BISS Sentrum vs British International School of Stavanger - Gausel

	B BISS Sentrum Stavanger, Norway	B British International School of Stavanger - Gausel Stavanger, Norway
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year NOK 44,800	Fees / year NOK 13,200 - 44,800
Age range	Age range 1 - 16 years	Age range 1 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 730
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2019	Opened 1977
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location BISS Sentrum is located close to Stavanger city centre on the west coast of Norway. Opened in 2019, the campus is at Tanke Svilands gate 73, Stavanger 4007, Norway. The school sits near central Stavanger and is accessible by public transport. It will move to Gauselbakken, the site of BISS Gausel, from the 2027-28 academic year.	Location BISS has three campuses in Stavanger, Norway: BISS Gausel at Gauselbakken 107, 4032 Stavanger; BISS Preschool at Gauselbakken 105, 4032 Stavanger; and BISS Sentrum at Tanke Svilands gate 73, 4007 Stavanger.
Stages	Stages Primary School (ages 6-11) and Secondary School (ages 11-16).	Stages BISS Preschool provides early years education at Gauselbakken 105. BISS Gausel operates primary and secondary IB programmes, and BISS Sentrum provides primary and secondary IB programmes.
School type	School type —	School type IB World School operating three campuses (Preschool, Gausel, and Sentrum); international day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 50+ nationalities represented; most common nationality and local/international ratio not published.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support At BISS Sentrum, inclusion is central. The school offers adapted programs and resources and develops individualized learning plans in collaboration with families, staff and specialists; external agencies may be involved to support transitions and ensure appropriate support.	Additional learning support Pastoral care emphasises inclusion with additional learning needs supported by individualized learning plans; inclusive environment with collaboration between families, staff and specialists to provide the right support.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation British International School of Stavanger network (UK).	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details No school bus service. Public bus stops are nearby; students living at least 4 km from the school (2 km for PY1) may receive reimbursement for a 30-day bus ticket; many students travel to school by train via nearby Gausel Station.	Bus service details The school does not operate a school bus service. There are nearby bus stops for students. Eligible PY1–MYP5 students living at least 4 km from school (2 km for PY1) may receive a 30‑day bus ticket subsidy from the Kommune. Gausel Station is nearby for travel by train, and limited parking with drop‑off areas is available for older students.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - Acceptance fee: one month's school fees are charged on receipt of the acceptance form. This amount is deducted from the first invoice. The acceptance fee is not refundable if a child does not attend. Tuition fees (by year group and instalment) - Year groups covered: Primary (PYP1–PYP6) and Secondary (MYP1–MYP5). Tuition is the same for all year groups at BISS Sentrum. - Published tuition amount (calendar year reference shown by the school): NOK 44,800 per annum. - Invoicing basis: school fees are invoiced in eleven monthly instalments; the equivalent monthly amount (when invoiced over 11 months) is NOK 4,073. Students who join mid-year are invoiced from the first of the month in which they join, regardless of the actual start date in that month. Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoices are sent to parents; parents have the sole responsibility for payment. Invoices will be issued monthly in eleven instalments. Students starting mid-year are invoiced from the 1st of the month of entry. - Withdrawal notice and charge: notice begins from the 1st of the month following submission of the withdrawal form. A withdrawal fee equivalent to three months' school fees at the current rate is charged. If the leaving date is sooner than three months after notice, the full withdrawal fee (equivalent to three months' fees) will be charged; the three-month notice period includes holiday periods. - Reduced-fee option: a reduced parent payment option for households with low income is offered; parents should direct enquiries to the school accounting contact. Boarding fees (if applicable) - Boarding: not applicable. BISS Sentrum operates as a day school (boarding facilities are listed as day). No boarding fees are published because there is no boarding provision. Other costs and optional services - School clothing / uniform: school fees do not cover school clothing. A school uniform is required; uniform items are supplied through Trutex Europe and are ordered separately. Costs for uniform items vary by item and are paid directly to the supplier. - After-school care (SFO) for PYP1–PYP5: monthly charges are separate from school tuition. The listed SFO charges are: - 100% place (full-time): NOK 3,188 per month. - 60% place (three days per week): NOK 2,194 per month. - There is no sibling discount for SFO and refunds are not made for illness or holidays. Subsidised SFO places and reduced payments for eligible households are notified in the SFO information. These SFO charges are effective for the stated financial period and may be revised in line with municipal rules. - Educational supplies: school fees cover students' educational instruction during the regular school day, including educational supplies, exercise books and loan of textbooks. School fees do not include clothing/uniform. Refund information - Acceptance fee: non-refundable if a place is accepted but the child does not attend; it is deducted from the first invoice. - Withdrawal charge: a withdrawal fee equal to three months' school fees is applied as described under Billing schedule; this functions as the contractual charge on leaving. - SFO refunds: refunds are not made for illness or holidays for SFO places. Fee payment options and contacts - Invoices are issued to parents; the invoice will include the payment instructions and the parent is responsible for payment. For accounting, payment enquiries, reduced-fee applications and formal confirmations related to fee payments, contact the school accounting/admissions addresses provided by the school (for example accounting@biss.no and admissions@biss.no). Short summary of what is included in tuition and what is charged separately - Included in tuition: day-time instruction, educational supplies, exercise books and loan of textbooks. - Charged separately: school uniform / clothing, SFO (after-school care) where used, and any optional services or external activities not covered by the standard tuition invoice. SFO fees and uniform purchase are separate payments.	Fee details Application and acceptance fees - Preschool application fee: NOK 1,000, payable on entry. - Acceptance fee for all schools: one month's school fees are charged on receipt of the acceptance form; this amount is deducted from the first invoice. If a place is accepted and the child does not attend, the acceptance fee is not refundable. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-invoice amounts) - BISS Preschool (100% / 5 day place, 07:30–16:30): NOK 13,200 per year (equivalent to NOK 1,200 per month). A Preschool Snack Programme option is charged separately at NOK 1,650 per year (NOK 150 per month). - BISS Gausel (Primary PYP1–PYP6 and Secondary MYP1–MYP5): NOK 44,800 per annum. The school publishes this as equivalent to NOK 4,073 per month when invoiced over eleven monthly instalments. - BISS Sentrum (Primary and Secondary): NOK 44,800 per annum, presented as NOK 4,073 per month over eleven monthly instalments. Per-term detail and how to interpret invoice instalments - The school issues invoices in eleven monthly instalments; the per-invoice amount for an annual fee of NOK 44,800 is NOK 4,073 (44,800 ÷ 11). This is the published instalment schedule used for invoicing. - The school does not publish a formal termly invoicing schedule on the fee pages; converting the annual figure into a term amount requires an arithmetic division (for example, dividing the annual fee by three if you prefer a three-term estimate). That conversion is an arithmetic estimate and not an official invoice schedule. Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoices are sent to parents; parents have sole responsibility for payment. Invoicing for school fees is done in eleven monthly instalments. Children who join mid-year are invoiced from the first of the month in which they join, regardless of the child's actual start date during that month. - Withdrawal notice and charge: notice begins from the 1st of the month following submission of the withdrawal form. The withdrawal fee is equivalent to three months' fees at the current rate; if the leaving date is sooner than three months, the full withdrawal fee (equivalent to three months' fees) will be charged. The three months' notice period includes holiday periods. Boarding fees (if applicable) - There is no boarding provision listed for BISS Preschool, BISS Gausel or BISS Sentrum; the schools operate as day schools (Preschool, Primary and Secondary). No boarding fees are published. Other costs and optional services - Preschool Snack Programme: NOK 1,650 per year (NOK 150 per month). - After-school care (SFO) at BISS Gausel (PYP1–PYP6): monthly charge for a 100% place is NOK 3,188; monthly charge for a 60% place (three days per week) is NOK 2,194. There is no sibling discount for SFO; refunds are not made for illness or holidays for SFO. - School clothing / uniform: school fees do not cover school clothing. Uniform items are purchased separately from the school's supplier (Trutex Europe) using the school LEA code; parents choose delivery options (ship-to-school or home delivery) and handle returns through the supplier's customer service. Uniform cost is separate and paid to the supplier. - Extra-curricular clubs, school trips and specific course materials: such items may incur additional charges where explicitly arranged; SFO and the Preschool snack programme are examples of such charged services. Specific charges for clubs or trips are published only where applicable. Refunds and returns - Acceptance fee refund: the acceptance fee (one month's fee) will be deducted from the first invoice and is not refundable if a place is accepted and the child does not attend. - Withdrawal fee: when a pupil leaves, the withdrawal fee equivalent to three months' fees will apply if notice is shorter than three months; the three-month notice period includes holidays. - SFO refunds: refunds are not made for illness or holidays for SFO places. - Uniform returns and refunds: uniform returns and refunds are handled by the uniform supplier (Trutex); the supplier processes refunds through its tracker and bank refunds may take several working days to clear. Parents must follow the supplier's returns process. Fee payment options and contact for payment queries - The fee pages state that invoices are sent to parents and that parents are responsible for payment, but specific public details of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, card payment options) are not listed on the published fee pages. For queries about reduced payments or accounting matters the published contact is accounting@biss.no; school office email addresses for each campus are also provided for general enquiries. Summary of key headline figures (annual) - BISS Preschool (100% / 5 day): NOK 13,200 per year; Preschool application fee NOK 1,000; Preschool snack programme NOK 1,650 per year. - BISS Gausel (PYP & MYP): NOK 44,800 per annum (invoiced as NOK 4,073 per month over 11 instalments). - BISS Sentrum (PYP & MYP): NOK 44,800 per annum (invoiced as NOK 4,073 per month over 11 instalments).
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Primary Uniform: Pale blue polo shirt (long or short sleeve); navy blue round-neck sweatshirt; navy blue trousers or skirt; black shoes or trainers. Primary PE Kit: sports shirt in the colour of their house; leggings or shorts; gym shoes or trainers; hoodie or fleece for outdoor lessons; bag. Secondary Uniform: white shirt; black v-necked sweater or cardigan; black trousers or skirt; black shoes or trainers. Secondary PE Kit: sports shirt in the colour of their house; leggings or shorts; gym shoes or trainers; hoodie or fleece; bag. Other Items: indoor shoes; suitable outdoor clothes; one backpack to fit all belongings (lunch bag, reading book, PE kit).	Uniform requirement Uniform is required at BISS. Gausel and Sentrum use the same uniform structure: Primary pupils wear a pale blue polo shirt, navy trousers or skirt, and a navy round-neck sweatshirt; Secondary pupils wear a white shirt, black v-necked sweater or cardigan, and black trousers or skirt; PE kit includes a sport shirt in the colour of the pupil's house, leggings or shorts, gym shoes, and a hoodie. Uniforms are ordered through Trutex Europe with LEA codes LEA000132TF for Gausel and LEA000133TF for Sentrum, with a Ship to School option and a standard returns process.
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system A house system is used; students wear a sports shirt in the colour of their house for PE.	House system Pupils are grouped into houses and wear house-colour PE shirts as part of the PE kit.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership All BISS organisations (Preschool, Gausel, Sentrum and Foundation) have a Board that governs the schools. The Board sets policies, plans and budgets, monitors the financial position and tuition fees, ensures the right to education, and represents students, parents, staff and Stavanger city. The Board oversees the mission and IB program implementation across the network.	Governance and ownership All BISS organisations (Preschool, Gausel, Sentrum and the BISS Foundation) have a Board that governs the schools. The Board includes representatives of the student body, parents, staff and Stavanger city and is responsible for policy, planning and budgets; it sets tuition fees annually and ensures the IB mission and a child-centred approach are implemented, with a focus on staff development.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in English for ages 6 11 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in English for ages 116.	Curriculum details BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum are IB World Schools offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The IB Continuum includes the Diploma Programme (DP) for older students. The language of instruction is English. Norwegian is integrated across the curriculum in both Primary and Secondary, with national testing at PYP5, MYP2 and MYP3. Preschool is integrated with the Norwegian Framework Plan, and English language development is supported within a multilingual environment. Learning is inquiry-based, and the school fosters intercultural understanding and international mindedness.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) lessons and assemblies complement the whole curriculum and address how students live in their communities and practice looking after their own wellbeing. There is a school nurse on site who is available for confidential advice on health and emotional wellbeing. Internally, staff with SEND/EAL skills support students, and a weekly SEND meeting monitors progress. Externally, specialists can be called in for evaluation of learning difficulties, including Educational Psychologists and BUPA. Student voice is encouraged through two elected student leaders and a student council that represents peers in school decisions.	Social & emotional learning PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) lessons and assemblies complement the curriculum and address how students live in their communities and practice looking after their own wellbeing. The school provides a school nurse who is available for confidential advice on health and emotional wellbeing. The approach recognises each student as a valuable member of the school community and supports the development of self-awareness, resilience, and healthy relationships. Parent involvement is an important part of wellbeing, with regular communications and opportunities for information meetings. Wellbeing is integrated with academic learning to help students become confident, compassionate, and responsible global citizens.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) Internally, staff with SEND/EAL skills support students, and a weekly SEND meeting monitors individual progress. Externally, specialists can be called in for evaluation of learning difficulties, including Educational Psychologists and Barne Ungdom Psykiatrisk Avdeling (BUPA). The school works with families and specialists to develop individualized learning plans to ensure the right support at the right time. Learning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion supports transitions and inclusive practice, with a welcoming approach to additional needs.	Special educational needs (SEN) Special Educational Needs (SEN) are addressed. Besides improving academic performance, the aim is to improve students' self-esteem.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language English is the language of instruction at BISS Sentrum, fostering a vibrant and collaborative learning environment. For children who are new to the English language, class teachers and support staff use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to ensure lessons are accessible at all levels of English proficiency. BISS Sentrum welcomes students from 50+ nationalities and actively values multilingualism, encouraging students to maintain and develop their mother tongues.	English as an additional language English is the language of instruction. All lessons are delivered in English. If a child needs it, additional language support is provided to help them thrive here. For children new to English, teachers and support staff use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure lessons are accessible at all levels of English proficiency.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing There is a school nurse on site who provides confidential advice on health and emotional wellbeing, and health education and guidance are offered as part of the wellbeing program. The School Health Service Team is interdisciplinary and includes a public health nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychiatric nurse, psychologist, and doctor. The health program emphasizes prevention, supportive care, and promoting students' physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The school nurse maintains confidentiality in line with safeguarding practices.	Mental wellbeing PSHE lessons and assemblies address how students live in their communities and practice looking after their own wellbeing. There is a school nurse available for confidential advice on health and emotional wellbeing. The wellbeing program supports emotional development alongside academic learning and helps students manage emotions and relationships.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Norwegian Law paragraph 12 requires that students are entitled to a safe and good school environment that promotes health, wellbeing, and learning. The school maintains a documented internal referral system to track staff concerns about a child thriving at school. There are safeguarding policies in place under Education Act provisions, and concerns can be raised and addressed through established procedures. Parents are kept informed through information meetings and opportunities to discuss concerns, reinforcing safeguarding across BISS Sentrum.	Safeguarding Safeguarding procedures are in place to protect all students. Registering concerns is directed to the Lead Designate for Saf safeguarding at the school. Norwegian law requires safeguarding information to be treated as non-confidential, and reports may lead to a §12 or §8 Action Plan.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview Nestled among fjords and woodlands, BISS Gausel provides an environment in which curiosity, creativity, and exploration thrive. The campus comprises a Lower Building for BISS Preschool and the younger primary pupils (PYP 1–2) and an Upper Building for the older primary pupils (PYP 3–6) and the secondary school, with administrative offices nearby. BISS Preschool is on the same campus as the main school. The campus sits between Stavanger and Sandnes, close to Forus, with train access via Gausel Station and several bus routes. Outdoor education takes advantage of Gausel's forests and the nearby Gandsfjord.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities Adjacent to the school buildings are three artificial grass pitches, a running track, a basketball court, and a sand volleyball court. These facilities support PE and team sports as part of the on-site sports program. Outdoor education sessions make use of the surrounding forests and Gandsfjord.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Opened in 2019, BISS Sentrum is located close to the centre of Stavanger on the west coast of Norway. Our diverse community of staff and students from nearly 60 countries naturally creates cultural connections both in and outside the classroom. BISS Sentrum serves children aged 6-16 with a Primary School (ages 6-11) and a Secondary School (ages 11-16). It is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in English and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in English. The Norwegian intake system places students by the calendar year they were born. The campus is temporarily located at Tanke Svilands gate 73, Stavanger 4007, due to a fire in 2024.	Academic facilities The Lower Building houses BISS Preschool and the younger primary students (PYP 1–2). The Upper Building houses the older primary students (PYP 3–6), the secondary school, and the administrative offices. The two buildings form the on-site campus that supports learning across primary and secondary on the same site. Outdoor education is integrated into the program, leveraging the local forests and Gandsfjord for fieldwork.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities At BISS Gausel, clubs and extra-curricular activities are organized by external providers and use the school's facilities. Examples include 1st Stavanger Scout Group, Capoeira for PYP4–6, Chess Club, Be Creative art club, Cricket Club, and the I'M A MUSICIAN private music academy. Additional offerings include PUMA's Taekwon-do, Little Puma's Taekwon-do, YoungCoderz Coding Club, and an After School Football Club run on adjacent fields.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Opened in 2019, BISS Sentrum is located near the centre of Stavanger on the west coast of Norway. The school serves children aged 6 to 16, with a Primary School for ages 6–11 and a Secondary School for ages 11–16. It is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in English. In 2024 the campus relocated from Misjonsmarka to a temporary site at Tanke Svilands gate 73 following a fire. The school's community includes staff and students from nearly 60 countries.	History The British School of Stavanger was founded in 1977 to educate the children of North Sea oil workers. It moved to its current premises in 1981 and began welcoming students from many countries. In 2004, the school changed its name to the British International School of Stavanger to reflect its international strengths. In 2019, BISS became three schools: BISS Preschool, BISS Gausel, and BISS Sentrum. BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum offer English-speaking Primary and Secondary Education, delivering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme.
Community	Community BISS Sentrum has a staff and student community from nearly 60 countries. The IB programmes are taught in English, with the Primary Years Programme for the primary level and the Middle Years Programme for the secondary level. The campus is near Stavanger city centre on Norway's west coast and has been at a temporary site at Tanke Svilands gate 73 since 2024, after a fire required relocating from Misjonsmarka.	Community BISS fosters a sense of belonging through community-based learning and exploration of local contexts. The curriculum encourages children to explore their own cultures, heritage, and traditions, helping them recognise diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Clubs and after-school activities are run by external providers, including a French Club that promotes learning and hosts gatherings and cultural events showcasing the diversity of the French-speaking world. External groups such as the 1st Stavanger Scout Group and a Taekwon-do club use BISS facilities, linking the school with Stavanger's wider community.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association Parent involvement at BISS Preschool includes a Parent Committee (FAU) with elected parent representatives, staff representatives, and the Head of Preschool representing the owner. The committee meets for Parent Council and Parent Information Night, and two representatives for each class are elected at the start of the year. The FAU operates in line with barnehageloven via a samarbeidsutvalg (SU), which consists of elected parent representatives, BISS Preschool staff representatives, and the Head of Preschool representing the owner.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Young Coderz Coding Club specializes in programming, robotics and electronics for students from PYP 3 upward. Younger students (PYP 3–5) learn game programming with Scratch, robotics and microcontrollers; older students (Year 6 and above) study Python game programming and website development.	Academic & intellectual Young Coderz Coding club specializes in programming, robotics and electronics for students from PYP3 and above. PYP3–5 will be learning game programming using Scratch, robotics and microcontrollers; Year 6 and above will be learning Python programming and website development. More details regarding the course and registration can be found at youngcoderz.com.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative I'M A MUSICIAN is a private music academy collaborating with BISS Sentrum to provide tailored music lessons after school on site. Courses include piano, singing, guitar/electric guitar and violin; lessons are one-to-one and offered in 30, 45 or 60 minute formats with multiple weekly time slots.	Arts & creative I'M A MUSICIAN is a private music academy collaborating with BISS Sentrum to provide tailored music lessons. The school offers piano, singing, guitar/electric guitar and violin. Lessons are after school and take place at BISS Sentrum; lessons are one-on-one and can be 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language French Club, Dessine-moi un Mouton, promotes French learning and fluency among Stavanger's French-speaking community. Certified teachers offer weekly afterschool sessions in small groups and the club hosts gatherings and cultural events celebrating French-speaking cultures.	Cultural & language The French Club promotes French learning and fluency among young native speakers of the Stavanger area. Certified teachers offer weekly courses in small groups. In addition to after-school activities, the club organises gatherings and cultural events showcasing the diversity of the French-speaking world.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies The clubs below are run by external providers. 1st Stavanger Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers (British Scouting Overseas) meet at BISS Gausel and offer outdoor activities, camping and skill-building for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. PUMA's Taekwon-do Club runs four Wednesday classes for juniors and seniors; Little Puma's offers a 4–7 age class on Wednesdays; activities promote fitness, self-confidence and social interaction.	Social & hobbies 1st Stavanger Scout Group, British Scouting Overseas, is based at BISS and uses BISS Gausel's facilities for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. We meet on Thursday evenings and also run weekend camping events. Activities include navigation and orienteering, kayaking, camping and shelter-building, pioneering, fishing and outdoor cooking.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is referenced on the page as a non-formal education and learning framework for young people to find their purpose, place and passion.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional The Scout group's programme is geared toward developing life-skills and leadership among its participants; volunteers and parents help run sessions and activities. The programme includes outdoor leadership activities such as navigation, camping and team-based projects.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Outdoor and sport-based activities promote well-being, fitness and resilience, including Scouting activities (navigation, kayaking, camping) and Taekwon-do classes for various ages. These programs emphasize discipline, teamwork and physical health.	Lifestyle & wellbeing PUMA's Taekwon-do Club runs four classes on Wednesday for juniors (ages 7+) and seniors (age 12+), promoting self-confidence, self-awareness and overall fitness. Little PUMA's for ages 4–7 teaches respect, self-control and confidence through activity-based learning.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English is the language of instruction across BISS Sentrum, with English language learning pervading the curriculum and English as an additional language (EAL) support available as needed. All students learn Norwegian as the host-country language and are allocated to Norwegian Language A or Language B based on fluency in Norwegian and English. New students fluent in Norwegian are placed in Norwegian Language A; students with no prior Norwegian knowledge are placed in Norwegian Language B. In the Primary Years Programme (PYP) Norwegian Language A and Language B tracks are used, with English as the main language of instruction. In the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Norwegian Language A and Language B tracks are available, and an additional Language B (French) is offered. The school emphasizes maintaining students' mother tongues and provides English as an additional language program with scaffolding; mother tongue support and events are organized where available, and students are encouraged to continue learning in their mother tongue outside of school. A bilingual dictionary and other language supports are promoted to aid cross-language learning and subject understanding.	Language provision English is the language of instruction at BISS Sentrum; the school welcomes 50+ nationalities and values students' mother tongues. For children new to English, teachers and support staff use Universal Design for Learning to ensure access at all levels of English proficiency. Norwegian is integrated across the curriculum in both BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum, aligned with IB and LK20, with Language and Literature for fluent speakers and Language Acquisition for learners and national testing at PYP5, MYP2 and MYP3. In the IB Middle Years Programme, Norwegian is taught as a stand-alone language subject, and language acquisition also includes French and Spanish.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school operates a bilingual Language A arrangement for students fluent in both English and Norwegian, with Language A in the PYP and MYP covering both languages. New Norwegian-speaking students are automatically placed in Norwegian Language A, while those with no prior knowledge of Norwegian are placed in Norwegian Language B. In the MYP, Language B includes French and Norwegian.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations IB World School – Offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) under the IB, with instruction in English.	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1. Admissions are now open for Academic Year 2026-27. All applications for a place at BISS Gausel, BISS Sentrum and BISS Preschool are handled by the Admissions Department. This is a remote office and is not situated in any of the schools. All communications regarding applying for a place should go to admissions@biss.no. Step 2. Ready to Apply? The Admissions Office handles applications for all three schools via the Admissions portal. You need to create a parent profile and login, verify your email address, and log in with the password provided. You must complete separate applications for each of your children and for each school. You can save your application and come back to make changes; once you have submitted the application you will not be able to make any further changes. Step 3. Which Year Would Your Child Be In Academic Year 2026-27? Preschool - Classes are named EY (Early Years). For BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum, Primary School year groups are PYP1 through PYP6, mapping to birth years 2020 through 2015. The Secondary School uses MYP1 through MYP5 for birth years 2014 through 2010. Please note that BISS Sentrum will move to Gauselbakken, the site of BISS Gausel, from the 2027-28 academic year. Step 4. Reduced Fees due to low income. Reduced Fees due to low income are offered for BISS Gausel and BISS Sentrum effective 1 January 2026. Applications for reduced Preschool fees should be done via Stavanger kommune. Applications for reduced parent payments must be made within the following time frame: by 15 December 2025, valid applications will be approved for the period January 2026 to June 2026; by 30 June for the 26-27 school year.	Admissions Step 1: Create a parent profile and login. The portal requires a parent profile to begin the process. You can manage applications for multiple children and schools from this profile. Separate applications are required for each child and for each school. Step 2: Verify your email address and then log in with the password provided. Verifying ensures you can access the portal and receive updates about your application. You can proceed to complete the application after logging in. Step 3: Complete the application form. You must submit separate applications for each child and for each school. You can save your progress and return to complete the form later. Step 4: Submit your application. Submitting finalizes the application. Once you have submitted, changes are not possible. Step 5: Apply for another school for the same student or another child, by returning to the dashboard. Use the dashboard to initiate additional applications. You can save progress and return to complete any outstanding applications.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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