International Schools Outside Bangkok

[Sakeopete]

My wife and I have a 5 y/o and a 3 y/o we want to attend international school. We live in Sakeao and there are no international schools near by so we have decided to move. I don't like Bangkok so I'm concentrating on schools on the Eastern Seaboard. I have looked at the websites of Garden International and Green Valley (St. Andrews) near Ban Chang. Also looking at Reagents in Pattaya.

What concerns me is not just the schools but the neighborhoods around them. My son is sensitive to poor air quality that's why I want to avoid Bangkok (plus the traffic).

Ban Chang area seems OK after reading posts that the prevailing winds keep the pollution from the industrial area at bay most of the year.

Can anyone give me first hand opinions of these schools and neighborhoods around them.

If there are other school options (Not Chang Mai)I may have missed pleased share them.

[folium]

How much can you afford to spend?

Do you want US/British curriculum?

Religious/secular?

Other areas to consider for intl schools are Phuket and Koh Samui, and I would not rule out CM so quickly (it has a great range of intl schools across the price spectrum and curriculums. The hot season at least this year was a non-starter with barely any smoggy days and I would suggest you reconsider CM).

[Sakeopete]

How much can you afford to spend?

Do you want US/British curriculum?

Religious/secular?

Other areas to consider for intl schools are Phuket and Koh Samui, and I would not rule out CM so quickly (it has a great range of intl schools across the price spectrum and curriculums. The hot season at least this year was a non-starter with barely any smoggy days and I would suggest you reconsider CM).

Actually CM was my first choice(Lanna because they start at pre-school) but it is so far from my wife's family in Sakeao that visiting will be very difficult same for Samui/Phuket. TBH I have not totally ruled out CM.

British curriculum is my first choice.

[folium]

How much can you afford to spend?

Do you want US/British curriculum?

Religious/secular?

Other areas to consider for intl schools are Phuket and Koh Samui, and I would not rule out CM so quickly (it has a great range of intl schools across the price spectrum and curriculums. The hot season at least this year was a non-starter with barely any smoggy days and I would suggest you reconsider CM).

Actually CM was my first choice(Lanna because they start at pre-school) but it is so far from my wife's family in Sakeao that visiting will be very difficult same for Samui/Phuket. TBH I have not totally ruled out CM.

British curriculum is my first choice.

As a place to bring up kids CM is so much better than Eastern Seaboard. Appreciate distance from inlaws but lots of people in CM have family in your neck of the woods, they just come less often but stay longer!

For Brit curriculum Lanna is a fantastic option that turns out great kids (went to the graduation ceremony last week and confirmed my opinion of the place). Nothing fancy but does the job without paying silly money.

[PattayaParent]

The 3 you mentioned GIS, St. Andrews and Regents all have pretty good reputations, it's down to how much you can afford.

GIS is cheapest and Regents most expensive with St. Andrews in between. All are British curriculum.

If you live in Ban Chang you don't want to be sending your kids to Regents because of the distance, better stay near there if that's your choice, and you might also look at Montessori which is nearby too.

Best bet is to come down and take a look at the schools and the available areas to live.

[Sakeopete]

I can afford all the school options, what I am looking for is a good school with a clean as possible environment to live in. CM was the first option my wife and I were considering despite the smoke smog during the burning season. I'm guessing the air pollution from burning fields and forest is better than heavy industrial discharge.

It also has lovely scenery and international airport for when I return home from work.

There is the British Columbia International School in Bangkok offering Canadian curriculum that I was considering because I want my kids to attend university in Canada in the future, but living in Bangkok is too much of a sacrifice.

[vont]

I can afford all the school options, what I am looking for is a good school with a clean as possible environment to live in. CM was the first option my wife and I were considering despite the smoke smog during the burning season. I'm guessing the air pollution from burning fields and forest is better than heavy industrial discharge.

It also has lovely scenery and international airport for when I return home from work.

There is the British Columbia International School in Bangkok offering Canadian curriculum that I was considering because I want my kids to attend university in Canada in the future, but living in Bangkok is too much of a sacrifice.

i alway admire parents who make long range plans for their little kids, particularly in this case, even before kindergarten....

more power to you.

what do you think your little precious one would say.... some 16 yrs into the future....?

canada, dad? you got to be kidding....?

i want to add chinese into my repertoires, now that i am already proficient in french, english, thai, indian, malay....

why can i not go to china instead? just because you and mom can not speak chinese, that shouldn't preclude me from mastering chinese....

and look at the exchange rate.... it is now 1 usd to 1 rm....