The Manarat Schools —, Riyadh

In Brief

A long-established Saudi institution, part of the Maarif group. Two strands worth knowing apart: the National (Arabic-stream) school and the International school, the latter offering a US/AP track and a British IGCSE/A-Level track from Grade 9. Boys and girls are taught in separate sections.

What people on the ground actually say:

Academics in the senior years are the real draw. The IGCSE and A-Level results are genuinely strong, the school pulls in CIE high-achiever awards most years, and graduates do land at solid universities. One parent put it plainly: the teachers in the senior school are the best of the big Riyadh schools, especially in the boys' section. Demand reflects this — places get harder to come by from Grade 7 upwards.

The lower school is more uneven. Class sizes run around 25, and according to one parent the admin "cares most about the biggest number of children in each class." After-school provision is thin.

Administration is the recurring complaint. Disorganised, hard to get hold of, and occasionally tone-deaf. One parent who raised a bullying issue was told by the principal that her son could "hit them back" and only risk a couple of days' suspension. A review from a long-serving teacher echoed the theme — strong on pay and benefits, weak on planning and support.

Worth flagging honestly: in 2019 students themselves ran a petition about the girls' section being noticeably worse-resourced than the boys' — broken furniture, missing locks, dead smart boards — at identical fees. The school will say it has moved on; ask to see the girls' campus before signing.

Net for your friend: if the child is heading into upper secondary and wants Cambridge exams done well, this is a serious option. For younger years, or if you want a hand-holding admin culture, look harder. Visit both sections, meet the head of section (not just admissions), and ask specifically how complaints are handled.