International School of Samui

The school is on Koh Samui’s northeast coast, tucked between Chaweng and Bophut, alongside the main ring road and adjacent to Bandon Hospital and the Big C shopping centre. The island is accessible via domestic and international flights, with regular ferry services and road links to other parts of Thailand.

ISS is divided into stages: Early Years (ages 3–4), Primary School (Reception–Year 6; ages 4–11), Senior School (Years 7–11; ages 11–16), and Sixth Form (Years 12–13; ages 16–18), each following age-aligned curriculum progressions.

ISS is co‑educational and does not offer boarding facilities.

ISS provides tiered learning support. This includes Wave 2 (group or in-class support) and Wave 3 (one-on-one individual programmes) for students with additional needs. For complex needs, an assessment and external professional input may be required. They also offer EAL (English as an Additional Language) support across stages.

There is no formal national affiliation.

The school is secular and has no religious affiliation.

Early Years: 8:30 AM to 2:50 PM
Primary School: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Senior School: 8:20 AM to 3:00 PM

After‐school activities run from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.

ISS offers a door-to-door bus service divided into three zones based on distance from the school.

ISS follows the British National Curriculum and is licensed as both a Cambridge International Examinations Centre and a Pearson Edexcel Examinations Centre. In Primary (Reception–Year 6), students follow the Cambridge Primary programme, adjusted for its multicultural student body. In Senior School (Years 7–11), pupils study for the Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, choosing from 22 subject options. In Sixth Form (Years 12–13), students progress to Cambridge A Levels, selecting from 20 subject choices. Additionally, ISS offers Future Skills courses—such as Public Speaking, Entrepreneurship, and Critical Thinking—alongside core academic subjects.

ISS integrates SEL into its Early Years and PSHE curriculum. Reception classes follow Personal, Social & Emotional Development goals, such as self-regulation, managing feelings, and building relationships, following the EYFS framework. In later years (Year 5 and Year 10), PSHE units focus on mental health awareness: recognising emotions, understanding triggers, seeking help, and building resilience.

ISS offers structured learning support through a Response-to-Intervention model. Wave 2 support includes group or in-class teaching adjustments, while Wave 3 provides one-on-one programmes for more complex needs, developed collaboratively with a SENCO, specialist teachers, and external professionals. This is not a specialist SEN institution, but rather a mainstream school that accommodates diverse needs.

ISS provides a dedicated EAL programme for students whose first language is not English. Support includes pull-out language classes, in-class assistance, immersion strategies, use of online resources, assessments, cultural integration activities, and regular communication with parents.

The school addresses mental wellbeing directly within its PSHE curriculum. In Year 5 and Year 6, students learn about the importance of sleep, physical activity, hobbies, social connections, and lifestyle habits in supporting mental health. In Year 10, students explore emotional triggers, resilience-building techniques, and how to spot signs of stress or distress. No separate counselling services or dedicated wellbeing staff are mentioned publicly.

ISS has a clear safeguarding framework, and every staff member receives annual training in child protection, not just teachers. The school employs a Designated Safeguarding Lead and two deputies, whose contact details are displayed around campus. Staff involved in hiring follow Safer Recruitment practices, including identity, qualification, background, and police checks. A formal child protection policy outlines reporting procedures and expected conduct to prioritise student safety.

1. Enquiry and School Visit
Begin by contacting the admissions team to arrange a campus tour or a virtual meeting via Google Meet at your convenience.

2. Meeting with Head of School
Where possible, a meeting (in person or online) is arranged with the Head of School. This offers a chance to discuss your child’s specific needs and the school’s expectations.

3. Admissions Testing (Years 3–11)
Applicants joining Years 3 through 11 must complete two online assessments: the NGRT (English) and the CAT (Cognitive Ability Test). These can be taken either at home or on-site.

4. Documentation & Payment
Upon acceptance, parents submit required documents—including application and medical forms, previous school reports, passports (for child and parents), birth certificate, and photos—and pay the joining fee, security deposit, and first term’s tuition to confirm enrollment.

5. Visa Support (if applicable)
ISS provides full support for visa issuance. Each student may receive an ED-Visa, and one parent may obtain a Non‑O guardian visa. The school keeps families informed of any updates.

The ISS website does not provide any information about scholarship programmes—whether need-based, merit-based, or otherwise.

The International School of Samui operates a waitlist system through the use of a Reservation Fee. Parents may choose to pay this fee to secure a higher position on the class waiting list. If the school is unable to offer a place within eight weeks of the child’s expected enrolment date, the Reservation Fee is refundable.