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Birralee International School Trondheim

Norway, Trondheim

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NOK 40,095 - 41,063
Ages 3 - 16 years
Pupil numbers 300
Type Co-educational
Opened 1973
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages Norwegian, Spanish
Typical class size 18
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

Birralee International School Trondheim is an English-medium Cambridge International School in Trondheim, central Norway, serving students aged 3 to 16. The curriculum follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the early years, the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) for the middle years, and Cambridge IGCSE for the later years. The school provides an English-speaking education for children living in Trondheim and the surrounding region. The Australian founder named the school Birralee, meaning a ‘safe place for children,' reflecting a welcoming and secure learning environment where each child is valued as an individual. The principal is Mrs Elin J. Hitchman. Since 1973, the school has provided international education to local and international families in central Norway. Birralee International School Trondheim offers a clear progression through internationally recognised curriculums and is positioned to prepare students for Cambridge qualifications.

Bispegata 9C, 7012 Trondheim, Norway

The Essentials

Birralee International School Trondheim has 300 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Birralee International School Trondheim is located at Bispegata 9c, 7012 Trondheim, Norway, in the heart of Trondheim close to the Nidaros Cathedral, NTNU and St Olav's Hospital. It is centrally situated with access to Trondheim's cultural and educational amenities. The school leverages the city's public transport network and local facilities for its community.

Stages
Early Years/Kindergarten for ages 3-6; Primary for ages 6-11; Middle Years for ages 11-14; IGCSE for ages 14-16.

Type
Cambridge International School offering an English-medium curriculum.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Approximately 300 students; 50 nationalities.

Country affiliation
Norway

Bus service
Free transportation is available for students living more than 4 km away (2.trinn+) under Norwegian law; for Year 1 the distance is 2 km. Parents can apply for other transport by letter, forwarded to Sør Trøndelag Fylkeskommune or Trondheim Kommune for decision.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Stiftelsen Birralee International School Trondheim runs a school and a kindergarten through two separate aksjeselskap (limited companies). The School Board supervises the general running of the school and meets approximately eight times per year.
Fees

Annual tuition at Birralee International School Trondheim ranges from NOK 40,095 to NOK 41,063 for 2026/27.

*Application fees*
- No non-refundable application or registration fee is published for admissions. The school uses an online application form for each intake and does not list a separate application charge.

*Tuition fees (by year group)*
- Years 1–7: NOK 3,645 per month. No fees are charged for July.
- Years 8–10: NOK 3,733 per month. No fees are charged for July.

*Term and annual amounts (calculated from the published monthly rates)*
- The school's published fee structure is monthly and July is not charged, which means fees are charged for 11 months of the year. Using that basis the annual tuition totals are:
- Years 1–7: NOK 3,645 × 11 = NOK 40,095 per academic year.
- Years 8–10: NOK 3,733 × 11 = NOK 41,063 per academic year.
- Example term breakdowns (calculated from the monthly rate):
- Typical Autumn term (5 months):
- Years 1–7: NOK 3,645 × 5 = NOK 18,225.
- Years 8–10: NOK 3,733 × 5 = NOK 18,665.
- Typical Spring term (4 months):
- Years 1–7: NOK 3,645 × 4 = NOK 14,580.
- Years 8–10: NOK 3,733 × 4 = NOK 14,932.
- Typical Summer term (2 months):
- Years 1–7: NOK 3,645 × 2 = NOK 7,290.
- Years 8–10: NOK 3,733 × 2 = NOK 7,466.

*Billing schedule and payment terms*
- School fees are payable monthly in advance. An Advance Payment equal to one month's fees is required on acceptance of a place; this Advance Payment is used to cover the first month of school fees.
- If a parent withdraws a student, two months' written notice (effective from the first of the month) must be given; failure to give required notice results in fees being charged in lieu (the month in which final withdrawal confirmation is given plus the following two months are payable).
- If a monthly fee remains outstanding the school issues reminders; continued non-payment may lead to transfer of the debt to a collection agency and ultimately loss of the child's place. The school reserves the right to charge interest on outstanding fees under applicable late-payment legislation.

*Boarding fees*
- Birralee operates as a day school; no boarding provision or boarding fees are published.

*Other costs and optional extras*
- After School Programme (ASP) fees (2025–2026 listed rates):
- Years 1–3: Full-time ASP place NOK 567 per month. Part-time ASP (up to 12 hours/week) is NOK 0 per month for Years 1–3 (subsidised).
- Year 4: Full-time ASP place NOK 2,835 per month; part-time (up to 12 hours/week) NOK 2,268 per month. Single ASP days for Year 4 are available at NOK 200 per day on regular school days.
- Choir: an additional cost of NOK 950 per term for students who join the school choir.
- School fees include all school trips and outings, all textbooks and all basic materials used in lessons. Parents remain responsible for clothing and appropriate outdoor play/PE clothing; no compulsory uniform fee is published.
- Free student transportation is available under Norwegian statutory rules for eligible pupils; a school bus card order process is provided for families. Any other transport arrangements or private bus services are handled separately.

*Refund information and cancellation rights*
- Parents have a statutory right to change their mind: if a place is accepted and the child has not yet started at school, withdrawal within the first 14 days after acceptance can be made with no fee being charged. This right applies only before the child's start date.
- The Advance Payment covers the first month of fees; withdrawal and refund entitlement beyond the 14-day right and after the child has started follows the school's withdrawal and notice rules (two months' notice or fees in lieu).

*Fee payment options*
- The school publishes that fees are billed monthly in advance and that the school office handles admissions and invoicing; specific payment channels (for example bank transfer, credit card, or other payment services) are not listed in the publicly available fee information.

*Sibling discount*
- A sibling discount is applied for families with two or more children enrolled in Years 1–10: the second child receives a 10% reduction in fees and the third child receives a 25% reduction.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Birralee supports social and emotional learning through a safeguarding framework that emphasizes wellbeing and belonging across the school community. The School Leadership and Pastoral Counselors collaborate with parents, students, and teachers to promote student safety and wellbeing. A Pastoral Team provides ongoing support for students, with dedicated coordinators for Years 1–5 and Years 6–10. Students have the right to a safe and good school environment, and the school has a duty to act when a student is not feeling safe or supported. The school maintains a zero-tolerance stance on offensive behavior such as bullying, violence, discrimination, and harassment, and it documents actions and plans when concerns arise. Safeguarding is embedded into the curriculum, facilities, professional development, parent education programs, and recruitment practices.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Birralee provides two Norwegian language programmes from Year 1 to Year 10: Norwegian A and Norwegian B. Norwegian A is at a level similar to the Norwegian language programme taught in local Norwegian schools, while Norwegian B is designed for students who have just arrived in Norway. English is the primary language of instruction; all subjects, except Norwegian and Spanish, are taught in English. The Cambridge curriculum is delivered in English, with language support integrated.

Mental Wellbeing
Birralee ensures a safe and good school environment that promotes health, inclusion, well-being, and learning. There is zero tolerance for harassment, and staff and students are encouraged to intervene and report concerns. A Pastoral Team supports student wellbeing with the Principal and Pastoral Coordinators for Years 1–5 and Years 6–10. The school provides a pathway to report concerns to child welfare services and to develop action plans for individuals or groups as needed. Safeguarding and wellbeing are integrated into school life through the School Environment plan, policies, and ongoing practice.

Safeguarding
Birralee is dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment and adheres to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, relevant Norwegian laws, and recommendations from the International Curriculum Association. Safeguarding is a core element of wellbeing and belonging, integrated into curriculum, facilities, professional development, parent education programs, and recruitment practices. The School Leadership and Pastoral Counselors collaborate with parents, students, and teachers to promote student safety and wellbeing. The Safeguarding Team includes the Principal and Pastoral Coordinators for Years 1–5 and Years 6–10. If concerns arise about a child, concerns should be shared with the Pastoral Coordinator or the School Principal, and reports can be made to Child Welfare Services.
Parent Experience

History
Birralee International School Trondheim provides an English-speaking education for children aged 3-16 living in Trondheim, central Norway. The Australian founder gave the school the name ‘Birralee', meaning a ‘safe place for children', and the school provides a stimulating and secure learning environment in which each child is valued as an individual. Beyond the academic challenge, students who join the school will find a friendly and welcoming school environment, allowing them to thrive and succeed. Providing excellent international education since 1973. The principal is Mrs Elin J. Hitchman.

Community
We offer a fully international curriculum which meets global standards and prepares students for 21st century challenges and opportunities. The school runs Kindergarten (Ages 3-6), Primary (Ages 6-11), Middle Years (Ages 11-14), and IGCSE (Ages 14-16). The Cambridge International School uses an English-medium curriculum approved by the Norwegian Education Directorate; Cambridge Education is used in over 140 countries and in more than 4,500 schools worldwide. The school admits children from Norway and abroad, with state support enabling reduced school fees; the 2025 monthly fees are set to 3,539–3,625 NOK (approximately 300 EUR). 300 students, 50 nationalities, 50 staff, One Community. The principal is Mrs Elin J. Hitchman.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Our Parents Community is an integrated part of Birralee with a strong sense of community. The Parents Committee organizes activities such as Christmas Fair, Family Ski Day, International Dinner, Jumble Sale, Teacher Appreciation Lunch, School Jumper Sales, Christmas Ball, Valentine's Party, Halloween Party, Spring Fair and Summer Picnic. We cooperate with parents through regular communication tools including Weekly Class Plans, website news updates, and School Reports; Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are held twice per year; Digital Platforms (Classroom) are used to share educational materials; Entry and Exit Points provide opportunities to celebrate a child's progress.
School Events
The school has not added events
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