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Taught languages Dutch, English, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional
Stages Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction
Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) is part of the Wolfert van Borselen School Group and operates two campuses: Junior on Bentincklaan 294 and Senior on Schimmelpenninckstraat 23. For students aged 11–18, the curriculum runs Foundation Years (grades 6–8), Middle Years (9–10) and Senior Years (11–12). RISS offers Cambridge IGCSE, the IB Diploma Programme (DP), the IB Career-related Programme (CP) and a BTEC International Level 3 Diploma in Business. In CP, three IB DP subjects sit with a BTEC core; DP core includes Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay. A Rose Programme characterises Foundation Years as experiential learning, while Middle Years include RISS Reach course. Senior Years provide DP or CP pathways, supported by a library and digital resources, plus a broad extracurricular offering including Debate, Model United Nations and Duke of Edinburgh Award. The school represents more than 70 nationalities and offers language choices.
Rotterdam International Secondary School has 300 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English, Dutch.
Location
Rotterdam International Secondary School operates on two campuses in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Junior Campus is located at Bentincklaan 294, 3039 KK Rotterdam. The Senior Campus is located at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23, 3039 KS Rotterdam. Contact numbers are +31 (0) 10 890 7744 (Junior) and +31 (0) 10 890 7755 (Senior).
Stages
Foundation Years (Grades 6-8); Middle Years (Grades 9-10); Senior Years (Grades 11-12).
Type
The school is an international school offering the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme.
Additional learning support
Counselling services for students, including support for test anxiety, mood concerns, and navigating friendships.
Fees
Annual tuition at Rotterdam International Secondary School ranges from EUR 9,160 to EUR 10,290 for 2026/27.
Application fees
- There is no separate application fee to submit an application. Families are charged fees only after a student has been admitted and started attending school.
Registration fee and security deposit
- New student registration fee: € 250 (per student). This administration fee is charged after placement. - New student security deposit: € 500 (per student). The deposit is paid on acceptance of a placement and secures the student's place. The security deposit is not refundable if the student does not enter the school. The deposit is held while the student is enrolled and is fully refundable when the student leaves, provided there is no outstanding money owed and required proof of leaving documentation has been completed; outstanding debts will be deducted from the deposit.
Tuition fees (annual) by year group
- Grades 6–9: € 9,160 per year. - Grade 10: € 8,890 per year. - Grade 11: € 10,290 per year. (A Chromebook charge of € 400 is shown separately for Grade 11 new entrants.) - Grade 12: € 9,950 per year.
- The published tuition figures include a capital fee (capital maintenance) of € 500 per child, the cost of the annual school trip for Grades 6–9 and Grade 11, the Grade 9 GDC contribution and a PTA contribution of € 20 per child; those included items are non-refundable if a student leaves during the school year.
Instalment payment schedules (example breakdowns and dates for the 2025–2026 academic year)
- Instalment option: the school offers payment in five instalments. An instalment-payment charge of € 60 per student is applied when choosing instalments. A single full payment avoids the € 60 instalment charge and receives a € 100 discount on the school fees. Payment option choices must be submitted using the school declaration form by the stated deadline.
- Instalment dates (2025–2026 example): - 1st instalment due by 01/10/25 - 2nd instalment due by 01/11/25 - 3rd instalment due by 01/12/25 - 4th instalment due by 01/01/26 - 5th instalment due by 01/02/26 - Payments must be made without deduction within 14 days or before the stipulated due date on the invoice.
- Instalment examples (showing new/returning and first/second child distinctions): - Grades 6–9 (school fee € 9,160): instalment totals and per-instalment amounts vary by first/second child and new/returning status; example instalment amounts when invoiced by instalments are listed in the school fee booklet under the Grade 6–9 section. Single-payment totals reflect the removal of the € 60 instalment charge and a € 100 discount. - Grade 10 (school fee € 8,890): five equal instalments of € 1,940 for a first child new-student instalment schedule are shown for 2025–2026; single-payment totals similarly show the € 100 discount applied. Exact instalment amounts by category are available in the detailed instalment tables. - Grade 11 (school fee € 10,290 plus Chromebook € 400): instalment schedules show five instalments of € 2,300 (first-child new-student example) for 2025–2026; totals for single payment remove the € 60 instalment-charge and include the € 100 discount. - Grade 12 (school fee € 9,950): instalment schedules show five instalments of € 2,152 (first-child new-student example) for 2025–2026; single-payment totals remove the instalment charge and include the € 100 discount.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Invoices are issued by the central administration of the Wolfert van Borselen Schoolgroup. Payment details and the bank account number are supplied with the invoice. Invoices are sent by e-mail (WisCollect). Debtors can pay invoices using iDEAL or by manual bank transfer; when making manual transfers, the invoice number and student name must be given as the payment reference. Company payments must use the single-payment option. Payment option forms must be returned by the stated deadline. Payments must be made without deduction within 14 days or before the invoice due date. Late or outstanding payments are subject to collection procedures by the central administration.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered at this school. Students must live with a parent or guardian in the Netherlands; boarding fees are therefore not applicable.
Other costs and fees
- Chromebook (Grade 11 new students): € 400 (charged separately in the Grade 11 fee breakdown). - Instalment payment charge: € 60 per student if paying by instalments (pro‑rata for families joining mid-year). Single full payment removes this charge. - Textbook replacement: unreturned textbooks are charged at € 25 per book to cover replacement costs. - Examination fees (additional, invoiced separately): approximate ranges apply and are charged by the external awarding bodies; approximate costs for 2025–2026 are shown as: - Grade 10 IGCSE (10 subjects): approximately € 850–€ 1,050. - Grade 12 IB Diploma: approximately € 850. - Grade 12 IB Career-related Programme: approximately € 850. Examination fees must be paid before registration; students will not be entered for exams if examination fees or other outstanding payments are unpaid. Additional late-registration charges or fees resulting from incorrect information are passed on to parents/guardians. - Field trips/day excursions and some optional or specialist trips (for example ski trips) may carry additional small charges; some day or weekend trips and certain external language assessments are excluded from the tuition fee and will be invoiced separately. Snacks/lunch, travel to/from school and library late fees are not included in the tuition fee. - A graphics calculator is supplied for all Grade 9 students and for new Grade 10 and 11 students; loss or damage requiring replacement is charged to the family.
Refund information and leaving/entry pro rata rules
- Capital fee, the annual school trip contributions for specified grades and the PTA contribution included in the tuition are non-refundable if a student leaves during the school year. The security deposit is refundable on leaving provided there are no outstanding debts and proof of leaving documentation is submitted; the security deposit is not refundable if the student never takes up the offered place. Textbook replacement charges may be deducted from the deposit where applicable. - Pro rata rules for fees due on entry and fees due on leaving are published as a monthly percentage table. Example percentages for fees due on leaving in the 2025–2026 schedule include: August 50%, September 50%, October 50%, November 50%, December 50%, January 60%, February 70%, March 80%, April 90%, May 100%, June 100%, July 100% (the booklet contains the full month-by-month entry and leaving percentages).
Fee payment options
- Payment by single full payment (preferred) or by instalments (five instalments) is available. Single full payment receives a € 100 per-student discount and avoids the € 60 instalment charge. Instalment payments are processed by the central administration and attract the € 60 instalment charge per student. Company payments must be completed by the single-payment option. Invoices are issued by the central administration; payment can be made via iDEAL or by manual bank transfer (use invoice number and student name as reference).
Summary of the most common immediate costs to expect at admission
- Registration fee: € 250 (new students). - Security deposit: € 500 (new students). - Annual tuition (by grade): Grades 6–9 € 9,160; Grade 10 € 8,890; Grade 11 € 10,290 (plus Chromebook € 400 shown separately); Grade 12 € 9,950. - Optional/additional: examination fees and trip charges as invoiced separately; textbook replacement at € 25 per book if required.
Academics
Rotterdam International Secondary School teaches IB (DP), BTEC Qualification, Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 11 to 18.
Curriculum
Foundation Years (Grades 6–8); Middle Years (Grades 9–10); Senior Years (Grades 11–12). The Foundation Years include the RISS Rose Programme, an experiential learning track inspired by the Rose Report. The Middle Years include the RISS Reach course, an interdisciplinary middle-years subject that connects to IGCSE studies and prepares students for the IB Career-related Programme and IB Diploma Programme core. In the Senior Years, students pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) and the IB Career-related Programme (CP). The DP core components are Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay. The CP combines a BTEC International Level 3 Diploma in Business with three IB DP subjects, and there is a curriculum scope and sequence for Grades 11 and 12 CP.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Pastoral Programme centers on supporting and exploring the social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme starts from the school's core values: relationships, courage, respect and responsibility, with tutors delivering the formal pastoral content and all teachers contributing to its consistent delivery. The International Personal, Social, Emotional and Health Programme of Study from Wayfarer Education is used in tutor classes, focusing on Health and Wellbeing, Identity, Relationships, Health, Society and the Wider World, Risk, Equality, Responsibility, Planning and Preparing for the Future, Change, Power and Future. The tutor mediates the curriculum by building relationships within the class and facilitating discussion, debate and projects. The tutor is the first point of contact for pastoral concerns and is supported by the Head of Section and the counsellor, with horizontal and vertical alignment of the programme across year levels.
Mental Wellbeing
Counselling is available to students facing difficulties such as test anxiety, low mood or navigating friendships. Sessions respect privacy, with confidentiality maintained except in cases of abuse, threats to self, or harm to others, which must be reported under Dutch law. Counselling aims to help students set and work toward personal goals, typically within six sessions, and if needed, assistance is provided to access longer-term Dutch mental health care. The process involves referrals via tutors and the Head of Section, with direct contact to the counsellors at cse@wolfert.nl. In emergencies, call 112; the Netherlands' suicide prevention hotline is 113; for suspected abuse or endangerment, contact Veilig House at 0800-2000 or the Rotterdam Crisis Intervention Team at 010 233 00 00.
Safeguarding
RISS is committed to child safety and the well-being and protection of students and staff. It is part of the Wolfert van Borselen school group and serves students from over 50 countries, with safeguarding approaches that consider multicultural aspects and include safety awareness training as an integral part of curriculum delivery. A holistic safeguarding framework includes a comprehensive pastoral programme, a dedicated Student Protection Lead & team, ongoing professional development for teachers and staff, and coordination with local and national authorities who specialize in protecting youth. The school engages students, teachers, staff and parents to maintain a safe and approachable learning environment. For a comprehensive view of protocols, the Key Documents page contains policies and procedures governing child protection issues such as abuse, neglect, bullying (including online), safe hiring, emergency management, and the Dutch reporting code.
Admissions
Admissions
Step 1: Check eligibility criteria and begin the application via OpenApply. If your child meets the eligibility criteria, begin the application after reading the information on this page. The OpenApply system collects initial information about you and your child(ren) and guides you to the next steps.
Step 2: Fill in the requested information about you and your child(ren). Provide accurate information; you can save progress and return later. If you need assistance, the Admissions Team can guide you through this step.
Step 3: Submit your application. The Admissions Team can view your submission and guide you if needed. The Admissions Team begins reviewing only after all required documents are submitted. Once the review begins, you will be contacted with the next steps, including an interview with the Head of Years, attended by you and your child(ren).
Step 4: Upload all required documents in the checklist. Upload all required documents in the OpenApply checklist and ensure they are complete. Use the OpenApply checklist as your guide for completing any remaining steps in the application. The Admissions Team can assist if you need help with documents.
Step 5: Capacity and programme information. SCHOOL YEAR 2025-2026: Foundation Years (Grades 6-8) open for all grades; Middle Years (Grade 9-10) limited capacity for Grade 9 and Grade 10 is full; Senior Years (Grade 11-12) limited capacity for Grade 11; Grade 12 is full. SCHOOL YEAR 2026-2027: Foundation Years (Grades 6-8) open for all grades; Middle Years open for all grades; Senior Years open for both DP and CP programmes. RISS offers a Learning Diversity Programme, with availability dependent on students entering or leaving the programme. For Grades 10 and 12, admission requires prior study of IGCSE or IBDP/CP and subject alignment; provide details of current subjects and syllabus codes (IGCSE), or progress in CAS, EE and TOK (IBDP) during the application process for transfer assessment.
FAQs
What age range does RISS serve?
RISS serves students aged 11 to 18 across Foundation Years, Middle Years and Senior Years on two campuses in Rotterdam.
What curriculum does the school follow?
RISS offers the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme in Senior Years, with Foundation Years including the Rose Programme for inquiry-based learning.
How much are the tuition fees?
Fees range from EUR 9,160 to EUR 10,290 per year. No separate application fee is charged.
Where are the campuses?
Junior Campus at Bentincklaan 294 and Senior Campus at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23, both in Rotterdam.
Is there a counselling service?
Yes, counselling is available for test anxiety, mood concerns and navigating friendships. Sessions are confidential.
What is the Rose Programme?
The RISS Rose Programme is an experiential learning programme in Foundation Years (Grades 6-8) supporting a smooth transition into secondary school.
What languages are offered?
RISS offers EAL, Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. Language Village events and International Language Week celebrate multilingualism.
Is there a Student Leadership Programme?
Yes, the Student Leadership Team (StuLT) fosters student voice and leadership through structured programmes and Student Council activities.
How many students attend?
Approximately 300 students attend RISS across both campuses.
Is there a uniform?
PE uniform is required for Grades 6-9, provided to students with the initial cost included in school fees.
How do I apply?
Check eligibility and begin the application via OpenApply. No application fee. Fees are charged only after admission.
What is the Pastoral Programme?
The Pastoral Programme supports social, emotional and physical wellbeing using the Wayfarer Education PSHEE framework from the first day of school.
