Most expat parents we meet arrive with a folder of brochures and a head full of worry. The brochures all say much the same thing. So the visit itself is where you learn something, and the questions you ask decide how much. Here are ten that are worth carrying into any international school Bangkok has to offer.

1. Why this curriculum?

British, American, IB, or a blend. Ask the school to explain its choice in plain words, without jargon. If your family tends to move every few years, ask how easily a child can leave and join another school mid-stream.

2. How long do your teachers stay?

Not "how qualified", but "how long". A school where half the staff change each year is hard on children, particularly little ones. [Add a real figure, such as the number of teachers with five or more years at your school.]

3. What are the real class sizes?

Ask for the actual numbers in the year group your child would join, not the maximum on the website. And ask whether there's a teaching assistant in the room.

4. What happens if my child barely speaks English?

Lots of expat children arrive in exactly that position. Ask whether there's a dedicated EAL programme, how long support usually lasts, and who looks after a child at lunch on day one. Most kids find their feet quicker than their parents do, but the school needs a plan, not just optimism.

5. What will we pay in total?

Tuition is the number on the first page. Then there's registration, a capital levy, deposits, buses, lunches, uniforms and trips. Ask for the full list on paper, and ask what happens to the money if your company relocates you halfway through the year. Families get caught out here more than anywhere else.

6. How long is the journey?

A school that looks ten minutes away on the map can mean an hour on Sukhumvit or Rama IX. Ask about bus routes, then do the drive yourself at 7:30am before you sign anything.

7. What's your air quality policy?

Bad air days happen, especially in the cooler months. A good school will have purifiers in classrooms and a clear rule for when children stay inside. If the answer is vague, push gently. Ask too about allergies and what happens when a child runs a fever at 10am.

8. How do you help new families settle in?

Moving countries is tiring for everyone, not just the child. Ask about buddy families, welcome coffees for parents and how often teachers get in touch. A school used to expats will answer this easily.

9. Where do graduates go?

Ask for destinations from the last two or three years. Even if your child is five, the answer shows how the school thinks about the long game.

10. Can I talk to a current parent?

Ask this one last, and listen to how they respond. A confident school will say yes straight away. Then ask that parent what they wish they'd known before enrolling.

Final thoughts

There's no perfect school, only the right one for your child. The best international school Bangkok families choose is usually the one where the visit felt easy, the answers were honest, and your child didn't want to leave the classroom. Take this list along, then trust what you see.