 4, Vichitsongkram Road. It sits between Phuket Town and Patong, offering convenient access from major residential areas. The campus is within reach of main transport routes, including Chaofa West Road, and has on-site parking. The surrounding area includes schools, medical centres, and housing developments.
Location
Prasan Gateway International School is located in Chalong, Phuket, Thailand. The campus is near Robinson's Chalong on Soi Tai-Iad. The address is 45/9 Moo 1 Soi Ta-lad, Chalong, Mueang, Phuket 83130, Thailand.
Stages
Stages
* Foundation (Ages 2–5) Includes Preschool, Early Years 1, and Early Years 2. Follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with a focus on learning through play and early development.
* Primary School (Ages 5–11) Covers Year 1 to Year 6, following the British National Curriculum.
* Secondary School (Ages 11–16) Encompasses Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11). Students work toward Cambridge IGCSE qualifications.
* Sixth Form (Ages 16–18) Offers two pathways: Cambridge A Levels (academic) or BTEC qualifications, preparing students for university or career paths.
Stages
Pre-K to K2, Primary, Secondary
School type
School type
HeadStart is a co-educational day school, it does not offer boarding services.
School type
International school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
HeadStart International School’s Student Support Team offers a broad range of academic, emotional, and social assistance to ensure each student has the guidance they need. Support is provided through:
* Learning Support for students with Additional Educational Needs (AEN): includes assessment, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), in-class accommodations, small groups or one-on-one instruction, and collaboration with external agencies when necessary
* Specialist Support: access to services such as clinical psychologists and referrals to speech and language therapists as needed
* Counselling Services: available to all students for educational, vocational, personal, social, and mental health guidance, with support provided in coordination with key school staff and safeguarding teams.
Additional learning support
English Learning Support and Assessment and Support are provided.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
While the curriculum is based on the British system, HSIS is not officially affiliated with the United Kingdom or any other nation.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
The school day begins at 8:00 AM, followed by six academic lessons. Lessons are structured in 55-minute blocks, with scheduled breaks. Regular classes finish at 3:20 PM. After that, students may join Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) from 3:30–4:20 PM, and specialised Academy programmes from 4:30–6:00 PM, depending on enrolment and age group.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Yes, the school offers a bus and van service across key residential zones in Phuket. Buses are seatbelt-equipped, and staffed by trained drivers and ride monitors. Families can gather more information and register for service through the school office.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
* Application Fee: THB 5,000 per child (non-refundable; applies to all applicants, Years 3–13 require an entrance test) * Entrance Fee: THB 100,000 per child (one-time, non-refundable) * Endowment Fee: THB 75,000 per child (refundable upon permanent withdrawal, subject to conditions)
Tuition Fees by Year Group (2025–2026)
Preschool & Early Years–Reception (EY-REC) * Term 1: THB 139,000 * Term 2: THB 104,000 * Term 3: THB 104,000 * Annual Total: THB 347,000
Years 1–6 * Term 1: THB 174,000 * Term 2: THB 130,000 * Term 3: THB 130,000 * Annual Total: THB 434,000
Years 7–9 * Term 1: THB 197,000 * Term 2: THB 147,000 * Term 3: THB 147,000 * Annual Total: THB 491,000
Years 10–13 * Term 1: THB 245,500 * Term 2: THB 245,500 * Annual Total: THB 491,000
Billing Schedule
* Fees are billed termly, with Years 10–13 billed twice per year * Invoices are emailed before each payment period
Additional Costs
* EAL or AEN Support: THB 50,000/year (if applicable) * Uniforms: Purchased separately at school reception * School Bus: Charged additionally based on service * Book Fees, Music Lessons, Trips, Competitions: Variable depending on enrolment * Exam Fees: Billed separately for IGCSEs, AS/A Levels, and BTECs
Refund Policy
* Endowment Fee is refundable if: * The student completes the academic year * 30-day written notice before the last day of Term 3 * All outstanding fees are cleared
Payment Options
* Cash * Bank transfer (proof required) * Thai and foreign credit/debit cards * In-person at school or online
Fee details
Application and one‑time fees - Application & Placement Fee: THB 4,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Entrance Fee: THB 50,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). Payable within two weeks of accepting an offer or immediately for immediate entry. The Entrance Fee is waived for qualifying early enrolments per the school's published offer. - Endowment (deposit) Fee: THB 30,000 (refundable subject to conditions). To be eligible for refund a written notice of withdrawal must be submitted at least 60 days before the intended withdrawal date; refunds are only available after a student has completed a minimum of one full academic year.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term) Note: Tuition is billed in three termly payments; the per‑term numbers below are calculated by dividing the published annual tuition equally into three term payments, in line with the school's termly billing structure.
- Early Years (Ages 2–5) - Annual tuition: THB 240,000 – THB 260,000 per year. - Per term (three equal termly instalments): THB 80,000 – THB 86,667 per term (annual ÷ 3).
- Primary School (Ages 5–11) - Annual tuition: THB 310,000 – THB 340,000 per year. - Per term (three equal termly instalments): THB 103,333 – THB 113,333 per term (annual ÷ 3).
- Lower Secondary (Years 7–8 / Years 7–9 referenced) - The published tuition page directs families to the current fee table for exact Lower Secondary rates; a specific standard annual range is not listed in the main tuition summary. The school's published promotional (discounted) annual figures for Lower Secondary after a 30% discount are shown as approximately THB 238,000 – THB 252,000; per‑term for those discounted figures is approximately THB 79,333 – THB 84,000 (discounted annual ÷ 3).
Promotions, discounts and sibling reductions - A promotional discount of 30% on tuition has been published as available for qualifying enrolments; discounted annual examples are published for Pre‑K, Primary and Lower Secondary. - Sibling discounts are published; the school notes 10% off tuition for the second child and 15% off for the third child (discounts do not apply in combination with certain promotional offers). - Referral discount: a 5% referral discount for both referrer and referred family has been published (terms apply and does not combine with some other discounts).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing is termly: tuition is structured into three termly instalments and should be settled one month before the start of each term; mid‑term enrolments must pay immediately. - The Entrance Fee is due within two weeks of accepting an offer or immediately for immediate entry. - Monthly payment plan: families enrolling for a full academic year may elect a monthly payment plan. The monthly plan remains eligible for the 30% promotional discount, but a 10% service charge applies to the discounted tuition when the monthly plan is used. The school's published notes do not specify the number of monthly instalments in the plan; the 10% service charge is explicitly stated.
Boarding - Boarding is not offered or published as part of PGIS programmes; PGIS publications refer to Early Years, Primary and Lower Secondary day programmes and facilities rather than any boarding provision.
Other costs and recurring charges - Learning materials (published guidance): KG THB 3,000 per year; Primary THB 8,000 per year; Secondary THB 15,000 per year. - Insurance: THB 1,800 per year (published as an additional annual cost). - Uniform: THB 500 per set (published guidance; families should budget for multiple sets). - Extracurricular activities, after‑school programmes, field trips and special activities: additional fees may apply; these are charged separately as required. Lunch fees are referenced in promotional waiver terms in certain enrolment offers.
Refunds and cancellation terms - Application & Placement Fee (THB 4,500) is non‑refundable. - Entrance Fee (THB 50,000) is one‑time and non‑refundable (waiver conditions for early enrolment have been published). - Endowment (deposit) THB 30,000 is refundable only after the student completes at least one full academic year and provided a written withdrawal notice at least 60 days before the withdrawal date; published policy requires completion of the minimum period before refund.
Fee payment options and practical notes - The school's public tuition and admissions pages publish billing timetables, the monthly plan and service charges, promotional discounts and the list of fees above, but accepted payment instruments (for example: specific bank transfer instructions, credit/debit card acceptance, online payment gateway names) are not published on the tuition page. Families should use the school's admissions contact channels for the school's current accepted payment methods and bank details.
Example — typical first‑year cost (illustrative using published items) - For a child in Early Years with no discounts, a typical first‑year charge would include: Application Fee THB 4,500 + Entrance Fee THB 50,000 + Endowment THB 30,000 + Annual tuition THB 240,000 = THB 324,500 (this example sums the published items for first‑year enrolment). Published promotional waivers and discounts can change the first‑year total; the Entrance Fee and lunch fees have been shown as waivable under certain early enrolment offers.
Key practical points for parents - Tuition is normally paid in three termly instalments due one month before each term; a monthly plan is offered for full‑year enrolments with a published 10% service charge on discounted tuition. Application and Entrance fees are one‑time charges with stated refund rules; the Endowment deposit is refundable only after the minimum enrolment period and notice requirements are met. Additional annual charges for learning materials, insurance and uniform are published and should be budgeted for alongside tuition.
If you need the school's current fee table for a specific year group or the exact, up‑to‑date list of accepted payment methods and bank details, the admissions office listed on the school's contact page can provide the current official fee table and payment instructions.
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
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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
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Head Start International School Chaofah City Campus follows the British National Curriculum across all school stages. In Foundation, students learn through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), focusing on early literacy, numeracy, and social development. Primary School (Years 1–6) covers English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Computing, Languages, PE, Art, and Music. In Secondary (Years 7–9), students follow Key Stage 3 before progressing to IGCSEs in Years 10–11 through Cambridge and Pearson exam boards. In Sixth Form (Years 12–13), students can pursue AS and A Levels or opt for the vocational BTEC pathway. Thai Language and Culture is taught in accordance with national requirements, with multiple language options available for non-Thai students.
Curriculum details
The International Curriculum at PGIS Phuket combines the British National Curriculum framework with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). IEYC is used in the Early Years, IPC guides the Primary years, and Lower Secondary is offered for Years 7–8. The English National Curriculum is integrated to provide globally recognized standards and strengthen mathematics and literacy. The Chinese Immersion Programme develops Mandarin language skills through 3 hours of after-school sessions and 100 minutes of in-school sessions weekly, covering K–Grade 3 and Grades 4–6, with Youth Chinese Test (YCT) assessments and end-of-year performances. English Language Learning (ELL) support is provided for students from Year 1 to Year 7 to help with English proficiency. The programme emphasises multilingualism, global citizenship, and project-based, inquiry-led learning.
1. Book a campus tour or open day visit. Parents are encouraged to visit the school to gain insight into the learning environment, facilities, and curriculum. Tours are arranged by appointment and may include meetings with school leaders or admissions staff.
2. Fill out the Application Form. A parent or carer completes the school’s application form, which is available online. This form collects essential details about the student, academic history, and any additional needs.
3. Entrance Examination (Years 3–13). Students applying for Years 3 to 13 must sit an entrance exam to assess academic suitability. A non-refundable fee of 3,000 THB applies for each student being assessed.
4. Interview with Head of Primary or Secondary. Following the exam, the student and family attend an interview with the relevant Head of School. This helps determine readiness, support needs, and student-school fit.
5. Complete the Home and School Partnership Agreement. If a place is offered, parents/guardians sign a formal agreement confirming their understanding of the school’s expectations, values, and policies (e.g. code of conduct, dress code).
6. Submit Required Documents. The registrar will request key documentation, including ID, school reports, health records, and any relevant learning support assessments.
7. Receive Invoice and Pay Fees. The accounting department issues an invoice by email. Once fees are paid, the student’s enrolment is confirmed.
Admissions
1. Eligibility: The school accepts applications from students aged 2 to 12 for Early Years and Primary programs. It is open to both local and international students, offering a globally recognized curriculum designed to meet learners at every stage. This ensures a flexible pathway for diverse families. 2. Rolling Admissions: Applications are accepted year-round for ages 2–12, with a flexible approach that can accommodate different start dates. New students may join as space permits, and, if necessary, placement assessments may be required to determine the appropriate class placement. 3. Placement assessments: If required, placement assessments may be needed as part of the admissions process. These assessments help determine the best-fit class level and ensure an appropriate start for the student. The admissions team is available to answer questions and guide families through the process. 4. Partnership with Families: Education is a partnership between the school and families. From the moment of application, the admissions team works closely with families to understand the child's needs and aspirations. 5. Next steps: For more information or to schedule a campus visit, contact the admissions office (fastest response via WhatsApp or email admissions@pgisphuket.com).
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
Merit Scholarships: Eligibility criteria include fluent English, demonstrated financial need, excellence in sports, music, arts, or leadership, and strong academic performance and character. Merit Scholarships can cover partial or full tuition depending on achievements. For new students, Merit Scholarships are awarded based on the entrance assessment, application materials, and prior achievements; for current students, they are awarded at the end of each academic year based on performance and achievements.
Waitlist
Waitlist
There is no information available about the waitlist process on the school's website.
