So, you finally decided to accept that Bangkok-based management position and with a 3-year contract, you will be bringing the family with you, which means sourcing a suitable school. With a typical expat employment package, children’s education would be paid for by the employer, which means you can choose the best international school, which means your kids can begin where they left off in the UK, as they will be learning the exact same curriculum.
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International Schools
Of money is not a concern, the best British international school in Bangkok would be the obvious choice; they accept kindergarten and Year 1 to 12, providing quality education across the board. The teachers are flown in from the UK on 3-year contracts and all are qualified and experienced, ready to deliver the UK National Curriculum to children from different backgrounds. Of course, you will have to pay for uniforms, school transport and accessories, but the tuition fees would be settled by your employer. If your kids can’t speak Thai, then the international school is the only way forward, as English is the language of instruction at every level from kindergarten to Year 12.
Private Thai Schools
In the event you have a limited budget for your kids’ education, there are some very good private schools in Thailand, which have English programs. Cost varies, yet it is much cheaper than international schools and the standard of education is acceptable. There are Catholic schools where a portion of the students are half-Thai- half western, so your kids won’t feel out of place if they study at a Thai school. Here are a few things to consider when sourcing a good school.
Home-Schooling
If you wife is coming and she has a free schedule, she could take on the kids’ education; to do that, you would have to contact your home government and set up home-schooling before arriving in Thailand and you can easily hire private tutors if necessary. Of course, this might not be an option, but it is there at any time. Providing you adhere to the Ministry of Education requirements, you take your kids out of regular school whenever you feel like it, plus they can enter back into the same stream if they pass the entrance exams.
Thai Government Schools
If your kids are half-Thai, they can study at a state-run school, providing they are fluent in Thai, although there are large classes (50+) and rote learning is normally the style of education, which has shortcomings. The teachers are tasked with a lot of work and your child might not get much personal attention; the pro is the cost, which is the lowest in the country. There are no tuition fees for Thai nationals, yet you must pay for everything else, including books, uniforms, lunch, transport and private tuition, but when you total it up, it is nowhere near the cost of international education.
If you would like to browse a few international school websites in Thailand, here is a link and you should be able to create a shortlist of schools to visit.