Looking for advice about good international schools in Oman

Hi Smith

Oman is a popular expat destination and there are many schooling options available for expat children. Although, unless they have a grasp of the Arabic language, an international school is the best option. Have a read of our Education and schools in Oman page for a general overview of the schooling system in Oman.

Also have a look at this Expat experiences interview with Jenny, a British expat living in Muscat. She provides some insight into the schools in Oman and provides some links to the websites of international schools in Oman. If you like, also have a read of some of our other Expat experiences interviews. You might find some useful information about life in Oman. 

The best of luck with your move to Oman. 

If you want a school that doesn't have good focus or Arabic language or no Arabic language at all, you should go for TAISM (The American Int. School Muscat) which, to be honest, is pretty expensive compared to other schools. Second in ranking comes ABA (American British Academy) and then The British School. If you're looking for a school that includes Arabic you should be going for TSS (The Sultan School), ABQ (Azzan Bin Qais) KGIS (Knowledge Gate Int. School), ISC (International School of Choueifat). ISC has strict, discipline rules for example they finish at 4 p.m. and they have, at least, one exam daily. The exams are about the materials you took in the past week. To be honest ISC will ensure your child a seat in the top universities as it is well known worldwide but as I said before its very strict and tiring for your child. TAISM is pretty a fun, good school that'll make your child love going everyday to school. The rest of the school provide a normal system any school would usually give.

Guys want to know more about Private United School and Azzan Bin Qais International School in Oman, do they pay well? do they give accommodation?

To answer your question about UPS and if they pay well the answer is NO they do not. The principle at the primary school is amazing! It is the owner who does not pay out or give the respect long term teachers want to see to stay..the turn over rate is unbelievable! The cleanliness in the Al-Hail branches is POOR. They do give accommodation but in their buildings not supplement. So you may end up living in Qurm and have to find transport to Al-Hail daily! Not sure about ABQ..good luck feel free to ask anything else about UPS.

^ to the comment above, I would like some more info on this school please, have they made any advancements?

I would recommend to go away from AIS (Alruwad International School)in Al Khoudh which opened on 2013 based on Canadian Curriculum, it is totally mess, the management is only looking for money and do not look for the poor services they provide, they keep lying. the Canadian principle could not bear even till end of 1st semester, a lot of teachers flew back home when they discovered truth of the schools and the parents are suffering and no one care for them.

From experience, TAISM is a horrible school. It looks like a hospital. The work is pretty hard to do, and it will make your child lose interest in learning, meeting f=new people, and going to school. Therefore, American British Academy (ABA) is a much better school. It used to be called American British Academy, but now, since there are people from anywhere in the world, we call it ABA. The cafeteria is clean, the food is half fruit, half junk food. But the junk food isn't that much junk. It's very healthy. The classes are good for each grade, nothing to hard, nothing to easy, the classes are always fun, and the whole school is pretty big. There is one big pitch, and there is a tennis court. But its like 5 tennis courts combined. There is a parking lot, with guards, and there are two playgrounds. One for kindergartens and one for elementary. The buildings are seperate, Kindergartens + grade 1 + grade 2 + grade 3. Grade 4 + Grade 5. Grade 6 + grade 7 + grade 8. Grade 9 + grade 10. Grade 11 + Grade 12. It's a very good school.

Can please, someone tell me something about Sultans and Knowledge gate school regarding work and education for children?

Don't go anywhere near UPS. The previous principal at the Upper Al Hail branch may have been decent, as one poster commented above, but the current one is clueless and unhelpful to boot. If you have a problem, and you will have with things like pay and accommodation, she will not try and help but instead fob you off. It's no wonder they cannot build a stable team as teachers of any worth do not stick around. The kids get a really poor deal too, given the unstable staffing conditions. I wouldn't send my kids here...

Hi can tell me about AIS

Does anyone have any information on Muscat International School? I'm looking for something recent. Reports up to 2009 have not been good. Has there been any change?

Azzan bin qais is a good school

Hi Im also looking for comments on Muscat International school and Gulf International school please, my daughter will be 6 in December and theses are the only 2 schools that can offer a place. We are from the uk

Hi. I'm also looking for schools. As the message above, MIS and GIS seem to be the only available. Any comments will be welcome. We are from Spain.

350 IS SUFFICIENT TO LIVE IN OMAN WITH WIFE AND 2 CHILD

Hi Anyone with experience about the IB program at ABA? How are the teachers? do kids learn anything? Appreciate your help

hi please i want to ask about azzan bin qais school,united private school baushar branch . my kids are grade 4 and grade2 thank you

Hi can anyone tell me about KGIS....for indians...

"TAISM is a horrible school. It looks like a hospital." Not true. Simply put, it is the best international school in Muscat. ABA is a good school, for sure, but TAISM is superior to it. ABA is always a distant second to TAISM.

I taught at ABA and I would dispute the previous comment. Muscat is pretty fortunate to have three quite good schools - ABA, TAISM and BSM. The schools do reflect their national characteristics, though - BSM is academic in focus but there are problems with bullying and cliquishness. Surprise, surprise. TAISM is very American, which means it is very sunny and happy but also a bit lacking in rigour. ABA is regarded by many parents as the best of the lot because it has a strong academic focus while also managing to be a warm and welcoming environment for students. However, at the end of the day, they are all good schools. Which one is best for you and your children will depend on your preferences.

How is TSS? to work in and for my children?

I am very disappointed with Dawn's International school. Please be cautious if you enrol your child at Dawn's International school. This a Edexcel program which is good. However, the school has became more and more greedy and therefore parents receive no-sense bills. Any tactics to make more and more money is used for a maximum profit. This is just a business, not a school!

I moved to Muscat, Oman in August 2002 while I was in 3rd grade in Australia. I joined 4th grade in MIS and eneded up completing grade 12 in 2011. MIS offers the British curriculum (IGCSE in 9 and 10 and A level in 11 and 12). All the Australian and New Zealand students in my school suffered after graduating from my school. Unfortunately the British curriculum is ranked very low in Australia. Geting a 'A and B'in grade 12 meant 75% in Australian university. An Australian class of mine she got 'A and B'in grade 12 and she didn't get accepted in Australian university for engineering, she ended up doing foundation in Australian university.Her brother who is older by 5 year did another school exam outside of school after graduating. He did SAT (america currcurriculum) and only then got accepted in engineering at a university in Sydney, Australia. My experience: 50% is a a fail mark in A level in the British curriculum. It's very hard to pass in A level unless you are a genius. I ended up taking a gap year after graduating and did the SAT. My SAT mark was good enough to study medicine in europe. I am currently in my 3rd year of medicine. Go to ABA, I recommend everyone especially Australians. With British curriculum you can't study university in USA or Australia. IB curriculum is excepted everywhere even UK, USA and Australia where it is also taught. One of my friend in Australia studied IB in school. I know a girl from school who moved to UK and is studying IB. I highly recommend ABA, it is the best school. Most Australian in Muscat send their kids to that school

Indian school of Al-Ghubra is best international school:http://pmohamedali-education.com/vision-to-education-system-in-oman/, founded by Dr P Mohamed ali

Stay as far away from Alruwad International School as possible. The way they are lying and treating their staff, it should be closed by this summer. What a freaking mess.

Oman private school in mq are a scam the teachers swear at students they are unprofessional unqualified and have no idea how to teach kids, how this school was allowed to be ministry approved is beyond me. Now their new tatic to get enrollments is that they are a Canadian school. Nothing has changed just the sign and a few staff when our kids were there the staff changed monthly and many were unhappy as the payments were few and far between. School fees are lower but just check out how many students are in attendance.. dramatically gone down. International schools usually correspond in English many of the staff cannot string a sentence in English together!! Don't be conned.

I was offered a Head of English position at UPS this fall. The current principal spoke about the high turnover and I was wondering if anyone could give me a more current viewpoint on the school. If the salary is low, give me an example. I am trying to be optimistic, but I have been through a lot in the UAE and don't want to relocate to Oman and have the same experience. If you have any current insight, please share it with me. The principal also told me the accommodations are off of the corniche. I am in Abu Dhabi and can fly to Muscat. Please advise.

can anyone that has worked for the Alruwad International School please comment if the 2015 - 2016 school year has improved the school? The previous comments make it sound like a scam and pretty horrible for teachers. Please comment if you have had personal experience.

Hi , if any one tell me about international school of Oman ( ISO )

I am planning shifting to Muscat from India.Have two kids one cleared 12 n another is in 7th std.just want to know about Bits for elder one ant Indian school of Muscat for younger one.How are those two ?? Any other apart from these two which is considered as best ? Thanks.

good evening I am moving to Muscat and my son will be in year 1 for the academic year of 2016-2017, currently in Early years program, any info about a good international school in Al Seeb that doesn't pressure students like Chouifat, thanks.