Downe House Riyadh

What the school is

Year groups, transfers and school organisation

Boys would need to change schools after Year 4 under the published model. WhichSchoolAdvisor reports a transfer agreement with King’s College Riyadh. Get its terms in writing, including assessment, place availability, fees and transition support; a reported agreement is not an unconditional place.

The school describes an all-female faculty and a British curriculum leading towards IGCSEs and A levels. Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies are also described in school listings. A visit can help families understand how this model works in daily lessons, activities and pastoral care. It does not provide co-education throughout secondary school.

WhichSchoolAdvisor lists Downe Hall Schools as owner and Deborah Sharifi as principal. Its King’s College Riyadh review also describes a Cognita connection. Ask which organisation operates the school, oversees educational standards and issues the enrolment agreement.

Academics in practice

Curriculum and local quality assurance

The Riyadh school promotes values including collaboration, resilience, creativity, aspiration, compassion and communication. Its connection with Downe House UK is part of its identity, while teaching and outcomes in Riyadh are a local matter.

The sources reviewed include no recent examination results, which is not the same as no pupils having sat examinations. For an older child, ask which year groups are operating, the subject choices and specialist teaching on offer, and recent outcomes with cohort sizes.

Admissions and cost

Tuition and acceptance payments

The school’s 2026–27 fee page lists annual tuition from SAR 47,700 for Nursery–Reception to SAR 84,800 for Years 12–13, excluding VAT, or SAR 54,855–97,520 with 15% VAT; eligible Saudi nationals are not charged VAT. The base figures are unchanged from the 2025–26 rates WhichSchoolAdvisor reported. The school fee page reviewed lists non-refundable charges of SAR 500 for application and SAR 5,000 for enrolment administration, both excluding VAT. The administration fee is payable within seven days of the offer. The admissions policy (last reviewed July 2024) also lists a SAR 1,000 assessment fee, refundable only if no place is offered.

The fee page allows full payment or three instalments of 40%, 30% and 30%, due before each term. It lists a 5% discount for a single annual payment by bank transfer, cheque or cash. Lunches, transport, trips and external-provider activities are excluded. A separate 2024–25 policy describes a minimum charge of half a term for mid-term joiners and conditions concerning required support programmes. Older material also describes a deposit equal to half the first term’s fee. These terms should not be combined into a current bill without the school specifying what applies to your offer.

The family experience

Campus visits and family experience

The school describes a purpose-built campus. A comparison listing gives capacity of around 2,200 pupils, a building figure rather than current enrolment or vacancies.