Compare Premium International Schools in Sri lanka

Gateway College Colombo

Instructs in English

Ages 2 - 18 years

Fees LKR 1,068,210 - 1,786,610

Pupils 2000

Type Co-educational

Gateway College Colombo is a private international school in Sri Lanka offering education from Play Group to Degree Level, aged 2 to 18. The curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum and the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE framework, with local history, culture and civil society embedded to connect learning with the world beyond the classroom. The Gateway Curriculum Prism shows how academics, sports, co-curricular activities and character development are integrated to support holistic growth, and the curriculum is delivered through an interactive online guide. The school moved to a hybrid model of teaching and learning in 2020 and maintains daily religious observances and a broad program of charitable and social service activities. Facilities include modern libraries, science and Design & Technology labs, an Innovation Studio, an auditorium and ICT suites, plus a BYOD policy for A Levels. A strong emphasis on sport (13 sports) and Model United Nations complements learning.

Location

Colombo campus is located at 185, Koswatta Road, Rajagiriya (Via Parliament Road, Off Royal Gardens). The 4.5-acre campus hosts almost 2,000 students and features state-of-the-art facilities.

Stages

Foundation to Graduation. Primary and Secondary schools run from Play Group through Year 13. IGCSE is offered in Years 10–11 and AS/A2 in Years 12–13.

Type

Private international school

Country affiliation

Sri Lanka

Uniform Requirement

Uniform includes a periwinkle blue shirt with the crest and 'Gateway to Learning' motto; a tie and school scarf; a midnight-blue blazer for A-levels; and a grey skirt for girls or grey trousers for boys.

House System

There are four houses named after the first four Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka: Don Stephen Senanayake, Dudley Shelton Senanayake, Sir John Lionel Kotelawala, and Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike.

Governance and Ownership

Gateway College Colombo is part of the Gateway Group, governed by a Directorate and a Board of Directors. The founder was Ralph Ignatius Thomas Alles; current leadership includes Dr Harsha Alles (Chairman) and Mrs Rohini Alles (Managing Director), with Mrs Dinali Alles, Mr Asoka B. Herath, Mr RAMANTHA ALLES, and Ms ANISHKA ALLES serving on the Board.

Application / Registration Fees

- A non‑refundable application / registration charge is required to secure a place. Independent listings place a typical one‑time admission/registration charge in the range of LKR 50,000 to LKR 200,000 for international‑style schools in Colombo; Gateway College is listed by independent school directories as charging a one‑time admission/registration amount within this general band.

Tuition fees (by year group) — per term and typical annualisation

- Gateway College does not publish a public line‑by‑line fee table on its main public pages. Independent school fee guides and market summaries therefore list estimated per‑term ranges for Gateway and comparable Colombo international schools. These independent estimates show:
- Early years / Foundation stages (Nursery / Reception): commonly in the lower end of international school bands and typically less than secondary year levels (estimates vary).
- Primary (Years 1–6): estimated per‑term ranges in the broader market commonly fall around LKR 120,000–450,000 per term, depending on campus and services.
- Lower secondary / middle school (Years 7–9): estimated per‑term ranges typically sit above primary and are often quoted in the mid‑range of Colombo international school term fees (examples in the market indicated per‑term figures between LKR 250,000 and LKR 500,000).
- Upper secondary / IGCSE / A‑Level / SACE (Years 10–13): estimated per‑term ranges for senior secondary often appear at the top of the school's per‑term band; independent sources indicate upper secondary term fees that can exceed LKR 400,000–600,000 per term at premium Colombo schools.

- The independent market summaries above convert to typical annual tuition figures by multiplying term amounts by three (three terms per academic year is the standard billing rhythm used across international schools in Sri Lanka). These are market estimates rather than an official published Gateway College fee schedule.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The prevailing billing model for international schools in Colombo (including Gateway‑type schools) is term‑based billing across three terms per academic year; tuition is invoiced on a per‑term basis and is normally payable in advance of the term start. Many school fee guides and fee regulation documents for comparable schools state payment terms such as payment due within 15 days of invoice or prior to term commencement. Expect the school to follow a similar termly invoicing schedule.

Boarding / residential fees

- Gateway College is advertised and listed as a day school with standard daily hours; there is no public indication of an on‑site boarding/hostel programme for the Colombo campus. Therefore no regular boarding / residential fee line item applies for Gateway College Colombo.

Other costs and typical additional fees

- Expect additional compulsory and optional charges beyond tuition: common items include uniforms, textbooks and workbooks, examination/registration fees for external exam boards (IGCSE/A‑Level or SACE), activity/co‑curricular fees, ICT/device charges, and transport (school bus) fees. Market summaries for Colombo international schools commonly list these as recurring annual or per‑term charges and identify uniforms, transport and textbooks as the most frequent additional costs. Typical additional cost examples from market guides: uniforms and starter packs, transport LKR amounts that depend on route, and exam fees charged by external awarding bodies.

Refunds and deposits

- The common practice among international schools in Colombo is that the admission/registration fee and seat reservation payments are non‑refundable. Seat reservation payments are frequently deducted from the first term's fee when a family accepts the offered place. Refund and withdrawal procedures are normally governed by the school's admissions / fee policy; independent fee regulation examples for comparable schools show non‑refundable registration/entrance fees and specific terms for partial refunds only in narrowly defined circumstances. No public, itemised Gateway College refund policy / schedule was located on the school's public pages.

Fee payment options

- Market sources and directory listings for Colombo international schools indicate standard payment methods in the sector: bank transfer (telegraphic/bank deposit), online payment gateways (card payments), and in some cases cheque or in‑person payment at the school's accounts office. Some schools in Colombo also use third‑party payment facilitation platforms. Expect Gateway College to accept bank transfers and card payments via the school's payment channel or the group payment platform used by the Gateway network.

Brief summary of availability of official fee details

- An itemised, up‑to‑the‑penny Gateway College Colombo fee schedule (per year group, with per‑term and annual lines) is not published in a clearly labelled public fee page on the school's main public site. Independent school directories and Colombo fee guides provide the market estimates and the practical details above; where precise, official line‑by‑line amounts are required for a database, the school's admissions/accounts office should be contacted to obtain the formal, campus‑specific fee schedule and the current academic‑year invoice format.

Curriculum

The school teaches a curriculum modeled on the English National Curriculum, with adjustments reflecting changes in education and the global context. It incorporates local history, culture and civil society to ground students in their world. The Gateway Curriculum Prism visually represents how academics, sports, co-curricular activities and character development are integrated to support holistic growth. The curriculum prepares students for university and life. It is presented through an interactive online guide for exploration.

Higher Education Progression

Gateway students continue to secure admission to universities in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Japan with many studying in top-200 universities according to Times Higher Education rankings. Some students receive scholarships, including up to 100% from reputed universities. Popular destinations include Stanford University, MIT, University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, Imperial College London, University of Pennsylvania, UCL, Columbia University, University of Toronto, NUS, NYU, University of Edinburgh, University of Melbourne, University of British Columbia, HKU, McGill and University of Manchester.

Gifted and Talented

The co-curricular programme includes many clubs and societies across campuses, with more than thirty options. Gateway has dominated national and international Model United Nations competitions and encourages participation in events such as COMUN, Harvard MUN and MUN at The Hague. Co-curricular activities are recognized at the College Awards Day.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The Mindfulness programme in the Secondary school includes five minutes of mindfulness practice each morning to enhance attention and focus. Primary students from Year 3 upwards participate in three minutes of mindfulness each morning. The MindUp curriculum is introduced in HomeRoom sessions from 2022 and is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program grounded in neuroscience, with four pillars: Neuroscience, Positive Psychology, Mindful Awareness and SEL. Mindfulness and short religious observances after the interval support emotion regulation, better behaviour, greater empathy, improved social skills and reduced test anxiety.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school teaches English and Tamil. English courses are delivered through traditional lessons, blended learning and e-learning, with courseware from UK publishers such as Cambridge, Pearson and Delta. All programmes in BigSpark are designed according to the CEFR to meet international standards, and courses are carried out in partnership with Cambridge and Pearson.

Mental Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a core aim, with the mission to promote wellbeing and happiness by enhancing spiritual, moral, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Mindfulness and daily religious observances support emotion regulation, empathy and social skills, contributing to emotional well-being and reduced anxiety. The school emphasizes a holistic approach to mental wellbeing as part of its curriculum and student experience.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding ethos is central to Gateway College, fostering a calm, disciplined, respectful, caring and ethical environment for children. Every student engages in religious observances and mindfulness daily, and religion teaching has been restructured to include learning about other religions to promote safeguarding of values and inclusion.

Admissions

1. Submit online application. Gateway College initiates the admissions process by online application. The Join Gateway College page provides a link labeled 'Click to submit your online application' for this purpose. Colombo contact details are available for inquiries.

2. Choose programme after OL/IGCSE. After OL/IGCSE Gateway offers multiple pathways: 4 Advanced Level subjects (50+ combinations); 3 Advanced Level subjects with a Level 4 Diploma in Computing; 3 Advanced Level subjects with a Level 4 Diploma in Business; 3 Advanced Level subjects with ATCL Diplomas in Performing; 2 Advanced Level subjects with a Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Sport; Australian Secondary Certificate of Education (SACE) which is equivalent to AL; The International Foundation Programme as an alternative. Completion times: AL by June 2025; SACE by November 2024; Foundation by June 2024.

3. Registration for final stage of schooling. Gateway College Colombo opened registration for post OL/IGCSE students to complete their final stage of schooling. The programme commences on the 21st of June and offers a wide range of options to plan for Higher Education. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach; courses are designed to support timely completion for university entry. The completion times for AL (June 2025), SACE (November 2024) and Foundation (June 2024) are noted.

4. University admissions counselling. Gateway has partnered with a leading international higher education counselling organisation to give students maximum support in gaining admission to universities of their choice. Higher-grade students receive one-to-one guidance in selecting universities, preparing applications and writing personal statements.

5. Scholarships. A limited number of scholarships are available for students who have excelled in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. Some scholarships have been awarded up to 100% of tuition.

Scholarships

Gateway College Colombo offers scholarships for its own programmes to students who excel in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. A limited number of scholarships are available. Some scholarships provide up to 100% tuition coverage.

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Wycherley International School

Instructs in English

Ages 3 - 18 years

Fees LKR 316,000 - 437,800

Pupils 1100

Type Co-educational

Wycherley International School Colombo is an international Cambridge curriculum school serving students aged 3 to 18. It is the first and only comprehensive Sri Lankan school following the Cambridge Curriculum from UKG (Year 1) through Grade 12. Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Lower and Upper Secondary, Cambridge IGCSE or O Level, and Cambridge International AS & A Levels are taught within a continuous programme. English is the language of instruction, with Sinhala, Tamil, French and German offered to support an international education. Established in 1985, it has campuses in Dehiwala and Gampaha, including Gampaha site with a 25-meter pool, sports courts and modern laboratories. Facilities include science and computer laboratories, libraries, art rooms and performance spaces. Wycherley has earned world prizes and reports 100% pass rates and strong A-Level results, guided by the motto Tradition - Education – Excellence. The school emphasizes Cambridge-based study and a range of extracurricular activities.

Location

Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Colombo campus is located at No. 232 Baudhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Stages

Cambridge Pathway from age 3 to 19: Cambridge Early Years (age 3+), Cambridge Primary (age 5+), Cambridge Lower Secondary (age 11+), Cambridge Upper Secondary (age 14+), Cambridge Advanced (age 16+). The school divisions are Elementary (Play Group – Grade 2), Primary (Grade 3 – Grade 5), Junior School (Grade 6 – Grade 8), Senior School (Grade 9 – Grade 12).

Type

International Cambridge curriculum school; first and only comprehensive school following the Cambridge Curriculum from UKG (Year 1) – Grade 12 in Sri Lanka.

Pupil Nationality Mix

Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Korean, Turkish, Indonesian, Maldivian and Japanese students; multi-ethnic environment.

Country affiliation

Sri Lanka

Religious affiliation

multi-religious environment

Application / Admission fees

- Play Group through A‑Levels: LKR 265,000.
- UKG (Year 1): LKR 188,500.
- Grade 2–5: LKR 159,000.
- Grade 6–8: LKR 129,500.
- Grade 9–12: LKR 100,000.

Tuition fees — per term and effective annual totals by year group

Note: the schedule below lists the published term fee for each year group and the annual total calculated using the schools standard term counts (Junior School: three terms; Senior School: two terms). The schools admissions calendar specifies Junior School runs on a three‑term year and Senior School on a two‑term year.

- Play Group (ages 2–3): Term fee LKR 45,000 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 135,000.
- Nursery (ages 3–4): Term fee LKR 50,000 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 150,000.
- LKG (ages 4–5): Term fee LKR 57,600 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 172,800.
- UKG / Year 1 (ages 5–6): Term fee LKR 64,800 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 194,400.
- Grade 1 (age 6–7): Term fee LKR 67,200 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 201,600.
- Grade 2 (age 7–8): Term fee LKR 69,600 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 208,800.
- Grade 3 (age 8–9): Term fee LKR 72,000 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 216,000.
- Grade 4 (age 9–10): Term fee LKR 74,400 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 223,200.
- Grade 5 (age 10–11): Term fee LKR 76,800 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 230,400.
- Grade 6 (age 11–12): Term fee LKR 79,200 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 237,600.
- Grade 7 (age 12–13): Term fee LKR 81,600 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 244,800.
- Grade 8 (age 13–14): Term fee LKR 84,000 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 252,000.
- Grade 9 (age 14–15): Term fee LKR 95,600 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 286,800.
- Grade 10 (age 15–16): Term fee LKR 96,000 — Annual (3 terms) LKR 288,000.
- Grade 11 (age 16–17): Term fee LKR 108,000 — Annual (2 terms) LKR 216,000.
- Grade 12 (age 17–18): Term fee LKR 108,000 — Annual (2 terms) LKR 216,000.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Billing / payment schedule: term fees are invoiced in advance and the published payable months listed for term billing include August, January and April. Fees must be paid in full before the start of each term.
- Late payment: invoices published for admissions and term charges are subject to a late‑payment surcharge (example invoices show a 10% surcharge applied for late payment).
- Deposit / advance: the school issues invoices that commonly require payment of the first term (or semester) and a term fee advance on acceptance of a place. Example proforma invoices show the 1st semester fee plus a term fee advance as separate line items.

Boarding fees

- Wycherley lists facilities such as laboratories, libraries, sports courts and a swimming pool for its campuses but does not publish boarding or hostel accommodation as a feeed service; no boarding fee schedule is published.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- Uniform, textbooks, examination fees, transport (bus) and other activity charges are not itemised in the published term‑fee table; parents should budget for separate uniform and book costs and for optional services such as school transport and extra‑curricular activity fees. (Payment portal and example invoices show separate line items may appear on admission invoices for additional charges.)

Refund information and withdrawal notice

- Withdrawal and deposit refund policy (published): a minimum of one terms notice is required for withdrawal to be eligible for a refund of any deposit; if a pupil leaves during the academic year the published schedule notes the deposit refund will not be made. Fees must be paid in full before each term; acceptance deposits/advance payments are applied against final invoices per the schools billing practice.

Fee payment options

- Online card payments (local and international cards) via the schools established payments portal.
- Foreign‑currency payment (foreign card paying in USD) is supported on the payment portal where applicable.
- Direct bank deposit / direct transfer to the schools bank account is accepted; example invoices list the schools account details for direct deposit.
- Cheque payments drawn in favour of the school are accepted per published invoice instructions. Card, cheque and direct deposit options are shown on published invoices.

Brief note on currency and interpretation

- All amounts above are shown in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) and reflect the published term fees and admission charges as presented in the schools fee schedule materials.

Limitations (what I found and what was not available)

- The most recent detailed fee table located and used for the figures above is a published branch fee schedule that provides per‑term amounts and the schools stated withdrawal/refund rules; an explicit consolidated global fee schedule for the full 2025/26 or 2026/27 academic years (for every branch) was not located in the public materials reviewed. Example invoices and the schools admissions pages were used to confirm billing cadence, payment methods and the published withdrawal/refund requirement.

Curriculum

Cambridge Curriculum taught from UKG (Year 1) to Grade 12, including Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary (Cambridge IGCSE or Cambridge O Level, Cambridge ICE), and Cambridge Advanced (Cambridge International AS & A Level).

Exam Results

100% pass rate in all Cambridge examinations.

Higher Education Progression

Guaranteed university entrance for all qualifying students.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Cambridge Early Years includes Personal, social and emotional development. The Buddhist Society was formed to help students build their moral values and enhance their mental well-being, and to promote cultural and religious understanding.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The school uses English as the medium of instruction from Elementary to Senior School. The teachers at Wycherley Junior School are trilingual.

Mental Wellbeing

The Buddhist Society was formed to help students build their moral values and enhance their mental well-being. Personal, social and emotional development is included in Cambridge Early Years.

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Compare Premium International Schools in Sri lanka

Location

Stages

Type

Country affiliation

Uniform Requirement

House System

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Higher Education Progression

Gifted and Talented

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Admissions

Scholarships

Location

Stages

Type

Pupil Nationality Mix

Country affiliation

Religious affiliation

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Exam Results

Higher Education Progression

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Admissions

Scholarships

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Annual fees

Children's Ages

Curriculum offered

Brand

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Primary

Secondary

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National Curriculums

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Language of instruction