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Ghana International School

Ghana, Accra

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees GHS 0 - 100
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1400
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1955
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification, British Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish
Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Ghana International School (GIS) is a not-for-profit, private, day and boarding school established in 1955 to provide international education. The school follows Cambridge International curricula from Early Years through Primary and Secondary, leading to IGCSE and A Levels, with English as the medium of instruction. A Pearson BTEC Pathway in Music and Creative Media is available for students aged 14 and older, complemented by local content in pre-examination classes. GIS is accredited by Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of AISA and ECIS. Facilities include an amphitheatre, a Film Room, a half Olympic-size swimming pool, a gym, air-conditioned classrooms with interactive whiteboards and IT facilities. The Secondary Library houses 20,000 books, six science laboratories, and a Language Laboratory. The campus features a Music Conservatory, an Art Room, a Health & Wellness Center. Musicals are staged at National Theatre in Accra.

The Essentials

Ghana International School has 1,400 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Ghana International School is located on 2nd Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.

Stages
Infant, Junior, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary

Type
not-for-profit private non-sectarian co-educational day and boarding school

Additional learning support
SEN program with dedicated staff across all levels; inclusive curriculum; tiered support and assessment; Learning Commons in Secondary; SENCOs: Infant – Ms Lisa Mariani; Junior – Mrs Ama Amponsah Tawiah; Secondary – Ms Serenity Smith

Country affiliation
Ghana

Religious affiliation
Non-sectarian

School day structure
The school day runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
GIS Boarding Programme (GISBP) provides a home away from home with a nurturing, supportive atmosphere and a range of activities. GISBP is available for students in Form Two through Upper Sixth Form. It offers weekly (hybrid/flexible) and full boarding options; weekly boarders stay at the boarding facility during the week and return home on Fridays, with weekend stays planned for extended learning and activities.

Uniform Requirement
Girls wear green and white striped dresses; boys wear plain white short sleeve shirts with grey or navy shorts; the P E kit is a white T shirt and red shorts. Shirts must be tucked in and a belt is worn with the shorts. Uniforms can be purchased from recommended vendors or fabric can be bought on campus to be sewn to GIS specifications.

Food Options
Lunch is provided by a contracted certified catering service with meals served in a modern on site cafeteria. Snacks and lunch are available and students may bring food from home; food is not delivered during class time. The school restricts fizzy drinks, energy drinks, drinks in glass bottles, and processed foods, and nuts are not allowed.

House System
Each student is assigned to a house that embodies one of GIS's six attributes: Think critically, Be socially responsible, Be disciplined, Display creativity, Communicate effectively, Be internationally minded. Rooms are allocated with a mix of students from different House groups and five sets of house attire are provided. GIS also runs house activities and competitions in sport and other areas.

Governance and Ownership
GIS is a not-for-profit, private, non-sectarian, coeducational day and boarding school established in September 1955. It is governed by a Board of Directors, and the Chief Executive Officer is Dr. Mary Ashun.
Fees

Annual tuition at Ghana International School ranges from up to GHS 100 for 2026/27.

Application fee
- A non-refundable application/registration fee of USD 100 is charged for all applications (Nursery to Sixth Form). This USD 100 payment is accepted in Ghana cedis at the prevailing exchange rate when paid locally.

Tuition fees by year group
- Detailed termly and annual tuition amounts for specific year groups (Infant/Nursery, Junior/Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary/Sixth Form) are not published as fixed figures in the standard public admissions materials.
- Tuition invoices are issued to parents after an offer of admission; the school issues admission and tuition fee invoices once required admissions documentation is received. Those invoices specify the exact tuition amount and the payment schedule for the enrolling student.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The registration/application fee is payable at the time of application and must be received before the school processes the application. The registration fee may be paid online, at a bank into the school's account, or by POS for the registration payment only.
- After an offer of admission, the Finance Office issues tuition and other mandatory fee invoices; these invoices state the billed amounts and payment deadlines. All monetary transactions must be made to the School's account and parents are required to provide proof of payment to the school.
- The school requires that boarding and tuition fees be paid in full by the stated due dates on the invoices; specific instalment options, early-payment discounts or late-payment penalties (if any) are set out on each invoice or in the finance instructions that accompany the invoice.

Boarding fees (where applicable)
- Weekly boarding is offered for students from Form Two to Upper Sixth (Grade 7–12). Boarding fees are charged in addition to tuition and are paid via the GIS Finance Office's recommended payment platform/medium.
- The boarding programme prospectus notes that the cost of boarding (which covers furnished accommodation, bed, mattress, linen, study furniture and internet access) is reviewed annually; exact boarding fee amounts are communicated by the school to families when the programme cost is approved.
- Boarding withdrawal and refund rules: no refunds are given when a student is withdrawn from the boarding programme for the reasons listed in the prospectus; mid-stream withdrawals received prior to the start of a new term attract a 10% administrative surcharge; withdrawal requests made during a term require parents to pay the full boarding fees for that term and no refunds are made for term-time withdrawals.

Other costs and fees
- Uniforms: Parents are required to provide the approved uniform items; the school provides recommended vendors and a fabric option that parents may purchase and have sewn. Specific uniform prices are determined by vendors—uniform purchase is an additional, parent-borne cost.
- Catering/lunch: The school offers contracted catering; lunch is charged termly per child if parents opt into the school's meal service. The catering fee is invoiced per term.
- Personal and school-supplied items for boarders: parents must provide personal effects and additional clothing; the boarding prospectus lists required items.
- Examination and external assessment fees, textbooks, stationery, field trips, extracurricular trip costs and optional activity fees are additional and are invoiced separately when applicable.

Refund information (general and boarding-specific)
- Boarding-specific refund rules: the boarding prospectus states clearly that no refunds will be given when a student is withdrawn from the boarding programme under the listed grounds; mid-stream withdrawals prior to a new term attract a 10% administrative charge; withdrawals during a term require payment of the full boarding fees for that term and carry no refund.
- For non-boarding tuition refunds, the school's finance invoices and the acceptance documentation specify refund and withdrawal conditions; the Finance Office's invoice or acceptance paperwork provides the definitive statement of any refund or cancellation rules that apply to that enrolment.

Fee payment options
- Registration/application fee: payable online, by bank deposit to the school account, or by POS (point-of-sale) for the registration payment.
- Tuition, boarding and other school invoices: payable to the School's designated bank account (bank deposit/transfer) as directed on the invoice; parents must provide proof of payment to the Finance Office. The school's Finance Office manages and specifies the accepted payment platforms and account details on each invoice.

Summary of availability of published fee figures
- The admissions materials and boarding prospectus provide the structure of fees, payment channels and the application fee (USD 100) and set out boarding refund rules and other fee categories (uniforms, catering, exam fees, trips). Specific numeric tuition and boarding amounts by year group and per term are not published as fixed figures in the publicly distributed admissions or prospectus documents; those numeric amounts are provided to families in the formal invoice issued after an offer of admission.

If you need the precise termly and annual tuition amounts for a particular year group or the 2026/27 fee schedule, those exact numeric figures are issued by the school in the admission/finance invoice for the enrolling student.
Academics

Ghana International School teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification, British Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Cambridge International Early Years, Cambridge Primary and Secondary program leading to the IGCSE and Advanced level examination, with English language as the medium of instruction. Pearson BTEC Pathway in Music and Creative Media for students aged 14 years and above. These are complemented by local content offerings especially in the pre-examination classes.

Student Teacher Ratio
1:7.

Exam Results
100% University Acceptance. Graduates proceed to universities including MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, LSE, Durham, Imperial, Queens, University of Toronto, and Oxford.

Higher Education Progression
100% University Acceptance; graduates attend universities including Ashesi, MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, LSE, Durham, Imperial, Queens, University of Toronto, and Oxford.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Guidance & Counselling provides personal, social, behavioural and academic support to GIS students. The department helps students develop social and emotional competencies through leadership activities, local and international enrichment programs and internships. It comprises a Guidance Counsellor, two Career and College Counsellors, a Teaching Assistant and an Administrative Assistant. The department offers confidential individual advice and supports the college application process. It coordinates with the Special Education Needs department to provide comprehensive cognitive assessments and accommodations for students who need them.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
GIS's SEN Policy states dedicated staff meet the learning needs of individual students across Infant to Secondary. We value each child and welcome diversity of culture, religion and intellectual style. The school provides an inclusive curriculum to progress students' needs and abilities, aims to raise achievement and remove barriers to learning. A tiered system offers support and assessment to guide academic, social and emotional success. In Secondary, the SEN department is combined with the Learning Commons, a resource center offering homework support, remediation and study strategies.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the language of instruction across the GIS curriculum. In the Secondary School, English Language (English as a Second Language) is a dedicated department that supports learners for whom English is not their first language. Entrance assessments are conducted in English, reflecting the language of instruction. The curriculum is delivered in English under Cambridge International and IGCSE and A level programs. English language support is an integrated part of GIS's academic program.

Mental Wellbeing
GIS operates Health & Wellness Centres in both Primary and Secondary Schools, staffed by three full-time registered nurses and two nursing assistants. The nursing team provides first aid, disease prevention, health screenings, health education and counseling. They coordinate with the West African Rescue Association for medical emergencies. The Health & Wellness Centre also provides counseling and consultations as part of student care. The Guidance & Counselling Department provides personal, social, behavioural and academic support and works to develop students' social and emotional competencies through pastoral care and life skills programming.

Safeguarding
GIS has a Child Protection Policy (Sept 2024) that outlines safeguarding protocols. A designated Safeguarding Lead is assigned for each academic section and for non-teaching staff. The policy requires safe recruitment, raising awareness of safeguarding issues, providing skills to keep pupils safe, and reporting concerns. It also sets procedures for cases of suspected abuse, including informing parents and involving outside agencies as required. Confidentiality is maintained and safeguarding records are kept securely; clear steps exist for investigations and potential staff suspensions.
Parent Experience

History
Ghana International School (GIS) is a not-for-profit, private, non-sectarian, co-educational day and boarding school established in September 1955 to provide international education to students of all races and creeds. It began as Gold Coast International School, opening in the Legion Hall with 38 pupils; enrolment grew to 60 by 1 October and 75 by 1 November, when a waiting list was started. In January 1956, GIS moved to its present premises on No. 19, 2nd Circular Road, enabling expansion to a fourth class and about 100 students; the foundation stone was laid on 29 October 1956 by Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, the first Governor-General of the Gold Coast. GIS is Cambridge-based with English as the medium of instruction and is the first and only international school in Ghana to be accredited by both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); it is a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) and the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS).

Community
The GIS community hosts events such as the PTA Bazaar (Community FunFest), the Sponsored Walk, UN Day and Ghana Day. The GIS events calendar includes Technology in Problem-Solving (TIPS) Week, Stage Musical, Kwame Pianim Debate and Carnifest (Yearbook Fundraiser). News updates show ongoing cultural and community engagement, including GIS70 Mid-Term Adventures and PaGya Literary Festival coverage.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of Ghana International School supports, advises and assists the Board of Directors and Management to create the necessary academic, moral atmosphere and infrastructure for the benefit of GIS students, staff and the GIS Community at large. Aims and objectives include maintaining and improving the educational standards of the School, providing additional equipment and facilities, and ensuring the welfare of the students and staff, as well as fostering goodwill and co-operation among parents. PTA Executive Committee 2026–2028 includes Chair Naa Komley Scott-Arthur; Vice Chair Maame Serwaa Gyimah; Secretary Nadalia Zakkour; Assistant Secretary Margaret Siaw Woods; Treasurer Kwabena Aforo Addo; Assistant Treasurer Fiona Agyekum Boateng; Public Relations 1 Rodney Quarcoo and Public Relations 2 Gloria Ankomah; and a Board Representative Naa Enti. Contact: pta@gis.edu.gh.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Amphitheatre seats about 150 and hosts Literature on Stage performances, musical rehearsals and small group discussions. The Film Room in the basement of the Resource Centre seats up to 120 and doubles as a drama/rehearsal space with a television, VCR and satellite TV for educational use. There is a half Olympic-size, eight-lane swimming pool with a baby pool on the Secondary School campus, with Infants and Juniors receiving timetabled swimming lessons. Sporting facilities include soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis, volleyball, handball, track and field and swimming, supported by a modern gymnasium. All classes are air conditioned and equipped with interactive whiteboards, with water dispensers in every classroom and filtered drinking fountains available.

Sports Facilities
Facilities are available for soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis, volleyball, handball, track and field and swimming. The swimming pool is half Olympic-size with eight lanes on the Secondary campus, and the school features a modern gymnasium to support physical education and staff wellness.

Academic Facilities
Primary IT facilities include two computer laboratories with 33 computers in each lab and internet access; a French Room supports language immersion. The Primary Library is well-stocked and fully computerised with internet access. The Secondary School has three computer laboratories with 30 networked workstations each, plus a Language Laboratory with a state-of-the-art thirty-booth audio setup for French, Spanish and English. The Secondary Library houses around 20,000 books and multimedia, with additional periodicals; six science laboratories (two per subject) are fully equipped for practical lessons. The Music Conservatory supports group and private lessons, with two Primary School Music Rooms and a dedicated room in the Lower Secondary; the Art Room is well equipped for arts education. All classrooms are air conditioned and equipped with interactive whiteboards, and a Health & Wellness Center provides nursing care.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Art Room is spacious and fully equipped with materials for painting, drawing, crafts and textiles, with potters' wheels, a laminator and a scanner and staffed by a full-time art teacher and assistants. The Film Room doubles as a drama/rehearsal space with television, VCR and satellite decoder to support theatre activities. There are two Primary School Music Rooms and a Music Conservatory to support group and private music lessons. The Assembly Hall is used for morning assemblies, plays and musical shows, with a changing room and stage lighting. Play Areas provide spaces for Junior School breaks, and the Health & Wellness Center offers nursing care and health education.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers Cambridge International Early Years, Cambridge Primary and Secondary, leading to IGCSE and Advanced Level examinations, with English as the medium of instruction. A Pearson BTEC Pathway in Music and Creative Media is available for students aged 14 and above. These are complemented by local content offerings especially in the pre-examination classes. GIS is the first and only international school in Ghana to be accredited by both the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Arts & Creative
The Arts departments organize multifaceted art programmes across Primary, Junior, and Secondary, including pottery, weaving, fashion design and graphic design, culminating in a major student art exhibition. The GIS Musical features productions such as The Music Man, Annie, The Sound of Music, Fame and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Musicals are staged at the National Theatre in Accra and attract audiences of at least 2,000 over two nights. There are around thirty co-curricular activities available, enabling students to discover or improve talents beyond the classroom.

Social & Hobbies
UN Day is a yearly event that celebrates the school's diverse community. Speech and Prize-Giving Days recognise high achievers across year groups. The PTA Sponsored Walk is a 13km fundraising event that supports Pantang Psychiatric Hospital and GIS school projects. There are many sports opportunities with teams in swimming, volleyball, hockey and soccer.

Community & Service
The PTA organizes a 13km walk to raise funds for Pantang Psychiatric Hospital and GIS school projects. The walk attracts more than 400 walkers each year and is a long-standing GIS tradition. Infant School has a Student Council (ISSC) introduced in November 2022. Junior School inaugurated its newly elected prefects in October 2025.

Leadership & Professional
The Infant School has a Student Council (ISSC) introduced in November 2022. Junior School inaugurated its newly elected prefects in October 2025. GIS supports student leadership and development through these student governance structures across sections.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
There are many sports and activities with teams in swimming, volleyball, hockey and soccer. Separate Sports Days are held for the Infant, Junior, and Secondary Schools in Term 2. UN Day and Speech and Prize-Giving Days contribute to the school community and well-being. The Arts and major productions also contribute to a rich, Well-being focused school life.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the medium of instruction. The Junior School offers ESL (English as a Second Language). The Secondary School provides Modern Languages, specifically French and Spanish. It also teaches English Language (English as a Second Language) alongside English Literature.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) and the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS).
Admissions

Admissions
Stage 1: Completion of Forms – Parental Enquiry Form and Application Form are available in digital versions and must be submitted digitally to the Office of Admissions & International Partnerships. The registration fee is $100 (USD), payable in cedis at prevailing exchange rates; only this payment is required at this stage. The school will not proceed with an application until all Stage 1 requirements are completed. After submission, the file is reviewed by the Admissions Team and, if appropriate, by Academic Management, the Counsellor, and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).

Stage 2: Entrance Assessments – Admissions are subject to a successful entrance assessment, an interview with the child and parent(s) in attendance, and evaluation of previous school reports, including a confidential report from the applicant's current principal. Entrance assessments are administered in February/March before the academic year starts in September; late international admissions may occur between August and December. English is the language of instruction, so entrance exams are conducted in English; Year 3 to Form 3 are assessed in Maths and English; Form 4 is assessed in Maths, English, Combined Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and an optional language (French or Spanish); non-resident applicants may be assessed in their country of residence. Entry into Lower 6th Form does not require assessments; applicants must submit IGCSE or equivalent results.

Acceptance/Denial of Placement – The Principal makes the offer decision after assessment, interview, and review of confidential reports; parents receive an email notifying whether a place is offered or not.

Stages 3 and 4: Documentation and Payment of Fees – After an offer is made, parents are informed of mandatory documentation (medical reports, rules and regulations, allergy forms, etc.) and given a submission deadline. Upon receipt of the required documentation, admission and tuition fee invoices are issued for payment. All monetary transactions are to the School's account, and proof of payment must be shared with the School.

Stage 5: Admissions Prospectus and Onboarding – The Admissions Prospectus is provided in preparation for the start of the school, and further information on next steps is shared following enrollment. Orientation events are organized for new families.

Deferred Admissions – If a family wishes to defer an admission offer and hold the space, this must be communicated in writing and can be discussed with the Head of Admissions & International Partnerships. All communications regarding a child's admission are handled with the parent or legal guardian due to safeguarding protocols. Tours and additional resources (Age & Class guide, FAQs, Boarding Prospectus) are available on request.

Boarding and Extended Learning – The school offers a weekly boarding option for Form Two to Upper Sixth Form (Grade 7–12), with students returning home on Fridays and reporting back on Sundays; weekend stays may be planned for extended learning activities with advance notice. A separate Boarding Programme Prospectus provides additional details.
School Events
The school has not added events
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