Ages 
The school is an excellent option for families in the Amsterdam area and the door-to-door bus service makes it a viable option for those within a 50km radius. It is well-established, with a reputation for excellence among schools offering the IB programme.
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Overview
- Student numbers
- 1,154
- Curricula
- International
- SEN provision
- SEN considered case by case
- Pre school provision (up to 4)
- Yes
- Religion
- Non-denominational
- Fees
- € 23,235 - € 30,140
Head of school
Director
Dr Bernadette Carmody
Since 2019, Dr Bernadette Carmody, who has an air of energy and positivity. She comes across as warm, friendly and approachable even in an online meeting – a form of communication she quickly became accustomed to, having only been in the role for
Entrance
Expect waitlists, especially for the PYP and MYP years, but the length will vary depending on year group. Admission is non-selective but, depending on age of the student, some minimum requirements do exist to ensure school can meet needs of the st
Exit
2024 university destinations: Thirty-three per cent went to The Netherlands (eg Uni of Amsterdam, Maastricht University, Erasmus Uni of Rotterdam), United Kingdom (24 per cent - eg Uni of Edinburgh, UCL), others headed to Asia (Japan and Korea), E
Latest results
2024: Average IB score of 35 with 42 per cent achieving bilingual diplomas.
Teaching & learning
ISA has a reputation as one of Europe’s leading international schools, and is proud of the fact that it was the first school in the world to teach the full International Baccalaureate programme – PYP, MYP and DP - making them an IB World School. T
- Curricula offered
- International - International Baccalaureate (Diploma)
- International - International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP)
- International - International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Learning support & SEN
Limited facilities and resources available for SEN students. Students with mild or moderate needs are welcome and well supported but there are a limited number of places available so admission is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Language support
EAL support provided at all levels by strong EAL team. Students assessed at admission to determine the level of support required. In addition, all classroom/subject teachers experienced with multilingual and multicultural groups.
Arts & extracurricular
Strong on the arts. The school has its own art gallery with plenty of offerings for visual, fine, and performing arts, annual displays, productions, and performances - and a good range of other extracurricular activities.
Sport
Loads of sports options here - parents are very positive about the quality. The school has a new gymnasium. No baseball offered, to the mild disappointment of American families, but strong teams are fielded in several sports including basketball,
Ethos & heritage
The first international school in Amsterdam, it opened its doors with one student in January 1964. Increasing demand especially from American companies wanting to open offices in Amsterdam saw it grow steadily. Became the world’s first IB World Sc
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
ISA has a strong focus on pastoral care. The first point of contact for each child is their home room teacher but they are also assigned their own counsellor if more support is needed. The school actively wants all children to succeed and be happy
Classroom & community
Over 60 nationalities are represented, with around the same number of languages spoken. Although English is the dominant language, ISA welcomes all languages and children are free to speak in their preferred language in the during break times and
- School year
- August – June
- School hours
- 8:30am – 3:30pm depending on year group
- Student nationalities
- 19% North American, 11% Dutch, 5% British, 6% Korean, 4% Japanese, 55% Other
- Student nationalities - total
- 68
- Uniform requirements
- No
Money matters
No official bursaries or scholarships available.
- Annual fee range
- € 23,235 - € 30,140
- Fee information
- Application fee: € 320
Deposit (refundable): € 2,500
Capital fee (annual): € 2,800
Administration fee (annual, refundable on terms) € 400
PTA fee: € 35
Bus: € 3,275 - € 6,215 (depending on route and single/return)
The last word
The school is an excellent option for families in the Amsterdam area and the door-to-door bus service makes it a viable option for those within a 50km radius. It is well-established, with a reputation for excellence among schools offering the IB p
Accreditations, inspections & memberships
- Accreditations/Inspections
- Authorised by International Baccalaureate Organization (not to be confused as an inspection or accreditation agency)
Council of International Schools (CIS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools (NACS)- Memberships
- Eco-Schools, WIDA. Registered by US State Department.
