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Shaikha Hessa Girls' School

Bahrain, Manama

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Arabic
Fees BHD 1,955 - 3,968
Ages 3 - 18 years
Type Girls
Opened 2001
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Strengths All-girls school, IGCSE and IB Diploma, MSA-CESS accredited, COIS member, UNESCO affiliated, BQA accredited, Founded 2001
Clubs Clubs, Activities
Stages Pre-School, Elementary, Secondary
Introduction

Shaikha Hessa Girls' School (SHGS) is a private all-girls school in West Riffa, Bahrain, established in 2001. The school offers IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme, with MSA-CESS, COIS, UNESCO, and BQA accreditations, and an active co-curricular programme.

1525, Road 4226, West Riffa 942 Kingdom of Bahrain

The Essentials

Shaikha Hessa Girls' School has instruction in English, Arabic.

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.

Stages
The school is structured into Primary/Elementary, Middle School, and High School sections, with a separate Kindergarten building for the early years.

Type
Private, all-girls school. It operates as a day school; there are no boarding facilities.

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.

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.

Country affiliation
Bahrain. The school is recognized by the Bahraini Ministry of Education.

Religious affiliation
No formal religious affiliation; the school emphasizes Arabic and Islamic values within its culture.

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.

Bus service
There is no school-provided bus service. Transportation arrangements would need to be organized by families.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school has an on-site cafeteria.

Governance and Ownership
The school is privately owned and non-profit and is governed by a Board of Directors with Educational and Financial committees. The Chairman is Shaikh Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Khalifa, and other board members include Dr. Shaikha Hessa bint Ali Al Khalifa (President of the Financial Committee) and Shaikha Lulwa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa (President of the Educational Committee). The school is recognized by the Bahrain Ministry of Education and holds accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, is a member of the Council of International Schools, and is authorized for Edexcel International GCSE and the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Fees

Annual tuition at Shaikha Hessa Girls' School ranges from BHD 1,955 to BHD 3,968 for 2026/27.

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.)
Academics

Shaikha Hessa Girls' School teaches British Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Shaikha Hessa Girls' School addresses SEL through a strategic focus on Students' Emotional and Social Wellbeing, aiming to improve academic achievement by fostering deeper understanding of self and others, strengthening relationships with family, peers and teachers, and promoting self-awareness and a sense of purpose.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school describes an inclusive environment and supports individual academic and personal needs through structured and inclusive practices and differentiated instruction; however, specific SEN provisions or specialist SEN status are not disclosed on the site.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school provides bilingual education in Arabic and English from pre-school to Grade 12, with French taught as a foreign language from Grade 4 to Grade 8.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is addressed through the Student Emotional and Social Wellbeing focus in SHGS's Strategic Plan, which includes aims to improve wellbeing by fostering self-understanding, strengthening relationships with family and peers, and promoting self-awareness, purpose, and emotional balance.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported by a safeguarding framework accessible from the Safeguarding section, including a Safeguarding Statement, Cybersafety, Health & Safety, Student Wellbeing, Behavior Guidelines, and Child Rights Protection.
Parent Experience

History
Shaikha Hessa Girls' School was established in 2001 as the first private, all-girls school in Bahrain. It operates as a private, non-profit national school with an international environment and a bilingual Arabic-English program. The school offers an international curriculum including IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and has grown to serve pre-school through Grade 12. It is recognized by the Ministry of Education, accredited in 2007 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and has been a full member of the Council of International Schools since 2011; SHGS is noted as the first IB Diploma World School for Girls in Bahrain. The school teaches in English and Arabic, with French offered as a foreign language from Grade 4 to Grade 8.

Community
SHGS gathers students from more than twenty-four nationalities, creating an international community anchored in Arabic and Islamic values and global citizenship. The school provides bilingual education in Arabic and English, with French taught as a foreign language from Grade 4 to Grade 8. Community life includes Think Pink Week for breast cancer awareness (2013) and student programs such as SHGS MUN conferences, Quran competitions, and Sports Day, with graduations attended by families. Graduations are held annually, and notable ceremonies have involved royal and government figures, such as the 16th graduation in 2023 attended by Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa and other officials.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school identifies itself as a private, non-profit institution that emphasizes a home-school partnership and ongoing parent communication, rather than listing a formal PTA on its site. Parent engagement is described as part of daily school life, with the principal noting the importance of parent collaboration in a “home-joint school” model. Parents participate in major events such as graduations, which are publicly publicized and attended by families and officials (for example, the 2020 graduation and the 2023 graduation). The calendar includes community events and student programs such as SHGS MUN, Quran competitions, Think Pink weeks, and Sports Day, which often involve parent involvement and support. The school is governed by a Board of Directors; public details about a separate PTA are not listed on the site, and current PTA specifics can be obtained from the school administration.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Shaikha Hessa Girls' School is organized around a central dome that links the Administration, Elementary, and Middle/High wings. The Elementary building includes a Computer laboratory, a Science laboratory, a Home Economics laboratory, ten classrooms, an Arabic library, and the social counselor's office. A separate Administration building houses the Principal, Deputy Principal, Finance, Registration/Admissions, a Board Room, and a Professional Development room. Next to the central block is a Kindergarten building with a large activities hall, spacious classrooms, and its own playground. The campus also features a cafeteria, a Multi-Purpose Hall with Physical Education facilities and a professional stage with audio and light technology, and an adjacent shaded swimming pool. The High School expansion provides a two-story library, a Computer lab, Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories, and a Robotics lab.

Sports Facilities
The Multi-Purpose Hall provides integrated Physical Education facilities and a professional stage with curtain and audio/lighting technology. An adjacent shaded swimming pool supports swimming and water-based activities.

Academic Facilities
The Elementary building includes a Computer laboratory, a Science laboratory, and a Home Economics laboratory, with ten classrooms and an Arabic library. The High School building houses a Computer lab and Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories, as well as a two-story, state-of-the-art library. The Middle School building contains an MS/HS Art class space. A Robotics laboratory is provided in the High School to support STEM learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Facilities support extracurricular life with the Kindergarten activities hall and playground, a cafeteria for meals and gatherings, and the Multi-Purpose Hall with a professional stage and audio-visual capabilities for performances and assemblies.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers an international curriculum with the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP). It is authorized by Edexcel for IGCSE and by the International Baccalaureate Organization to award the IB Diploma. It is recognized by the Ministry of Education of Bahrain and is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); it is a full member of the Council of International Schools (CIS). It has a Robotic Lab to support technology-based learning.

Arts & Creative
An Art room is available for creative work. The IB Diploma Programme includes Visual Arts as a subject. The school's facilities support arts and creative learning.

Cultural & Language
The school teaches in English. English, Arabic and French are taught. The school emphasizes Arabic and Islamic values within an international environment. The school has a multicultural community representing over twenty-four nationalities.

Leadership & Professional
The school emphasizes leadership development and professional skills as part of its education. It aims to prepare students for leadership roles and future careers through its programs. The focus on technology and cross-cultural understanding supports student growth and readiness for global contexts.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The facilities include a shaded swimming pool and a Multi-Purpose Hall with Physical Education facilities. A cafeteria serves students, and a professional stage with audio and lighting supports performances. The campus design centers on a dome connecting wings to foster a collaborative environment for wellbeing and community.
Languages

Language Provision
Arabic and English are the languages of instruction; French is offered as a foreign language from Grade 4 to Grade 8.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers a bilingual education in Arabic and English from pre-school to Grade 12.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
The school was established in 2001 as the first private, all-girls school in Bahrain. The school provides an international curriculum with the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). It celebrated the successful graduation of its fifth cohort since 2008. The school is located at 1525, Road 4226, West Riffa 942, Kingdom of Bahrain. The contact details are +973 1775 6111, fax +973 17750700, admin@shgs.edu.bh.
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.
School Events
The school has not added events
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