History Timeline

The Continental School, affectionately known as “Conti,” was founded by Deborah Osbourne to provide a nurturing and dynamic educational environment for British students. The school began in a modest room at the back of the British Embassy building, where Deborah’s dedication to fostering both academic excellence and personal growth took root. Over the years, Conti evolved into a cherished institution focused on well-being, creativity, collaboration, and intellectual development.

Initially operating from a converted villa, Conti started with 86 pupils aged 3.5 to 12 years. Due to increasing demand, the school expanded to accommodate up to 400 students.

Originally admitting mainly British and Western students, Conti soon adopted a broader global vision. Its logo, designed by students, reflected its international ethos and approach. 

Trevor Williams was appointed as the new director. Under his leadership, Conti expanded from one villa to three villas in the Al-Hamra area, increasing overseas staff and introducing High Senior classes.

During Mr. Williams’ tenure, Conti moved from the Al-Hamra villas to its first purpose-built campus, which later became known as Jeddah Prep Campus. 

Christopher Spedding, previously Head of Conti’s Senior School, was appointed Director.
In May 1990, Conti became the first British-style school in Saudi Arabia accredited by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS). 

Russel Keith Law, who served as Head of Primary until 1991-92, was appointed whole-school Director in August 1993. During his tenure: 

• The school moved from the Jeddah Prep Campus to the newly built Al-Basateen Campus. 
• The school expanded its IGCSE programme. 
• In September 1994, the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme was introduced. 

As Conti grew in popularity, it began attracting students from diverse backgrounds. Due to changes in the Saudi Ministry of Education’s licensing format for community schools, Conti was officially renamed the British International School of Jeddah (BISJ) in April 1996. However, “Conti” remains affectionately used within the community. 

Bruce Gamwell was appointed Head of Secondary in 2004 and later Director in June 2005.
Geoffrey Darlison succeeded him as Headteacher of Secondary. Under Mr. Gamwell’s tenure: 

• In April 2012, BISJ achieved reaccreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) 
• BISJ became a member of the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) in 2012 

During Mr. Gamwell’s tenure, the school successfully navigated new regulatory and legal requirements while maintaining strong leadership and stability. He retired in June 2015. 

BISJ was reaccredited again in March 2019. 

BISJ has transformed significantly since its founding in 1977. Now serving 1,300 students from more than 60 countries, with a staff of over 240, the school remains committed to its vision of international education. This evolution has been shaped by: 

• The changing expatriate community. 
• The Ministry of Education’s policy allowing Saudi students with special permits to attend. 

In August 2025, Ian Williams retired after successfully leading BISJ through numerous challenges, including the pandemic. Helen Olds has succeeded him as Director, bringing over 30 years of educational experience and senior leadership expertise from the UK, USA, Indonesia, and Malaysia. She now leads BISJ into its next phase of growth and development.