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Netherlands, Enschede
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IST opened in 2008 as the international department of the Dutch Primary Prinseschool, part of Stichting Consent. In 2011, Het Stedelijk Lyceum opened a department at College Zuid for international secondary education. IST Primary moved into its own building at Johannes ter Horststraat in Enschede in 2016. IST Primary and IST Secondary joined forces in 2016 to offer international education to pupils aged 4 to 18.
IST is a connected community that serves as an important local meeting place for the international community. It welcomes all families and promotes international-mindedness, providing an inclusive environment where students can form lasting friendships. IST collaborates with the Dutch departments at Prinseschool and Het Stedelijk Lyceum, and with the University of Twente and regional vocational institutions, to weave Dutch language and culture into the curriculum and connect students with local organizations. Parental involvement is valued, supported by the IST Parents Council and IST Parents Support Group, and the House system helps students build community beyond their classrooms.
The IST Parents Council and IST Parents Support Group are active and play an important role in developing the school. Parental involvement is encouraged and the parent groups contribute to school development. The school hosts parent-focused events, including the end-of-year event Soda, Smiles and Goodbyes and themed Parent Evenings such as sessions on gaming habits and social media. Many events are held within the school, but larger events invite parents and other friends of IST. These events aim to connect parents, teachers, and students outside the classroom.
International School Twente (IST) serves pupils aged 4–18 in Enschede, Netherlands, delivering English-medium international education across two campuses. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is offered in the primary school, and the Cambridge curriculum is used in the lower secondary, with Cambridge Lower Secondary (Years 7–9) to be fully implemented from 2026–2027, followed by Cambridge IGCSE (Years 10–11) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) for university preparation. All lessons are taught in English. IST's two campuses share facilities with its Dutch partner school; the Primary Campus emphasizes inquiry-based learning within the PYP, while the Secondary Campus provides science labs and music and arts classrooms. A library supports study, and additional facilities include PE spaces and shared sports grounds. The school offers a varied after-school program and diverse language options, including Dutch, English, Hindi, French and Mandarin. Features include a House system and excursions that connect international and local communities.
