British schools in Oman: Muscat and beyond

Oman offers a calmer pace of life than some of its Gulf neighbours, and its international schools reflect a close-knit expatriate community. Most British and international schools are in and around Muscat.

Regulation

Private and international schools are licensed by Oman’s Ministry of Education, which sets requirements including the teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies for Muslim students. Many British schools also hold a BSO inspection or international accreditation.

Where the schools are

• Muscat: schools spread along the capital’s long coastal strip, in areas such as Qurum, Al Khuwair, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Al Mouj and Seeb. The city is long and narrow, so the location of home and school matters.
• Sohar: a smaller international community linked to the port and industry.
• Salalah: limited options in the south.

The British pathway

British schools in Muscat follow the English curriculum to IGCSE and A-Level, and some also offer the IB. Several have long histories in the country. The school year runs from late August to June.

Choosing a school

• Ask for recent inspection or accreditation reports.
• Check teacher qualifications, turnover and class sizes.
• Ask for exam results with candidate numbers, and university destinations.
• Clarify the full fee schedule and what an employer package covers.

Use our school checklist, and see also the UAE and Qatar.

Directory: British schools in Oman

Our school-by-school directory for Oman is being researched. We only list a school once its details have been checked against its own published information.