Cities / Jeddah / British International School of Jeddah
British International School of Jeddah
Not-for-profit British community school founded in 1977, serving around 1,300 students from 60+ nationalities with an IPC primary curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma. Fees range from SAR 29,163 for Nursery to SAR 105,239 for IB Year 12-13 (2025-2026, VAT…
In brief
The not-for-profit British school in Jeddah, widely seen as the top-ranked international option in the city alongside AISJ.
BISJ opened in 1977 as a villa school and now runs around 1,100 to 1,300 students across pre-school, primary, and secondary in the Al Basateen area. The curriculum is British through IGCSE and switches to the IB Diploma in the final two years. Accreditations include CIS and NEASC, the school is governed by a Board of Trustees as a non-profit, and around 40 percent of students are Saudi nationals with the rest drawn from more than 60 countries.
The campus has strong sports facilities and a holistic feel that the diplomatic and corporate community tends to praise. Parents on the expat circuit consistently rank BISJ above the alternatives on rigour and atmosphere, and many describe BISJ families as happier than AISJ families. The most consistent gripe is administrative communication, especially during admissions for new families, which is a recurring theme in expat-forum threads. Helen Olds heads the school.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery (Half Day) | 2 | Annual | SAR 29,163 |
| Nursery (Full Day) | 2 | Annual | SAR 44,864 |
| Foundation Stage 1 | 3 | Annual | SAR 58,850 |
| Foundation Stage 2 | 4 | Annual | SAR 72,978 |
| Year 1 - Year 6 | 5 | Annual | SAR 75,462 |
| Year 7 - Year 9 | 11 | Annual | SAR 91,632 |
| Year 10 - Year 11 | 14 | Annual | SAR 99,081 |
| IB Year 1 - Year 2 | 16 | Annual | SAR 105,239 |
| Application Fee | One-time | SAR 425 | |
| Assessment Fee | One-time | SAR 1,025 | |
| Entrance Fee | One-time | SAR 17,250 |
Reviews
- Sits in the top tier of Jeddah expat schools alongside JPGS and AISJ; long-running Saudi school threads consistently put BISJ, AISJ and JPGS at the top of the city.
- Alumni progression to Harvard, MIT, Oxbridge and Imperial cited online, with two or three students typically heading to those names each year from the top three Jeddah schools.
- A current Year 9 student posted a sharp critique: facilities described as dating from the 1970s, late-stage proficiency among students common, teaching methods stagnant and lessons formulaic.
- Teachers flag the school as one of Jeddah's better-paying postings; one experienced expat warned in early 2025 that incoming leadership had a difficult track record.
- Parents on directory sites praise the IGCSE programme and accommodation of learning differences but note communication and parent-input culture is patchy.
Head of school
Helen Olds
Helen Olds is the Director of the British International School of Jeddah, leading the school with a commitment to academic excellence and a global perspective. She has extensive experience in international education and is dedicated to fostering a nurturing environment for students.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
Academic results
- IB Diploma 2024 average 38 points
- A* / A at A Level 2024 52%