International Education in Phuket
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Thinking of joining the ranks of expats in beautiful, sun-soaked, friendly Thailand? Setting up a base in Phuket is a great option, with its thriving expat community, plenty of family-friendly facilities for the kids and a choice of highly regarded international schools. Here’s what you need to know about the latter...
As a long-established hub for international tourism, English is widely spoken in Phuket. So it should come as no surprise that it also dominates as the language of instruction on the island’s international schools.
The steady stream of expats in Thailand means that native English-speaking teachers are commonly found, and a variety of curricula are on offer. As you may expect, English-speaking curricula are in the majority - British, American and International specifically. Thai, French and a select few others are also represented.
Thai language and culture classes will be a mandatory part of your child’s education in international schools in Phuket. This is a great way for your children to engage with and understand their new home. You will also find that some international schools teach Christian values. This is because they were founded by missionaries - however, your child does not need to follow a Christian faith to attend.
Phuket’s international schools typically follow the international school calendar. The school year begins in August and runs until May. The calendar is broken into three semesters, with one or two-week long breaks at the midpoint and end of each semester.
Outside of term time, extra curricular programs and summer camps are often offered. These range from sports to creative arts, and everything in between. Some schools have pre-schools attached for ages 2 and up, but usually for mornings only. If you have older children attending school and younger children in need of daytime care, this can be a convenient option.
Few international schools in Phuket are located in the island’s urban centre of Phuket city. Instead, they’re spread out across the island. The biggest cluster of schools can be found in Chalong in the south, with another cluster in the north east of the island in easy reach of the airport. Wherever you choose to base yourself, you can be sure an international school won’t be too far away.
It’s well known that international schools in Asia don’t come cheap. Thailand, however, is one of the more affordable countries on the continent and can offer surprising value for money. Don’t get too excited at the prospect of cash savings though - all the usual international school fees still apply. That means a once-off application fee, a registration fee, and tuition fees to start with. Transport and lunches are usually added extras, as are any optional extra-curricular programs.
However, the trade-off of top-class facilities and staff, small class sizes, high standards of education, and living life in one of the most beautiful places in the world is most definitely worth it.
Below, we have compiled the top 5 international schools in Phuket according to our users. However, there are another 14 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Phuket based on your requirements.
