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Kuwait English School

Kuwait, Kuwait City

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KWD 1,860 - 4,970
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2500
Type Co-educational
Opened 1978
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages Arabic, French, Spanish
Typical class size 28
Strengths STEM, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

KES delivers a British-based education in English for students aged 3–19. Early Years follows the English National Curriculum; Primary follows the England and Wales curriculum, with Arabic and Islamic Studies aligned to MoE programs. In Secondary, Years 7–9 follow the English National Curriculum, Years 10–11 work toward Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel GCSE, and Years 12–13 offer A-levels in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Literature, Geography, History, Design Technology, Art, Drama, Music, and Languages such as Spanish and French. The Green Unit provides specialist support for learners with learning disabilities. Facilities include science labs, drama studios, ICT suites, libraries, an indoor gym and swimming pool, plus a Sixth Form Centre known as The Millennium, a Music Centre and an Art & Design Technology Centre. KES became a Google Reference School in 2014. In 2022 Sama Educational Company acquired KES and partners with Aldenham School and Royal Grammar School Guildford. Robotics and Model United Nations are extracurriculars.

The Essentials

Kuwait English School has 2,500 pupils, typical class sizes of 28, instruction in English.

Location

Salwa, Area 11, Street 9, Salmiya 22057, Kuwait (P.O. Box 8640). It is in the Salmiya district along the Kuwait coastline. Contact: +965 2239 0100; keschool@kes.edu.kw.

Stages

Early Years (KG and Reception, 3–5 years); Primary School (Years 1–6, 5–11 years); Secondary School (Years 7–13, 11–18 years); Green Unit (Special Needs Education).

Type

KES provides a British-style education with English as the language of instruction. The English national curriculum is delivered with Kuwaiti ministry adaptations, and a Green Unit provides Special Needs Education.

Additional learning support

Green Unit provides Special Needs Education.

Country affiliation

United Kingdom

Bus service

Extensive school bus service with routes across Kuwait. Morning pickups may start as early as 6:15 am. The service is managed by the Transport Manager; buses have seat belts and are equipped with surveillance cameras; rules cover safety and conduct.

Fees

Annual tuition at Kuwait English School ranges from KWD 1,860 to KWD 4,970 for 2026/27.

Application & enrolment fees
- Registration / re-enrolment deposit: KD 100 (non-refundable; this amount is deducted from the tuition fees).
- New-student evaluation fee: KD 50 (non-refundable). New-student re‑evaluation fee: KD 30 (non-refundable).

Tuition fees (annual and per-term, by year group)
- Early Years (KG): Annual tuition KD 1,778. Per-term (equal three instalments): KD 592.67 per term.
- Early Years (Reception): Annual tuition KD 2,877. Per-term: KD 959.00 per term.
- Primary Years (Years 1–2): Annual tuition KD 2,877. Per-term: KD 959.00 per term.
- Primary Years (Years 3–6): Annual tuition KD 3,274. Per-term: KD 1,091.33 per term.
- Secondary (Years 7–9): Annual tuition KD 3,670. Per-term: KD 1,223.33 per term.
- Secondary (Years 10–11, AS/A-level): Annual tuition KD 3,670. Per-term: KD 1,223.33 per term.
- Years 12–13: Annual tuition KD 4,800. Per-term: KD 1,600.00 per term.
- Green Unit: Annual tuition KD 4,650. Per-term: KD 1,550.00 per term.

Books & resources (annual, by year group)
- Early Years (KG): KD 82; Early Years (Reception): KD 123; Primary Years (1–2): KD 123; Primary Years (3–6): KD 127; Secondary (7–9): KD 150; Secondary (10–11): KD 225; Years 12–13: KD 170; Green Unit: not listed. These are charged in addition to tuition.

Billing schedule & payment terms
- Tuition is billed as an annual fee and payable in three equal instalments (one‑third of total tuition each instalment). Instalment structure: one third due each instalment. The stated instalment deadlines (school instalment schedule) are set as three instalment dates in the school financial policy.
- The KD 100 registration / re‑enrolment deposit is deducted from the first instalment; parents are not entitled to a refund of the first instalment (the school may claim the first instalment if the student attends even one day). Payment by third parties requires an official employer letter confirming responsibility.

Withdrawal and refund rules
- Registration fee: non-refundable under any circumstances.
- Withdrawal charge schedule (tuition payable including the registration fee):
- Withdrawal from first school day to October 31: pay 33.33% of tuition.
- Withdrawal from November 1 to December 31: pay 50% of tuition.
- Withdrawal from January 1 to February 28: pay 66.66% of tuition.
- Withdrawal after March 1: full tuition is due.
- Transfer documents and clearance are withheld until due amounts are settled.

Transport (school bus) fees and conditions
- A school bus service is provided; transport fees are charged annually and may be paid in the same three-instalment schedule as tuition. A KD 50 reservation payment may be taken to reserve a transport seat; this KD 50 is part of the total transport fee and non-refundable.
- Representative annual examples shown in the school financial policy: nearby-area round trip KD 400 (one way KD 320); remote-area round trip KD 420 (one way KD 320). Actual route pricing depends on the route and is subject to the transport schedule. Transport rules (boarding times, child safety, seat‑belt rules, adult collection at drop‑off) apply to all users.

Boarding
- No boarding provision applies; the school operates as a day school only.

Uniforms and other compulsory costs
- School uniform is compulsory. Uniform items are available for purchase from the school uniform shop on site (or via the school's uniform ordering service). Exact uniform prices are set by the school uniform shop.
- Optional and extra charges (examples): individual music lessons, clubs and extracurricular activities may carry additional per‑term or per‑year charges as listed in the school financial policy. Transport and optional lunch services are charged separately.

Fee payment options
- In-person at the school Accounts Department: K‑net cards accepted; specific bank credit cards accepted (credit cards accepted only from National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) and Kuwait Finance House (KFH)); cash payments are not accepted.
- Bank transfer to the school's account (IBAN provided by the school).
- Online payments via the school's parent payment portal (Edunation / the school's online payment system).
- Payment deadlines and the requirement to clear prior-year balances before re‑enrolment are enforced.

Other practical notes on fees
- Tuition figures above are the published annual tuitions and the per‑term numbers shown here are the equal one‑third instalment amounts (annual divided by three) to match the school's three‑instalment billing cycle. Instalment due dates and the school calendar follow the school term calendar. Late or unpaid balances affect re‑enrolment and release of school documents.
Academics

Kuwait English School teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum

The Kuwait English School provides Early Years, Primary and Secondary education within a British-based curriculum. In Early Years, the English National Curriculum is followed with seven areas of learning: Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design. In Primary, the department follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales, with all subjects taught in English except Arabic and Islamic Studies, which follow the Ministry of Education's Arabic and Islamic programs. In Secondary, the language of instruction is English; Years 7-9 follow the English National Curriculum, Years 10-11 work toward Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel/Pearson GCSE, and Year 12-13 offer Advanced Subsidiary or Advanced Level courses with subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Literature, Geography, History, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, ICT, Design Technology, Art, Drama, Music, Spanish and French. Arabic and Islamic Studies follow MoE curricula.

Exam Results

Latest published external examination results (2023) show IGCSE: A-A 40%, A-C 76%, A-G 96%; IAS: A 29%, A-C 67%, A-E 90%; IAL: A-A 56%, A-C 91%, A-G 100%.

Higher Education Progression

100% of graduates gain entry into higher education institutions worldwide, including Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, New York University, Harvard University, Brown University, Georgetown University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Toronto and other well-recognised institutions.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Year 2 Mindfulness Club helps students explore their feelings and emotions and teaches mindfulness and relaxation techniques to support their wellbeing. Green Unit delivers PSHE and Citizenship with SEAL (Social Emotional Aspects of Learning) and EI (Emotional Intelligence) to develop social and emotional skills. The Green Unit fosters a holistic education with small class sizes and a mainstream curriculum differentiated to meet individual needs. It includes opportunities for Work Related Learning and community engagement, with externally accredited qualifications such as GCSE/IGCSE and AS/A Levels for eligible students. The school supports student wellbeing and social development through a Student Leadership Council that organises events and charitable activities and through wellbeing initiatives such as mindfulness and anti-bullying programs. edu.kw

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Green Unit is Kuwait English School's Special Educational Needs department. It provides education for students who experience learning disabilities and difficulties. Infant & Junior Learning Support classes (ages 6 to 12) follow the Mainstream EYFS and Primary Curriculum modified to meet individual needs. Senior High School Learning Support classes (ages 12 to 21) follow a modified mainstream curriculum and work towards external examinations (IGCSE/GCSE) and the ASDAN Award. Year 12 is offered only to exceptionally gifted and talented students; they may attend mainstream classes in specific subjects and focus on the AS/A Level programme. edu.kw

Mental Wellbeing

KES provides mental wellbeing support through safeguarding and a dedicated Well-being framework, including a Director of Well-being/Designated Safeguarding Lead and a School Counsellor to support students. The safeguarding team includes a Head of School, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Departmental Safeguarding Leads across departments. Students can participate in wellbeing initiatives such as Year 2 Mindfulness Club and KES Wellbeing Ambassadors. The school also runs anti-bullying activities such as GU Anti-Bullying Week. edu.kw

Safeguarding

KES is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. It provides a secure, welcoming environment where children are safe, respected and valued, and aims to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. All staff undergo safe recruitment procedures and are trained in Child Protection. Children are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have concerns, and safeguarding follows Kuwaiti laws of Children's Rights and Keeping Children Safe In Education guidelines. The safeguarding team includes the Director of Well-being/Designated Safeguarding Lead, Head of School, Director of Teaching and Learning, Departmental Safeguarding Leads, and the School Counsellor. If you are worried about a student's safety, contact details are provided. edu.kw

Admissions

Admissions

1. Applications for places are accepted from January for the following September. Online registration is strongly recommended due to high demand. The Green Unit provides support for students with specific learning difficulties; mainstream entry testing applies. Students are tested before entry. 2. New registration and assessments: Newcomer parents submit the online registration form on the school website. After submission, the school contacts families with further instructions and schedules an interview assessment date. The entrance test assesses concentration, academic level, thought process and communication skills; a copy of the previous school report may be requested and discussed with parents. Entrance test fees are non-refundable. The Head Teacher's decision determines acceptance and no student is admitted unless they meet entry requirements. 3. If the student passes the assessment, an acceptance letter is issued. The acceptance letter, together with the required paperwork, is taken to the Accounts Department where a non-refundable deposit is paid to complete registration. All required paperwork must be provided before registration can be completed; this paperwork must be brought to the interview. 4. Students are placed into the correct class and year group; there is an age guideline for each year. Occasionally a student may be admitted into a year below chronological age if maturity or English level requires it. 5. Re-registration: Reminders of the re-registration deadline are issued mid Term 2, typically in the first week of April. If a parent fails to re-register by the deadline, the school cannot secure a place. Re-registration should be completed as early as possible to avoid losing a seat.

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