Ellesmere College Riyadh is the first overseas campus of Ellesmere College, an independent school founded in 1884 in Shropshire, England, brought to Saudi Arabia as an English medium day school for boys and girls. It joins the established Riyadh international schools with a structured route through Early Years and Primary into IGCSE in the lower secondary years and an American Diploma pathway for the senior grades, which is why it appears in the city's English medium and American stream rather than the long standing IB campuses.
This profile sets out the programme, the fee position, the admissions route and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. Ellesmere College Riyadh is one of the campuses we cover in our guide to the best American schools in Riyadh, where families compare the English medium day schools side by side.
Ellesmere College Riyadh at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English medium Early Years and Primary, IGCSE in lower secondary, and the American Diploma for ages 16 to 18; IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes planned |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Early Years through secondary; year groups open in stages as the school grows |
| Founded | Riyadh campus is a recent opening; the parent Ellesmere College in England dates to 1884. Local founding year not published |
| Accreditation | Licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Education; IB authorisation stated as planned. Confirm current status with the school |
| Fee band | Not published openly; mid tier for Riyadh (see Riyadh fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Hamra district, Riyadh |
Curriculum and academics
Ellesmere College Riyadh runs an English medium programme that begins in Early Years and Primary, moves into the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, the IGCSE, in the lower secondary years, and offers the American Diploma for students aged 16 to 18. The IGCSE is the international form of the British secondary qualification and is examined by boards such as Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel, while the American Diploma gives a separate route recognised by universities in the United States and beyond. Families weighing the American curriculum against the British pathway will find both pillars present under one roof here, which is unusual in the city.
The school states an intention to add the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes as it matures, so the senior offer may widen over time. Arabic, Islamic studies and Saudi social studies sit alongside the international subjects as required of all schools in the Kingdom. Because the campus is opening year groups in stages, ask the admissions team exactly which grades and which examination routes are running this year, and request the most recent results once the first cohorts have sat external exams.
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Ellesmere College Riyadh fees
Ellesmere College Riyadh does not publish a full fee table openly, so treat any third party figure with caution and confirm the current schedule with the school directly. As a newer English medium campus offering IGCSE and the American Diploma it sits in the mid tier of the Riyadh market, below the most expensive long established American and British campuses but above the budget community schools. Its likely position is mapped in our Riyadh school fees guide, which sets out the tiers across the city in Saudi riyals.
Plan for the costs that sit above headline tuition. International schools in Riyadh typically charge a registration or assessment fee on application, a deposit to hold a place, and separate charges for transport, uniform and external examination entry in the IGCSE and Diploma years. Budget for annual fee inflation as well, since the city guide tracks rises of several per cent a year, and ask whether sibling discounts or staged payment plans apply.
Admissions and intake
The academic year begins in August and, as a growing school, Ellesmere College Riyadh accepts applications across the year subject to availability in each grade. Entry usually follows a school visit, a review of prior reports and an age appropriate assessment of English and, in the higher grades, of the subjects a student intends to continue.
Because year groups are opening in stages, the grades available change from one year to the next, so check directly which years are taking pupils before you plan around a place. Applications are made through the school and require recent school reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record from the previous school. Register early once a move to Riyadh is confirmed, since newer schools can fill their opened cohorts quickly.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh, on the eastern side of the city, within reach of several residential areas and compounds where internationally mobile families live. As a day school the daily commute matters, so weigh the location against your likely neighbourhood and your employer's location before committing.
Pupils come from a mix of Saudi and expatriate households drawn to an English medium route with both British and American qualifications. For the wider picture of how the IB, American and British schools sit across the city, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Riyadh schools hub.
Ellesmere College Riyadh reviews
No verified parent reviews of Ellesmere College Riyadh have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Ellesmere College Riyadh fees?
Ellesmere College Riyadh sets fees by year group and reviews them annually, so confirm the current schedule with the school. As a newer English medium campus offering IGCSE and the American Diploma it sits in the mid tier of the Riyadh market, and families should budget separately for registration, a deposit, transport and examination entry.
Is Ellesmere College Riyadh a good school?
Ellesmere College Riyadh is the Saudi campus of Ellesmere College, an established independent school in England, and offers a recognised IGCSE and American Diploma route in English. Whether it suits your family depends on the year groups currently open and whether the British and American pathways fit your child. Confirm current provision and results directly with the school.
What curriculum does Ellesmere College Riyadh follow?
The school teaches an English medium programme through Early Years and Primary into IGCSE in the lower secondary years, with the American Diploma offered for students aged 16 to 18. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes are planned as the school grows.
When do Ellesmere College Riyadh applications open?
The academic year runs from August, and as a growing school Ellesmere College Riyadh accepts applications across the year subject to places in each grade. Register early once a move is confirmed because newer schools open year groups in stages.
Where is Ellesmere College Riyadh located?
The campus is in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh, within reach of the residential areas and compounds where many international families live.
