Questions Every Expat Family Should Ask Before Choosing a School in Phuket

By Ian Windsor, Principal — Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS)

Moving to Phuket with children is one of the most exciting decisions a family can make. But once the excitement settles, the school question tends to surface quickly and for good reason. The school you choose shapes your child's daily experience, your family's visa status, your morning logistics, and ultimately how settled you feel on the island.

Having guided many families through this process, I've noticed that the questions that matter most aren't always the ones families think to ask first. Here, with the help of current PGIS parents who were kind enough to share what was on their minds before they enrolled, are the questions worth asking every school you visit.

1. How many children are in each class?

This was one of the first things parents asked us, and it matters more than many families realise. A school can have impressive facilities and a strong curriculum, but if your child is one of 30 in a classroom, the individual attention they receive will be limited.

Smaller class sizes allow teachers to genuinely know each child their learning style, their emotional needs, where they're thriving and where they need support. For children who are new to an international environment or still developing their English, this is especially important. Ask for the actual number, not a range.

2. What languages does the school offer — and how seriously?

For many expat families in Phuket, language is the deciding factor. Mandarin Chinese came up independently in nearly every conversation we had with our current parents.

One family told us directly: "The Chinese language program was important for us, as it is not easy to find this option in Phuket."

The question to ask isn't just "do you offer Chinese?" or "do you offer Thai?" — it's how the language is taught, how many hours per week, whether it's immersive or supplementary, and what level a child can realistically reach after two or three years.

At PGIS, Chinese is taught through our Chinese Immersion Programme — a structured, project-based Mandarin programme integrated with the IPC curriculum from Pre-K through to Year 7. It's one of the features that distinguishes us from most international schools in the south of the island.

3. Can the school support our visa situation?

This question is rarely asked upfront, but it can significantly affect a family's decision particularly for families who are not on work permits or retirement visas and need an education visa or guardian visa tied to their child's enrolment.

Not all international schools in Phuket can support the full range of visa types, and navigating the Thai immigration system without guidance is stressful. It's worth asking specifically: what visa support do you offer, how is it handled, and what documents are required from us?

PGIS provides dedicated family visa support for enrolled families, covering student visas, parent/guardian visas, and renewals — something we consider part of the welcome, not an afterthought.

4. Can I walk in and see the school — before and after enrolment?

One of the most consistent things current PGIS parents mentioned was the value of being able to visit freely.

As one family put it: "Many international schools are more closed, probably for reasons of safety, discipline and internal control. However, PGIS's openness is actually a strong positive factor. Parents do not interfere with the learning process, but having the possibility to come in and see the school from the inside creates trust."

This is worth testing before you commit. When you visit a school, notice whether you're given a scripted tour or genuine access. Are you shown only the showpiece rooms, or the everyday classrooms? Can you see children at work rather than just at break time?

A school that welcomes parent presence within appropriate boundaries — is usually one that is confident in what's happening inside.

5. How accessible is the leadership?

In larger international schools in Thailand, speaking to the Principal often means going through layers of administration. For many families new to an island and a school system, that distance can feel isolating, especially in the early weeks.

One PGIS parent described what made the difference for them: "If you want to speak with the principal or a teacher, you do not feel that you have to go through a lot of bureaucracy. The communication feels direct, human and open."

Ask the school how you would typically raise a concern. Who would you contact? How quickly would you hear back? The answer tells you a lot about the school's culture, not just its policies.

6. How do the teachers connect with children?

Qualifications matter, but for young children especially, the emotional relationship between teacher and child is what makes school feel safe and worth attending. Ask about teacher retention — schools with high staff turnover make it harder for children to build lasting bonds.

A parent who joined PGIS recently put it simply: "Our daughter invited her teacher to her birthday party. That says a lot." Another noted: "Many children run to their teachers, hug them and feel emotionally close to them. This is not something that can be created artificially."

You can meet our teaching team here. When you visit, watch how the teachers interact with children who are not in their direct line of sight. That's usually where the real culture shows.

7. How does the school handle behaviour and bullying?

Bullying is a concern every parent has, but fewer think to ask about it directly before enrolling. It's worth asking: what is the school's approach when one child hurts another, physically or socially? What happens next? Who is informed, and how quickly?

A current PGIS family told us: "We really value that PGIS seems to protect the school environment and set clear boundaries when behaviour is not acceptable. This shows that the school cares about its reputation, community and quality more than short-term financial interest."

A school that handles behaviour well will be able to describe its process clearly and without defensiveness.

8. Where is the school, and does the location work for your life?

This sounds obvious, but location affects daily quality of life more than families often anticipate before moving. Consider: which part of Phuket will you be living in, and how far is the school during morning traffic? Is there parking? What's nearby for parents who want to use the time productively?

PGIS is located in Chalong, which sits at a natural crossroads for families living in Phuket Town, Kathu, Rawai, and Nai Harn. Find us on Google Maps here.

9. Is the school community genuinely international?

Phuket's expat community is diverse — Russian, European, Southeast Asian, British, Australian and more. Some international schools in Phuket are international in name but predominantly serve one nationality. That's not necessarily wrong, but it's worth knowing before you enrol, especially if cultural diversity matters to your family.

One PGIS parent highlighted the school's Christmas event as a moment that captured this: "The international celebrations, especially the Christmas event with different national cuisines, felt very thoughtful and inclusive. It was beautiful to see that the school considered different families, including vegetarian and Muslim food options."

10. Does your child actually want to go?

After everything else, this is the one that matters most. A settled, happy child who wakes up and wants to go to school is the clearest signal that the choice was right.

One parent put it best: "Our daughter is happy to go to school. Of course, like any child, she does not always enjoy waking up early in the morning, but overall she genuinely wants to be there — and for us, that is everything."

A note from the Principal

Every family's priorities are different, and there is no single right school for every child. What we try to do at PGIS is be genuinely open to questions, to visits, to honest conversations so that families can make the right choice, whether that's with us or elsewhere.

If you'd like to visit PGIS, ask questions, or just see what a school day looks like, we'd be glad to have you. You're welcome to reach out directly through pgisphuket.com.

Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS) is an international primary and secondary school in Chalong, Phuket, offering the Oxford/IPC/IEYC curriculum with Chinese Immersion, EAL support, Thai language, and family visa assistance.