Expatriate families living in Istanbul, interested in quality education at an affordable price, find that Istanbul International School provides them with excellent educational possibilities.
The school has a short history but in the course of 20 years has grown from a bilingual Pre- School in 1997, to the formation of a Primary School in 2002. The school’s location is in the green district of Çamlıca, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Starting with only 12 students, the numbers had reached over 470 by 2018. The school provides currently educational services from Pre- School to the end of High School on two campuses, within easy reach of each other. Currently the school has over sixty different nationalities in its student body and a diverse teaching staff from twenty different countries.
The school is approved and inspected by the Turkish Ministry of Education , has Cambridge International School status , is a member of the International Schools Association based in Geneva and is an approved teacher training centre for the University of Stenden ( the Netherlands) International Teacher Education Programme.
| Number of students |
375 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
55 |
| Most common nationality |
We do not have any nationality or ethnic group that can be called as the most common. |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
All of our students are international as we don't have a local program for local students. |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes, most of them are native or native-like level. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
We do have an ESL support program to support the students who are not fluent in English language. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
We offer Turkish as a foreign language for all grades. Starting in grade 5, we offer Spanish all the way through to A-Level Spanish. Additionally we offer German from Grade 9 and Grade 10 (IGCSE's). |
| Max. number of students per class |
20 |
| Average number of students per class |
16 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes, only for early years program |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
We use smart boards in Primary and Middle School classrooms, as well as some classrooms in High School. In classrooms where a smartboard is not preffered we have projectors. We use Toddle as our Learning Management Sysytem. . |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online during emergencies) |
Yes we have metro fiber internet infrasturtuce and a fully functional Learning Management System as well as virtual conference and classroom technology. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
Our school is a secular school that respects different groups of believers and non-religious individuals. By local law, we have to provide a prayer room for individuals who wish to practice in break times. |
| How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion? |
Religious practices cannot interfere with our program as our promise to parents is an educational one not religious. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
Our students take Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary Checkpoint, IGCSE and A levels(AS+A2). |
| Results in these examinations |
We are above world averages in Checkpoint, IGCSE and A-Level results. Additionally we are proud that another two of our students acheived best in the world AS Level results in 2025. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes, teachers assign homework to students. We have a standard policy of homework applicable to each grade and subject. |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Suggested amount of time that students need to complete their homework for Age 5(reception) and Age 6 (grade 1) is 30 minutes. It goes up as the grades of students do. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100% |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
No, our teachers have pedagogical formation. We recognise needs, referring them to specialist outside of the school if needed. They are collaborating with the counselling service. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
We implement ILP (Individualized Learning Plan) throughout our school. The purpose is to understand each students learning styles, strengths and skill in order to maximize their potential through differentiation in the classroom. We focus on both academics and soft skills in order to raise world citizens. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes, there is a dedicated educational psychologist for each group separately(Early Years+Primary, Middle School, High School) |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Yes, we assess students holistically during the application process. We are evaluating students readniness, academically, socially and emotionally for the applied grade. |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
After the first interview, according to families and students educational life plans we give guidance about the subjects they need to study in order to acheive thier educational targets. We apply entrance exams for the subjects students want to study. We assess prior school reports and apply a counseling interview to all candidates. We create a plan according to their needs and strengts determined by the exam performances. |
| Waiting list |
Yes, there is. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
Based on availability of seats rather than a cut off time as we understand that families may have to travel year around. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, but depending on the level certain restrictions are applied. |
| School start time |
9:00 am |
| School finish time |
15:40 |
| Supervised care before/after school |
No |
| School bus service available |
Yes, it does. It covers most of Istanbul but we do not register young children if they are subject to a travel time longer than an hour. |
| School provided lunches |
Yes, lunch is cooked and served at school by our kitchen personnel. Students are also allowed to bring their own lunch. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes, we do provide food for those who follow special diet due to personal health, religious or cultural needs. |
| Uniform required |
No |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Extra curricular activities include team sports, music, art, robotics, media, MUN, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Ski Camps(Domestic or International Destinations), Destination Innovation, Sports Camps at Gloria Sports Arena. |
| Sports activities included |
We introduce most of the individual and team sports in our indoor and outdoor sport fields. We also provide swimming classes as a part of primary physical education program. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes, we do. Our students participate the tournaments with other schools. |
| Facilities at the school |
Libraries, auditorium, Biology, Physics and Chemistry Labs, art and music rooms |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Indoor gym and fenced tennis court that serves as a basketball court as well. We also have an indoor swimming pool. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Multi-cultural close-knit learning community. We care about our students' social, emotional and academic well being. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
Our student centered approach puts a lot of emphasis on individual learning profiles preparing our students for the next cycle in life. |
Our Early Years programme takes a developmental approach to learning. Our curriculum emphasises nature, creativity and hands-on learning through the medium of play with attentive guidance provided by our teachers.
Our mixed age group classes focus on a wide variety of level appropriate activities that align with the children's interests, which encourages independence and natural curiosity. Our dedicated teachers differentiate lessons for smaller groups of children with the aim of providing a more personal approach to whole class lessons.
The students delve into different topics which span across all aspects of the academic curriculum which thereby amounts to a wealth of skills and knowledge at the end of the topic.
Our School’s Primary curriculum is built around the need to provide knowledge, skills and understanding arranged by subject under three areas of study: Environmental Studies, Life Skills and the Expressive Arts.
Environmental studies cover the sciences, as well as global perspectives which includes geography and history studies. Life skills cover English and Turkish language, Mathematics as well as personal social health education. Expressive Arts include Art and Design, Music and Movement and Physical Education. Our Primary Grades 1 – 5 are equivalent to Years 2 – 6 in the Cambridge Curriculum.
Middle School is an important bridging period between Primary School and High School. Our Middle School Grades 6 – 8 are equivalent to Years 7 – 9 in the Cambridge Curriculum.
After 5th Grade the Middle School curriculum moves to subject teachers instead of homeroom teachers and subjects are arranged by subject under three areas of study: The Life Skills Curriculum, The Second Language Acquisition Program and The Environmental Studies Curriculum.
Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds.
The programmes balance a thorough knowledge and understanding of a subject and help to develop the skills learners need for their next steps in education or employment.
The Cambridge IGCSE curriculum offers a variety of routes for learners with a wide range of abilities, including those whose first language is not English.
Starting from a foundation of core subjects, it is easy to add breadth and cross-curricular perspectives. Encouraging learners to engage with a variety of subjects, and make connections between them, is fundamental to our approach.
Cambridge IGCSE helps improve performance by developing skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving. It is the perfect springboard to advanced study.
The A Level syllabuses prepare learners for university study, which is why universities worldwide value and recognise Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications.
Our school offers a number of subjects. This flexibility means we can build an individualised curriculum, and learners can choose to specialise in a particular subject area or study a range of subjects.
Cambridge International A Level is typically a two-year course, and Cambridge International AS Level is typically one year. Most of the subjects that we offer can be started as a Cambridge International AS Level and extended to a Cambridge International A Level.
Students in grade 11 select four AS level subjects. At the beginning of grade 12 a student can drop one subject with the permission of the High School Principal.
The school’s location is in the green district of Çamlıca, on the Asian side of Istanbul. The school provides educational services from Early Years to the end of High School on two campuses, within easy reach of each other.
We’re delighted that you’re considering Istanbul International School for your child’s education.
Please call or email our Admissions team, with any questions.
We’re looking forward to answering all of your questions and welcoming your family to our school.
