Cities / Bangkok / Denla British School (DBS)
Denla British School (DBS)
DBS Denla British School Bangkok is an established British curriculum international school with 47 years of educational history in Bangkok. Under Headmaster Jonny Liddell, the school delivers an Enhanced British Curriculum with specialist subject teaching and maintains strong leadership depth…
In brief
Located in Bangkok, DBS Denla operates under a structured leadership model with Headmaster Jonny Liddell overseeing operations alongside Deputy Head Simon Fowler, who brings over 20 years of Southeast Asian teaching experience. The school's Enhanced British Curriculum includes specialist teaching across core subjects, with dedicated Heads of Faculty managing departments including English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages, Drama, Creative Performing Arts, Sport, Learning Support, and Careers. This departmental structure suggests academic depth across traditional British curriculum subjects.
The school maintains both British and Thai curriculum components, indicating service to both international and local families seeking British-style education in Bangkok. With nearly five decades of operation, DBS Denla has established itself within Thailand's competitive international education market. The extensive senior leadership team includes specialized roles such as Director of Enhanced British Curriculum and Director of Communications and Enrolment, suggesting institutional maturity and dedicated support systems for academic delivery and family engagement.
Strengths
- 47 years of educational experience in Bangkok
- Enhanced British Curriculum with specialist subject teaching
- Experienced leadership team with extensive Southeast Asian background
- Dedicated Heads of Faculty across major academic departments
- Dual British and Thai curriculum offerings
- Structured senior leadership team with specialized roles
Considerations
- Limited publicly available information about facilities and campus details
- Fee structure and student demographics not readily accessible
- Academic outcomes and university placement data requires direct school contact
- Enrollment numbers and student nationality breakdown not available online
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Dragons (Pre-Nursery) | 2 | Annual | THB 530,700 |
| Nursery (EY1) | 3 | Annual | THB 588,700 |
| Reception (EY2) | 5 | Annual | THB 671,800 |
| Year 1 - Year 5 | 5 | Annual | THB 799,600 |
| Year 6 - Year 8 | 10 | Annual | THB 880,250 |
| Year 9 - Year 11 | 13 | Annual | THB 934,400 |
| Year 12 - Year 13 | 16 | Annual | THB 1,009,200 |
| Admission Fee | One-time | THB 220,000 | |
| Reservation Fee (applied to first term/admission fee) | One-time | THB 220,000 |
Reviews
- DBS Denla British School opened in 2017 on a 60-rai Ratchaphruek campus in Nonthaburi, west of central Bangkok. The Denla group has been in Thai education for around forty years; this is its international school.
- The campus and facilities are unusually large for the school's age. CIS evaluators have compared them to leading British independent schools in the UK.
- Parents and teachers in international-school forums consistently group DBS with the higher-tier British schools in Bangkok. One Reddit thread on Thailand teaching pay listed it alongside Patana, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Bangkok Prep and St Andrews when discussing competitive packages.
- Teaching is the recurring strength. Parents report a strong sense of community and praise the professionalism of the staff. One parent said the academics, holistic development and nurturing environment make the fees worthwhile.
- Fees are at the top of the Thai market: roughly THB 530,000-1,000,000 a year. a real factor about communication consistency, which has come up as an occasional friction point in parent feedback.
- The school's location in Pak Kret, west of central Bangkok, is the practical thing to weigh. Parents living downtown should plan a long commute or a school bus.
Head of school
Mr Jonny Liddell
Jonny Liddell is a Cambridge University graduate (MA Cantab in Natural Sciences) with a PGCE from King's College London and NPQH from UCL Institute of Education, and holds fellowships as FCCT and FRSA.
Accreditations
- CIS, COBIS no BSO rating published, Cambridge International School 01
- FOBISIA, ISAT, Chartered College of Teaching, Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award 02
Academic results
- IGCSE A*/A 59%
- IGCSE A*-C 93%
- AS Level A 59%
- AS Level A-B 72%