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Clubs Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction
Modern English School Cairo is a purpose-built, multi-curriculum international school located in New Cairo. It admits students aged 3 to 18 and offers a choice of British Curriculum pathways (Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels), the American Curriculum, and the IB Diploma Programme. Early Years follows play-based learning, with later progression to Key Stages under the English National Curriculum, adapted for local context and international culture. In Secondary, families can follow the British route (KS3 with GCSE/IGCSE, then AS/A Levels) or the American route (Middle School to High School Diploma). At Year 10, the International Baccalaureate DP can be pursued for graduation. The school sits on a purpose-built campus in New Cairo with green spaces, a central 400-seat theatre, and specialist facilities for Science, Art, Music, Dance, Computing and Design Technology. Extensive sports facilities accompany a broad enrichment program, including ASAs, trips, productions, and the International Award.
Modern English School Cairo has 2,400 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.
Location
New Cairo, South of Police Academy, Cairo, Egypt. The campus is in the New Cairo suburb and is purpose-built with green spaces, open atriums, fish ponds and an aviary. The Primary school is based around a pod layout with year groups clustered in a common corridor, with a shared pod-space connecting all classrooms. A central 400-seat theatre is used for meetings, assemblies and performances.
Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS); Key Stage 1 (KS1); Key Stage 2 (KS2); British Secondary; American Secondary; IB Diploma Programme.
Additional learning support
Students with identified exceptionalities may access additional support via Primary LDD and Secondary LDD teams. Provision includes authoring of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), outsourcing to community agencies and exam/testing modifications.
Bus service
School bussing is available for students and staff to/from most locations in greater Cairo. Our school buses are well maintained to ensure safety and comfort of the highest standard.
Fees
Annual tuition at Modern English School Cairo ranges from EGP 80,000 to EGP 185,000 for 2026/27.
Application and registration fees
- A non‑refundable registration (application) fee is charged for new enrolments; a re‑enrolment deposit equal to 10% of the annual tuition is collected to secure places for continuing pupils.
Tuition — annual and typical instalment amounts (2025/26 fee levels)
- Foundation stage / KG1: EGP 80,000 per year. Typical payment if spread in four instalments: EGP 20,000 per instalment.
- Foundation stage / KG2: EGP 93,000 per year. Typical four‑instalment amount: EGP 23,250 per instalment.
- Primary (Years 1–2): EGP 119,000 per year. Typical four‑instalment amount: EGP 29,750 per instalment.
- Primary (Years 3–6): EGP 131,000 per year. Typical four‑instalment amount: EGP 32,750 per instalment.
- Secondary — American diploma (middle/upper secondary exam years and related grades listed): EGP 161,000 per year. Typical four‑instalment amount: EGP 40,250 per instalment.
- Secondary — British/upper‑secondary exam years (A‑level/IB/UK senior years listed): EGP 185,000 per year. Typical four‑instalment amount: EGP 46,250 per instalment.
(Fees above are shown as annual tuition with a commonly used school instalment structure; the school issues billing and instalment schedules as described below.)
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is billed as the annual fee but may be paid in instalments. The school's standard instalment plan requires an early re‑enrolment payment (10% of the annual fee) and staged payments through the year (historically shown as further instalments in August, November and March). Transport charges are required in full before the start of the academic year. No student is admitted on the first day of term without settlement of due fees.
- Registration fees for new students are non‑refundable at enrolment. The school operates sibling fee concessions: a reduced registration charge for the second child and additional reductions for third/fourth siblings, and percentage reductions on tuition for multiple children.
Boarding
- The school is a day school; no boarding fees apply.
Other costs and recurring charges
- Transportation: school bus service is charged in addition to tuition; published listings for the 2025/26 year show transportation charges reported at EGP 10,400 (charged separately and payable in advance). Transport must be paid in full before the start of the academic year (exact amount may vary by route).
- Examinations and external exam fees (IGCSE/GCSE/A‑level, SAT/TOEFL, IB) are billed separately and are not included in tuition.
- Books, activity fees and similar consumable or programme costs are not included in the published tuition figures and are charged separately.
- Uniform: official school uniform is required. Uniform items are available from the school uniform shop and may be purchased online via the parent portal; uniform costs are charged separately. The school maintains a published uniform policy listing required items by year group.
- Other potential additional charges include specific trips, optional extracurricular activities that require extra payment, learning‑support or EAL services if applicable, and exam administration fees. External exam charges and some activity costs are billed separately from tuition.
Refunds and withdrawal terms
- The school operates an explicit re‑enrolment and withdrawal policy: parents are required to notify the school in writing by stated deadlines to be eligible for any partial refund of re‑enrolment payments; a historical example of the policy requires written notice before the school's published cut‑off date (example given as July 1 in earlier documentation) to qualify for a refund of the re‑enrolment payment less an administrative charge; beyond the deadline re‑enrolment fees may not be refundable. Parents are bound by the school's written terms and conditions when enrolling or withdrawing a pupil.
Fee payment options and instructions
- Accepted payment methods include bank transfer to the school's accounts, card payments (Visa/MasterCard), and electronic instalment plans through third‑party finance partners (valU has been offered as an option). Cheques are not accepted. The school publishes account details and an accounts e‑mail contact for fee queries and payment confirmations.
Quick practical points for parents
- Tuition amounts shown above are annual figures; the school issues invoices and an instalment schedule. Typical instalments are calculated by splitting the annual fee over the school's accepted number of instalments (the school's standard plan has historically used four instalments).
- Transport, uniforms, books, exam fees and many trips/activities are additional to tuition and must be budgeted for separately.
- There are sibling discounts and reduced registration terms for second and further children.
Academics
Modern English School Cairo teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, American Curriculum, IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Early Years follows the Early Years curriculum with an emphasis on play, early childhood development and interpersonal skills. They progress to KS1 and then KS2, where the National Curriculum of England underpins learning with adjustments for local context and international culture. In Secondary, students choose between the British Secondary pathway (a 2-year KS3 programme with GCSE/IGCSE, followed by AS/A Levels) or the American Secondary pathway (a 2-year Middle School Programme followed by a 4-year High School Diploma Programme). At the completion of Year 10/Grade 10, students can pursue graduation via the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme if they prefer. All pathways lead to graduation and university access.
Our Secondary Leadership Team provides university counselling and information on virtually any university destination worldwide, including Egypt, with visits by reputable tertiary institutions throughout the academic year. Students are encouraged to utilise school resources to support their university planning, and not outsource to third parties.
Gifted and Talented
For Gifted and Talented students there is an opportunity to take an additional two subjects, PE and Global Perspectives.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Pastoral support is a key strength; students have access to emotional and psychological care, including on-site psychological support and a dedicated school counsellor in the secondary section. The wellbeing framework is supported by a structured referral system and access to counsellors to assist students with emotional and social needs.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Learning Development Departments in both primary and secondary provide support for students with identified exceptionalities, including the creation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), outsourcing to community agencies, and exam/testing modifications.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English as a Second Language is offered within the secondary English provision. Most students sit English as a Second Language in November of Year 10 and English as a First Language in May of Year 10; some families may choose to pursue English as a First Language, or English as a Second Language later, with guidance to place students in appropriate language pathways.
Mental Wellbeing
Well-being is prioritised with welfare, health and safety described as outstanding. Students have access to emotional and psychological care, including on-site medical staff and mental health resources, with a structured referral process for well-being concerns.
Safeguarding
The school is committed to safeguarding; a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy outlines standards applied to staff, the Board, and volunteers, reflecting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and supported by a Child Protection Team.
Admissions
Admissions
Admission priorities: First consideration is given to students who already have siblings registered in MES Cairo. Second consideration is given to students who apply from schools which offer similar academic programmes or follow a similar academic syllabus. Third consideration is given to students with the most academic ability, keeping in mind space availability and the date when the application was first processed. All other considerations may or may not play a major role in the admission process depending on the individual case.
Application steps: 1. Complete MES Cairo Application Form online. 2. Visit MES Cairo to sign the application and submit the required documents. Your application is not submitted into the system until step 1 and step 2 are both completed. 3. Assessment results are announced within two weeks from the assessment date. If accepted, a deposit will be required within seven days of receiving the acceptance call to secure the student's place.
Required documents: Part I – The required documents for the admission process: Original birth certificate – computer generated (Egyptian students); Copy of student's passport and residence visa valid for no less than six months – this should not be a tourist visa (non-Egyptian students); Two recent passport-size photos of student; Copy of mother and father's ID (National Number) and passport copies of non-Egyptian parents; Original academic report from previous school for last two academic years; Stamped attendance statement from previous school starting from Year 1; Letter of good conduct from previous school for students in Year 6 and above; Copy of parents/guardian's education certificates. Part II – Additional documents required for those transferring within Egypt: Attendance statement or progress report for last academic year stamped by the Educational District; Transfer request stamped from both the school the student is transferring from and the Educational District; Electronic transfer request from previous school. Part III – Additional documents required for students transferring from abroad: Attendance statement from previous school stamped by the Ministry of Education of the country the student is transferring from, as well as by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Last school report stamped by the Ministry of Education in the country the student is transferring from, as well as by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Issuing a letter of admission from the Educational District for both Egyptian and non-Egyptian students transferring from abroad.
FAQs
What curriculum does Modern English School Cairo offer?
The school offers British Curriculum (Cambridge IGCSE, AS/A Levels), American Curriculum, and the IB Diploma Programme. Early Years follows play-based learning with progression to Key Stages under the English National Curriculum.
How many students attend?
Modern English School Cairo has approximately 2,400 students, making it one of the larger international schools in New Cairo.
When was the school founded?
The school was founded in 1990, providing over three decades of international education in the New Cairo area.
Who leads the school?
The school is led by Mrs Melanie Jane Midwood, overseeing British, American, and IB curriculum delivery.
What age range does the school serve?
The school admits students aged 3 to 18, offering education from Early Years through to Sixth Form with multiple curriculum pathways.
Is the school purpose-built?
Yes, Modern English School Cairo is a purpose-built campus in New Cairo designed to support multi-curriculum international education.
What qualifications can students achieve?
Students can achieve Cambridge IGCSE, AS/A Levels, the IB Diploma, or an American High School qualification depending on their chosen pathway.
Is the school co-educational?
Yes, the school is co-educational, welcoming both boys and girls across all curriculum pathways and year groups.
Where is the school located?
Modern English School Cairo is located in New Cairo, Egypt, with a purpose-built campus supporting 2,400 students.
What makes the school distinctive?
The triple-pathway choice of British, American, and IB Diploma on one purpose-built campus with over 30 years of experience and 2,400 students makes MES Cairo distinctive.
