The English School Kuwait is the oldest British school in the country and one of the first names families meet when they research the Kuwait City school market. It was founded in 1953 under the auspices of the British Embassy, opened by a group of volunteer parents to school the children of the expatriate community, and has served English speaking families for more than seventy years. It is the only not for profit British school in Kuwait, a structure that shapes everything from its governance to how fee income is used, and it moved to its present campus in Salmiya in 1996.
This profile is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide does not accept payment for coverage, and TES 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
TES follows the British curriculum in English, running the Early Years Foundation Stage and the English National Curriculum through to IGCSE examinations at age sixteen. The primary years build the core of English, mathematics and science alongside the foundation subjects, with Arabic and Islamic studies provided to meet national requirements. The reason families choose TES is a long, stable record delivering a recognisable British education, backed by inspection from the Independent Schools Inspectorate and membership of the British international school networks.
The school takes students to IGCSE rather than running a sixth form to A Level, so the natural decision point for many families is age sixteen, when those continuing in the British system move on to a school offering Years 12 and 13. Families set on the International Baccalaureate, or on staying in one school to eighteen, will want to compare the city's authorised IB schools in Kuwait City instead. TES is affiliated to COBIS, BSME and IAPS, the bodies that connect British schools overseas and signal a shared standard of provision.
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The English School Kuwait fees
The English School Kuwait sits in the mid band of the Kuwait market. As the country's only not for profit British school, it is structured to reinvest fee income rather than return a margin, with tuition rising by stage. We do not publish a precise number here because the schedule is revised every year and is best taken directly from the school.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 elsewhere as a band rather than a quote, and read it alongside our guide to international school fees in Kuwait City.
Tuition is only part of the budget. Expect a one time application or registration charge payable when a place is taken, and for some families a deposit to hold the seat. Optional school transport, uniforms, materials and trips add to the annual total, and families planning a move at age sixteen should also budget for the next school. Use our school fee calculator to model the full cost across the years rather than the headline tuition alone.
Admissions
TES follows the British academic year that begins in September, and the main entry point is the early years and Reception stage, 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 or diagnostic assessment suited to their year group, with English readiness taken into account because the curriculum is taught in English.
Places in established year groups depend on a child leaving, so mid year and later entry cannot be relied upon and waiting lists are common at the most sought after stages. As one of the oldest and best known schools in Kuwait, and a not for profit one, TES can be competitive at popular grades. Families relocating to Kuwait should register their interest early, 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 Salmiya, one of the busier coastal districts of the Kuwait City area and a popular base for international families, within reach of the residential belts where expatriate households tend to settle, including Salwa, Jabriya and Bayan. The central location suits dual working households, though families should factor the area's traffic and the school run into any decision about where to live. The intake is genuinely international, representing more than forty five nationalities, with British and other Western expatriate families alongside Arab and South Asian households who want an English language British education.
Because TES pairs the country's longest British track record with a not for profit ethos and a central Salmiya base, it tends to appeal to families who value a settled, community minded school over a newer or larger campus. 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 English School Kuwait. 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 TES, 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 The English School Kuwait fees?
The English School Kuwait sits in the mid band of the Kuwait market. As the country's only not for profit British school, it reinvests fees rather than returning a margin, with tuition rising by stage. A one time application or registration charge and optional transport apply on top of annual tuition. Confirm the current published schedule directly with the school.
Is The English School Kuwait a good school?
TES is the oldest British school in Kuwait, founded in 1953 and the country's only not for profit British school, with a long record teaching the English National Curriculum to IGCSE. Whether it is the right fit depends on your child's stage and whether you need provision beyond age sixteen. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does The English School Kuwait follow?
TES follows the English National Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage in English, from the early years through to IGCSE examinations at age sixteen. It is a British curriculum school rather than an IB or American one.
Does The English School Kuwait offer sixth form or A Levels?
TES caters for ages three to sixteen, taking students to IGCSE rather than running a sixth form to A Level. Families who need a sixth form should plan a move at age sixteen to a Kuwait school that offers A Levels or the IB Diploma, and confirm current provision with the school.
When do The English School Kuwait applications open?
TES follows the British academic year that begins in September, with the main entry at the early years and Reception stage confirmed in the months beforehand. As a long established and not for profit school it can be competitive, so families should apply early and ask about availability and assessment in their child's year group.
