School choice
International Schools in Canggu and Nearby: A Parent Guide
A calm 2026 orientation to international school options around Canggu: curricula, fit and the questions to ask on a visit, with no rankings.
How to read this guide
There is no single right school in Canggu, and this guide does not rank them. Fees, leadership and programmes change between years, so treat everything here as a starting map and verify details with each school before you decide.
It is written for families settling in or near Canggu who want orientation: what kinds of schools exist, how they differ, and what to ask on a visit. It reflects what we see as tutors working with students from several of these schools each week.
The schools around Canggu
Canggu itself has a small number of established international schools, and many families also consider schools in Kerobokan, Umalas, Denpasar and the Ubud area, accepting a drive in exchange for the right fit. School shuttle routes and traffic patterns matter more than distance on a map.
Students we tutor attend schools including Canggu Community School, Green School and Bali Island School, among others. Naming a school here means we have taught its students; it does not imply endorsement or partnership, and we do not recommend one school over another.
Schools in the area differ mainly on four axes: curriculum (British-pattern, IB, Australian, Montessori or blended), size, setting, and how much structure they place around the child. Each is a trade-off, and the right answer depends on your child.
It is also worth asking each school how long it has operated under its current leadership, and how it communicates with parents when something goes wrong. On an island where schools can change quickly, a steady track record and a straight answer are meaningful information.
Curriculum at a glance
The curriculum a school teaches matters more than its marketing. It shapes what your child studies, how they are assessed and how easily they can move schools again later.
| Curriculum | What it looks like | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| British-pattern (Cambridge) | Subject-based study leading to IGCSE at around 16, then A-Level or equivalent | Families expecting future moves within British-system schools |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | Inquiry-led programmes from primary years through the Diploma Programme, with six subjects plus core components at 16 to 19 | Families wanting one continuous framework across ages and countries |
| Australian | Follows the Australian Curriculum with familiar term dates for Australian families | Families planning to return to Australia |
| Montessori and alternative | Child-led, mixed-age classrooms with less formal assessment | Younger children and families valuing independence and pace |
Fees and costs: what to ask
School fees around Canggu vary widely, and the published figure is rarely the whole cost. Registration charges, capital levies, transport, lunches, uniforms and trips all add up, and some schools quote in US dollars while others quote in rupiah.
We deliberately publish no fee figures here: they date quickly and vary by year group. Ask each school for its full current fee schedule in writing, including one-off charges, and check the date on any figure you find online.
Timing matters as well as money: admissions for popular year groups can close months ahead, so start the conversation early even if your move date is not yet fixed.
Who each type of school tends to suit
Structured British-pattern schools suit children who like clear expectations and families who want exam certificates that travel well. IB schools suit curious generalists and families moving between countries, because the framework stays constant. Alternative and Montessori settings often suit younger children and those who have found conventional classrooms a poor fit.
The most reliable test is your child’s own report after a trial day. A school that looks right on paper and wrong at pick-up time is telling you something worth hearing.
Siblings sometimes belong in different schools, and many families in the area run exactly that arrangement. Choose per child, not per family photograph.
Where tutoring support fits
A move can reveal differences in maths notation, writing expectations or the order in which topics are taught. Review your child’s early work and speak with the new teacher before arranging additional lessons. If a specific gap emerges, a focused tutoring plan can address it while leaving time for friendships, activities and settling into school.
We support students from Canggu-area schools across IB, Cambridge IGCSE and other curricula, at your home or villa. Sessions follow the syllabus your child’s school actually teaches.
For families between schools, a tutor can also bridge the waiting months: a short, syllabus-aligned programme keeps learning continuous while places are confirmed, so the first day at the new school is a beginning rather than a rescue.
Questions to ask on a school visit
Take this list with you, and add your own. The answers matter, but so does the manner: schools that answer specific questions specifically tend to run on specifics.
- Which curriculum do you teach in each year group, and which qualifications do students leave with?
- What is the full fee schedule for my child’s year group, including one-off charges?
- How large are classes, and how is learning support organised for children who need it?
- How do you help new students catch up when they join mid-year from a different curriculum?
- What does a typical week look like for my child’s year group?
- How do you communicate with parents, and how often?
Frequently asked questions
Which school around Canggu should we choose?
We do not rank schools. Shortlist by curriculum, visit with your child, ask for the full fee schedule in writing, and trust what your child reports after a trial day.
Are school fees around Canggu published anywhere reliable?
Each school publishes its own schedule, and figures change between years. Ask the admissions office for the current year’s full schedule rather than relying on third-party figures.
Can tutoring help with a mid-year school change?
A short block of sessions mapped to the new syllabus helps most children settle faster, especially in maths and English.
Do you help families choose between Canggu schools?
We can explain curricula and what each demands of a student, without allegiance to any school. Admissions and the final choice sit with you. See also our international school comparison.
Can tutoring support a mid-year school start in Canggu?
That is a common brief. We map sessions to the receiving school’s syllabus so your child settles faster. International school tutoring covers the service.
What does tutoring cost while we settle into a new school?
Sessions follow the published rate card: Standard IDR 500,000 per hour for children, Advanced IDR 800,000 per hour for companies, and Master IDR 1,000,000 per hour for specialist teaching. See the pricing guide.
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Sources and further reading
Published by Private Tutoring Bali. Sources and corrections.