Cities / Riyadh / SEK International School Riyadh
SEK International School Riyadh
A Spanish heritage IB school in Ar Rabi that opened in September 2021 as the second SEK Education Group campus in the Middle East after Qatar. SEK Riyadh runs the IB continuum, authorised for PYP and MYP and a candidate school for the Diploma, aiming at the full 3 to 18 pathway.
In brief
A Spanish-heritage IB school in Ar Rabi that opened in September 2021 as the second SEK Education Group campus in the Middle East after Qatar.
SEK Riyadh runs the IB continuum, authorised for PYP and MYP and a candidate school for the Diploma, aiming at the full 3-to-18 pathway. The cohort is small, around 320 students, and NEASC accreditation sits alongside the IB authorisation. The wider SEK group dates back to 1892 in Spain and operates schools in Spain, France, Ireland and Qatar, with continuity of pedagogy across the network. Fees run roughly SAR 35,000 to SAR 82,000.
Family voices split. The warmer reviews praise responsive management, qualified and friendly staff, and a happy MYP experience. The harder reviews flag uneven academic standards, perceived disorganisation in the front office, and concerns about consistency in the lower years. As a young IB programme still building cohorts toward DP, the school is best suited to families who actively want a continental European IB ethos in Riyadh, with a campus visit and questions about MYP-to-DP continuity high on the list.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (0-1) | 2 | SAR 35,190 |
| Pre-K1 (PYP 1) | 3 | SAR 50,025 |
| Pre-K2 (PYP 2) | 4 | SAR 52,325 |
| KG (PYP 3) | 5 | SAR 56,350 |
| Grade 1 (PYP 4) | 6 | SAR 59,800 |
| Grade 2 (PYP 5) | 7 | SAR 69,000 |
| Grade 3 (PYP 6) | 8 | SAR 71,300 |
| Grade 4 (PYP 7) | 9 | SAR 72,450 |
| Grade 5 (PYP 8) | 10 | SAR 74,175 |
| Grade 6 (MYP 1) | 11 | SAR 75,325 |
| Grade 7 (MYP 2) | 12 | SAR 77,625 |
| Grade 8 (MYP 3) | 13 | SAR 81,075 |
| Grade 9 (MYP 4) | 14 | SAR 81,650 |
| Grade 10 (MYP 5) | 15 | SAR 81,650 |
| Grade 11 (DP 1) | 16 | SAR 82,225 |
| Grade 12 (DP 2) | 17 | SAR 82,225 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Re-enrollment Deposit | SAR 5,750 | |
| Reservation Fee (non-Saudi) | SAR 8,625 |
Reviews
- Reviews split: parents who like the school describe responsive management, dedicated staff and an IB programme that suits children new to international education; parents who don't describe weak academic foundations and lessons crowded out by activities.
- A Reddit thread on Riyadh international schools flags SEK as a viable option but notes it does not yet run a high school, which limits its use for older children.
- Critical reviews mention disorganised administration, unclear systems and concerns about cleanliness and respect for local culture and language.
- Positive reviews name individual staff and credit ongoing improvements at what is still a young campus.
Positives
- Responsive management for some families. Some parents describe management as proactive and cooperative, with named staff praised for warmth.
Considerations
- Young campus still building out. Multiple sources note the school is recent and does not yet offer high school, which limits its use for older students.
- Concerns about academic standards. Other parents describe the academic standards as very poor, with social activities crowding out lesson time.
- Administration and cultural fit. Critical reviews flag disorganised admin, unclear systems and concerns about cleanliness and respect for local culture and language.
Leadership
Sandra Ospina
Sandra brings to the SEK Riyadh Community more than a decade of experience in education. She has taught from nursery to university level, has developed science curricula, and has held leadership roles in the past few years. Sandra’s educational philosophy centers on nurturing the whole child, which in short means attending to a child’s cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and ethical development while inspiring their curiosity, and creativity.
Accreditations
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 01