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
- 1,153
- Curricula
- International
- SEN provision
- SEN considered case by case
- Pre school provision (up to 4)
- Yes
- Religion
- Non-denominational
- Fees
- € 21,940 - € 31,495
Head of school
Director
Dr Bernadette Carmody
Since 2019, Dr Bernadette Carmody. Plenty of experience with international education, including as director of international schools in Bahrain (Riffa Views International School) and China (American International School Guangzhou). Educated in her
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
Exit
2025 most popular university destinations by far were the Netherlands (University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and the UK (eg UCL, KCL, Universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter) followed by the USA. Around 12 per cent opted for a gap year
Latest results
In 2025, average IBDP score of 35 with highest score 44 and half getting 36+ points (99 per cent pass rate). The bilingual diploma was achieved by 43 per cent.
In 2024, similar results with average IB score of 35 and 42 per cent achieving
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. This
- Curricula & qualifications
- 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
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.
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Hallway-free mobile phones.
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
- 18% North American 13% Dutch 6% Brazilian 6% Korean 5% British 53% Other
- Student nationalities - total
- 62
- Uniform requirements
- No
Money matters
No official bursaries or scholarships available.
- Annual fee range
- € 21,940 - € 31,495
- Fee information
- Application fee: € 335
Deposit (refundable): € 2,500
Capital fee (annual): € 3,245
Administration fee (annual) € 300
PTA fee: € 50
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
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
- CIS, NEASC, ECIS, IB, Registered by US State Department.
