Online School & Homeschool in Manama
Online school and homeschooling in Manama
Live online British and American curriculum for families in Juffair, Adliya, Seef, Sanabis, Saar, Budaiya and Amwaj, on Bahrain time.
Manama families include long-term Bahraini residents and expatriates on two- to four-year contracts in finance, the US Navy's support community, healthcare and hospitality. Many want a British or American curriculum that continues when they move. Smartious teaches live online on Bahrain time, with no time difference from our teachers in Nairobi. Families in Juffair, Seef, Saar and Amwaj use us as a full online school, while waiting for a school place, or for one-to-one tuition alongside a Bahrain school.
Challenges Manama families face
- Places in popular year groups at Bahrain's British and American schools can be limited, especially for families arriving mid-year.
- School-run traffic on the King Faisal Highway, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and the roads to Saar and Budaiya at peak times.
- Expatriate contracts end or move, so families need a curriculum that continues in the next country.
- Families want to know how an online year will be treated if their child later re-enrols in a Bahraini school.
- Fees at leading international schools are high, and many add registration, capital and exam fees.
Why Manama families choose Smartious
- Bahrain time, no difference: Bahrain is on Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3), the same time as our teachers in Nairobi. A 9:00 lesson is 9:00 in Manama, so live lessons fall in normal school hours, Sunday to Thursday, and every lesson is recorded.
- Exam entries through British Council Bahrain: Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level, are taken as a private candidate. In Bahrain, private-candidate entries are made through British Council Bahrain. Entry deadlines fall months before each series, so check the British Council Bahrain website for current dates and fees.
- Clear on recognition: IGCSE and A Level are widely used in Bahrain's private schools and are accepted by universities in Bahrain and abroad. If your child may later move to a Bahraini school, or needs a certificate recognised for university or government purposes, ask the school or the Ministry of Education about equivalency and transfer requirements before you start, and keep reports and exam certificates.
- Moves with your family: Enrolment continues when a contract moves you to another Gulf country or home.
- Clear fees: Online school is from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ BHD 159/month at about BHD 0.376/USD, Oct 2026 rate), payable termly. Secondary, IGCSE, A Level and IB fees vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ BHD 5.6). Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.
Full-time Manama students get a personal timetable, live small-group lessons, recordings, marked work and termly reports. Online school is from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ BHD 159/month at about BHD 0.376/USD, Oct 2026 rate), payable termly. Secondary, IGCSE, A Level and IB fees vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ BHD 5.6). Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.
Tuition is online, one-to-one, at USD 15/hour (≈ BHD 5.6 at the Oct 2026 rate).
Bahrain is on Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3), the same time as our teachers in Nairobi. A 9:00 lesson is 9:00 in Manama, so live lessons fall in normal school hours, Sunday to Thursday, and every lesson is recorded. Home fibre in Manama is fine for live classes.
Manama's mobile expatriate families need schooling that continues between postings, and families arriving mid-year often cannot find a place straight away.
Family situations we work with
- Juffair families on fixed-term contracts who expect to move again.
- Seef and Sanabis families waiting for a school place for a mid-year arrival.
- Saar and Budaiya families who want to cut the cross-island school run.
- Amwaj families with a teenager who needs an A Level subject their school does not offer.
- Families who commute between Bahrain and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia across the King Fahd Causeway.
Manama communities and nearby areas
Juffair · Adliya · Seef · Sanabis · Hoora · Gudaibiya · Um Al Hassam · Saar · Budaiya · Janabiya · Amwaj Islands · Muharraq · Diyar Al Muharraq · Bahrain Bay
Common questions from Manama families
What does online school cost in Bahrain?
Online school is from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ BHD 159/month at about BHD 0.376/USD, Oct 2026 rate), payable termly. Secondary, IGCSE, A Level and IB fees vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ BHD 5.6). Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.
Is there a time difference with your teachers?
Bahrain is on Arabia Standard Time (AST, UTC+3), the same time as our teachers in Nairobi. A 9:00 lesson is 9:00 in Manama, so live lessons fall in normal school hours, Sunday to Thursday, and every lesson is recorded.
Where does my child sit IGCSE exams in Bahrain?
Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level, are taken as a private candidate. In Bahrain, private-candidate entries are made through British Council Bahrain. Entry deadlines fall months before each series, so check the British Council Bahrain website for current dates and fees.
Will a Bahraini school accept my child back after online school?
IGCSE and A Level are widely used in Bahrain's private schools and are accepted by universities in Bahrain and abroad. If your child may later move to a Bahraini school, or needs a certificate recognised for university or government purposes, ask the school or the Ministry of Education about equivalency and transfer requirements before you start, and keep reports and exam certificates.
Is homeschooling legal in Bahrain?
Bahrain's education law makes basic education compulsory. The rules for homeschooling and online schooling are not set out in detail and can differ for Bahraini citizens and expatriate residents. Expatriate families commonly use international online schools, especially for IGCSE and A Level. Check your own situation with the Ministry of Education.
When can we start?
The January 2027 intake is open: Term 2 starts on 5 January 2027. Students can also join during the year after an assessment.
How do we contact Smartious?
Admissions: +254 745 021 212 (call or WhatsApp). Academic office: +254 182 071 920. Email: hello@smartioushomeschool.com.
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What parents say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews
“I am truly impressed by the level of professionalism at Smartious Homeschool and Tuition. The tutors are not only knowledgeable but also very patient and supportive. They create a comfortable learning environment where children feel free to ask questions. My child now enjoys studying and looks forward to every session.” — Google reviewer, Google review