HeadStart International School is a Cambridge International / English National Curriculum school in Phuket, Thailand. Founded in 2005. It serves 1,500 students for students aged 2–18. Annual tuition ranges from $9,716 to $13,748 USD.
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Location & Getting There
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Key Details
Key facts
About
Founded in 2005, HeadStart International School is one of the leading international schools in Phuket, Thailand, offering the English National Curriculum and Cambridge International education for students aged 2 to 18. With over 1,500 students across two campuses representing more than 50 nationalities, the school is committed to providing a quality teaching and learning environment for Phuket's international and culturally diverse community.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
Why Families Choose
HeadStart's Chaofah City Campus offers a British-style education in central Phuket for ages 2–18. Key differentiators include the Eco School initiative empowering students to lead sustainability and environmental projects, and the CAPA programme enabling expression across music, drama, and art with termly showcases. The school offers four language options (Thai, Mandarin, French, Russian) alongside English, employs teachers from the UK, Australia, and the US, and provides a comprehensive transport network across Phuket.
Fees & Financials
| Grade / Year | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| EY-REC | THB 347,000~$ 9,507 |
| Years 1-6 | THB 434,000~$ 11,890 |
| Years 7-9 | THB 491,000~$ 13,452 |
| Years 10-13 | THB 491,000~$ 13,452 |
Conversions to USD use exchange rates as of April 2026.
Original currency: THB 347,000 - 491,000. Application fee: $140.
Admissions Process
- 1Book a campus tour or open day visit. 2. Complete the online application form with student details and academic history. 3. Students applying for Years 3–13 sit an entrance examination (non-refundable fee of THB 3,000). 4. Attend an interview with the Head of Primary or Secondary. 5. Sign the Home and School Partnership Agreement if a place is offered. 6. Submit required documents including ID, school reports, health records, and learning support assessments. 7. Receive and pay the fee invoice to confirm enrolment.
Admissions Details
No information is available about the waitlist process on the school's website.
School Day
The school day begins at 8:00 AM, followed by six academic lessons in 55-minute blocks with scheduled breaks. Regular classes finish at 3:20 PM. Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) run from 3:30–4:20 PM, and specialised Academy programmes run from 4:30–6:00 PM, depending on enrolment and age group.
Student Life
Every student and staff member is allocated to one of four Houses: Red Phoenixes, Yellow Cheetahs, Green Dragons, and Blue Tigers. Friday is House shirt day. Competitions include House Quiz, sports fixtures, and other activities, with House merits and yearly prizes awarded based on accumulated points.
Uniforms are required and sold at the school shop; there is a no-exchange policy after purchase. Foundation students wear a white blouse with dark blue pinafore or blue shirt with dark blue shorts. Primary and Secondary students wear a blue shirt with beige skirts or beige shorts. Sixth Form students wear a grey shirt with grey trousers or grey skirt. A HeadStart jacket is optional. House shirts are worn on Fridays.
Lunch is provided for all pupils unless there are special dietary requirements, which must be specified at enrollment. Foundation and Key Stage 1 students receive snacks. A coffee shop operated by an external operator is available on campus. A Food Service Committee representing pupils, teachers, parents, and professionals oversees menu input. Weekly menus are published separately for Foundation & KS1 and for Primary & Secondary, with allergen notices provided.
Facilities & Programmes
Wellbeing & Safety
HeadStart offers a counselling service led by qualified school counsellors based in the Student Support Office. Support covers stress, low mood, anxiety, relationships, grief, and school-related concerns, and is available to all students with particular focus on at-risk students. Counsellors use mindfulness, coaching, and growth mindset strategies for resilience-building, and collaborate with homeroom teachers, academic leaders, and safeguarding staff.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff, volunteers, and community members. Systems include a Designated Safeguarding Person, Student Concern Committee, Staff Code of Conduct, and Safer Recruitment practices including background checks. All staff receive induction and training. Policies align with UK and Thai legislation and accrediting body standards, with procedures for managing allegations of abuse and mechanisms for students to raise concerns.
Student Demographics
Curriculum by Stage
| Stage | Curriculum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (Ages 6-11) | National Curriculum | English National Curriculum |
| Early Years (Ages 2-5) | National Curriculum | EYFS-aligned early years programme |
| Secondary (Ages 11-16) | IGCSE | Cambridge International |
| Sixth Form (Ages 16-18) | A-Levels | University preparation programme offered |
School Background
The school is licensed by the Thai Ministry of Education and operates across two campuses. It is a member of the Cambridge International School Network, holds accreditation by Education Development Trust (ISQM Silver), and joined FOBISIA in 2025. A school board provides governance oversight.
ISQM Silver (Education Development Trust)