Kuwait English School vs The International British School

	K Kuwait English School Kuwait City, Kuwait	T The International British School Kuwait City, Kuwait
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KWD 1,778 - 4,650	Fees / year KWD 1,545 - 3,690
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 2,026
Typical class size	Typical class size 28	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1978	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Salwa, Area 11, Street 9, Salmiya 22057, Kuwait (P.O. Box 8640). It is in the Salmiya district along the Kuwait coastline.	Location Block 9, Ibn Taimiya Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait. The school is located in the Fahaheel area and accessible via local roads. It is part of the Al Rayan Holding Co. Schools network.
Stages	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).	Stages Early Years; Primary Years; Secondary Years
School type	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.	School type British international school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Green Unit provides Special Needs Education.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Islam
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	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.	Bus service details Transportation by bus is provided. Fees are charged per term and depend on travel area: Up to Fintas (round trip 310; one-way 250); Far Area (Up to Masayil) (round trip 350; one-way 275). Installments: 1st Inst. 125/140; 2nd Inst. 125/140; 3rd Inst. 60/70. New joining: pay the full term's transport fee for the term joined.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	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.	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Application (assessment) / process fee (non-refundable): KD 25. This amount is adjusted against the first tuition instalment once the student is selected and enrolled. - Registration advance payable at registration: KD 100 (adjusted against the first instalment after registration is completed). Tuition fees by year group (MOE / Annual (discounted) / Term 1 / Term 2 / Term 3) — amounts in Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) - KG: MOE KD 1,545 • Annual (discounted) KD 1,379 • Term 1 KD 460 • Term 2 KD 460 • Term 3 KD 459. - Reception: MOE KD 1,559 • Annual (discounted) KD 1,489 • Term 1 KD 497 • Term 2 KD 496 • Term 3 KD 496. - Year 1: MOE KD 2,010 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,008 • Term 1 KD 670 • Term 2 KD 669 • Term 3 KD 669. - Year 2: MOE KD 2,160 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,109 • Term 1 KD 703 • Term 2 KD 703 • Term 3 KD 703. - Year 3: MOE KD 2,400 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,319 • Term 1 KD 773 • Term 2 KD 773 • Term 3 KD 773. - Year 4: MOE KD 2,460 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,319 • Term 1 KD 773 • Term 2 KD 773 • Term 3 KD 773. - Year 5: MOE KD 2,505 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,319 • Term 1 KD 773 • Term 2 KD 773 • Term 3 KD 773. - Year 6: MOE KD 2,565 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,389 • Term 1 KD 797 • Term 2 KD 796 • Term 3 KD 796. - Year 7: MOE KD 2,730 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,389 • Term 1 KD 797 • Term 2 KD 796 • Term 3 KD 796. - Year 8: MOE KD 2,850 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,509 • Term 1 KD 837 • Term 2 KD 836 • Term 3 KD 836. - Year 9: MOE KD 2,933 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,509 • Term 1 KD 837 • Term 2 KD 836 • Term 3 KD 836. - Year 10: MOE KD 3,195 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,629 • Term 1 KD 877 • Term 2 KD 876 • Term 3 KD 876. - Year 11: MOE KD 3,216 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,629 • Term 1 KD 877 • Term 2 KD 876 • Term 3 KD 876. - Year 12: MOE KD 3,690 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,749 • Term 1 KD 917 • Term 2 KD 916 • Term 3 KD 916. - Year 13: MOE KD 3,690 • Annual (discounted) KD 2,749 • Term 1 KD 917 • Term 2 KD 916 • Term 3 KD 916. (Annual (discounted) totals equal the three term instalments listed.) Billing schedule & payment terms - Tuition is payable in full prior to commencement of the academic year, but the school permits payment in three instalments as shown above. Instalment due dates are shown for the academic year as: Term 1 due 1 September, Term 2 due 1 December, Term 3 due 1 April. - The KD 100 registration advance and the KD 25 application fee are payable at the time of registration; the KD 100 is credited against the first instalment and the KD 25 is non-refundable but adjusted if the student enrolls. Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed in the published fees schedule for the 2026/2027 academic year. The published fees cover day‑school tuition only and do not include transport, books or uniform. Other costs and typical additional charges - Books: not included in the tuition; charged separately. Uniform: purchased at the school shop; not included in the tuition. Transport: charged separately (transport fees listed separately from tuition). External examination or assessment charges, consumables and optional activities may be charged in addition to tuition. There is no refund for sold items such as uniforms or books. Refunds and withdrawal policy - Withdrawal during the first week of a term: parents pay KD 100 and no further tuition for that term is charged. - Withdrawal after the first week: parents are liable for the term tuition as invoiced (the policy assigns responsibility for the first term or remaining term fees once the initial week has passed). The school's policy states parents must pay the applicable term(s) according to the timing of withdrawal; sold items (uniforms, books) are not refundable. In case of dismissal, parents remain liable to pay fees for that term. Discounts, vouchers and concessions - Early-bird voucher: KD 75 voucher available for students enrolled or re-registered on or before 30 April 2026; voucher may be used for school inventory items (books & uniform) or toward the third-term tuition fee for the 2026/2027 year under the conditions published. - Sibling discount: 4% discount applies for the second child and beyond; the discount applies to the child(ren) with the lowest tuition fees and will be revoked if tuition is not paid by the due date. Fee payment options - Payments are processed through the school's parent online payment portal (Pay Online). The school issues invoices and the portal is the published channel for fee payments and parent account access. For billing or accounts enquiries use the school contact details (telephone and email shown on published materials).
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 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.	Curriculum details The school follows the English National Curriculum. Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9) and Key Stage 4 are offered. Arabic (First Language and Second Language), Kuwait Social Studies and French are part of the curriculum, and Islam is compulsory for Muslim students. The school uses diverse teaching styles and has four newly equipped science labs and a computer suite, with annual trips in Kuwait and abroad. A range of option subjects is available, including physics, chemistry, biology, business studies, history, geography, art, ICT and French.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	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%.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	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.	Higher education progression British qualifications are internationally recognised and can open doors to study at reputable universities worldwide, including England.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school challenges gifted and talented young minds and offers Masterclasses for Gifted and Talented students.
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. 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.	Admissions 1. Parents and students may request a campus tour. Tours can be arranged by contacting Reception. When contacting the school, the age of the child and their interests are requested so that a relevant tour route can be planned. The Admissions Team will assist prospective parents throughout the application process. 2. The Registrar requires basic documentation, including the personal details page of the child's passport and a copy of their most recent school report. Have those papers ready for the entrance test. For Early-Years: The KG test includes a parent interview (about 30 minutes) and tests motor-skills and basic English; if a KG class is available, the child will join a lesson and interact with other children. For Reception: The test includes a parent interview (about 30 minutes); motor-skills, basic Mathematics and English are assessed; if a Reception class is available, the candidate will join a lesson. 3. After testing has been conducted and the results processed, prospective parents are contacted with a decision by the Head of Department. The Head of Department determines admission decisions. If a place is offered, the process proceeds to Step Four. If not offered, the applicant's file remains in consideration for future opportunities where spaces arise. 4. For students offered a place, parents meet with the Registrar to complete the initial data entry required for the registration form. The Registrar provides guidance and collects the necessary information. 5. The next step is to visit the Accounts department to pay a registration fee (100 KD) and any fee settlement required. The Accounts department provides payment details and receipts. 6. The sixth and final stage of the process is for the parent to return to the Registrar to complete the required data entry for the registration form and receive final confirmation of admission. The Registrar confirms the completion of registration and admission status. Parents may contact the Registrar for any clarifications. 7. The Registrar will liaise with the Head of Department to confirm a start date for the student. On the first day of school, the tutor/class teacher will receive the student and introduce him/her to their new tutor group.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist IBS uses a waiting list for entry to courses when places are not immediately available. Admission from the waiting list depends on meeting general requirements and achieving the required examination grades; admission occurs if spaces exist. For Year 12, a place may be reserved for students meeting general requirements and achieving the required mock grades; students on the waiting list may be admitted after final examinations if spaces exist, and if they continue to meet all general requirements.
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