Home › Articles › British schools in north Riyadh
Aldenham School Riyadh is a British international school in As Sahafah, north Riyadh, for children aged 3 to 14. It teaches a curriculum aligned with the English National Curriculum and is an accredited Cambridge International School.[1][2][3][4]
Applications for 2027/28 are open now in every year group, and the school admits pupils all year round, so families arriving from the UK mid-year do not have to wait for September. The school bus runs daily, including from Al Yasmin.[5]
Aldenham School Riyadh at a glance
- Location
- 4132 Al Noura, As Sahafah, Riyadh 13321 (north Riyadh)[1]
- Ages
- 3 to 14: Nursery and Reception, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3[2]
- Curriculum
- Aligned with the English National Curriculum, through the IEYC, the IPC and the IMYC[2]
- Accreditation
- Accredited Cambridge International School[4]
- 2027/28
- Applications open now in every year group[5]
- Mid-year entry
- Admission all year round with no closed periods; some year groups may have a waitlist[5]
- Response time
- Admissions enquiries are answered within 48 hours[5]
- School bus
- Runs daily, including from Al Yasmin; fees on request[5]
- School day
- 7.30am to 4.00pm, Sunday to Thursday[1]
Proud of our history, and unafraid of the future
Parents in Riyadh are choosing schools for a future that is changing faster than any curriculum. Aldenham's answer comes from 428 years of experience: a school founded in 1597 with a forward-thinking ethos that has set it apart over the centuries. If you know where you came from, you know where you are going.[6]
Aldenham School Riyadh was among the first international schools invited to the Kingdom under Vision 2030. Its philosophy is This and That, not This or That: unapologetic academic rigour together with all-round development, pastoral care and a childhood children genuinely enjoy.[6]
A British school in north Riyadh
Families comparing international schools in north Riyadh usually weigh four things: the curriculum, accreditation, the age range and the daily journey. Here is how Aldenham School Riyadh answers each.
Curriculum. Learning is aligned with the English National Curriculum. Pupils aged 3 to 5 follow the UK EYFS statutory framework with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC); Key Stages 1 and 2 follow the International Primary Curriculum (IPC); and the IMYC continues the framework in the middle years. The school's own AldenhamPlus curriculum, developed by Aldenham Education Group, runs alongside.[2][7][3][8]
Accreditation and recognition. Aldenham School Riyadh is an accredited Cambridge International School, and in 2026 it was named a winner of the Edarabia Parents' Choice Awards in Saudi Arabia, among the Top 10 of more than 197 schools reviewed.[4][9]
A link to the UK. The school is an owner-operated branch of Aldenham School in England, founded in 1597, and pupils have a recognised transfer pathway back to Aldenham School UK.[10]
Applications for 2027/28 and mid-year entry
Applications for 2027/28 are open now in every year group, from Nursery to Year 9. Admission for the current year is open all year round with no closed periods; places depend on availability, so some year groups may have a waitlist. Enquiries are answered within 48 hours.[5]
The process has four steps: an enquiry, a school tour, registration with an age-appropriate assessment in English and Mathematics, then a formal offer.[9][10]
Families joining from January have their fees adjusted; the school's finance team can give the details for your start date.[5]
Moving from the UK during the school year
A child arriving from a UK school keeps the same framework and the same three-term year on the English model, so learning carries on rather than restarting.[3][11]
Classes are usually small, and the adult-to-pupil ratio is low, so teaching can be personalised to each child.[5][3]
New pupils are supported from the start: an Experience Day (a trial day to get a taste of school life), an Aldenham buddy on the first day, and parent check-ins for the first few days. In the school's experience, children settle in quickly and look forward to school each day.[5]
For the full mid-year process, read joining a British school in Riyadh mid-year.
Getting to school from Al Yasmin
The campus is in As Sahafah, north Riyadh. The school bus runs daily and serves Al Yasmin; contact the school for fees. On a case-by-case basis, the school also offers free transport assistance.[1][5]
Families can register their interest in the bus on the school bus page.[12]
Frequently asked questions from UK families
Is Aldenham School Riyadh accepting applications for 2027/28?
Yes. Applications for 2027/28 are open now in every year group, and admissions enquiries are answered within 48 hours.[5]
Can my child join in the middle of the school year?
Yes. Admission is open all year round with no closed periods, though places depend on availability and some year groups may have a waitlist. Fees are adjusted for pupils joining from January.[5]
Does the school follow the English National Curriculum?
Yes. Learning is aligned with the English National Curriculum, through the IEYC in the Early Years, the IPC in Key Stages 1 and 2, and the IMYC.[2][3]
Is the school accredited?
Yes. Aldenham School Riyadh is an accredited Cambridge International School, and it was a winner of the 2026 Edarabia Parents' Choice Awards in Saudi Arabia.[4][9]
Is there a school bus from Al Yasmin?
Yes. The school bus runs daily and serves Al Yasmin; contact the school for fees. Free transport assistance is offered on a case-by-case basis.[5]
Next steps
Send an enquiry or book a school tour, then complete Formal Registration online.[13][14]
Admissions: registrar@aldenhamprepriyadh.com or +966 11 826 5411 (ext. 102). Enquiries are answered within 48 hours.[9][5]
Sources
- Contact Information, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Aldenham School Riyadh home page, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Academic Programme, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- “The Aldenham Standard, A British Legacy Shaping Futures in Riyadh”, Education Saudi, September 2026, education-saudi.com (accessed October 2026)
- Aldenham School Riyadh Admissions Team (October 2026)
- Aldenham School Riyadh Prospectus, Aldenham Education Group (2026)
- Early Years Foundation Stage (Ages 3–5), aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6), aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Admissions and Registration, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- About Aldenham Prep School Riyadh, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Term Dates, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- School Bus Service: Register Your Interest, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- School tour dates and booking, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Formal Registration, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)