SEK International School was the first school to open in Riyadh under the auspices of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City in 2021, opening its second SEK international school in the Middle East. The school is conveniently located in the Al Rabie district, in central Riyadh, close to the Kingdom Hospital, with excellent travel connections via the King Salman and King Fahad highways.

The story so far...

Unlike the majority of (mostly) long-established UK-based schools, who are working with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, SEK Education Group was established in Madrid, Spain. 

SEK’s history dates back to 1892. In 1935 the Segovia family took over the running and development of the original Spanish school, and three generations later, the group has expanded to ten SEK International Schools and one university. The latter, University Camilo José Cela, was founded in 2000, and represents, from the Group’s perspective, the high point of their educational activities, supporting subsequent development of teaching research and innovation for which they are known.

SEK-Riyadh is building on the experience and legacy of international education that the Group already offers to local and international communities in Spain, France, Ireland and Qatar, with the Riyadh school being the second in the Middle East.  The Qatar school was founded in 2014, giving the organisation a head start in terms of their establishment in the Kingdom.

On opening in 2021, the Riyadh school offered classes from Pre-K (age 3 years) to Grade 4 (age 9 years) and will be opening to Grade 6 (age 11 years) in the 2022-23 academic year. The school will continue to add grades each year, guaranteeing that “we will always add the grades to allow all current students to continue their education at SEK-Riyadh until they graduate from Grade 12.” The school is mixed gender until 6th Grade, and students are taught by both male and female teachers. 

SEK Riyadh is led by Principal, Iván Martinez Pastor.  Mr. Martinez Pastor is said to have an in-depth insight into leadership of SEK International Schools. His previous roles include teacher and MYP coordinator at SEK-Ciudalcampo in Madrid, and SEK-Les Alpes in France.

What about the curriculum? 

SEK- Riyadh follows the International Baccalaurate Programmes, and has become a candidate-status school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and will add the Diploma Programme (DP) in due course. 

SEK Education first became a member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation in 1977, when it launched its IB Diploma programme. The SEK Group has over 40 years’ experience offering IB programmes, with, according to the group, an outstanding record in IB Diploma results and university entrance exams.  

The group says “At SEK our main goal is to prepare students to direct their own futures and to become lifelong learners.”

Interestingly, SEK-Riyadh has also started the process of international accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), to ensure that “it meets demanding international education standards”, but we assume, also in recognition that many Saudi families aspire for their children to attend university in the USA.  The NEASC accreditation will enable the school to offer a US High School Diploma to all graduating Grade 12 students wishing to pursue their education in the US, but also in many other countries.

What about the facilities?

The SEK-Riyadh campus includes: two large indoor multi-purpose halls for sports, arts events and other major school events; two Learning Hubs (for research and inquiry), two Creativity Hubs (for visual and performing arts), two Maker Spaces (for exploring technology and entrepreneurship), two multi-purpose atriums; extensive shaded outdoor games and play areas; and dedicate specialist learning spaces for Early Years; Sciences; and Languages & Culture (with a special focus on Arabic Language and Culture).

The Buzz

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Our View

As one of the schools selected to open in Riyadh through the Royal Commission, we would expect that many families (both local and expatriate) will be drawn to learn more about SEK-Riyadh. Whilst it is still early days, the fact that the school already has a year's experience places it ahead of several others that have planned to open in 2022. 

With a strong, and established organisation behind it, and one that already has experience of operations in neighbouring Qatar, together with the option of a US High School Diploma in addition to the world-renowned International Baccalaureate Programmes, SEK-Riyadh appears to be a good option for parents seeking a truly international, high quality education for their children.

What about the fees?

Tuition Fees range from 46,000 SAR for pre-KG to (eventually) 74,750 SAR for Grade 12 (inclusive of VAT).

These are somewhat more moderate fees than those being offered by the most established UK and US curriculum schools, and in line with those currently in the process of opening through their agreement with the RCRC. 

There is a 500 SAR  Application Fee for every child applying to SEK International School Riyadh. Once the child’s application is accepted, a Reservation Fee of 3,000 SAR should be paid to confirm acceptance of the place. The Application Fee and Reservation Fee will be discounted from the tuition of the first term if the child enrols.

In addition, SEK-Riyadh is offering a 10% discount on the first trimester, and a 5% discount for the third and subsequent child.  

A 5% tuition fee discount is available for payment of the full year’s fees in a single payment (only applicable if payment is made by bank transfer, cheque or cash) at the time of accepting a place at SEK International School Riyadh.

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