One of the kingdom’s private schools has been recognised as one of the top 100 in the world by a prestigious magazine aimed at high-net-worth individuals, in partnership with a leading global educational consultancy group, reports the GDN.
St Christopher’s School, Bahrain also features in the 2021 Spear’s Schools Index Middle East Top 10 and delighted principal Dr Simon Watson says the acknowledgement coincides with a ‘very special occasion’ as the school celebrates its 60th Diamond Jubilee this year.
“As a community, we are celebrating our rich history as the leading educational institution in the Kingdom of Bahrain; a reputation built firmly on our commitment to excellence in education,” he added.
As well as formal criteria such as academic results and preparation for university entry, schools are ranked on their unique ethos, their reputation both locally and internationally, and how adequately they prepare students for life beyond academia.
The guide also provides a comprehensive overview of curriculum and fees as well as practical information such as travel times to local airports.
Based on the description St Christopher’s was praised for its focus on ‘educating for a shared humanity’.
It also states that it is ‘one of the oldest international schools in the region, established in 1961, and it is a vibrant and friendly community in which to study’.
The report went on to say that ‘although St Christopher’s is not academically selective on entry, its careful tracking and focus on metacognition and well-researched pedagogy means that its pupils go on to study at top universities all over the world’.
The Spear’s Schools Index, created in partnership with Carfax Education, aims to showcase what it considers to be the ‘very best private schools in the world’.
“Together, they have whittled down an array of fantastic schools from around the globe and retained just 100 of the very, very best,” the magazine’s website states.
Fiona McKenzie, head of education, Carfax Education, added: “Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family will make for their child and that’s why we wanted to create an index that provides a trusted perspective on the very best schools.
“The impact of a child’s educational experience goes far beyond the academic alone, and for that reason we looked at each school’s unique ethos and how they prepare students for the future, when determining schools that made the cut.
“Our motto is ‘academic excellence without borders’ and we’re so pleased that we were able to reflect this in being part of the first global ranking of schools – with institutions from almost every continent included. We know that finding the right school can be a daunting experience and we hope that this comprehensive list will assist many families through what can be a confusing time.”
Categorised by region, prospective parents and pupils can now access the list of the top 100 schools across the UK, Switzerland, Europe, USA, Middle East, China, Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. The schools are listed in alphabetical order in each category.
Celebrations are in full swing at St Christopher’s as the new school year starts.
“The entire school community is delighted that the hard work of our staff, students, governors and parents has been recognised,” added Dr Watson.
From its modest beginnings in a villa, St Christopher’s, which has a non-profit philosophy, has grown to a joint-site operation with more than 2,000 students, aged from three to 18, from 70 nations.
In 2011, parents were told that there were plans to build a new senior school. The ‘iconic campus’, originally to be located close to the infants and primary school in Saar, was set to replace the existing Isa Town facility, initially accommodate 1,250 students and be designed to allow for further expansion to 1,600. Talks, however, continue to this day to address on-going potential site issues.
St Christopher’s School term fees range from BD1,046 in nursery to BD2,554 in sixth form. There is a non-refundable application fee of BD100 and a non-refundable registration charge for each student of BD1,250 per child.
There are often waiting lists for certain age categories.
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