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Ethiopia, Bahir Dar
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
Admission procedures vary according to the nationality of the parent, the mother tongue of the family, the location of the previous school (if any) and any special identifiable need. Nursery intake is not available this year. Kindergarten admissions require a meeting with the parent and child; the application form must have the agreement of the Head of KG and the Branch Director; places may be offered for children to start at the beginning of a Semester. If a child is on the waiting list, the Head of KG has the discretion to offer the place to children on the waiting list in appropriate age order, but with siblings given priority. The lowest age for admission is 4 years. Grades 1–4 admissions are rare; a child may be placed on the waiting list if criteria are met, but the child must satisfy the Head of Section that they have attained a level equivalent to those currently in the school; induction courses before official admission may be required, and expatriate children or those with special needs may incur extra tuition and possibly extra charges, to be agreed before admission. No Ethiopian child may join after October 1, unless they have moved from another Federal Region with a letter from their previous school. Expatriate students may be admitted at any time and will receive a leaving letter indicating attendance and performance. Grades 5–7 require evidence that Ethiopian students have completed the previous grade with high success; expatriate children may be accepted throughout the year following a needs analysis and an agreed ongoing IEP. Grade 8 admissions require Ethiopian students to have completed Grade 7 in another Federal region. Grades 9 admissions are rare and require a letter from the present school and a high level of English; Access courses may be studied in the year prior to entry on Saturday mornings or by distance learning. Grade 10 admissions for Ethiopian new students are not allowed, except with evidence of exceptional ability or family relocation. Registration documents such as Registration Details Bahir Dar 2020-21 and Parental Agreement are available for download.
A waiting list exists for admissions; vacancies are offered to waiting-listed children in age-appropriate order, with siblings given priority. A school place is offered after completing the booking process held from June 29 to July 19; after that date there may be no place available due to limited class size and oversubscription.
Scholarships are offered to talented, deserving youngsters; Cheshire – Action for Inclusion supports the school's scholarship program to promote inclusivity and diversity. A sibling discount is not a scholarship.
Rispins International School, Bahir Dar, is a private international campus operating as a satellite of the British International School Addis Ababa. The school offers a bespoke curriculum combining English-language instruction with the Ethiopian National curriculum. It runs Pre-K to Grade 10; Kindergarten and Elementary up to Grade 6 are located in Kebele 14, while High School is in Kebele 13. Nursery is not admitted this year. Students follow both curricula, with end-of-year pass requirements for international students based on English-language subjects, while Ethiopian students meet MOE guidelines. The Bahir Dar campus originated as a spinoff from BIS Addis Ababa, and BIS and Rispins are licensed to operate international schools under Ethiopian MOE. Extracurricular activities include Spoken English for Kids on Saturdays, drama and performing arts, and scholarships through partnerships such as Cheshire - Action for Inclusion. The school emphasizes inclusive learning with progress measured against both national and international markers and a community-driven ethos.
