Krabi international schools

The newly opened Krabi International School

There are currently two international schools in Krabi: the British International School of Krabi (formerly known as Nawattaphume International School) in Ban Nateen, around 10 minutes drive from Ao Nang; and Krabi International School in Din Daeng, around 20 mins drive from Ao Nang. Both offer primary and early secondary education using the British curriculum.

More well-established international schools can be found in Phuket, around 2 hours drive away from Krabi; here you will find qualified and experienced teachers, good facilities, extra curricular activities and pastoral care. Headstart, Kajonkiet International School, Phuket International Academy, and British International School Phuket are the most popular among them – the last two also offer boarding.

Note that the international school year runs from September to July (as in Europe and America); the Thai school system on the other hand runs from May to March, with the long summer break from mid March to mid May.

Within the local Thai school system, there are a few bilingual (Thai-English) programs at both primary and secondary levels, with native-speaking and /or Filipino teachers. These follow the Thai curriculum, with certain subjects (Maths, Science, Health / PE, as well as intensive EAL) taught in English.

Students must pass an entrance exam, usually sat in late January / early February each year, to get a place on these programs (proficiency in Thai to a native-speaking level is expected); fees are considerably cheaper than the international schools. Foreign teachers on these programs must show a university degree, but are not required to have any vocational qualification.

Primary level schools in Krabi Town with such English programs are Isaranuson and Anuban Krabi; further out towards the airport there is Chokchai; at secondary level, there are EPs (English Programs) at Ammartpanichnukul in town, as well as at Kanchanapisek Wittayalai in Khlong Thom district. The majority of expats send their children to one of these places; often undertaking to give them extra tuition before or after school if they feel the teaching is not adequate.

Rumours of new schools circulate all the time; we will update in our blog should any prove to be accurate.

For younger, pre-school children, the choice seems to be between either the bilingual Sunflower Krabi Montessori, which takes children from 2 – 6 years old and is located in Ao Nang Village (near Ya’s Thai Cookery School), or Daisy Chains Montessori, around the corner in Soi Khao Kaew. This is also a creche that will take babies until 6 years old, and is run by a qualified, native English-speaking teacher.

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