The British School Kathmandu

Located in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal. Jhamsikhel is a neighbourhood in Lalitpur within the Kathmandu Valley. The mailing address is PO Box 566 Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur. The school can be contacted at +977-1-5421794.

Primary School (Foundation 1 to Year 6). Secondary School (Year 7 to A Levels).

The British School Kathmandu is a fee-paying, not-for-profit, independent, international school delivering the English National Curriculum.

Approximately 500 students from over 40 nationalities; the largest international group is British nationals.

A large proportion of students are multilingual and learn English as an Additional Language (EAL). A Supported Immersive Model (SIM) is used for EAL. The school provides Learning Support for a range of needs, including Speech and Language Therapy, school counselling, and a dedicated ALN team.

British affiliation; patronage by the British Embassy in Nepal.

Arrival is between 8:00 and 8:15 am. Foundation 1 to Year 1 go straight to their classroom, while Years 2–6 line up in front of the primary buildings. Secondary students go to their lockers and mentor rooms for mentor time. Children should not be left unsupervised anywhere on the school grounds before 8:00 am.

Yes. A transportation service covers most areas of Kathmandu and Patan. For routes and seat availability, contact the Finance department.

English is the language of instruction and the school delivers the English National Curriculum. The International Primary Curriculum is followed in the Primary School from Foundation 1 to Year 6, alongside the English National Curriculum in Mathematics and English. Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel syllabi are followed for IGCSE and A Level examinations. The school accommodates students from Foundation 1 in Primary to A Levels in Secondary. The primary years combine the International Primary Curriculum with the English National Curriculum, while the secondary years follow UK qualifications through IGCSE and A Levels. [turn0search1]

Most primary classes are around 22–23 students; secondary classes are smaller. There is a learning support to student ratio of 1 academic professional to every 4 learners. [turn0search0]

North American destinations include the University of British Columbia (UBC), Brown University, New York University, Rhode Island School of Design, and the University of Michigan. United Kingdom destinations include University College London (UCL), Bristol, Kent, University of the Arts London, Leeds Art College, Chester and UWE Bristol. In Europe, destinations include ESMOD Paris and LCI Barcelona; in Australia, universities include the University of Sydney, UNSW, University of Melbourne and Monash University. [turn1search0]

The school has a pastoral care system focusing on the wellbeing of the whole student, including long-term academic, personal and social development. The mentor is the primary pastoral carer, supported by specialist teachers and the Pastoral Leadership Team. The PSHE curriculum provides opportunities to develop values and morals that help students thrive in an ever-changing world. The school promotes a growth mindset, encouraging students to recognise their strengths and areas for development, take risks and contribute kindly to the community. Attendance and punctuality are emphasised as important aspects of wellbeing and successful learning.

The school follows an inclusive model and welcomes applications from all. It offers a range of support based on the UK SEND framework, with a Learning Support department guiding provision. There are two levels of support: Class Action (up to 15 hours per week) with an IEP and access to Speech and Language Therapy, and School Action (more than 15 hours per week) with curriculum modifications and access arrangements for IGCSE. Progress is monitored by the Learning Support team, Heads of Key Stage, parents and teachers, and students may be added to the LD Register or Initial Concern Register as appropriate. English Language Learners receive targeted EAL support, assessed and tracked through NASSEA steps.

The majority of students at The British School Kathmandu are multilingual and come from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. New-to-English students spend the first two to six weeks in class to become familiar with routines, settings, teachers and peers. Students are assessed using the NASSEA steps across Listening and Understanding, Speaking, Reading and Writing to determine language progression. An EAL Pupil Profile is created and students enter one of three EAL programs as they progress through NASSEA steps. The aim of all EAL provision is full inclusion in the mainstream classroom while supporting social and emotional wellbeing.

Mental health is defined as a state of wellbeing in which every individual recognises their potential, can cope with normal life stresses, can work productively and contribute to their community. School-based counselling is part of a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing, offering on-going prevention and intervention strategies and one-to-one support for those who voluntarily seek it. The counselling service works with the pastoral team to provide guidance, crisis management and referrals, and supports transition programmes and parental education.

The school is committed to safeguarding and child protection. Staff and visitors comply with safeguarding procedures and policies, and all staff are vetted and receive training. Safeguarding is central to the school's role, including responding to concerns or disclosures, supporting students emotionally and practically, and maintaining a safe campus. The school draws guidance from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Keeping Children Safe in Education, NSPCC and the British Gurkhas Nepal, with a dedicated safeguarding governor and a designated safeguarding lead to oversee policies and practice.

1. Complete the Online Registration forms, Medical information forms and EAL Pupil Profile (only for those students whose first language is other than English), which can be downloaded from the Registration Form section.

2. Provide a copy of the child's birth certificate and passport.

3. If the child has been to school before, submit copies of the last two years' reports and the contact details of the previous school's Principal or relevant class teacher.

4. Pay the non-refundable registration fee of £200 per child.

5. This process places the child on the waiting list; the date of registration is used for awarding places as and when they become available. When a place becomes available, the TBS Admissions Manager will contact the parents.

7. Children of all ages will be invited to participate in an age-appropriate entry assessment to ensure a smooth and supported transition into TBS.

8. If there are English as an Additional Language (EAL) needs, a further assessment may be required by the Learning Support Coordinator to ensure the school can meet the child's needs.

The school offers scholarships for those joining us for A-levels. The application process for scholarships is advertised annually and further details can be found in the admissions materials. A Scholarship Financial Declaration is part of the Online Registration Forms. In addition, current families experiencing temporary financial hardship may contact the school to discuss bursary options.

All registered children are placed on a waiting list maintained by the Admissions Manager, and parents are informed once places become available. Where demand exceeds the number of places, priority is given as follows: 1) United Kingdom, British Overseas Territory and Crown Dependency passport holders; 2) Sibling of current TBS child(ren); 3) Child(ren) of serving British Gurkhas Nepal staff; 4) Commonwealth country passport holders; 5) Passport holders of countries with no national school provision in Kathmandu; 6) Passport holders of countries with a national school provision in Kathmandu; 7) Nepali passport holders (Nepali passport holders must obtain a No Objection Letter from the Ministry of Education and submit it at registration); 8) Children are accepted throughout the academic year (subject to availability). 9) Children need to be registered and assessed before a place is offered. 10) For those outside Nepal or Kathmandu, an interim assessment may be arranged to consider a provisional place subject to on-site testing when in Kathmandu.