Compare BTEC International Schools in Bahrain

Instructs in English

Ages 3 - 18 years

Fees BHD 2,007 - 8,826

Pupils 2300

Type Co-educational

St Christopher's School is a leading British international school in Bahrain, established in 1961. A not-for-profit school across multiple campuses, it offers GCSE, BTEC, A-Levels, and IB Diploma with BSO Outstanding rating, Spears Top 100 status (4 consecutive years), and the Steven Gerrard Football Academy through SPARTA.

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

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.

Type

Co-educational day school; it does not publish a boarding provision.

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

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

Kingdom of Bahrain

Religious affiliation

No formal religious affiliation; the school emphasises Education for a Shared Humanity and an inclusive environment.

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

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.

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)

Boarding Arrangements

Boarding is not offered at St Christopher's School Bahrain. The school operates as a day school for pupils aged 3 to 18 across two campuses. An International Baccalaureate listing notes 'Boarding facilities: DAY', indicating there is no on-site boarding provision. Families relocating should arrange accommodation off campus.

Uniform Requirement

St Christopher's has a formal school uniform. Uniforms can be purchased at Zaks Store Bahrain in Nakeel Centre, Kukri via the Kukri website, or Cafe 61 on both campuses. The PE uniform is ordered separately from Kukri.

Food Options

Cafe 61 operates on both Saar and Isa Town campuses, offering homemade, healthy snacks and drinks in line with the school's healthy eating policies. It provides a take-away option and encourages eco-friendly practices such as reusable cups. The Saar Campus cafe operates 07:00–16:00, Sunday to Thursday.

House System

The House System comprises four houses named after birds of prey: Falcon (red), Kestrel (blue), Merlin (green) and Osprey (yellow). Family members are placed in the same House as their siblings. Students wear their House colours at events such as Sports Days and Swimming Galas and can earn House Points for effort, achievement and good behaviour.

Governance and Ownership

St Christopher's School Bahrain is governed by a Board of Governors consisting of representatives from the founder Companies and from the parent body. The Board also includes the Dean of St Christopher's Cathedral and may include co-opted members for specialist knowledge. The school identifies itself as a not-for-profit institution.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

St Christopher's Bahrain integrates wellbeing into everyday school life to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. The core values guiding this approach are Caring, Honesty, and Mutual Respect. A dedicated counselling team provides proactive support across all phases, addressing emotional, social, and behavioural challenges with tailored interventions. Wellbeing is embedded in the curriculum, co-curricular programmes, and school events, with staff across form groups and subject areas sharing responsibility for students' welfare. The Wellbeing Framework focuses on Balance, Resilience, Belonging, and Self-Regulation to promote healthy habits, resilience, and positive mental health.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

St Christopher's Bahrain offers Learning Support via a dedicated department staffed by specialist teachers and learning support assistants. The department provides targeted in-class support, small-group interventions (LS Clubs), and short one-to-one sessions, with withdrawal groups to help students access the curriculum with greater independence. Senior School also provides in-class support and targeted withdrawal sessions as needed to foster inclusion across the curriculum. The Learning Support team works in close partnership with families, the school counselling team, class teachers, and outside agencies to deliver an integrated service across the school. Specific categories of Special Educational Needs (SEN) supported are not itemised publicly on the site, and it is not described as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English is the language of instruction at St Christopher's Bahrain, as reflected in external programme profiles. EAL support is referenced in the Fees schedule as an optional extra for specific Infant students. Details about staffing or formal EAL programmes beyond this note are not publicly listed on the site.

Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is supported through a robust counselling provision and comprehensive wellbeing procedures. The counselling team offers specialised support across all phases and works proactively with students, families, and staff to address emotional, social, and behavioural challenges. Wellbeing is a cornerstone of the school's strategy, integrated into classroom practice, co-curricular activities, and school events. The Wellbeing Framework emphasises Balance, Resilience, Belonging, and Self-Regulation to help students develop healthy habits, cope with challenges, and engage confidently with the school community.

Safeguarding

St Christopher's Bahrain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its care. The school follows safe recruitment practices, and appointments are subject to vetting including reference checks, identity verification, and criminal record checks. The safeguarding ethos is reinforced across the school's policies and staff practices, with explicit safeguarding statements appearing in the school's recruitment and employment materials. External indicators of safeguarding focus include regular inspections and accreditations that emphasize child protection and welfare.

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

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.

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The Children’s Academy Bahrain

Instructs in English

Ages 4 - 16 years

Fees BHD 11,406 - 12,504

Type Co-educational

Located in Riffa, The Children's Academy Bahrain is Bahrain's first independent dedicated special needs school, opened in 2008. The school serves pupils aged 4 to 16 and offers a British National Curriculum framework for Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1–4, with the International Primary Curriculum cross-curricular themes. Foundation literacy uses Ruth Miskin Read Write Inc. phonics, while numeracy employs Numicon, Dynamo Maths and Pr1me Maths with ability-based grouping and practical problem solving. Post-14 routes include IGCSEs (Edexcel and Cambridge), NCFE functional skills, BTEC qualifications and ASDAN for personal and employability development. The school provides on-site therapy teams and a low pupil-teacher ratio. Facilities span two floors with eleven classrooms, a gym, two pools, a well-stocked library, a computer suite, art and music rooms, a sensory room, therapy spaces, a medical room and a cafeteria. ACCA offers cross-curricular activities, while IPC fosters international mindedness across science, geography, history, art and ICT.

Stages

Key Stages Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1–4 under the British National Curriculum. IPC (International Primary Curriculum) is used for cross‑curricular learning in subjects such as science, geography, history, art and ICT. The school offers a Post‑14 Academic Route with IGCSE (Edexcel and Cambridge), NCFE, BTEC and ASDAN.

Type

Special needs school; independent.

Additional learning support

Therapy services include Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy; the school provides support for conditions including Down's Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Global Development Delay and Speech and Language Delay or Disorder.

Country affiliation

Bahrain

School day structure

The school day begins at 8:00 am with registration and pastoral matters; POTs wake-up sessions run under the supervision of therapists; lessons run until 10:30 am with a mid-morning break; lessons resume 11:00 am and finish at 1:00 pm; upper school follows the ACCA programme on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, until 2:30 pm on those days; weekly assembly occurs.

Application fee and registration
- A non-refundable registration/application fee of BD 50 is required when submitting the application.

Deposit and refund of deposit
- A deposit of BD 500 is payable to secure an offered place. This deposit is refundable against the last term's fees provided the school receives a full term's written notice of withdrawal. If the place is cancelled by the parent prior to the agreed start date, the deposit is retained by the school.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts)
- Early Years and beginning of Key Stage 1:
- Annual fee: BD 11,406.
- Per-term fee (three terms per year): BD 3,802 due on or before the first day of each term.
- Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3:
- Annual fee: BD 11,895.
- Per-term fee (three terms per year): BD 3,965 due on or before the first day of each term.
- Key Stage 4 (KS4):
- Annual fee: BD 12,504.
- Per-term fee (three terms per year): BD 4,168 due on or before the first day of each term.

Annual development levy
- A non-refundable Annual Development Levy of BD 518 is payable together with the fees for the Autumn term (or with the first term of joining if entry occurs outside the Autumn term).

What the tuition covers and additional therapy
- The annual tuition includes: classroom tuition (classes of not more than 12 pupils), classroom access to the school's therapy provision as identified in the child's IEP, books and learning resources, access to specialised educational support equipment.
- Extra individual therapy outside classroom hours is available at a discounted rate where appropriate (these extra therapy sessions are charged separately).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed in three equal installments (one per term) and are due by the first day of each term.
- A surcharge of 8% is levied if fees are not paid within seven days of the due date indicated on invoicing.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day provision and does not list boarding facilities.

Other costs and charges
- The published fee structure explicitly includes books and learning resources as part of tuition; however, separate costs for uniform, meals, transport, exams, or other optional activities are not specified in the published fee notes. Extra individual therapy beyond classroom access is charged at a discounted additional rate when applicable.

Refund information
- The BD 500 deposit is refundable against the final term's fees provided the required full term's written notice of withdrawal is given. If a place is cancelled before the agreed start date, the deposit is retained. No other refund policy details are specified in the published fee notes.

Fee payment options (methods)
- Specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, cheque) are not listed in the published fee notes.

Brief note on the available published schedule
- The available published fee schedule is presented for the fee period shown in the school's fee notes and sets out the application fee, deposit, annual and per-term tuition for each year group category, the BD 518 development levy, the refund condition for the deposit, and the 8% late-payment surcharge. Certain line items commonly requested by parents—such as explicit uniform costs, transport charges, exam fees, and detailed payment-method options—are not specified in the published fee notes.

Admissions

1) Registration and initial submission. The school is for children with mild to moderate learning difficulties. Parents complete an application form and pay a non-refundable BD50 registration fee, and they provide recent reports and assessments with the application. The information is assessed to determine whether the child may be a suitable candidate to take forward in the admissions process. 2) Educational psychology assessment. If the school considers the child a possible candidate, an appointment is arranged with the school's preferred Educational Psychologist to undertake further assessment of suitability, at the parents' cost. A Speech and Language Therapist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Behaviour Therapist reports may also be required as part of the assessment. 3) Observation and therapy assessment. If the Educational Psychologist assessment report is favourable, the child is invited to spend one or two days at the school. The child is observed in the classroom by the teacher and assessed by the therapists. In some cases, further assessment may be required at the cost to the parents. 4) Final decision and deposit. The final admission decision is based on the accumulation of all criteria, including age, previous schooling, English language proficiency and cognitive ability/learning potential. If offered a place, a deposit of BD500 is required to accept the place; the deposit is refundable against the last term's fees provided full term's written notice of withdrawal is received. The deposit will not be returned if the child leaves without adhering to the notice. 5) Waiting list. If there is no place, parents may register their child on the waiting list by submitting a completed registration form together with a non-refundable BD50 registration fee. Admissions decisions for waiting list applicants are made based on the same criteria as direct applicants, including age, previous schooling, English language proficiency and cognitive ability/learning potential.

Waitlist

The school maintains a waiting list for admission. To be placed on the waiting list, parents submit a completed registration form and pay a non-refundable BD50 application fee. When a space becomes available, admission offers are made based on the same criteria used for direct applicants: the child's age, previous schooling, English language proficiency and cognitive ability/learning potential, and the school's ability to meet the child's needs.

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Compare BTEC International Schools in Bahrain

Location

Stages

Type

Pupil Nationality Mix

Additional learning support

Country affiliation

Religious affiliation

School day structure

Bus service

Boarding Arrangements

Uniform Requirement

Food Options

House System

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Mental Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Admissions

Scholarships

Stages

Type

Additional learning support

Country affiliation

School day structure

Governance and Ownership

Curriculum

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Admissions

Waitlist

Filters

Currency

Annual fees

Children's Ages

Curriculum offered

Brand

Preschool

Primary

Secondary

Pre-University

National Curriculums

Other Approaches

Language of instruction