HeadStart International School — Chaofah City campus
Founded in 2005; with over 1,300 students across its two campuses it is the largest British-curriculum school on the island. Fees include lunches and snacks, textbooks, learning equipment, a selection of after-school activities, day and residential trips and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; uniforms, bus, academies, examinations and the BTEC programme are billed separately. Both campuses share one fee schedule.
British · Ages 2–18 · Day school ·Phuket Town · Row verified Sep 5, 2026
The school in facts
as of September 2026 · All sources- BritishEnglish National Curriculum to IGCSE and A Level, plus BTEC
- Curriculum
- 2–18Pre-School – Year 13
- Ages
- 347,000–540,000 THB≈ $10,385–16,160
- Tuition 2026–27, THB
- +28.0 %Year 1, 2023–24 → 2026–27; +8.6 % a year
- Fee growth index
- 2005
- Founded · Source: HeadStart website
- ≈ 1,300
- Students
- No
- Boarding
- English
- Language of instruction · Source: HeadStart website
- Phuket Town3.4 km
- Area · Source: Phuket Travels area list
Tuition by academic year
Each row is one published fee sheet. The reference band (Year 1) is the figure the growth index follows; change is year on year.
| Academic year | Lowest band | Highest band | Reference band · Year 1 | ≈ USD | Change | Fee sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 300,000 THB | 425,000 THB | 375,000 THB | ≈ $11,223 | — | HeadStart tuition-fees page, 2023-2024 table (archived 28 May 2023) |
| 2024–25 | 330,000 THB | 467,000 THB | 412,000 THB | ≈ $12,330 | +9.9 % | HeadStart tuition-fees page, 2024-2025 table (archived 22 Sep 2024) |
| 2026–27 * | 347,000 THB | 540,000 THB | 480,000 THB | ≈ $14,365 | — | HeadStart 2026/27 fee schedule as reproduced by the International Schools Database |
Tuition only, day students; one-off entry fees, transport, meals where not included, uniforms and examinations are on top. USD at 33.41 THB per dollar (ECB reference rate via Frankfurter, Oct 16, 2026). * Marked figures come from a schools database, not the school's own sheet.
Fee growth index
+28.0 %Year 1: 375,000 THB (2023–24) → 480,000 THB (2026–27), +28.0 % over 3 years (+8.6 % a year)
2023–24: Annual totals are the sum of the three term instalments printed on the page (PS–Reception 120,000 + 90,000 + 90,000; Years 1–6 150,000 + 112,500 + 112,500; Years 7–9 170,000 + 127,500 + 127,500; Years 10–13 two instalments of 212,500).
2026–27: Secondary source: the school's own fee page sits behind a bot-protection wall and could not be read directly on the retrieval date; figures are the schedule reproduced by a schools database (Nursery–K1 347,000; K2 360,000; K3–Year 5 480,000; Years 6–12 540,000). Re-check against the school's PDF at the next revision.
One-off fees on entry
| Item | THB | ≈ USD | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee — Years 3–13; 8,000 THB on the 2026/27 schedule | 3,000 THB | ≈ $90 | No |
| Entrance fee | 100,000 THB | ≈ $2,993 | No |
| Endowment fee — returned on permanent withdrawal after the end of the academic year, with 30 days' written notice | 75,000 THB | ≈ $2,245 | Yes |
Non-refundable on entry: 103,000 THB (≈ $3,082). HeadStart 2026/27 fee schedule as reproduced by the International Schools Database
Distance from the areas
Straight-line kilometres from the area centre to the campus; the school run on Phuket's roads is longer, and the bus routes each school publishes are the practical test.
| Area | km |
|---|---|
| Phuket Town | 3.4 |
| Chalong | 6.2 |
| Patong | 7.2 |
| Karon | 8.7 |
| Panwa | 9.5 |
Who it suits
- Families on the Phuket Town / Chalong side who want a large British school with A Levels and BTEC without boarding.
- Households comparing headline fees: mid-range for the island, with lunch, textbooks, day and residential trips included.
- Sports and performing-arts academies on top of the curriculum.
The school in facts
- Campus
- Chaofah City campus
- Year groups
- Pre-School – Year 13
- Address
- 39/99 Moo 4, Vichitsongkram Road, Soi Na Seau 1, Wichit, Mueang Phuket, Phuket 83000
- Website
- headstartphuket.com
- Memberships and accreditation
- ISAT
Sources: HeadStart tuition-fees page, 2023-2024 table (archived 28 May 2023) (Sep 5, 2026); HeadStart tuition-fees page, 2024-2025 table (archived 22 Sep 2024) (Sep 5, 2026); HeadStart 2026/27 fee schedule as reproduced by the International Schools Database (Sep 5, 2026) · All sources
Source: HeadStart 2026/27 fee schedule as reproduced by the International Schools Database
Frequently asked questions
How much are HeadStart International School — Chaofah City campus fees in 2026–27?
347,000–540,000 THB (≈ $10,385–16,160) a year for Nursery – Year 13, per HeadStart 2026/27 fee schedule as reproduced by the International Schools Database (a secondary source; the school's own sheet could not be read on the retrieval date). The Year 1 band is 480,000 THB. Non-refundable entry fees add 103,000 THB (application fee 3,000, entrance fee 100,000), plus a refundable endowment fee of 75,000 THB. Secondary source: the school's own fee page sits behind a bot-protection wall and could not be read directly on the retrieval date; figures are the schedule reproduced by a schools database (Nursery–K1 347,000; K2 360,000; K3–Year 5 480,000; Years 6–12 540,000). Re-check against the school's PDF at the next revision.
How much have HeadStart fees risen?
The Year 1 band went from 375,000 THB in 2023–24 to 480,000 THB in 2026–27 — +28.0 % over 3 years, +8.6 % a year compounded. 3 fee sheets are on file (2023–24, 2024–25, 2026–27); the year-by-year table on this page names each one.
Which Phuket areas are closest to HeadStart International School — Chaofah City campus?
Phuket Town (3.4 km), Chalong (6.2 km), Patong (7.2 km), Karon (8.7 km), Panwa (9.5 km). Distances are straight-line from the area centre to the campus; the road is longer, and the school's own bus routes are the practical test. Other campuses near Phuket Town: QSI International School of Phuket (4.1 km), Kajonkiet International School Phuket (4.4 km), Oak Meadow International School Phuket (5.1 km).
What curriculum does HeadStart International School — Chaofah City campus follow, and for which ages?
English National Curriculum to IGCSE and A Level, plus BTEC; ages 2 to 18 (Pre-School – Year 13), taught in English. Day school only. The school lists ISAT. Founded 2005. About 1,300 students (2024).
Living near HeadStart? Monthly and seasonal villa rentals in Phuket Town are handled by VillaCarte, a Phuket agency. Tell them the school, the budget and the dates — they reply the same day.
Rent for a month or longer
Long-stay villa and apartment enquiries go to VillaCarte, a licensed Phuket agency. One message, a reply the same day.
All schools · Phuket Town · Schools catalogue with fee sheets, JSON (CC BY 4.0)