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International School of Marseille

France, Marseille

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French
Fees €8,900 - 9,100
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 171
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1984
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages French, English
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

International School of Marseille (ISM) is part of the IBS group, offering a bilingual English-French education for ages 2 to 18. The curriculum combines Education Nationale and Cambridge curricula, with English and French instruction across all levels. In Nursery, language learning is embedded in activities with native-language teachers. Primary runs a bilingual immersion program: the week is split equally between English and French, and every pupil has two teachers (one Anglophone, one Francophone). Upper School provides two tracks: the International Section follows Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10–11 and the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12–13; the French Section follows the National French Education programme with the Brevet and French Baccalaureat. The Marseille campus is complemented by the Aix-en-Provence campus, on a five-hectare estate with a two-story Academic Building, a Sports Complex, a 300-seat amphitheatre, four tennis courts, a pool and outdoor fields. The school supports mobility for international higher education.

27 Bd de la Corderie, 13007 Marseille, France

The Essentials

International School of Marseille has 171 pupils, instruction in English, French.

Location
The International School of Marseille is located at 27 Boulevard de la Corderie, 13007 Marseille, FRANCE. IBS Aix-Luynes in Aix-en-Provence covers Primary and Secondary programs as part of the IBS Provence network.

Stages
Nursery School; Primary; Upper School (Year 10–13). The Primary program provides bilingual immersion with half English and half French and follows Education Nationale and Cambridge curricula, with two teachers (one Anglophone and one Francophone). The Upper School offers three sections: International Section (IGCSE Cambridge followed by the IB Diploma Programme) and French Section (Brevet then Baccalaureate).

Type
International school with bilingual education in English and French; follows Education Nationale and Cambridge curricula; offers International Section (IGCSE then IB) and French Section.

Pupil Nationality Mix
78 nationalities represented; French students comprise 45% of the student population; the remaining 55% are international.

Country affiliation
France
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Weekly boarding and full boarding are available for secondary students; day students may take demi-pension.

Uniform Requirement
Uniform is mandatory; the uniform kit includes 3 short-sleeve polos, 2 long-sleeve polos, a hoodie, and a zip jacket.

Food Options
Canteen on Wednesdays is available.
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Marseille ranges from EUR 8,900 to EUR 9,100 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Entrance fee: EUR 515. Admission and registration fees are non-refundable.
- Enrolment (registration) fee: EUR 620. Admission and registration fees are non-refundable.

Tuition fees (annual and per term)

- Nursery (PL / PS, ages 2–3): Annual tuition EUR 8,900. Based on the school's billing language that any semester started is due, the per-semester amount (inferred as Annual ÷ 2) is EUR 4,450.
- Primary (other classes, ages 4–10): Annual tuition EUR 9,100. Per-semester amount (Annual ÷ 2) is EUR 4,550.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- All payments must be made in euros. Payment methods accepted: bank transfer (wire) or cheque. Bank fees are charged to parents.
- The monthly payment plan is available only to French citizens resident in France.
- Early withdrawal or change of status requires a written letter 90 days in advance. Any semester started is due and any reimbursement for early departure is subject to approval by the Head. Student accounts must be paid in full before school records, exam results or diplomas are released. Admission and registration fees are non-refundable. If a student is expelled, no refund is given.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable for the IS Marseille campus covered by these fees (the school serves nursery and primary pupils). No boarding fees are listed for this campus.

Other costs and supplementary fees

- French as a Foreign Language (FLE) supplementary fee: EUR 2,000.
- English as a Second Language (ESL) supplementary fee: EUR 1,600.
- Mandatory school uniform (one‑time): EUR 200 (3 short sleeve polos, 2 long sleeve polos, 1 hoodie, 1 zip jacket). Tuition does not include the uniform.
- Field trip (Classe verte) for Grades 1–5 (CP to CM): approximately EUR 430 (subject to current rates).
- Book deposit (Pre-K to Grade 5 / MS to CM2): EUR 40.

Optional fees

- Morning childcare (garderie du matin): EUR 390.
- Canteen on Wednesdays: EUR 290.
- Afterschool (Year 1 to 5): Homework club is free; selected activities have individual charges (for example, dance at EUR 8 per session). Tuition does not include extracurricular activities or various excursions; IGCSE/IB and other exam fees are not included.

Sibling discount

- 5% discount for the second child, 10% for the third child, 15% for the fourth child.

Refund information (summary)

- Admission and registration fees are non-refundable. Any semester that has started is payable in full; early departure reimbursements are possible only with Head approval and require 90 days' written notice. If a student is expelled, no refund will be granted. All student accounts must be settled before academic records or examination results are released.

Fee payment options

- Accepted: bank transfer (wire) and cheque. Bank charges incurred on transfers are billed to parents and the payment reference must include the child's name/class. The monthly payment plan is restricted to French residents living in France. No credit-card payment option is listed in the school's fee information.
Academics

International School of Marseille teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
ISM Marseille is bilingual in French and English across all levels. Nursery integrates language learning into activities with exposure to both languages, taught by native-language instructors. Primary runs a bilingual immersion program where the week is split equally between English and French; each student has two teachers (one Anglophone and one Francophone) and younger students may have an assistant. In Primary, the curriculum follows Education Nationale (French national curriculum) and Cambridge, aligning French and international objectives. Upper School provides two tracks: the International Section follows the IGCSE Cambridge programme in Years 10-11 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 12-13; the French Section follows the National French Education programme with the Brevet in 3ème and the French Baccalaureate in 2nde-1ère-Tle. The programs support academic mobility and preparation for European/international higher education.

Student Teacher Ratio
Primary has two teachers per class (one Anglophone and one Francophone) with additional assistive support for the youngest learners; overall emphasis on smaller class sizes.

Higher Education Progression
The Upper School offers two tracks: International Section with IGCSE Cambridge programme in Years 10-11 and IB Diploma in Years 12-13; French Section with the French National Education programme and Baccalaureate. This structure prepares students for higher education in France or internationally.
Wellbeing

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
ISM is bilingual in French and English. Language is used across activities rather than as a separate subject, with students accessing activities in English or in French during the week under the guidance of native English-speaking or fully bilingual teachers. The Creative Arts in English Leisure Club provides after-school activities conducted in English, offering immersion that helps children become comfortable communicating in English through theatre, dance, music, and arts and crafts.
Parent Experience

History
ISM is part of the IBS group, the International Bilingual School of Provence. IBS groups three bilingual international schools: IBS Primary in Luynes, ISM in Marseille, and International School of Montpellier – ISM Montpellier. The IBS schools share a bilingual English-French program and operate under the IBS umbrella.

Community
The Arts: Leisure Club offers afterschool activities for children aged 4-7 and 7-10 on Wednesday afternoons. Creative Arts in English provides sessions where children practice the arts, theatre, dance, music and crafts under the guidance of a native English speaker or a bilingual teacher. The program uses total immersion to enable children to speak the target language in natural contexts and to interact in a language-enriched environment; activities are designed to encourage communication in English, support cultural diversity, and broaden linguistic experience.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
ISM Marseille is located in the heart of Marseille, between the Old Port and the historic center. The Aix-en-Provence campus sits on a five-hectare estate and includes a new two-story Academic Building, a Sports Complex featuring a yoga room, martial arts area, indoor gym, dance room, fitness room and indoor golf simulator, and a 300-seat amphitheatre. Outdoor facilities at the Aix campus include four tennis courts (two synthetic clay, two hard), a swimming pool and outdoor sports fields. The Marseille campus emphasizes bilingual education with English and French instruction carried throughout the program.

Sports Facilities
The Aix-en-Provence campus features a Sports Complex with a yoga room, martial arts area, indoor gym, dance room, fitness room and an indoor golf simulator, plus four outdoor tennis courts (two synthetic clay, two hard), a swimming pool and outdoor sports fields.

Academic Facilities
Primary at ISM Marseille uses a weekly bilingual model with half the week in English and half in French, with two teachers per class (one Anglophone and one Francophone) and an assistant for the youngest students. Specialists in art, yoga, dance, music and theatre are bilingual. The curriculum combines Education Nationale and Cambridge programs and is interdisciplinary, linking subjects for a coherent learning experience. Upper School follows Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10-11 and the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12-13, with an International Section (IGCSE/IB) and a French Section, and class sizes in the middle school are limited.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Arts page describes a Creative Arts in English Leisure Club offering afterschool activities on Wednesdays for children aged 4-7 and 7-10. Activities include theatre, dance, music, and arts and crafts, conducted in English in a total-immersion, bilingual environment, with instructors who are native or fully bilingual.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
ISM offers a bilingual program in French and English, harmonised between Cambridge English and the French national education system. Instruction is delivered in both languages by native or bilingual teachers, with language used to access activities rather than treated as a separate subject. It is an official Cambridge English exam preparation site, ensuring formal preparation for Cambridge exams.

Arts & Creative
Leisure Club provides afterschool activities for children aged 4–7 and 7–11, with Wednesday-afternoon sessions. The Creative Arts in English program covers the arts, theatre, dance, music, and crafts, taught in English by native-speaking or bilingual professionals. Activities are designed to immerse children in English, fostering authentic communication and creative development.

Cultural & Language
ISM is multilingual and entirely bilingual in French and English, with weekly activities presented in English to create a natural English environment. The approach promotes openness to cultural diversity and helps children adapt to bilingual settings by using language to access shared activities, not as a separate subject.

Social & Hobbies
Social life is supported by the Leisure Club, with group activities on Wednesday afternoons. The program emphasizes socialisation and teamwork through arts, crafts, theatre, and games, helping both individual development and collaborative experiences.
Languages

Language Provision
English and French are the core languages of instruction. Primary uses a 50/50 bilingual immersion with two teachers and bilingual specialists; the younger students may have additional support. The curriculum combines Education Nationale and Cambridge, meeting both French and international educational objectives. Upper School provides bilingual immersion and offers three sections: International Section (IGCSE Cambridge followed by IB Diploma), French Section (National French Education with the Brevet).

Bilingual Teaching
ISM is bilingual in French and English. Language exposure is integrated from early childhood; language is used to access activities in English or French with native-language support. In Nursery, language is not taught as a separate subject; in Primary, the week is split 50/50 between English and French with two teachers (one Anglophone and one Francophone) and bilingual specialists. The program serves children from 2 to 11 years old.

Immersion Programs
Total immersion practices enable children to speak the target language in natural situations. Creative Arts in English and Leisure Club activities are conducted in English under native-speaking or bilingual instructors, creating a natural English-speaking environment. The program emphasizes opportunities for real communication in English during afterschool activities.
Admissions

Admissions
ISMarseille (Primary only) accepts applications for admission on a rolling admissions basis, all year long based on availability. In order for us to respond to your admissions enquiries, we must have the following application documents which can be sent by post, fax or email: Admissions Application (PDF) [Download], Marks from the present and previous school, Copy of current passport, Current photo of student. IBS Aix-Luynes (Primary & Secondary): In order for us to respond to your admissions enquiries, we ask you to use our Online Application below. You will need the following documents to complete the form: Letter of Recommendation from a teacher or school administrator (only for Secondary students); Marks from the present and previous school; Letter of Motivation from the student (only for Secondary students); Copy of current passport; Current photo of student. Here is the link: ONLINE ADMISSION APPLICATION ibsofprovence.openapply.com.
School Events
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