Key milestones in the history of the New English School:

1969 - The School is founded by Mr.Tareq S.Rajab as the first secondary school offering a British Education in Kuwait.

1970 - Expansion of NES to include a Primary Department.

1973 - U.K. Education Secretary Margaret Thatcher visits NES.

1974 - Move to new purpose built premises in Jabriya. School population now 650 students.

1976 - Further expansion of NES, with the construction of Block “D” to house the Chemistry and Physics laboratories and The Mousetrap, a purpose built theatre. The Mousetrap Theatre opens, the first of its kind in Kuwait, providing both NES and the local community with a venue seating 160 people.

1976 - The Mousetrap theatre opens, the first of its kind in Kuwait, providing both NES and the local community with a 150 seat venue.

1981- Further expansion of NES, with the construction of Block “E” to house the Art Department, Secondary Library, Gymnasium and Computing laboratories. These new laboratories pioneer Computer Studies education in Kuwait. NES becomes a founder member of BSME (British Schools in the Middle East).

1984 - NES students go to the Edinburgh Festival, the first school from the Middle East to do so. NES returns to take part in 1994 and 1996.

1987 - The NES band ventures abroad for the first time, to Amman, Jordan.

1990 - NES premises occupied by the Iraqi Invading Army.

1991 - The French Foreign Legion uses NES as their headquarters, helping 12 staff members clean up after Liberation. NES opens again for the academic year 1991-1992. Baroness Margaret Thatcher visits NES for the second time, this time as Prime Minister.

1993 - KG recreational area renovated. Completion of a block of 48 apartments specifically for the use of staff accommodation.

1994 - NES is the first school in the Gulf region to introduce the Duke of Edinburgh Award (International Award) and participate in the Edinburgh Festival.

1998 - Ahmed Romani, becomes the first NES student to complete the Gold International Award. The Sixth Form suite is completed, including a common room, café, a separate study area and a new careers office.

1999 - Queen Rania of Jordan, NES Alumni, visits the school.

2005 - NES Alumni enrols a 3rd generation KG student for the first time.

2006 - Innovation continues with the integration of ICT within classrooms with interactive whiteboards being installed.

2007 - Complete restructure of the Early Years Department.

2008 - The new NES façade is complete. Internal renovation and upgrade of Science Laboratories, Music Department, Sixth Form Suite and Administrative Offices.

2009 - Introduction of baseline assessment.

2011- NES achieves accreditation by BSO (British Schools Overseas).

2012 - Introduction of iSAMS – an integrated internet based system to record, track and report on students’ progress, behaviour and welfare.

2015 - Accreditation by BSO.

2016 - NES becomes a Google school with Chromebooks deployed to all students and staff to enhance learning.

2017 - School upgraded new Primary Centre for specialist teaching and learning to be opened by the school Director, Dr. Ziad T. S. Rajab.

2019 - School rated as 'Outstanding' by BSO inspectorate.

The chairman, Tareq Rajab, came from a family with a history of pioneering in education and he established the school at a time of change in Kuwait in which he foresaw the need for education with English as the medium of teaching.
The first classes of NES opened in a villa in Shamiyah, actually starting at Secondary level and very soon after extending backwards to Kindergarten. It was soon apparent that this educational venture was outgrowing the original premises, so a purpose built campus was opened in 1974, and to date, improvements and extensions continue to maintain an environment that allows students to thrive. The school serves both the local and international communities, with children from over 70 nationalities and close ties are maintained with the U.K. and with other overseas British and International schools.
The New English School is a member of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and is accredited by British Schools in the Middle East (BSME). In 2011 the school also achieved British School Overseas status, approved by the UK Government Department for Education and monitored by Ofsted (the official body for inspecting schools). NES then went on to be rated as 'Outstanding' in the subsequent 2019 BSO inspection.
The New English School has an enviable academic record and is outstanding in the region. The school achieves its mission through a combination of academic and extra-curricular activities. Thus, along with a broad range of academic subjects, the extra-curricular activities programme spans diverse areas – drama, music, sports, the arts, crafts, technology as well as formalised programmes such as the Model United Nations (M.U.N.), the International Debating Club and the Duke of Edinburgh Award (International Award), the first school in Kuwait to offer this.

Maintain, within its admission policy, such flexibility and breadth of provision, that it is able to receive pupils at any stage in their career and provide them with the highest possible standards of education.Place emphasis upon the acquisition of knowledge, skills and practical abilities to develop lively, enquiring minds.
Encourage strong links with parents so as to further enhance each pupil's education.
Encourage self discipline, appropriate interpersonal relationships, a reasoned set of attitudes and a respect for cultural and moral values.
Engender an appreciation of the arts through provision of cultural opportunities.

Provide a curriculum which is relevant, balanced and challenging to include:
- an emphasis on communication in all its forms;
- an emphasis on creativity and independent management;
- an international awareness;
- a preparation for our technological society;
- a foundation for university education;
- respect and care for our planet and all living things.