EFIP vs
BJP Elite Academy.
The Pattaya French-school decision francophone parents miss. One is AEFE-accredited (EFIP). One isn't (BJP). The single word — "Internationale" — separates the two school names. The structural decision separates two genuinely different family fits.
Side by side.
| Dimension | EFIP | BJP Elite Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | École Française Internationale de Pattaya | BJP Elite Academy (a.k.a. EFR Pattaya / École française de Pattaya) |
| Website | ecolepattaya.com | efrpattaya.com |
| Founded | 2018 (campus opened) · AEFE since 2013 | April 1, 2011 |
| Address | Huai Yai · east of Pattaya · ~2 hectares | 163/30 Permsub Garden Resort · Bang Lamung |
| AEFE accreditation | ✓ Yes — establishment 885A02 | ✗ No |
| Thai MoE accreditation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Age range | 3-18 (maternelle to terminale) | 3-16 (no Sixth Form) |
| Sixth Form | ✓ Full lycée + French baccalauréat | ✗ Students must transfer at 15-16 |
| Maternelle / EY tuition | ฿175,000/yr | ~฿92,000-฿110,000/yr |
| Primary tuition | ฿200,000/yr (+฿20K FLSCO if non-French) | ~฿100,000-฿120,000/yr |
| Collège tuition | ฿210,000/yr | ~฿115,000-฿128,000/yr |
| Lycée / Sixth Form tuition | ฿215K-฿235K/yr | N/A — no Sixth Form |
| Sibling discount | 10% (2nd child onwards) | Not publicly itemised |
| AEFE scholarships | ✓ Yes — French nationals via French Embassy | ✗ No |
| FLSCO bridge for non-French | ✓ Yes (CP-CM2, 12 hrs/week) | Parallel English stream as alternative |
| Languages taught | FR · EN · TH · ZH · ES | FR · EN · TH |
| Student body | Capacity 400 | ~500 students |
| Live editorial | EFIP → read editorial | BJP → read editorial |
Do you need the
French baccalauréat?
If your child holds French nationality (or one parent does), and you're committed to the official French education system through the baccalauréat général and onward to French universities, Sciences Po, prepa pathways to Grandes Écoles, or any European university accepting the French bac directly — EFIP is the structural fit. No other Pattaya school delivers the AEFE-recognised baccalauréat. BJP teaches the French national curriculum but doesn't issue the AEFE-credentialed diploma.
If your goal is bilingual French + English exposure without the AEFE-rigour or the baccalauréat-only pathway — and your budget doesn't comfortably stretch to EFIP's fees, or you're planning to transfer your child to a Thai/international Sixth Form rather than continuing in the French system — BJP is the structural fit at half EFIP's fees.
The name-collision warning
Multiple French-resident Pattaya families have enrolled at the wrong school by name alone. "École française de Pattaya" (BJP's marketing name) is one short word — "Internationale" — different from "École Française Internationale de Pattaya" (EFIP). Read the canonical school URL when you're touring or enrolling. EFIP is at ecolepattaya.com. BJP is at efrpattaya.com.
Best-fit summary
- Choose EFIP if: French nationality / one French parent, targeting French universities, want AEFE network transferability, qualify for AEFE scholarship, child is francophone or starting young enough for the FLSCO bridge.
- Choose BJP if: Half-Thai-half-French family wanting bilingual exposure, budget doesn't reach EFIP, child will continue in Thai or international system at Sixth Form, prefer parallel French+English streams over French-medium instruction.
- Choose neither if: French isn't a structural requirement — look at the British schools hub or IB Diploma hub instead.