International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) vs SGIS International School
International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) and SGIS International School are both in Siem Reap, about 2 km apart. Both schools offer Bespoke programmes. International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) also offers British, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels, and SGIS International School also offers Canadian. Published annual fees are KHR 1,000,000 - 33,000,000 at International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) and KHR 6,449,060 - 24,183,978 at SGIS International School, which puts International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) roughly 11% higher. International School of Siem Reap (ISSR) takes pupils from 2.5 to 18, and SGIS International School from 1 to 18.
British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge (Primary)
Curriculum
Bespoke Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
300
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Khmer
Opened
Opened
2007
Opened
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Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
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Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
ISSR operates on two campuses in Siem Reap City, Cambodia. The Primary Campus is Ring Road, Kor Kranh Village, Siem Reap Commune, Siem Reap District. The High School Campus is #51 Salakamreuk Street, Tropeang Treng Village, Salakamreuk Commune. The campuses are near the Siem Reap River and within reach of central Siem Reap and the Old Market area.
Location
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Stages
Stages
ISSR provides three levels: a Day Care Center for younger children, a Primary School on the Ring Road campus, and a High School on the Salakamreuk campus. The two campuses together house the full range from early years through to secondary.
Stages
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School type
School type
ISSR is a private, day school that serves both local Cambodian and expatriate families and operates as a co‑educational institution in practice. It is accredited to Cambridge International Education and also follows MoEYS guidelines, with a dual British/Cambodian curriculum option mentioned in its aims.
School type
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school offers English Language Support (ELS). An English proficiency assessment is part of admissions, and additional ELS tuition may be recommended with an extra fee for the first academic year. There is a note that provision for a student's special needs will be discussed with the school management.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation; ISSR is Cambridge-accredited and also operates a Cambodian Ministry of Education Youth and Sport–aligned curriculum, with a British/Cambodian dual curriculum option noted.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated by ISSR.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day begins at 7:50 am, with classes starting at 8:05 am. There is a 15‑minute morning break and a 45‑minute lunch break, with lessons of 55 minutes each. Full-time students finish at 4:00 pm; Khmer-national curriculum part-time students may finish at 5:00 pm. Some campuses also show Saturday hours (e.g., Primary on Saturdays 8:00 am–12:00 pm).
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
ISSR provides a school bus as an after-school transport option. Fees for the school bus are discussed during enrolment, and other after-school arrangements (including self-transport) are also available.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Registration and Enrollment Fees
- Registration fee (payable annually): Nursery–Year 6 USD 250; Years 7–9 USD 300; Years 10–13 USD 500. - Enrollment fee (one-time per key stage, payable when joining that key stage): Foundation/early years and lower key stages USD 250 or USD 500 as shown by year group; Years 7–9 USD 1,000; Years 10–13 USD 1,500. The Enrollment fee is charged once for each key stage (including Foundation Stage).
Tuition fees by year group (published annual rates and payment breakdowns)
Notes on how the figures below are shown: - 'Full-day tuition' or 'Half-day tuition' is listed where applicable in the school schedule. Where only a half-day option is shown, a full-day amount is marked N/A in published material. Tuition amounts below are the published annual tuition figures in USD; a 5% discount applies if the full annual tuition is paid in advance, or the annual amount may be paid in two equal installments without discount. Calculations shown for the 5% prepayment discount and for two-installment amounts are derived directly from the published annual tuition figures.
- Nursery (Foundation, age 2.5–3.5): Half-day tuition USD 2,090 per year. Registration USD 250; Enrollment USD 250; Stationery/consumables USD 200. Prepay (5% discount) USD 1,985.50; two-installment amount USD 1,045.00 per installment (annual divided by 2).
- Two payment options for tuition are published: (1) pay the full annual tuition in advance and receive a 5% discount; or (2) pay the published annual tuition in two equal installments with no discount. Registration fees are payable annually; Enrollment fees are charged once per key stage. VAT will be added to fees if the government applies VAT to school fees.
Boarding fees
- There is no published boarding provision or boarding-fee schedule for this school; school information and admissions listings describe day care, primary and secondary/day programmes rather than boarding. No boarding fees are listed.
Other costs and routinely invoiced items
- Stationery and consumables: separate annual amounts are listed per year group (examples: Nursery USD 200; Reception USD 300; Years 1–2 USD 350; Years 3–9 USD 450; Years 10–13 USD 600). These are invoiced in addition to tuition. - Cambridge/assessment exam cost recovery: Year 6 Checkpoint USD 150; Year 9 Checkpoint USD 200; each IGCSE or A-Level exam USD 120, except double-award subjects (e.g., Coordinated Sciences) USD 150. The school recovers CAIE (Cambridge) exam charges from students according to the exams they take. - English language support (ELS): new students are assessed and, where additional ELS is required, ELS classes are provided at parental expense. Specific ELS fees are published as applicable to individual cases. - Uniforms: uniforms are required and may be purchased from the school office; published material indicates uniform items and that they are sold at the school but does not publish fixed uniform prices.
Refund policy
- Refunds are limited and structured: if a child is withdrawn up to three days before school starts, the published policy states a refund of tuition fees and a 50% refund of stationery/consumables, but registration and enrollment fees are non-refundable. Once the school year has started, the school's published position is that fees are non-refundable. Cambridge exam invoices are handled as cost recovery.
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
ISSR requires a school uniform. In the Primary School, pupils wear a Red ISSR Polo Shirt and a Yellow ISSR PE Shirt, with closed-toe footwear; all uniform items can be purchased from the school office. In Years 3–6, the uniform uses a Light Blue Polo Shirt and the Yellow ISSR PE Shirt, with shoes that are closed in and trainers on PE days. In the Secondary School, the uniform is a Royal Blue polo shirt with the ISSR logo and loose-fitting dark trousers or skirts; students must wear the PE kit for physical education, with suitable footwear for sports.
Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
Lunch at School: Children have the opportunity to eat a lunch provided by the school or to bring their own lunch from home.
Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
ISSR's Primary follows the British National Curriculum for Key Stages 1–2 (Years 1–6), delivering a broad range of subjects including Literacy, Maths, Phonics, History, Geography, Science, Art, Design & Technology, Music, ICT, Physical Education (including swimming) and PSHE, with daily literacy and maths and cross-curricular topics.
Curriculum details
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Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
ISSR publicly identifies social skills as an important part of student development, stating that "Social skills play an important role in our school" and that the environment should be safe and healthy for learning. There is no publicly disclosed, formal SEL programme with named staff or coordinators in ISSR materials. Antibullying awareness is described as an ISSR initiative, reflecting a focus on safe interactions and student wellbeing. Safeguarding of children is treated as extremely important, with ISSR stating it will only employ staff who pass safeguarding checks. Overall, ISSR frames wellbeing around social skills, safety, and anti-bullying rather than a standalone SEL curriculum.
Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Public materials describe an equal opportunity environment and a safe, healthy learning environment but do not specify any dedicated SEN staff, programmes, or facilities. ISSR does provide language support through ESL as part of the programme, and Cambodian/Khmer language provision is described, but explicit SEN services are not listed. The absence of a publicly described SEN policy or team means there is no detailed SEN framework disclosed in ISSR materials. The school emphasizes inclusivity and safeguarding, but SEN-specific information is not publicly disclosed.
Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
ISSR provides language training for students in ESL, English, French and Khmer during school hours, indicating explicit EAL support within the regular programme. The school describes its teachers as fluent or native in English and notes western, native English-speaking teaching assistants to support language acquisition. First Language tuition and examinations in French and Chinese are also available through Cambridge, contributing to multilingual provision. There is no separate, publicly described EAL department beyond these language-support offerings. EAL support appears integrated into the general curriculum rather than as a stand-alone programme.
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
ISSR emphasizes a safe and healthy learning environment as part of its aims, with social skills playing an important role in student development. The school treats safeguarding as extremely important and commits to employing staff who pass safeguarding checks, indicating attention to student mental and emotional safety. Antibullying awareness is described as a school initiative, reflecting efforts to promote positive peer relations and reduce harm. The overall framing is that wellbeing derives from safety, social skills, and supportive interactions rather than a separate mental health programme. Public materials do not describe a standalone mental health service, but safeguarding and anti-bullying initiatives support student wellbeing.
Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is presented as a core priority; ISSR states that safeguarding of children is extremely important in education and that staff will only be employed after passing safeguarding checks. The About Us and Our Community sections reiterate the safeguarding emphasis and the importance of staff background checks. A Safeguarding policy is referenced on school pages, with explicit language about checks for employee suitability. Public materials indicate a formal safeguarding stance, including the use of checks for all staff across campuses.
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
ISSR operates on two campuses: a Primary Campus (Nursery to Year 6) on Ring Road, Kor Kranh, near the Siem Reap River, and a High School Campus on Sala Lodge Road near the ring road. Each campus has its own library and substantial IT resources, including computer labs and wall-mounted monitors in classrooms. The Primary Campus features a 25-meter swimming pool, a 7-a-side football pitch, plus separate volleyball and basketball courts, along with sun-protected outdoor play areas and a sandpit. An on-site library network and an eBook server offer around 35,000 titles across campuses. A fully air-conditioned assembly hall with a permanent stage, dressing rooms, and a fixed sound and lighting system supports performances and large gatherings.
Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
Both campuses have football-sized grass pitches. The Primary Campus includes a 7-a-side football pitch and separate volleyball and basketball courts. The campus also has a 25-meter swimming pool for physical education, swimming galas, and community events.
Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The High School campus features science laboratories, Art and Design rooms, and a dedicated computer room. The Primary Campus provides a 26-station computer lab, with a second computer lab available in the High School. All classrooms include wall-mounted 43-inch monitors, and each campus maintains its own library alongside an electronic book (eBook) server with roughly 35,000 titles.
Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Music and language facilities are available on campus, supporting a range of extra-curricular offerings such as Football, Computer, Art Clubs, Drama, Choir, and other sports across both campuses.
Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
ISSR was established in 2007 in central Siem Reap and operates on two campuses: a High School campus and a separate Primary School campus. In 2011 the Khmer dual curriculum was introduced to allow Cambodian students to sit local exams while following the international program. Cambridge Assessment International Education accredited ISSR in 2013, enabling IGCSE examinations, and in 2015 ISSR became the first and only school in Siem Reap to offer A-Levels. To support growth, an Infants and Primary campus opened in August 2019, while the High School relocated to the former Primary School site on Sala Lodge Road. The school also maintains a Khmer language track as part of its dual curriculum offerings for local students.
History
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Community
Community
ISSR's student body comprises students from over 15 nationalities, reflecting a diverse and international community. The school maintains active links with other local schools and organizations, including the Ecole Française de Siem Reap and a reading program with the NGO RouBroum, to promote cross-cultural learning and community engagement. ISSR supports a wide range of extra-curricular activities and events, including Sports Day and a Swimming Gala, football fixtures, cross-country, chess tournaments, and the Great Cambodian Cook-off, with additional library and reading initiatives such as International Children's Book Day and School Library Week. The school also marks Cambodian and international festivities, including Khmer New Year and year-end concerts, and runs a School Fair to involve families and the wider community.
Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
ISSR has a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) that has operated since at least 2009 as a forum for parents to raise issues and promote understanding between parents, teachers and school management. The PTA coordinates fundraising and community events, including the annual School Fair and charitable activities supporting Angkor Hospital for Children and other local causes, as described in ISSR's parent materials and event previews. High School parent engagement is evident in events such as the Parents Meet & Greet, with such gatherings used to connect families with staff and discuss school matters (for example, the 2024 Meet & Greet). The school's Parent Handbook 2022-2023 outlines the PTA's structure, roles, and expectations, and provides guidance for parental involvement and communications; the Parents page also lists contact points for parent collaboration.
Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
ISSR's high school extra-curricular program includes debate, chess, and NGO/charitable work that foster critical thinking and research skills. Computer clubs provide technology-based academic enrichment, and language-focused activities include Elementary Khmer. The ECA program runs across four periods of eight weeks, and students normally participate in three to four ECAs per year; ECAs are teacher-led and integrated with the overall curriculum.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts and creative activities include choir, theatre production skills, jewellery making (silversmithing), guitar ensemble, and art in the campus. The primary and secondary ECAs also cover arts and crafts, dance, and private music lessons (violin, drums, guitar, piano), with public performances such as Christmas and year-end concerts. The school supports musical and artistic performances through its school band and related programs.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Language development is supported through ESL, English, French, Chinese and Khmer during school hours, and Elementary spoken Khmer is offered as part of ECAs. International Children's Book Day and School Library Week involve reading in multiple languages including Khmer, French, Chinese, Korean and English. ISSR also maintains language-focused activities and cultural exchange opportunities as part of the curriculum.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
After-school clubs cover chess, debate, computer clubs, Tae Kwon Do, multi-sports, gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, choir, football, knitting, dance and private music lessons.
Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
NGO and charitable work is an established part of ISSR's ECAs, and the school runs fundraising activities to support local charities such as a children's hospital. ISSR maintains links with other schools and organizations in the wider community, including Ecole Française de Siem Reap and local NGOs, and organizes events like cross-school football fixtures and the Great Cambodian Cook-off. The school also hosts community-oriented events and themed days that engage families and the broader Siem Reap community.
Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
All students take part in one hour of sport in addition to the standard Physical Education period, with activities such as football, basketball, volleyball and badminton. A 25-meter swimming pool is available on campus, and swimming is incorporated into the PE program at times. ISSR holds an annual Sports Day and participates in inter-house and inter-school competitions to promote fitness and wellbeing.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
English is the language of instruction for the international curriculum. Khmer is taught through the Khmer-English Programme following the MoEYS curriculum, enabling Khmer national examinations from Kindergarten through Year 12. French and Mandarin are offered as Modern Foreign Languages, with a Modern Foreign Language (French or Mandarin) taught in Key Stage Three. English language support (ELS) is provided for non-native speakers, with entry assessments and additional ELS options if needed, and younger students may have native English-speaking teaching assistants to support language development.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
ISSR offers a dual British/Cambodian curriculum program for particular students who wish to take Khmer school exams and progress through the local education structure while retaining the benefits of an English-based international curriculum. The dual curriculum enables matriculation in both the Cambridge international framework and Khmer national exams. The program spans Kindergarten through high school.
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
null
Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
Cambridge Assessment International Examinations; Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) accreditation.
Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1 — Overview of the admissions window and year structure. ISSR operates on a three-term academic year that begins in the second week of August and ends mid-June the following year. Enrollment is possible at any time during the academic year for children who have reached the entry age for their desired class, provided they pass entrance tests (from Reception 2 onward) and the class has available capacity. Acceptance depends on space in the chosen year group and meeting age requirements; Year 11–12 entry is welcomed only if there is sufficient demand.
Step 2 — Age requirements and placement. A clearly defined age table governs eligibility for each year group (e.g., Nursery 2.5, Reception 1 age 3, Reception 2 age 4, Year 1 age 5, up to Year 11–12 age 15+). Exceptions to the age rule are possible if there is a strong case that it will benefit the child, subject to agreement between school management and the parents. The policy also notes that Year 11–12 entry requires sufficient demand.
Step 3 — Enrolment forms and how to access them. Enrollment forms are provided in Adobe Acrobat format and can be filled on a computer, saved, and printed to speed up registration. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, a free copy can be downloaded. Primary School Enrolment Form and High School Enrolment Form are available for download.
Step 4 — Documents required at registration. At registration, parents must provide a passport with residence visa or a copy of the Khmer Family Book, the child's birth certificate (Khmer nationals), two photos of the child, two photos of each parent or authorized adult, a school report if available, and vaccination records. A registration fee is also required. For primary intake, additional documentation and the specific enrollment form apply. Original documents will be copied and returned to parents.
Step 5 — English assessment and language support. ISSR conducts an English assessment for all applicants to determine language proficiency and suitability for the target class. If a student requires additional English language tuition beyond what is integrated into the curriculum, they will be advised to join one of ISSR's intensive English language classes in the Language Department, with an additional fee for the first academic year.
Step 6 — Fees, payment options, and related charges. There is a registration fee and an enrollment fee (one-time per key stage). ISSR offers payment options such as paying the full amount and saving a 5% discount or paying in two installments. Some annual fees are noted (for example, stationery/consumables for the Nursery) and VAT may apply to school fees. Cambridge exam fees follow a cost-recovery policy. Checkpoint tests have explicit costs (e.g., $200 for Year 9, $150 for Year 6), and IGCSE/A-Level exam fees are listed as well. Refund policies state no full refunds, with partial refunds applicable if withdrawal occurs before school starts; specific refunds apply to tuition versus stationery/consumables.
Step 7 — Placement decisions and finalization of enrollment. ISSR states that a student will not be placed more than one year below their prospective age range, and in rare cases a student may be placed one year above at the principal's discretion based on academic background. School reports are part of the assessment for placement, and returning students may be treated as new applicants unless otherwise agreed. An English assessment result and the availability of a place in the desired year will determine the final enrollment decision.
Step 8 — Special needs and safeguarding considerations. The school notes that safeguarding is a priority and that staff undergo safeguarding checks. If ISSR feels unable to provide the environment needed for a child's special needs, this will be discussed with the parents and school management. This step also reiterates that original documents are copied and returned, and emphasizes a collaborative approach to any special arrangements.
Admissions
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Scholarships
Scholarships
ISSR does not publish a dedicated scholarship program on its admissions pages. The school does offer a Key Stage Discount: 50% off when moving from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 or from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. In addition to discounts, there are language support charges (ELS) for students needing English language tuition, and various exam-related fees (Cambridge CAIE, Checkpoint tests, and IGCSE/A-Level exams). There is also a VAT note and refunds policy.
Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
Formal waitlist or pool details are not published.
