Within the wider field of international schools in Panama City, King's College Panama is the established British option in the capital, carrying the King's College name and following the English National Curriculum from the early years through to pre university study. It is a smaller, closely held school rather than a large campus, and that scale is part of its pitch, with small classes and a community measured in hundreds rather than thousands. Because it runs the IB Diploma in the sixth form, it also appears among the recognised IB schools in Panama City, even though its core identity is British.
King's College Panama at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum with IGCSE, then the IB Diploma in the sixth form |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years, primary, secondary and sixth form (ages 2 to 18) |
| Character | Small British international school; part of the King's College group of schools |
| Languages | English as the working language, Spanish taught alongside |
| Fee band | Mid to upper tier for the city (see Panama City fees) |
| Campus | Clayton, beside the rainforest west of central Panama City; current campus opened 2023 |
Curriculum and academics
King's College Panama teaches the English National Curriculum in English, which makes it a natural fit for families moving on a British track or planning a return to the United Kingdom. The early years lean on a play based, Reggio inspired approach to settle the youngest children, and the school then runs the familiar British structure through primary and secondary, with IGCSE examinations in the middle years. In the final stage, sixth formers take the IB Diploma rather than A levels, so the school pairs a British school experience with an internationally portable leaving qualification.
Spanish is taught alongside English so that pupils can function in their host country, and the small size of the school is reflected in class sizes and a close knit feel that larger campuses cannot replicate. Families weighing King's College Panama are usually comparing it against the American pathway at schools such as Balboa Academy or the broader IB provision at Boston School International, and the decision tends to turn on whether a child suits a British structure leading to the IB Diploma or a different system end to end. Our list of the best IB schools in Panama City sets the Diploma providers side by side.
Weighing King's College against another Panama City school?
Put King's College Panama side by side with another campus on curriculum, stages and fee band before you shortlist.
King's College Panama fees
King's College Panama sits in the mid to upper tier of our guide to international school fees in Panama City, in line with its British programme and small class sizes. As with most schools, tuition rises across the year groups, and the sixth form that carries the IB Diploma is the most expensive stage. The school publishes its own fee schedule, so confirm the current figures with admissions before you plan around them rather than relying on third party listings, which date quickly.
King's College Panama charges one off application and entrance fees in addition to tuition, and these can be a meaningful part of the first year cost, so ask which plan applies, whether any part is refundable and when each charge falls due. Beyond tuition and those fees, budget for a place deposit, IB examination entries in the sixth form, transport and the usual extras for uniforms, trips and activities. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure, which is the only fair way to set a British school such as King's College against an American or bilingual alternative.
Admissions
King's College Panama reviews applications through its admissions office rather than on a first come basis, so an open place in a year group does not by itself guarantee an offer. Younger children are usually placed by age, while from the primary years onward placement takes account of the records and grades a child brings from a previous school, along with any English language support that may be needed. Because the school is small, popular year groups can fill, so families relocating to Panama do well to ask early about availability in the exact class they need.
The school will typically want prior school reports and may assess a child to confirm the right year group and the level of English, particularly for entry into the secondary years where the curriculum builds on earlier study. Contact the admissions office to confirm availability in your child's year, the papers required and any assessment or interview, and to check the intake calendar and the application timeline for the year you are joining.
Location and who goes there
King's College Panama is in Clayton, beside the rainforest in the City of Knowledge area on the former Canal Zone west of central Panama City, having moved to its current campus in 2023. The setting is green and calm, away from the high rise districts closer to the bay, and the newer campus brought updated early years, science, arts and music facilities together on one site. The location suits families living on the Pacific side of the canal and those drawn to the quieter, leafier districts west of the centre.
The intake mixes expatriate families on assignment, Panamanian families choosing a British education and families who value the continuity of an English curriculum, which gives the school a broadly international character with a strong British thread. For how Clayton and the City of Knowledge compare with Costa del Este, Cerro Viento and the other residential districts on commute, housing and school choice, the Panama City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
King's College Panama reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of King's College Panama, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are King's College Panama fees?
King's College Panama publishes a fee schedule that rises across the year groups, with the sixth form the most expensive stage. Confirm the current figures with admissions and budget for an application fee, an entrance or enrolment fee and a place deposit on top of tuition, as these one off charges can be significant.
What curriculum does King's College Panama follow?
The school follows the English National Curriculum, with IGCSE examinations in the middle years and the IB Diploma in the sixth form. The early years draw on a play based, Reggio inspired approach, so the school blends a British structure with an exploratory start.
What ages does King's College Panama take?
King's College Panama takes children from age two in the early years through to age eighteen in the sixth form, covering the full British pathway from nursery to pre university study.
Is King's College Panama a British school?
Yes. It is a British international school, part of the King's College group of British schools, teaching the English National Curriculum in English with Spanish alongside, and it leads to IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
Where is King's College Panama located?
The school is in Clayton, beside the rainforest in the City of Knowledge area on the former Canal Zone west of central Panama City. It moved to its current campus in 2023.
