The New English School is the oldest name in British education in Kuwait and one of the first schools families look at when researching the Kuwait City school market. It opened in October 1969 as the country's first private coeducational day school to offer the British curriculum from Kindergarten to A Level, founded by the late Tareq S. Rajab. Today it educates a large student body on a purpose built campus in Jabriya, south of the city, and teaches the full English National Curriculum from the early years to a Sixth Form.
This profile is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide does not accept payment for coverage, and NES appears here because it is a real school relocating families ask about, not because it paid to be listed. We researched the facts below from the school and public sources at the time of writing, and mark anything we could not confirm as not published.
At a glance
Curriculum and academics
NES teaches the National Curriculum of England, the British curriculum that runs from Kindergarten through the primary phase and into secondary school in English. Arabic and Islamic studies are provided alongside to meet national requirements. As the first school in Kuwait to bring the full British pathway to the country, it has long been a reference point for internationally mobile families, because the familiar phases and key stages let a child move between British schools around the world without losing their place in the system.
At the end of secondary school, students sit IGCSE examinations across a broad range of subjects and then move into a Sixth Form where they take AS and A Level courses, the standard British route to university. NES does not run the International Baccalaureate, so families set on the IB Diploma will want to compare the city's authorised IB schools in Kuwait City instead. The school has been inspected under the British Schools Overseas framework, the UK government endorsed standard for British schools abroad.
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New English School fees
The New English School sits in the mid to upper band of the Kuwait City market, with tuition rising by stage and the Sixth Form carrying the highest figure. We do not publish a precise number here because the schedule is revised every year and is best taken directly from the school. Treat any figure you see on a third party listing as a band rather than a quote, and ask NES for the current breakdown when you enquire.
Tuition is only part of the budget. Expect a registration or application charge payable when a place is taken, and for some families a deposit to hold the seat. IGCSE and A Level examination fees fall due in the senior years and are billed separately, and optional school transport, uniforms, materials and trips add to the annual total. For the wider picture of what international schooling costs across the city, see our guide to international schools in Kuwait City and model the full cost across the years rather than the headline tuition alone.
Admissions
NES follows the British academic year that begins in late summer, and the main entry point is Kindergarten and the early primary stages, where most places are offered and the process is confirmed in the months before the year starts. Admission at the foundation level uses an age appropriate assessment, while older applicants joining higher up sit a placement assessment suited to their year group, with English readiness taken into account because the curriculum is taught in English.
Because NES is one of the oldest and best known schools in Kuwait, demand is high and waiting lists are common, so mid year entry into established year groups cannot be relied upon. Entry into the Sixth Form usually depends on a student's IGCSE results meeting the school's subject requirements. Families relocating to Kuwait should register their interest as early as possible, prepare recent school reports, and ask the school directly about availability and the assessment process in the year they need.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Jabriya, a settled residential district to the south of Kuwait City known for its mix of expatriate and local families and its cluster of well established schools. The location is within reach of the residential belts where international households tend to settle, including Jabriya itself, Salwa and Salmiya, though the area's school traffic is worth factoring into where you live. The intake is led by British and other Western expatriate families following the National Curriculum of England, alongside Kuwaiti and Arab expatriate households who want an English language British education.
Because NES offers a complete British pathway from Kindergarten to A Level and carries decades of history in the country, it tends to appeal to internationally mobile families who want an established school and continuity for their children. For the wider picture of where international families settle across the city and the schools near them, see the Kuwait City city hub.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for The New English School. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended NES, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are New English School fees?
The New English School sits in the mid to upper band of the Kuwait City market, with tuition rising by stage and the Sixth Form carrying the highest figure. A registration or application charge and optional transport apply on top of annual tuition, and IGCSE and A Level examination fees fall due in the senior years. Confirm the current published schedule directly with the school.
Is New English School a good school?
NES is Kuwait's oldest British curriculum school, inspected under the British Schools Overseas framework, teaching the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and A Level. Whether it is the right fit depends on your child's stage, your budget and your preferred curriculum. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does New English School follow?
NES teaches the National Curriculum of England in English from Kindergarten through to Year 13. Students sit IGCSE examinations and then move on to AS and A Level, with Arabic and Islamic studies provided to meet Ministry of Education requirements.
Where is New English School located?
NES is on a purpose built campus in Jabriya, a residential district south of Kuwait City. The area sits within reach of the Jabriya, Salwa and Salmiya belts where many expatriate families live.
When do New English School applications open?
NES follows the British academic year that begins in late summer, with the main entry at the Kindergarten and early primary stages confirmed in the months beforehand. As one of the most established schools in Kuwait it has long waiting lists, so families should apply as early as possible and ask the school about availability.
