British School Dhahran

Welcome to British School Dhahran (BSD), one of five schools that comprises the International Schools Group (ISG) in Saudi Arabia. The school accommodates pupils from Foundation 1 to Year 13 and currently has a student body of approximately 700 pupils, representing over 60 different nationalities.

With an emphasis on high achievement, our academic results compare favourably with the very best national curriculum schools in the U.K. and across the world. We are proud of our students’ ability to work hard, establish culturally sensitive relationships with those around them, and to seek new skills and knowledge.

The school is accredited by the British Schools Overseas (BSO), British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) and Middle States Association for Colleges and Schools (MSA).

Founded in 1981, Dhahran British Grammar School follows the National Curriculum for England and delivers externally assessed (I)GCSE examinations as well as offering a full A-level programme. The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), the British Schools Overseas (BSO), the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) and the Middle States Association for Colleges and Schools (MSA). In 2021, Dhahran British Grammar School was renamed as the British School Dhahran (BSD)

The school accommodates pupils from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13 and currently has a population of approximately 750 pupils representing over 60 different nationalities. Pupils are taught by suitably qualified and experienced staff who themselves are largely British in origin. The school is an accredited examination centre for Cambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE) formerly Cambridge International Examination (CIE) and Edexcel Pearson. All school results are made public to the parents and to the broader community; they are consistently at a very high level and would match high-performing schools in the UK. Along with these external examinations, standardised testing is undertaken annually and formal and informal assessment take place in the classrooms on regular basis. Written reports are sent to parents in terms 1 and 3 and two parent/teacher conferences take place annually.

The school offers an excellent after school activities programme, is an Independent Award Centre (IAC) for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (D of E) and regularly participates in Model United Nations (MUN) and British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) games at primary and secondary levels to provide an excellent all round educational experience for students. In addition, BSD sports team compete in the Saudi Arabian Inter-Kingdom Activities (SAIKAC) events and the Dhahran Private Schools League (DPSL) locally.

With an emphasis on high achievement, our academic results compare favourably with the very best national curriculum schools in the UK and across the world. We are proud of our students’ ability to work hard, to establish sensitive relationships with those around them and to seek new skills and knowledge.

At British School Dhahran we have a deserved reputation for working collaboratively, as a team and with the wider BSD community. We love to process ideas, in order to gain levels of knowledge and understanding that could not be achieved by working alone. This also compels all stakeholders in our community - parents, students and teachers - to recognise progress and to celebrate success.

As part of the International Schools Group we are delighted to be involved in activities alongside our partner schools across the district. Our new system student performance goals of Learner Agency, Compassionate Action and Growth in Literacy give us a unique way forward. We encourage our students to become independent learners to prepare them for an ever changing world of the future. It is not enough for pupils to just learn information by rote - they need to know how to challenge themselves, how to get the best out of their learning, to engage in effective dialogue with teachers and their peers, to provide feedback and ways forward and to utilise appropriate resources effectively. As well as these we want our students to be happy, to care for one another, to accept differences and to promote positivity within the school community.

Our teachers are learners too. Extensive programmes of professional development through organisation such as the British Schools in the Middle East and other external providers gives us an effective platform for school improvement. As an organisation our school’s commitment to professional development is first class.

We welcome parents into the school at all levels. The head of seniors, Mrs. Rachel Cannon will be hosting events this year for parents from Year 7 to Year 11 to provide information and answer questions relating to the senior school. Mrs. Dufney Botha, the primary headteacher has effective plans to encourage more involvement of parents in the classrooms. A strong partnership between parents, teachers and students is essential to the development of the child. Mutual respect and recognition is fundamental to a strong school culture - one that is very apparent to anyone who visits BSD.