British International School Riyadh

We were incredibly proud to host our annual art exhibition, celebrating the phenomenal talent and dedication of our Year 11 and Year 13 students 👩‍🎨🎨

This year’s theme, “Express,” brought a breathtaking variety of concepts, skillsets, and mediums to life. With our students showcasing their hard work to peers, friends, and families.

We also had the wonderful opportunity to welcome our DQ art students and teachers, who came over to have a look and celebrate our students’ achievements.

Another favorite feature this year was our interactive message wall. It was heartwarming to see notes left for the artists, with everyone from our Year 3 students to our seniors stopping by to write words of encouragement.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our young artists. To our students: your creativity inspires us every day! 🌟

Our Year 2 students took over DQ for their annual sleepover and had the absolute best time! ⛺️🍕

The adventure was packed with fun from start to finish. Our little chefs got creative making their own delicious mini pizzas, and the artistry continued as everyone designed custom sleepover t-shirts. Later, everyone curled up under the blankets for some cozy storytimes before lights out. 📚🎨

From endless giggles to late-night chats, it was unforgettable watching our students bond and make memories with their best friends. A huge thank you to the incredible staff who made this magical night possible! 😴💤

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the phenomenal achievements of BISR alumnus, Dylan.

This season, Dylan pulled double duty, competing for both the U18 team and the Men’s Division 2 team. His impact was extraordinary — since Dylan joined, both squads went completely undefeated all season long, culminating in playoff final victories and well-deserved promotions to the Premier League and Division 1, respectively.

Dylan’s dedication, work ethic, and sportsmanship embody the very best of the BISR spirit. Well done Dylan! 🎓🌍🏅

🥖 Language learning has never tasted so good! 👩‍🍳

Our Year 6 Arabic students brought their vocabulary to life in their latest Project-Based Learning unit. Instead of just reading about Arab culinary traditions, they rolled up their sleeves to make authentic Manakish (مناقيش) and Hawawshi (حواوشي)!

From kneading the dough to perfecting the za'atar ratio, they applied their language skills in real-time. This is what happens when language meets culture and hands-on fun! ✨

👇 Parents, what's your favorite traditional dish? Let us know in the comments!

Regional Championships Success: 23 Medals & 90% PB Rate! 🏊‍♂️✨

Our Tigersharks have just returned from the Regional Championships in Riyadh, securing an incredible 5th place overall!

British International School Riyadh (BISR) competed with one of the smallest squads - just 26 swimmers out of more than 350 total participants - yet our athletes punched well above their weight.

Here are some highlights from the swim meet:

🥇 Our team brought home 23 medals (4 Gold, 4 Silver, 15 Bronze)! Massive congratulations to our medalists: Finlay, Abdulkhalek, Anoushka, Anthony, Sofiia, Alfred, Sobh and Helena.

📈 Medals are fantastic, but growth is everything. Over 90% of our swimmers achieved Personal Bests at this meet, thanks to their dedication and the strength of our current training programme.

🌟 Special shoutouts to two of our athletes who ranked among the absolute best in the region:
Anoushka: 3rd place overall (17-18 Girls)
Abdulkhalek: 5th place overall (11-12 Boys)

We are incredibly proud of Esam Moussa and his team of staff and students. Their commitment and dedication are key reasons why our Tigersharks continue to excel across our campuses, and we know they are already looking forward to maintaining this fantastic momentum at the National Meet at Al Bustan Village on 12th & 13th June.

Go Tigersharks! 💙

Living our REACH Values 🏉💫

A massive congratulations to one of British International School Riyadh (BISR)'s current members of staff, Jon Andrews, for representing Saudi Arabia at the highest level of international rugby at the weekend.

On 15th May, Qatar hosted Saudi Rugby for a full international cap in an official, World Rugby-sanctioned match. Reaching this milestone was no small feat -Jon earned a spot in the final 23-man squad after a rigorous four-week selection process. While the final scoreboard didn't swing in Saudi Arabia's favour, the experience itself was historic - it was the first international match in 10 years!

Beyond the rugby, the match featured another deeply special highlight. Jon took the field alongside Abdulaziz Alothman, a former BISR student whom Jon taught in Years 7 and 8. Seeing a former student grow into an international teammate was a true full-circle moment for him - sharing the pitch as equals, representing Saudi Arabia, and embodying the REACH values at the absolute pinnacle of the sport in the Kingdom.

Jon said "It was an honour and privilege to represent Saudi Arabia at International Rugby, an occasion made all the more special by doing it alongside Abdulaziz who has grown into a fantastic young man and athlete. What an inspiration to our students he is! I know the BISR community will be proud of what we have achieved."

Abdulaziz said "Representing the Saudi national team this weekend was a huge honour, and sharing that experience with Mr Andrews, who was once my teacher at BISR, made it even more special. It’s a proud reflection of the strong community and values of REACH that the school promotes."

📸 With grateful thanks to David Cunningham for the photographs.

Mr Cole has eight years of experience in education, primarily in international schools across East and Southeast Asia. 🌏 He has taught at Harrow International School in Bangkok 🇹🇭, ISA Liwan in Guangzhou 🇨🇳, and for the Harrow Group in Beijing. 🏫 He holds a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Swansea University, UK 🇬🇧, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Leicester, UK. 🎓 Additionally, he has earned an International Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination from Middlesex University, UK. 🌟

Mr Cole has extensive experience collaborating with diverse teaching teams, fostering an inclusive environment that enhances student learning. 🤝

Mr Cole is passionate about sports and enjoys an active lifestyle. 🏃‍♂️💨 When not teaching, he can be found scuba diving 🤿🪸 in stunning locations or tasting new foods. 🍜😋 His adventures include getting up close to Komodo dragons in Indonesia 🇮🇩🦎 and holding an explosive detection rat in Cambodia! 🇰🇭🐀 He aims to travel to every continent 🗺️✈️ while embracing every challenge along the way! 💪

We are thrilled to have Mr Cole as part of the BISR community! ✨

A look at our Year 8 girls putting in a fantastic performance during their rugby PE lesson. 🏃‍♀️

At BISR, we believe a strong Physical Education curriculum is about challenge, confidence, and variety. By introducing our students to a diverse range of sports, we give them the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones, discover new strengths, and build lifelong teamwork skills. 🏆

Expanding Excellence in the DQ! ✨

We are thrilled to announce that, due to exceptional demand, our Diplomatic Quarter Campus is opening new classes for Years 6, 7, and 8. 📚

At the DQ, we pride ourselves on offering Small-Scale Intimacy, Global-Scale Opportunity. 🌐 As a boutique campus in Riyadh’s most prestigious district, we provide a uniquely personalised environment where world-class facilities meet a close-knit community. 🤝

By expanding our Year 6–8 offerings, we are:

* Advancing IB Excellence: Providing more students with access to our forward-thinking, results-driven IB World School curriculum. 🎓
* Prioritising the Personal Touch: Protecting our signature small class sizes to ensure every student receives a tailored, high-impact learning experience. 🌱
* Nurturing Diplomatic Dialogue: Welcoming more voices into our diverse environment built on global understanding and mutual respect. 🌍
* Meeting Community Demand: Growing our community within the heart of the capital’s most vibrant, multicultural hub. 📍

These new classes allow us to maintain the academic rigour and individualised attention that define the BISR Diplomatic Quarter experience. ✨

Join a community where prestige meets purpose. Limited spaces are now available. ⏳

🔗 Contact our admissions team today to learn more, or apply directly at https://www.bisr.com.sa/apply to secure your child’s place at our DQ Campus. 📲

British International School Riyadh British International School Riyadh is a not-for-profit, seven campus school (students aged 3-18)