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France, Pau
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.
Step 1: Submit Admissions File. The school requires a completed application form, a teacher's confidential report, and a medical record form. In addition, parents may be asked to provide a record or report from the child's previous school. These documents form the Admissions File that begins the admissions review. The school uses this file to assess suitability for admission.
Step 2: Admissions review and conditional acceptance. The admission is conditional upon a satisfactory appraisal that the school can offer a valuable educational experience for each child. Criteria considered include representation from the international community in the city and French families who respect the school's philosophy. Previous school experience and the ability to work in English or benefit from ESL support are taken into account. The likelihood of benefiting from courses offered at ISB is also evaluated.
Step 3: Placement and age. Placement is based on the age of the child as of 1 September. There is some flexibility for individual needs and overlaps of ages may occur, especially in the later grades of Primary School. Children are placed into a class depending on their age on 1 September to August and not from January to December. If a child's birthday is near September 1, the policy is to place the child in the correct class according to age on 1 September.
Step 4: Placement in a particular grade. Placement in a particular grade depends on the age of the pupil. Reports from the previous school are considered. A consultation with parents is conducted. An interview with the pupil and tests appropriate to the pupil's level are carried out.
Step 5: Admission procedure and timing. Students will be admitted at the school's opening date in September, provided there are places available and the Admissions File has been submitted. Admission in the middle of the year could be accepted. Please contact the school for information on school fees and the procedure for registration.
Step 6: Withdrawal. 90 days notice of intention to withdraw a child must be given in writing. Otherwise the refundable deposit will be retained by the school. Please contact the school for withdrawal procedures.
International School of Béarn is a day school serving ages 2 to 18. Founded in 2002, it offers Early Years through Grade 13, with preschool added in 2003 and secondary in 2007. Instruction is English, based on the English National Curriculum and adapted for an international community; French is taught as a foreign language from age 4 for non-French mother-tongue pupils, while content for French mother-tongue pupils follows the national programme. The school provides Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. The curriculum centers on core subjects—Mathematics, English, Science and French—supplemented by Drama, PSHE, Computing, History, Geography, Music and Art. School has ECIS certification (2004), Cambridge Examinations admission (2010), Edexcel approval (2012) and ISTA membership (2013), with facilities opened in 2014. Over 40 nationalities are represented, and over 70% of pupils come from English-speaking families. After-school clubs cover sport, arts and cultural activities.
