Cambridge International School - Bratislava vs The British International School Bratislava
Cambridge International School - Bratislava and The British International School Bratislava are both in Bratislava, about 5 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE and British programmes. Cambridge International School - Bratislava also offers Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels, and The British International School Bratislava also offers EYFS and IB. Published annual fees are €17,000 - 18,250 at Cambridge International School - Bratislava and €12,640 - 27,530 at The British International School Bratislava, which puts The British International School Bratislava roughly 14% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 650 and 810 pupils. Typical class sizes are 18 at Cambridge International School - Bratislava and 20 at The British International School Bratislava.
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, British Curriculum
Curriculum
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
650
Pupils
810
Typical class size
Typical class size
18
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2012
Opened
1997
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Úprkova 3663/3, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovakia. Central Bratislava location. Address shows the school in Bratislava's central district.
Location
The British International School Bratislava has two campuses in the Dúbravka district of Bratislava, Slovakia. Maples (Nursery to Year 1) is Pekníkova 4, 841 02 Bratislava; Oaks (Year 2 to Year 13) is Pekníkova 6, 841 02 Bratislava. The campuses are about 8 km (approximately 15 minutes by car) from Bratislava city centre.
Stages
Stages
Primary School Years 2 to 6 (6 to 11 year olds). Secondary School Years 7 to 13 (12 to 19 year olds). The Secondary School comprises Cambridge Lower Secondary (Year 7–9), Cambridge IGCSE (Year 10–11), Cambridge AS and A Level (Year 12–13), and Slovak Maturita (Year 14).
Stages
Early Years (ages 2-5) EYFS; Primary (ages 5-11) English National Curriculum; Lower Secondary (ages 11-16) English National Curriculum with Cambridge IGCSEs; Upper Secondary (ages 16-18) IB Diploma Programme.
School type
School type
International school offering the Cambridge Curriculum for primary through A-level, including IGCSE and AS/A Level, with an optional Slovak Maturita Year 14.
School type
The British International School Bratislava is a British international school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
Students come from more than 20 countries; English is the primary language in school; the school emphasises an international community and inclusive environment.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
English and Slovak as Additional Languages; specialist provision for English and Slovak; support for students with Special Educational Needs.
Additional learning support
The school has a Learning Support policy clarifying SEN inclusivity.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
Slovakia
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
Registration begins at 08:00; morning registration open until 08:10; students should arrive by 08:00–08:15. Secondary day ends around 15:45 unless staying for clubs; after-school clubs run from 16:00 to 17:00. All arrivals and departures pass through the main entrance.
School day structure
Primary (Maples) day starts at 08:15 (drop-off from 07:45) and ends at 15:00, with Rockets after-school club 15:00–16:30 (Mon–Thu) and 15:00–16:00 (Fri). Oaks (Year 2–6) day begins with supervision from 07:45 and lessons at 08:15, with a morning break at 10:05 and lunch 12:00–13:00, finishing at 15:00; Secondary day runs 08:00–15:00, with registration at 08:00 and first lesson at 08:15.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
Public transport is encouraged; bus routes include No. 84 and 83 from Hodžovo námestie and No. 32 from Hlavná stanica, with a tram option on No. 4 and No. 5; no dedicated BISB bus service is advertised.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Tuition fees (2026/27 academic year)
- Years 2–6 (student age 6–10): EUR 17,000 per year; EUR 1,700 per month (10 equal instalments); discounted annual amount shown as EUR 16,660. - Years 7–9 (student age 11–13): EUR 18,250 per year; EUR 1,825 per month (10 equal instalments); discounted annual amount shown as EUR 17,890. - Years 10–11 (student age 14–15): EUR 19,300 per year; EUR 1,930 per month (10 equal instalments); discounted annual amount shown as EUR 18,920. - Years 12–13 (student age 16–17): EUR 20,750 per year; EUR 2,075 per month (10 equal instalments); discounted annual amount shown as EUR 20,340. - Year 14 (Maturita, student age 18): EUR 2,950 per year; EUR 295 per month (10 equal instalments); discounted annual amount shown as EUR 2,900.
Application, registration and acceptance fees
- Registration and assessment fee (paid at admissions testing): EUR 350. - School enrolment fee (payable on acceptance): EUR 450.
What the tuition covers and what is charged separately
- Included in the Academic Fee: tuition, textbooks and learning materials (workbooks, stationery, equipment, student ID), Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level examination fees for the relevant year groups, school lunches and snacks, lunchtime and after-school clubs (družina), day trips (Y2–Y13), residential trips (Y2–Y12), the Year 8 ski trip, language trips abroad (Y10), participation in school competitions (including associated accommodation and travel where applicable), graduation ceremony and Stužková (Y13), parent tickets to performances, yearbook (one copy per student) and Duke of Edinburgh participant registration. - Not included in the Academic Fee: individual music lessons, Young Voices London trip, Cambridge post-exam services and exam entry for non-CIS curriculum exams (for example additional languages).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Standard payment structure: fees may be paid in 10 equal monthly instalments (the published per-month figures reflect 10 equal instalments). - Payment calendar: the school's 10 monthly payments are mapped across the year with each payment due on the 15th of the month; the payment calendar shows which calendar month is paid for (10 payments = 1 school year). - Early-payment discount: a 2% discount is available for full-year payments made in full by 31 May of the current school year (the published “After Discount” annual figures reflect an early-payment discount).
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable: Cambridge International School operates as a day school and does not publish boarding fees or boarding provision.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- One-off and enrolment-related charges: Registration & Assessment Fee (EUR 350) due at admissions testing; School Enrolment Fee on acceptance (EUR 450). - Optional or activity-specific costs not included in tuition: individual music tuition, certain overseas trips (e.g., Young Voices), Cambridge post-exam services and examination entries outside the CIS curriculum. - Uniform / dress: there is a school dress guidance (smart-casual approach) rather than a mandatory uniform; the school's dress guidance describes expectations rather than a required uniform purchase.
Refunds and cancellation
- Refund information: no formal refund or cancellation schedule is published in the school's publicly available fee documents and handbook; refunds or specific cancellation terms are not listed in the published fee materials. Parents should use the school's fees contact for any case-specific queries about refunds.
Fee payment options and practical next steps for payment
- Published materials do not list specific payment method options (for example, card, bank transfer, direct debit) or public bank account details. The school publishes a dedicated fees contact address (fees@cambridgeschool.eu) and admissions/reception contacts for fee queries and invoicing. Parents should use those contacts to obtain invoicing and payment-method details.
Notes on terminology used in the published schedule
- The school presents fees as annual totals with a corresponding monthly figure calculated as 10 equal instalments and also publishes an “After Discount” annual figure reflecting the early-payment option. The 10-installment schedule and the payment-calendar mapping (payments due on the 15th of each month) are the published billing mechanics.
Brief summary of any missing fee details in published documents
- The published fee documents list annual, monthly (10-instalment) and discounted annual figures, registration/assessment and enrolment fees, and which services are included or excluded. The school's public materials do not publish (a) explicit per-term fee amounts, (b) detailed refund/cancellation terms, or (c) the specific accepted payment methods or bank/card details. For those three items, contact fees@cambridgeschool.eu or admissions@cambridgeschool.eu for an official invoice and payment instructions.
Fee details
One-off fees
- Registration fee: EUR 900 (non‑refundable, payable on enrolment). - Deposit: EUR 1,200 (refundable subject to the school's withdrawal notice and account settlement conditions). - Application fee: EUR 900 (charged in lieu of the registration fee for applicants placed on a waiting list; refundable if no place can be offered by a mutually agreed date).
Tuition fees (2026/2027) — annual and per‑term amounts (all amounts in EUR)
- Nursery — Annual: EUR 12,640; Term 1: EUR 5,056; Term 2: EUR 3,792; Term 3: EUR 3,792. - Reception — Annual: EUR 16,020; Term 1: EUR 6,408; Term 2: EUR 4,806; Term 3: EUR 4,806. - Year 1 — Annual: EUR 20,140; Term 1: EUR 8,056; Term 2: EUR 6,042; Term 3: EUR 6,042. - Year 2 — Annual: EUR 20,140; Term 1: EUR 8,056; Term 2: EUR 6,042; Term 3: EUR 6,042. - Year 3 — Annual: EUR 21,290; Term 1: EUR 8,516; Term 2: EUR 6,387; Term 3: EUR 6,387. - Year 4 — Annual: EUR 21,290; Term 1: EUR 8,516; Term 2: EUR 6,387; Term 3: EUR 6,387. - Year 5 — Annual: EUR 21,290; Term 1: EUR 8,516; Term 2: EUR 6,387; Term 3: EUR 6,387. - Year 6 — Annual: EUR 21,290; Term 1: EUR 8,516; Term 2: EUR 6,387; Term 3: EUR 6,387. - Year 7 — Annual: EUR 24,170; Term 1: EUR 9,668; Term 2: EUR 7,251; Term 3: EUR 7,251. - Year 8 — Annual: EUR 24,170; Term 1: EUR 9,668; Term 2: EUR 7,251; Term 3: EUR 7,251. - Year 9 — Annual: EUR 24,170; Term 1: EUR 9,668; Term 2: EUR 7,251; Term 3: EUR 7,251. - Year 10 — Annual: EUR 24,990; Term 1: EUR 9,996; Term 2: EUR 7,497; Term 3: EUR 7,497. - Year 11 — Annual: EUR 25,800; Term 1: EUR 10,320; Term 2: EUR 7,740; Term 3: EUR 7,740. - Year 12 — Annual: EUR 26,720; Term 1: EUR 10,688; Term 2: EUR 8,016; Term 3: EUR 8,016. - Year 13 — Annual: EUR 27,530; Term 1: EUR 11,012; Term 2: EUR 8,259; Term 3: EUR 8,259.
What the tuition covers and what it does not cover
- Included in tuition: tuition, textbooks and teaching materials, specialist English language teaching, learning support (except where bespoke 1:1 provision is agreed), IGCSE and IB exam fees, and most local trips. - Not included in tuition: school meals, school uniforms, optional school bus transportation, and certain optional after‑school activities or residential trips. Optional services and activities will be invoiced separately.
Other costs and optional fees
- Optional extracurricular activities, instrumental music lessons, residential trips, examination retakes/remarks and other optional services are charged in addition to tuition. - School bus service is provided by the external bus operator; bus service invoices are managed separately and payments for the bus service may be made by cash or bank transfer to the bus operator as stated in the bus service terms. - School lunches and uniforms are paid separately and are not covered by the tuition amounts above.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Early Bird incentive: a 3.5% discount on the full‑year tuition is available when the full annual tuition is paid by the Early Bird deadline for the year (for the 2026/2027 school year this payment deadline is 30 June 2026). The 3.5% reduction is shown on the annual invoice when applied. - Standard termly due dates for 2026/2027 (if not taking the Early Bird option): Term 1 due date — 30 June 2026; Term 2 due date — 13 November 2026; Term 3 due date — 15 February 2027. - The deposit is refundable provided the required written withdrawal notice is given in accordance with the school's terms; the deposit may be forfeited if correct notice is not given. Final refund is conditional on all accounts being settled and school property returned in good order.
Refunds and withdrawal notice
- Withdrawal notice: one (1) full term's written notice is required before removing a student from the school. The notice period commences on the first day of the school term following the term in which the school received the withdrawal notice. Failure to give the correct notice will result in forfeiture of the deposit. Full refund of the deposit is subject to clearance by the finance office that all accounts are settled and all school property has been returned; lost or damaged property is charged at replacement cost.
Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding: Not applicable. The school does not offer boarding facilities.
Fee payment options
- The fee schedule and invoices set out payment deadlines and invoice amounts; optional services (for example the school bus) specify available payment methods such as cash or bank transfer to the relevant service provider.
- Referral award payments (where applicable) are paid as a credit on fees or, in the case of annual payers, by bank transfer as set out in the school's referral scheme conditions.
Summary of key points for 2026/2027
- One‑off fees: Registration EUR 900, Deposit EUR 1,200, Application EUR 900. - Tuition: annual and per‑term amounts are listed above by year group (EUR). - Early Bird: 3.5% discount for full payment by 30 June 2026; otherwise termly payment dates apply (30 June 2026; 13 November 2026; 15 February 2027). - Boarding: not offered.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Cambridge International School Bratislava provides a Cambridge-based education for pupils aged 6 to 18, progressing from Cambridge Primary to IGCSE and AS/A Level qualifications, with the Slovak Maturita available for Year 14. In Primary (Years 2–6), instruction is in English and the curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, Humanities, Music, Physical Education, PSHE, Art, and Modern Foreign Languages (German and Spanish). Reading is prioritised, supported by Accelerated Reader and Read, Write Inc., with Spelling Frame aiding vocabulary development. Learning is supported by MyiMaths, Times Tables Rock Stars, and other platforms, and class sizes are described as small with highly qualified international staff. In Secondary (Years 7–13), students follow the Cambridge curriculum with IGCSEs and AS/A Levels, and may also graduate with the Slovak Maturita. Languages include German and Spanish from Year 4 and Slovak for native speakers from Year 2; university progression is supported through a dedicated Careers & University Guidance team and the Unifrog platform.
Curriculum details
The school teaches the English National Curriculum up to Year 9; Cambridge IGCSEs in Years 10–11; International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12–13.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes and highly qualified international staff.
Student teacher ratio
Average class size is 20, and the teacher-student ratio in Early Years is 1:8.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
IB Diploma results for the 2024/25 academic year: average score 36.3; 22.7% of students scored 40+; pass rate 98%; one student scored 45.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
University Guidance at CIS is delivered by a dedicated team for Key Stage 5, supported by external counsellors; the school uses Unifrog to access English-language university courses worldwide. Year 11 students receive early access to Unifrog; in Year 12 students follow a structured university and career guidance programme with CV and personal statement workshops, and visits to university fairs. Year 13 provides ongoing guidance through offers, decisions, and transition beyond school.
Higher education progression
Graduates go on to top universities worldwide, including Cambridge, MIT, and the University of Hong Kong.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
The Cambridge International School Bratislava is located at Úprkova 3663/3, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovakia. English is the primary language of instruction. Primary School Years 2 to 6 follow the Cambridge Primary Curriculum, covering Key Stage 1 (Years 2–3) and Key Stage 2 (Years 4–6). Secondary School Years 7 to 13 cover the upper levels, with the Cambridge curriculum used across Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), and Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13). Year 2 enrollment for 2026/27 is open. For younger children, there is a Funiversity kindergarten option. The school accepts children aged 6–18. There are no fixed admission criteria; each child is considered individually, with focus on age, years of prior schooling, previous establishment, and English levels. A place is offered only if the school believes it is the right fit for the child and the school community, and offers are issued in writing by the School Director.
Admissions
Make an enquiry. BISB offers places all year round for children aged from 2 to 18. Learn about entry requirements and discuss your child's needs by contacting the admissions team. They answer questions and guide you through each stage of the process.
Enjoy a guided tour. The best way to discover BISB is to take a tour, either in person or online. You will meet BISB staff and see classrooms and facilities as part of the tour. A personalised tour can be arranged through the admissions team.
Send us your application. Applications are accepted all year round. We promise to respond within 24 hours (excluding weekends) of receiving your child's form. Complete online application and submit supporting documents: a copy of your child's passport, a copy of recent school reports, and any SEN reports (if applicable). If your child is joining in Year 7 or above, you will be invited to sit a short, age-appropriate assessment.
Assessment. Every child who starts in Year 7 or above will take a short assessment. Years 7-9 sit an online English language test, while Years 10-13 take English and maths tests and meet our Head of Secondary. The assessment is part of the admissions process.
Placement. After you have completed the first four steps, and if BISB is the right fit for you and your child, BISB will offer a place. The admissions team will confirm the offer and discuss the start date. You will receive details about the place and enrolment paperwork.
Starting school. With the place confirmed, BISB will provide information before the start date. You will be invited to a welcome day and a meeting with your child's teacher. BISB will ensure a warm welcome and smooth transition on the first days.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
The school offers financial support programmes.
Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
There is sometimes a waiting list. Contact the admissions team as early as possible to check availability and secure a place.