British International School of Jeddah

What the school is

Governance and curriculum pathways

BISJ’s trustees oversee the school and set fees annually. The November 2025 inspection described a leadership transition: a director appointed in October 2024 had arrived in August 2025 with a new leadership team and a five-year strategic plan. The report offers an early view of that administration, rather than evidence of how the full plan has worked out.

The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, then the International Primary Curriculum in Years 1–6. Secondary pupils follow the National Curriculum for England through IGCSEs before the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. Inspectors in November 2025 noted that no other sixth-form options were available and that the school intended to review its pathways.

Academics in practice

November 2025 inspection findings

Education Development Trust inspected BISJ under the British Schools Overseas framework on 2–5 November 2025. The report, published on 12 November, judged the school Good overall. Quality of education was Good; welfare, health and safety, and leadership and management were Outstanding. The report recorded compliance with BSO standards except where host-country legislation prevented it. These are findings from that inspection, rather than a guarantee of every child’s experience.

The report records 2025 IGCSE outcomes of over 80% A*–C in English, 87% A*–C in mathematics and 94% A–C in double or triple science. It reports IB English averages slightly above world averages and mathematics more than half a point above. Almost all leavers went to university; more than half went to the UK, with two-thirds of that UK group entering Russell Group institutions. Inspectors called for better continuity between curriculum phases and more consistent challenge in lessons. They did not observe Year 13 lessons because pupils were taking mock examinations.

Admissions and cost

BISJ fees for 2026–27 and admissions terms

For 2026–27, annual tuition is SAR 29,163 for half-day Nursery and SAR 44,864 for full-day Nursery, SAR 58,850 for FS1, SAR 72,978 for FS2, SAR 75,461.85 for Years 1–6, SAR 91,632 for Years 7–9, SAR 99,081 for Years 10–11 and SAR 105,239 for IB1–IB2. The figures include 15% VAT, which Saudi students do not pay. New pupils also pay a SAR 425 application fee, a SAR 1,025 assessment fee and a SAR 17,250 entrance fee, SAR 18,700 in total; for Early Years entry in 2026–27 the entrance fee is treated as a deposit and deducted from first-term tuition. A 10% tuition discount applies to third and subsequent children.

The school gives admissions priority to British passport holders but also accepts applications from other nationalities. Priority still depends on a place in the year group. Placement uses a 31 August birthday cut-off. Annual tuition is invoiced in three term payments, in August, January and April, and public examination fees are charged separately in Term 3.

The family experience

Campus access, communication and transport

The 2025 inspection describes an artificial football pitch, two swimming pools, a golf simulator and a medical centre staffed by a doctor and two nurses. It also notes that the absence of lifts limits access above the ground floor for people with restricted mobility. Families needing accessible classrooms should discuss the arrangements directly. The report records attendance of 94% in secondary and 93% in primary.