Most families start their Phuket search with villas. The families who settle happily start with schools. Where your children will spend six hours a day decides your daily commute, your neighbourhood and, very often, your friends.
Start with the curriculum
Phuket's international schools broadly follow one of three paths: the English National Curriculum (IGCSE then A-Levels or IB Diploma), the IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) or an American / bilingual programme. If you may move again in a few years, matching the curriculum your children already follow is the lowest-friction choice.
Ask about waiting lists early
The popular year groups — Years 1–4 and the two years before IGCSE — can have waiting lists in peak season (August and January intakes). Admissions usually need school reports from the last two years, a passport copy and an online or in-person assessment. We recommend applying four to six months before you plan to arrive.
Budget realistically
Annual tuition for the main international schools typically ranges from roughly ฿400,000 to over ฿1,000,000 per child depending on age and school, before one-off fees (application, enrolment, capital levy) and extras such as transport, uniforms and trips. Always confirm the current fee schedule directly with the school.
The question families forget
Ask how the school supports children arriving mid-year with little English. The answer tells you a lot about the pastoral culture, and it matters even for fluent children — their new classmates will come from forty nationalities.
How we help
We arrange campus tours in a single day, prepare the document checklist with you, and only shortlist villas once the school run is known. Tell us about your children and we will map the options.