// 04 · The decision framework
How to choose
among fourteen routes.
Step 1 — Filter by Sixth Form requirement
The biggest structural fork is whether the school covers the child's whole remaining age range and which leaving credential it actually delivers. If IBDP matters: Regents, Garden Rayong, or St. Andrew's GV. If A-Levels matter, confirm the live upper-secondary route: several records on this page stop at Year 6, Year 9 or Year 10, and SISB Rayong uses a Singapore-to-British hybrid rather than an all-years English National Curriculum.
Step 2 — Filter by budget
Published tuition across the fourteen records runs from ฿80K-฿120K at BJP to ฿999K at Rugby's top band, but that spread crosses primary-only, secondary-only, hybrid and full through-school models. Compare the same year group, fee year and payment basis, then add mandatory charges. The lower headline may buy a shorter age span or a different qualification route rather than the same programme at a discount.
Step 3 — Filter by location
Most options cluster in Banglamung and Pattaya, while St Andrew's and Garden are in Ban Chang and SISB plus Belfry are farther inland in Ban Khai, Rayong. Wells is not on this page because its ledger route is American. Test the actual home-to-gate journey at school-run time; a curriculum match that creates an unworkable daily commute is not a practical shortlist.
Step 4 — Filter by boarding (if relevant)
Three operating British schools publish boarding: Rugby Thailand (from Year 6), Regents Pattaya (from Year 3) and Garden Rayong (from Year 5). Highgate is not operating boarding; its Admissions page says 2028/29, while its homepage contains both 2027 and 2028 statements. The other British schools are day-only.
Step 5 — Filter by accreditation rigour (if relevant)
Do not inherit a group, curriculum or exam-board claim across all fourteen records. Garden and Regents hold CIS accreditation; St Andrew's publishes EDT accreditation; TPIS publishes Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel routes. Primary-only and lower-secondary records do not deliver a leaving credential, and hybrid pathways need grade-by-grade checking. Verify the exact programme and recognition for the child's entry year.
Step 6 — Visit and verify
Once you've narrowed to 2–3 schools, tour each on the same day if possible — the contrast is sharpest fresh in your memory. Ask the questions our editorials flag in each school's "Trade-offs" section — those are the gaps the brochures don't address. Email [email protected] if a specific question isn't covered.