International Academy of Kuwait vs Kuwait English School
International Academy of Kuwait and Kuwait English School are both in Kuwait City, about 7 km apart. Both schools offer British, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels programmes, and International Academy of Kuwait also offers Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. Published annual fees are KWD 1,132 - 3,350 at International Academy of Kuwait and KWD 1,778 - 4,650 at Kuwait English School, which puts Kuwait English School roughly 43% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. Typical class sizes are 30 at International Academy of Kuwait and 28 at Kuwait English School.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
2,000
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
30
Typical class size
28
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Arabic
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1978
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
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Location
Salwa, Area 11, Street 9, Salmiya 22057, Kuwait (P.O. Box 8640). It is in the Salmiya district along the Kuwait coastline.
Stages
Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage (Foundation); Primary (KS1–KS2); Secondary (KS3–KS4); Key Stage 5 (Year 12).
Stages
Early Years (KG and Reception, 3–5 years); Primary School (Years 1–6, 5–11 years); Secondary School (Years 7–13, 11–18 years); Green Unit (Special Needs Education).
School type
School type
British international school following the National British Curriculum.
School type
KES provides a British-style education with English as the language of instruction. The English national curriculum is delivered with Kuwaiti ministry adaptations, and a Green Unit provides Special Needs Education.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Pastoral care with Head of Pastoral Care and a Social Worker.
Additional learning support
Green Unit provides Special Needs Education.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
United Kingdom
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
School day runs from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
Extensive school bus service with routes across Kuwait. Morning pickups may start as early as 6:15 am. The service is managed by the Transport Manager; buses have seat belts and are equipped with surveillance cameras; rules cover safety and conduct.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
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Fee details
Application & enrolment fees - Registration / re-enrolment deposit: KD 100 (non-refundable; this amount is deducted from the tuition fees). - New-student evaluation fee: KD 50 (non-refundable). New-student re‑evaluation fee: KD 30 (non-refundable).
Tuition fees (annual and per-term, by year group) - Early Years (KG): Annual tuition KD 1,778. Per-term (equal three instalments): KD 592.67 per term. - Early Years (Reception): Annual tuition KD 2,877. Per-term: KD 959.00 per term. - Primary Years (Years 1–2): Annual tuition KD 2,877. Per-term: KD 959.00 per term. - Primary Years (Years 3–6): Annual tuition KD 3,274. Per-term: KD 1,091.33 per term. - Secondary (Years 7–9): Annual tuition KD 3,670. Per-term: KD 1,223.33 per term. - Secondary (Years 10–11, AS/A-level): Annual tuition KD 3,670. Per-term: KD 1,223.33 per term. - Years 12–13: Annual tuition KD 4,800. Per-term: KD 1,600.00 per term. - Green Unit: Annual tuition KD 4,650. Per-term: KD 1,550.00 per term.
Books & resources (annual, by year group) - Early Years (KG): KD 82; Early Years (Reception): KD 123; Primary Years (1–2): KD 123; Primary Years (3–6): KD 127; Secondary (7–9): KD 150; Secondary (10–11): KD 225; Years 12–13: KD 170; Green Unit: not listed. These are charged in addition to tuition.
Billing schedule & payment terms - Tuition is billed as an annual fee and payable in three equal instalments (one‑third of total tuition each instalment). Instalment structure: one third due each instalment. The stated instalment deadlines (school instalment schedule) are set as three instalment dates in the school financial policy. - The KD 100 registration / re‑enrolment deposit is deducted from the first instalment; parents are not entitled to a refund of the first instalment (the school may claim the first instalment if the student attends even one day). Payment by third parties requires an official employer letter confirming responsibility.
Withdrawal and refund rules - Registration fee: non-refundable under any circumstances. - Withdrawal charge schedule (tuition payable including the registration fee): - Withdrawal from first school day to October 31: pay 33.33% of tuition. - Withdrawal from November 1 to December 31: pay 50% of tuition. - Withdrawal from January 1 to February 28: pay 66.66% of tuition. - Withdrawal after March 1: full tuition is due. - Transfer documents and clearance are withheld until due amounts are settled.
Transport (school bus) fees and conditions - A school bus service is provided; transport fees are charged annually and may be paid in the same three-instalment schedule as tuition. A KD 50 reservation payment may be taken to reserve a transport seat; this KD 50 is part of the total transport fee and non-refundable. - Representative annual examples shown in the school financial policy: nearby-area round trip KD 400 (one way KD 320); remote-area round trip KD 420 (one way KD 320). Actual route pricing depends on the route and is subject to the transport schedule. Transport rules (boarding times, child safety, seat‑belt rules, adult collection at drop‑off) apply to all users.
Boarding - No boarding provision applies; the school operates as a day school only.
Uniforms and other compulsory costs - School uniform is compulsory. Uniform items are available for purchase from the school uniform shop on site (or via the school's uniform ordering service). Exact uniform prices are set by the school uniform shop. - Optional and extra charges (examples): individual music lessons, clubs and extracurricular activities may carry additional per‑term or per‑year charges as listed in the school financial policy. Transport and optional lunch services are charged separately.
Fee payment options - In-person at the school Accounts Department: K‑net cards accepted; specific bank credit cards accepted (credit cards accepted only from National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) and Kuwait Finance House (KFH)); cash payments are not accepted. - Bank transfer to the school's account (IBAN provided by the school). - Online payments via the school's parent payment portal (Edunation / the school's online payment system). - Payment deadlines and the requirement to clear prior-year balances before re‑enrolment are enforced.
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
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
British National Curriculum. Foundation Stage follows the English EYFS; Primary uses Oxford books for KS1–KS2 and Cambridge books for KS3–KS4 with English as the medium of instruction. The Arabic language and Islamic Studies curriculums follow Kuwait's Ministry of Education guidelines. Secondary follows the English National Curriculum and prepares students for IGCSE and Cambridge AS examinations; in KS4 (Year 10–11) four IGCSE subjects are studied each year (Maths core/extended, English, Arabic, Islamic and one additional IGCSE). In Year 12, students may study up to four AS subjects with Edexcel; Year 12 A2 is not offered. Cambridge, Edexcel and Oxford boards are used at high school.
Curriculum details
The Kuwait English School provides Early Years, Primary and Secondary education within a British-based curriculum. In Early Years, the English National Curriculum is followed with seven areas of learning: Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design. In Primary, the department follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales, with all subjects taught in English except Arabic and Islamic Studies, which follow the Ministry of Education's Arabic and Islamic programs. In Secondary, the language of instruction is English; Years 7-9 follow the English National Curriculum, Years 10-11 work toward Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel/Pearson GCSE, and Year 12-13 offer Advanced Subsidiary or Advanced Level courses with subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Literature, Geography, History, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, ICT, Design Technology, Art, Drama, Music, Spanish and French. Arabic and Islamic Studies follow MoE curricula.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
Latest published external examination results (2023) show IGCSE: A*-A 40%, A-C 76%, A*-G 96%; IAS: A 29%, A-C 67%, A*-E 90%; IAL: A*-A 56%, A-C 91%, A*-G 100%.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
100% of graduates gain entry into higher education institutions worldwide, including Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, New York University, Harvard University, Brown University, Georgetown University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Toronto and other well-recognised institutions.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Registration Procedures (KG-Year 2): An application form is completed by the parents/guardians at the reception area or online. The parent pays 20 KD as the interview/entrance test fee and is given a fixed date for the interview/entrance test. Foundation candidates are informed of the interview result immediately and are provided with a list of required documents to prepare and register within the required time period; otherwise the seat is lost.
2. Registration Procedures (Year 3-Year 12): An application form is completed by the parents/guardians at the reception area or online. Applicant students undertake an entrance exam to evaluate their academic level (Mathematics and English). Parents are informed of the results by phone; if the student achieves satisfactory results, they will be interviewed by the Head of Department. Parents should submit the official documents to the school within the required time period; otherwise the seat will be lost. Once the student is accepted, the parents are requested to pay the registration fees at the Accounting Department within the required time period, otherwise the seat will be lost.
3. Admission Department Letter: The Admission Department's main objective is to manage applications, entry evaluations and registration, withdrawals, communicating, and maintaining all students' information. Inquiries concerning admissions are encouraged and information about the admissions process is available. The school can be contacted during working hours (7:30 am-2:30 pm).
4. Waiting list: Due to high demand, passing Entrance Exam and the interview doesn't guarantee admission. When the capacity of each class is reached, students meeting the acceptance criteria but not admitted will be placed on a waiting list in case openings occur. The waiting list is used to fill seats as they become available. Parents are contacted when a seat becomes available.
5. Withdrawal and refunds: As per ministry regulations, withdrawal before the beginning of the school year results in non-refundable registration fees; withdrawal during the scholastic year makes all paid amounts non-refundable and non-transferable. Parents should notify the school in writing of withdrawal. The policy applies to all students.
6. Language and curriculum: The school has a strong tradition of teaching in English. English is the primary language of instruction across year groups. The school follows the National British Curriculum.
Admissions
1. Applications for places are accepted from January for the following September. Online registration is strongly recommended due to high demand. The Green Unit provides support for students with specific learning difficulties; mainstream entry testing applies. Students are tested before entry.
2. New registration and assessments: Newcomer parents submit the online registration form on the school website. After submission, the school contacts families with further instructions and schedules an interview assessment date. The entrance test assesses concentration, academic level, thought process and communication skills; a copy of the previous school report may be requested and discussed with parents. Entrance test fees are non-refundable. The Head Teacher's decision determines acceptance and no student is admitted unless they meet entry requirements.
3. If the student passes the assessment, an acceptance letter is issued. The acceptance letter, together with the required paperwork, is taken to the Accounts Department where a non-refundable deposit is paid to complete registration. All required paperwork must be provided before registration can be completed; this paperwork must be brought to the interview.
4. Students are placed into the correct class and year group; there is an age guideline for each year. Occasionally a student may be admitted into a year below chronological age if maturity or English level requires it.
5. Re-registration: Reminders of the re-registration deadline are issued mid Term 2, typically in the first week of April. If a parent fails to re-register by the deadline, the school cannot secure a place. Re-registration should be completed as early as possible to avoid losing a seat.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
The school uses a waiting list when a year level is full. Applicants who meet the acceptance criteria but are not admitted due to capacity are placed on a waiting list for openings. The waiting list is used to fill seats as they become available. Parents are contacted when a seat becomes available.