Shaikha Hessa Girls' School vs St Christopher's School

	S Shaikha Hessa Girls' School Manama, Bahrain	S St Christopher's School Manama, Bahrain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year BHD 1,955 - 3,968	Fees / year BHD 2,007 - 8,826
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Girls	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), IGCSE Curriculum, A-Levels Curriculum, BTEC Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 2,300
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Arabic	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 1961
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service —
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Shaikha Hessa Girls' School is located in West Riffa, Bahrain, at 1525, Road 4226, West Riffa 942. The campus features a central dome connecting three wings: Administration, Elementary, and Middle/High School. A dedicated Kindergarten building is adjacent to the central building and serves the early years.	Location St Christopher's School Bahrain operates across two campuses in Bahrain: the Infant and Junior campus in Muqabah (Gate 790, Road 1322, Muqabah 513) and the Senior campus in Isa Town (Building 119, Road 4109, Isa Town 841). A new Senior School facility is planned for spring 2026 at a site in Al Raffa. The postal address is St Christopher's School, PO Box 32052, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Stages	Stages The school is structured into Primary/Elementary, Middle School, and High School sections, with a separate Kindergarten building for the early years.	Stages The Infant School and Junior School portion serves children from Nursery to Year 6 (ages approximately 3–11) on the Saar/Muqabah campus. The Senior School serves students from Year 7 to Year 13 (ages approximately 11–18) at Isa Town, with a Sixth Form component within the Senior School.
School type	School type Private, all-girls school. It operates as a day school; there are no boarding facilities.	School type Co-educational day school; it does not publish a boarding provision.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix The school has an international student body with representation from over twenty-four nationalities. The most commonly reported nationality is Bahraini, and public data suggest a local-to-international ratio around 98:2, though exact figures published by the school are not available.	Pupil nationality mix Approximately 70 nationalities are represented at the school; the most common nationality and the local-to-international ratio are not published.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support An Academic Needs Assessment Form is part of the admissions process to identify any learning needs. The Bahraini Ministry of Education notes that mainstream schools provide support for students with special needs in a supportive environment.	Additional learning support The school maintains a Learning Support Department to assist students with learning challenges, aiming to contribute to the progress and inclusion of learners across the Senior School.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Bahrain. The school is recognized by the Bahraini Ministry of Education.	Country affiliation Kingdom of Bahrain
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No formal religious affiliation; the school emphasizes Arabic and Islamic values within its culture.	Religious affiliation No formal religious affiliation; the school emphasises Education for a Shared Humanity and an inclusive environment.
School day structure	School day structure School starts at 7:55 a.m. Pre-School ends at 12:30 p.m.; Grades 1–12 finish at 2:35 p.m. Supervised care before and after school is available for about 30 minutes.	School day structure Nursery operates with a flexible option: register 07:45–08:00, with half-day finish at 12:15 or full-day finish at 14:25. Reception to Year 2 start at 07:45–08:00 and finish at 14:25. Junior School (Years 3–6) runs from about 07:40–08:10 start with a 14:25 finish. Senior School starts with 07:10–07:50 AM language options, registration 07:50–08:10, and a regular school day typically running from 08:10 to 14:00, with lunch 11:05–11:45 and periods continuing to 14:40 (Enrichment Day may finish at 14:40).
Bus service details	Bus service details There is no school-provided bus service. Transportation arrangements would need to be organized by families.	Bus service details A dedicated in-house bus service is not listed publicly. Public transport serves the area, with bus lines 15 and 19 stopping near Isa Town; nearest stops include Isa Town Terminal and Sacred Heart School/Isa Town.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and one‑time fees - Application / testing fee: BHD 20 (one‑time, new students). - Registration fee (new students): BHD 180 (one‑time). - Development fee (new students): BHD 200 (one‑time). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑installment amounts) - Nursery (Pre‑school / N): Total annual tuition BHD 1,955. Instalments: - 1st instalment: BHD 500 (due April 30). - 2nd instalment: BHD 700 (due Sept 30). - 3rd instalment: BHD 755 (due Jan 30). - KG1 / KG2 (Early years): Total annual tuition BHD 2,415. Instalments: - 1st instalment: BHD 600 (due April 30). - 2nd instalment: BHD 860 (due Sept 30). - 3rd instalment: BHD 955 (due Jan 30). - Grades 1–6 (Elementary): Total annual tuition BHD 2,829. Instalments: - 1st instalment: BHD 740 (due April 30). - 2nd instalment: BHD 975 (due Sept 30). - 3rd instalment: BHD 1,114 (due Jan 30). - Grades 7–8 (Lower secondary): Total annual tuition BHD 3,416. Instalments: - 1st instalment: BHD 860 (due April 30). - 2nd instalment: BHD 1,200 (due Sept 30). - 3rd instalment: BHD 1,356 (due Jan 30). - Grades 9–12 (Upper secondary / IGCSE & IB): Total annual tuition BHD 3,968. Instalments: - 1st instalment: BHD 1,050 (due April 30). - 2nd instalment: BHD 1,445 (due Sept 30). - 3rd instalment: BHD 1,473 (due Jan 30). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed in three instalments with the standard due dates: 1st instalment due April 30, 2nd instalment due September 30, and 3rd instalment due January 30 (dates shown with the fee schedule). On acceptance, registration/development fees and the first instalment are payable within the school's stated deadline. - All fees (application, registration, development and tuition) are non‑refundable and non‑transferable after the start of the academic year. Instalments must be paid on the published schedule; delayed payment may affect enrolment status. - Cheque return / dishonour charge: BHD 20 (cheque return fee is listed in school fee notes). Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; boarding fees are not applicable. Other costs and additional fees - Books and resource fees: to be announced; book and resource fees are charged separately and are due before the first day of class. - Stationery / book charges apply and are payable in the timelines stated for returning students. - Yearly locker rental (optional, for students in Grades 4–12): BHD 5 (annual) for students opting to use a locker. - Course‑specific costs: cost of graphic design software for students in Grades 9–12 who register for that course (student to pay/purchase). - External examination fees: - IGCSE examination fees are payable by Grade 10 students who register for external IGCSE exams. - IBDP examination fees are payable by Grade 12 students. - Ceremonies and events: Graduation ceremony fee for Grade 12 participants; Grade 5 and KG2 promotion ceremony fees for participating students. Refund information - Refunds for the first instalment only: if the 1st instalment of tuition for the next academic year is paid before April 30 and the student withdraws within one month of that payment, the full 1st instalment is refundable. After one month, BHD 500 is deducted and the balance refunded. No refund is applicable after the academic year has started (September). Application, registration, development and tuition fees are explicitly non‑refundable / non‑transferable after the academic year starts. Fee payment options and practical notes - The official fee documents require payment of the stated instalments and one‑time fees; the fee schedule and admissions notes indicate payments are managed by the school's finance/admissions office and that cheques are used (a cheque return charge is specified). Specific accepted payment channels (for example bank transfer, credit card, online portal) are not itemised in the published fee sheet; parents should follow the school's published enrolment instructions and finance office procedures for the available payment channels. Other practical points (fee‑related rules) - On acceptance, payment deadlines for registration, development fees and the first instalment are enforced to secure a place. Delayed payment can jeopardise the confirmed place. (Fees expressed in Bahraini Dinar — BHD.)	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Application fee (non-refundable): BD 100 per child. - Registration fee (one-off, non-refundable): BD 1,250 per child (payable if an offer of a place is made). Tuition fees (per term and per annum by year group) - Nursery (12:15 finish): BD 669 per term — BD 2,007 per year. - Nursery (14:25 finish): BD 1,032 per term — BD 3,096 per year. - Reception: BD 1,577 per term — BD 4,731 per year. - Year 1: BD 1,577 per term — BD 4,731 per year. - Year 2: BD 1,577 per term — BD 4,731 per year. - Year 3: BD 1,753 per term — BD 5,259 per year. - Year 4: BD 1,753 per term — BD 5,259 per year. - Year 5: BD 1,753 per term — BD 5,259 per year. - Year 6: BD 1,753 per term — BD 5,259 per year. - Year 7: BD 2,136 per term — BD 6,408 per year. - Year 8: BD 2,136 per term — BD 6,408 per year. - Year 9: BD 2,569 per term — BD 7,707 per year. - Year 10: BD 2,569 per term — BD 7,707 per year. - Year 11: BD 2,569 per term — BD 7,707 per year. - Year 12: BD 2,942 per term — BD 8,826 per year. - Year 13: BD 2,942 per term — BD 8,826 per year. Additional and optional fees - Examination fees (GCSE, A-Level, IB): charged in addition to tuition; typically amount to several hundred BD depending on subjects and exam entries. - Optional extras charged separately where applicable: instrumental tuition, English as an Additional Language (EAL) support for specific students, out-of-hours lessons, and similar activity-based charges. - Uniform: official uniform must be purchased from the listed suppliers (Zaks Store Bahrain, Kukri online store, and Cafe 61 on campus); uniform costs are payable by parents and vary by item and year group. Boarding - St Christopher's operates as a day school; there are no full or weekly boarding places or associated boarding fees. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are charged termly or annually (termly is the standard billing cycle). - Fees must be paid by the last day of the preceding term. Late payment may result in temporary exclusion of the student until payment is made; persistent late payment may lead to cancellation of enrollment. - Bank charges are the responsibility of the payer. Refunds and withdrawal - If notice of withdrawal is given at least two weeks before the start of term, a full refund will be provided for the relevant fees. - No refunds are provided for absence due to sickness or other reasons, except in specific withdrawal circumstances as noted in the school's fees regulations. Fees are otherwise non-refundable. Fee payment methods and bank details - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer (National Bank of Bahrain/NBB), cheque, and cash (cheque and cash accepted at the Saar Campus Accounts Office). - Bank details provided for transfers: - Account name: ST CHRISTOPHERS SCHOOL. - IBAN: BH61NBOB00005000103453. - SWIFT: NBOBBHBM. - Make sure to include your parent reference on the transfer and send proof of payment to accounts@school.st-chris.net. Regulatory and other notes about fees - The school is not-for-profit and fee income is reinvested into school operations. Fees are approved by the Ministry of Education. (End of fees overview)
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 Shaikha Hessa Girls' School serves students from pre-school through Grade 12 and offers a bilingual Arabic-English education, with French taught as a foreign language from Grade 4 to Grade 8. The curriculum combines Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 in the early years, Edexcel IGCSE in the upper years, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the final two years. IGCSE subject offerings include English Language A, Mathematics A, a Science Double Award, and ICT, with Arabic First Language, and optional subjects such as History or Geography (Option A), Business Studies, Fine Art/Graphic Communication, and French (Option B). Non-IGCSE compulsory subjects include Physical Education, Arabic Social Studies, Civics (National Studies), and Islamic Studies. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year course (typical for Grades 11–12) with six subjects (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level) plus the core requirements of Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. Shaikha Hessa Girls' School is ministry-recognized in Bahrain and holds accreditation from MSA-CESS and CIS, and is an IB World School since 2007.	Curriculum details St Christopher's Bahrain operates a Future Ready Curriculum across the Infant, Junior and Senior sections, designed to develop six competencies: Academic, Metacognition, Service, Enterprise, Digital, and Wellbeing. The Infant School uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage framework with a play-based approach that emphasises communication, language, physical development, and early literacy and numeracy, with specialist Arabic, PE, Music and swimming. From Year 7 to Year 9, the curriculum follows the English National Curriculum (adapted to the local context); Years 10–11 offer GCSEs with broad subject choices, and Post-16 provides either A-levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. In the Sixth Form, students can study A-levels, the IB Diploma Programme, or BTEC courses (stand-alone or in combination with A Levels), with entry requirements and university guidance provided by the school. The Arabic department delivers Arabic, Islamic Studies and Bahrain Citizenship under the Bahraini MOE curriculum, with non-Arabic-speaking students able to study Arabic as a second language and GCSE Arabic as a Second Language where offered.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	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 Shaikha Hessa Girls' School operates Pre-School through High School. It provides an international curriculum with the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The school was established in 2001 as the first private, all‑girls school in Bahrain, and it has celebrated the graduation of its fifth cohort since 2008. Admissions Procedures are published for Nursery to Grade 1, Grade 2 to 8, and High School, with each level providing a downloadable procedure. Entry Expectations are published per grade, and School Fees are published per level. Admission Forms are available for download. The school maintains state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including a central dome connecting Administration, Elementary, and Middle/High wings, with laboratories for Computer, Science, Home Economics, an Arabic library, and the office of the social counselor. The Middle/High and High School buildings include additional spaces such as a robotics lab, a two‑story library, a Multi‑Purpose Hall, a swimming pool, and a cafeteria.	Admissions 1. Enquiry and campus visit. The school offers British-style education for children aged 3–18 and has been rated Outstanding by the British Schools Overseas (BSO) and Bahrain Quality Assurance Authority (BQA) for four consecutive years. Prospective families visit the Saar Campus for Infant/Junior and the Isa Town Campus for Senior to experience facilities, with the Admissions Team guiding the process. 2. Application submission. Complete the online pre-registration form; an application fee of BD 100 per child applies. Submit required documents (passports, CPRs, recent school reports, vaccination records) with requirements varying by year group. 3. Assessment and offer. Applicants undergo age-appropriate assessments (play-based observations for younger children; formal tests for older students). An offer pack is issued by email, and the non-refundable registration fee of BD 1,250 must be paid with acceptance. 4. Age-specific admissions details. Nursery (Age 3) may offer half-day or full-day options, with SPARTA sessions for full day and on-site play-based assessments; Reception to Year 2 (Ages 4–7) use play-based assessments focusing on social, emotional, and early academic skills; Years 3–6 (Ages 7–11) assess English, Mathematics, and general ability with possible interview and review of previous reports; Years 7–13 (Ages 11–18) involve formal testing in core subjects and general ability with consideration of prior records and potential interviews. 5. Placement timing and contacts. Applications are accepted up to one year in advance of entry, and placement depends on assessment outcomes and available places.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships St Christopher's offers three scholarship categories: academic, sport, and music. Scholarships are awarded by the Scholarship Committee, which comprises three Board members, the Principal, and the Head of Senior School, to ensure transparency and fairness; families receiving fee reductions are not entitled to additional financial gain. Scholarships may be available to current students or to students from other schools, with renewal contingent on maintaining high standards. Fee reductions awarded range from 0% to 20% and may include waivers of some participation fees (e.g., music or sport). Information regarding opportunities for the 2026/27 academic year will be released in early 2026.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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