The British International School, Cairo

In Brief

BISC is the right call for British-curriculum families who want IGCSE and IB Diploma in a school with genuine selective standards and strong inspection results. The Beverly Hills campus location, 35 km from central Cairo, is the trade-off to weigh.

BISC is the most academically selective British school in Cairo and has sat in the top three of the city's international schools for decades. A 2024 Penta inspection described students making very good progress in a well-resourced environment with strong parental support. Founded in 1976, the school has a track record that newer British-branded competitors in New Cairo lack. Fees run from GBP 2,140 to GBP 5,595 per term - moderate by Gulf standards, but paid in sterling, which matters in an EGP market.

The Beverly Hills campus in the western suburbs is purpose-built and well maintained, with an auditorium, sports facilities and a pool. Most staff are recruited internationally, and teacher development is described as a genuine priority. Families on assignments in the western suburbs find it convenient; families based in Maadi, Zamalek or Heliopolis face a 45-60 minute commute each way. Ask the admissions office where current students live before committing.

Behaviour on campus is worth a direct question at the open day. Independent teacher commentary suggests it is a challenge in some year groups - not unusual for a large Cairo school, but worth understanding. One-time admission fees of GBP 4,500-5,275 apply on entry to Years 1-11, on top of term fees. New students joining the sixth form are exempt from the admission fee.