Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
Ellesmere College Riyadh was established through a partnership between Ellesmere College UK and the Glory & Princeton International Schools Group, announced in April 2024. The Riyadh campus opened to its first pupils in September 2024, starting with Kindergarten and early years as part of the initial rollout. The Glory Group, founded in 2003 by Dr Hamdi Abel Razek Ahmed and his wife, operates multiple schools in the region and is developing a university in New Mansoura, underpinning the international expansion. The Riyadh site operates two campuses, Al Hamra and Salwa. In November 2025, Ellesmere College Riyadh hosted its first immersion group from Riyadh visiting Ellesmere College UK, signaling ongoing cross‑campus exchanges.
The school describes its community as focused on leadership and entrepreneurial development through team sports, the Combined Cadet Force, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, with public speaking as a key activity. Students in Ellesmere's sports academies have gained international recognition, including representations at county and national levels in rugby, swimming, sailing, canoeing, tennis, and shooting. The two Riyadh campuses—Al Hamra and Salwa—support a broad and diverse local and international student body within a single Ellesmere network. The educational approach integrates High Performance Learning principles across the curriculum, reinforcing a culture of high expectations and practical skill development.
The site lists an Ellesmere Club as the primary parent-community organization, appearing in the site navigation as the dedicated channel for family involvement. The partnership with the Glory Group emphasizes family involvement and staff–family collaboration as central to the school's international expansion. Co‑curricular offerings such as the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, team sports, and public speaking form core elements of community life and involve families through events and showcases. In November 2025, the Ellesmere UK campus hosted the first immersion group from Ellesmere College Riyadh, illustrating ongoing cross-network engagement between families and pupils. The Riyadh campuses operate in Al Hamra and Salwa, with communication channels open to families.
Ellesmere College Riyadh operates on two Riyadh campuses, Al Hamra and Salwa, to serve pupils aged 3 to 18. The school delivers a broad international education, combining the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3–12, the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–19, alongside Cambridge IGCSE, the American Diploma, and Cambridge A Levels. It is a Candidate IB World School for the PYP and DP, and uses the High Performance Learning framework, a philosophy it has accredited since 2021. Facilities include extensive classrooms, a Knowledge Hub library, labs for science and STEM, art and music rooms, an auditorium seating 300, and comprehensive sports facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and multi-purpose halls. The school emphasises enquiry, independent research, and service through its co-curricular programme, with Sixth Form studies focused on rigorous IB and IGCSE preparation for university and future careers.