How many international secondary schools in Bahrain
Bahrain has around 14 schools delivering an international secondary programme through to Year 11 in 2026, of which 9 carry through to a full sixth form at Year 13 with recognised university-pathway qualifications. The market splits into five Cambridge International A Level providers, two IB Diploma providers (Riffa Views International School and Ibn Khuldoon National School), one US High School Diploma provider at Bahrain School run by the US Department of Defense Education Activity, and a handful of bilingual sixth forms running the Bahrain Ministry of Education Tawjihi alongside IGCSE.
Cohort sizes at sixth form are modest by Gulf standards. The largest single sixth form in Bahrain is the St Christopher's Sixth Form with around 130 pupils across Years 12 and 13, the largest single sixth form on the island. British School of Bahrain runs a smaller sixth form of around 70 pupils, with Cambridge International A Level as the dominant pathway. Riffa Views runs an IB Diploma sixth form of around 35 to 40 pupils each year, the only full IB Diploma cohort with consistent annual entry of more than 30 candidates in Bahrain. Bahrain School High School in Juffair runs a US High School Diploma sixth form of around 80 pupils, almost entirely US Navy dependants and contractor families.
Bahraini national share of secondary cohorts has grown steadily over the last decade as the Bahrain Ministry of Education encourages international curriculum exposure ahead of university. Bahraini pupils now make up 30 to 60 per cent of cohorts at every Bahrain international secondary school other than Bahrain School (which is restricted to US Navy and Western corporate families). The shift has changed the social mix noticeably, with secondary school weekend life now firmly embedded in Bahraini family networks. Co-education is standard across all international secondaries on the island.
Fees and the pathway choice
Secondary tuition in Bahrain groups into three rough tiers. The mid-tier Bahraini-owned international secondaries running BHD 3,400 to BHD 5,000 a year for IGCSE and A Level include Bahrain Bayan School, Modern Knowledge Schools and Ibn Khuldoon National School. The premium tier, BHD 5,200 to BHD 7,400, covers British School of Bahrain Cambridge International sixth form and Riffa Views IB Diploma. The top tier is St Christopher's Sixth Form at BHD 7,800 to BHD 8,200 a year for Years 12 and 13, with the strongest Russell Group university placement record on the island. Bahrain School is free of charge for SOFA-eligible US Navy dependants.
The pathway choice matters more at secondary than at any other phase of schooling in Bahrain. Cambridge International A Level offers depth in 3 or 4 subjects and is the strongest route into UK universities, taken by the majority of St Christopher's and BSB sixth form pupils. The IB Diploma at Riffa Views offers breadth across 6 subjects plus theory of knowledge and is preferred for US, Canadian and continental European universities. The US High School Diploma plus Advanced Placement at Bahrain School is the most flexible route into US universities. Our Bahrain fees guide covers the all-in cost picture and the compare tool places Bahrain sixth forms against Dubai and Doha alternatives.
Choosing the right secondary school in Bahrain?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Bahrain secondary schools based on your child's year group, your preferred pathway, your budget and your home area.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers consistent secondary and sixth form results with clear university placement.
St Christopher's School Sixth Form in Saar runs Cambridge IGCSE from Year 7 to Year 11 and Cambridge International A Level at sixth form. A Level A and A* rates of around 45 per cent in May 2025 and the strongest Russell Group placement on the island, with consistent annual offers from Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, KCL, Imperial, Manchester and Edinburgh.
British School of Bahrain Secondary at the Hamala campus delivers Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A Level in a smaller setting than St Christopher's, with average sixth form class sizes of 8 to 12 pupils. Strong UK university placement with a small but consistent annual cohort heading to Oxbridge.
Riffa Views International School Upper School in Riffa Views runs the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme alongside the MYP from Grade 6. May 2025 Diploma average of 32 points across 36 candidates, with strong US and Canadian university placement.
Bahrain School High School at NSA Bahrain in Juffair is run by the US Department of Defense Education Activity. American High School Diploma with 16 Advanced Placement courses, accredited by AdvancED. Strong US service academy and tier 1 US university placement.
Ibn Khuldoon National School Secondary in Isa Town runs the IB Diploma Programme in a bilingual Arabic-English setting alongside the Bahraini Tawjihi. The most affordable IB Diploma in Bahrain and the largest Bahraini national presence in any international secondary on the island.
Where secondary families live
Bahrain secondary families cluster around three main residential corridors. Saar and Janabiya in the north-west dominate for families using St Christopher's Sixth Form, with most Western expatriate compound housing concentrated along the Saar service road and the Janabiya Highway. Hamala and Budaiya in the central west serve BSB secondary families, with newer villa compounds along the Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway. Riffa Views in the south-west is a self-contained gated estate around RVIS, and Juffair and Hidd to the east host most US Navy families using Bahrain School High School.
Secondary family tenure is less stable than primary in Bahrain. The average child remains at a single secondary school for 3 to 4 years versus 4 to 5 in primary. Around 30 per cent of Bahrain secondary families relocate before Year 11, either internationally for work or to UK or US boarding for sixth form. Sixth form is the most common departure point, with families either committing to a Bahrain school through Year 13 or sending the child to UK or US boarding from Year 12. Our Bahrain neighbourhoods guide walks through residential options.
Admissions: Year 7 and Year 12 entry points
The Bahrain school year runs September to June following the Bahrain Ministry of Education calendar. Applications for the September 2026 academic year opened at most international secondary schools between September and November 2025. Year 7 and Year 12 are the most competitive entry points. Year 7 because it covers the transition from primary and most schools rebuild their cohorts at that point with around 20 to 30 per cent new entry. Year 12 because it is the start of sixth form and the IB Diploma or A Level subject choice locks in.
St Christopher's and BSB typically close their main Year 7 and Year 12 intakes by mid-January with assessment days through February and offers in March. Riffa Views runs admissions on a similar timeline and closes Year 12 IB Diploma entry by late January because subject scheduling is built around early commitments. Mid-year transfers at secondary are usually possible up to Year 10. Year 11 transfers are difficult because IGCSE coursework is underway. Year 13 transfers are essentially never accepted. The Bahrain Ministry of Education requires a transfer certificate (Tasdiq) and authenticated previous school records, allowing 3 to 6 weeks for paperwork in addition to the school's own admissions assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Bahrain?
Bahrain has around 14 schools delivering an international secondary programme through to Year 11 in 2026, of which 9 carry through to a full sixth form at Year 13. The market splits into five Cambridge International A Level providers, two IB Diploma providers, one US High School Diploma provider at Bahrain School and a handful of bilingual sixth forms running the Bahrain Tawjihi alongside IGCSE.
How much do Bahrain secondary schools cost?
Secondary tuition runs from BHD 3,400 at mid-tier Bahraini-owned schools through to BHD 8,200 at St Christopher's Sixth Form. Most premium Western international secondaries sit between BHD 5,200 and BHD 7,400 a year for IGCSE and sixth form. Transport, lunch, exam fees and uniforms typically add a further BHD 800 to BHD 1,800 a year on top.
Which pathway is best for UK universities?
Cambridge International A Level remains the strongest single route into UK universities from Bahrain, with the IB Diploma a close second. Russell Group universities including UCL, KCL, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh accept both equally on academic terms but find A Level subject specialisation easier to map onto first-year UK degree structures. St Christopher's Sixth Form has the strongest Russell Group placement track record in Bahrain.
Which pathway is best for US universities?
The IB Diploma at Riffa Views and the US High School Diploma plus Advanced Placement at Bahrain School are both strong routes into US universities. The IB Diploma offers slightly stronger placement at highly selective US institutions because the breadth and theory of knowledge component align with the US liberal arts model. Bahrain School has the strongest US service academy placement track record in the country.
Can my child transfer mid-year at secondary in Bahrain?
Yes, up to Year 10 at most schools with some difficulty. Year 11 transfers are difficult because IGCSE coursework is underway and assessment standards differ between Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exam boards. Year 13 transfers are essentially never accepted. Mid-year transfers at Year 7 to Year 9 are common and most schools handle them with a one-day assessment followed by a four-week settling-in period.
