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Tarabya British Schools

Turkey, Istanbul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Turkish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 326
Type Co-educational
Opened 2013
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Taiwan 108 Curriculum
Taught languages Turkish, English, French, Spanish
Typical class size 12
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Leadership and Professional, Community and Service, Arts and Creative
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Tarabya British Schools is a Turkish-International institution that blends the British Cambridge framework with the Turkish National Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18. The school offers Cambridge Primary for early years, Cambridge IGCSE, and Cambridge International AS and A-Levels, with Turkish National Curriculum content taught in Turkish and most other lessons taught in English. The curriculum is mapped to satisfy both the Turkish and British curricula, reflecting the blended approach. The campus network includes Tarabya and Yeniköy campuses, with the Tarabya Campus recently renovated to support student life. Tarabya British Schools is part of the Horizon Education Group; Dr. Mehmet Gültekin serves as Trustee Chair. Cambridge International Examinations authorises Cambridge Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and A-Levels, and the school earned COBIS Patrons Accreditation in 2021. Extracurriculars run year-round, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Silver level), MUN, sport, music, art, cooking and street dancing. Summer School offers art, sports, science activities and daily English. Language electives include French, Spanish, German, and Turkish.

Tarabya, Şalcıkır Cd. No:44, 34457 Sarıyer/İstanbul, Türkiye

The Essentials

Tarabya British Schools has 326 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English, Turkish.

Location
Tarabya British Schools operates on the Tarabya Campus in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, Turkey, at Şalcıkır Caddesi No: 44. The Tarabya Campus is part of a two-campus model, with a second Yeniköy Campus.

Stages
Cambridge Primary; Cambridge Secondary 1; Cambridge Secondary 2; Cambridge Advanced (A-Level).

Type
Turkish-International school blending the British and Turkish curricula, offering Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level programmes.

Additional learning support
Learning Support Department provides academic support.

Country affiliation
Turkey

School day structure
Tarabya Campus operates Monday to Friday 8:00–17:00; Saturday 10:00–14:00.

Bus service
There is a service bus for regular hours; there is no bus for extra-curricular activities.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a full uniform. On Fridays, full uniform is not required. The uniform includes blazer, shirt, jumper, and skirt or trousers, with a tie for some year groups; outer coats must be removed during lessons; jewellery is limited to a watch and makeup is not allowed.

Food Options
The school provides a school lunch program with a rotating menu. A March 2024 lunch menu shows items such as lentil soup, fish with potatoes, and a variety of vegetables and salads.

House System
The school has a house system. Students participate in house-based activities, including a House Debating Competition on Humanities Day.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Chairman is Dr. Mehmet Gültekin; other board members include Emel Gültekin, Chris Gaunt, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Kireçci, Steve Phillips, Prof. Dr. Celal Erkut and Mark Longbottom. The owning company is Özel Tarabya İngiliz Okulları A.Ş.
Fees
Application / Registration fees
- The school charges an application/registration fee for new enrolments; the exact amount is not published in the publicly available materials. Families are required to complete the school's registration process to obtain the registration fee amount and next steps.

Entrance assessments
- New applicants for Middle and High School must take an entrance/level test as part of admission. Any assessment or placement test requirement is part of the admissions process.

Tuition fees (summary)
- The school's publicly available materials do not publish a year-by-year or per-term fee table for the 2026/27 academic year. An approximate range of annual tuition reported by independent school directories is GBP 12,000 to GBP 18,000 (this is a published approximate annual range, not a school-issued per-year fee schedule). Full, itemised tuition-by-year and per-term figures are not posted in the public pages reviewed.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment of all school fees or a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the school fee must be received before a Certificate of Enrolment can be issued for international students. All fees due must be paid in full prior to the commencement of the academic year.
- A bank transfer may take up to one week to reach the school's account; Certificates of Enrolment are issued only after funds or a deposit have cleared.
- The school states that a student's registration and enrolment is a binding agreement to follow the academic year to completion and to pay the full fees.

Boarding fees
- No boarding programme or boarding fee schedule is published in the school's public materials for the Tarabya/Yeniköy campuses; therefore boarding fees are not applicable as a published line item in the material reviewed.

Other costs and additional charges
- School fees do not include travel expenses, social events where fees are charged, or personal and health insurance; these are additional costs for families. Uniforms, textbooks and personal materials are commonly charged separately and are not included in the tuition line items.
- The school publishes extra-programme charges where applicable (for example, summer or short courses are charged separately). Specific extra-programme fees vary by programme and are shown on programme pages when those programmes are advertised.

Discounts and bursaries
- Partial and full academic, artistic, sporting and social bursaries are available according to published bursary criteria; bursaries are cumulative where applicable. A sibling discount is published at 5% for eligible siblings. Exact discount application and award conditions are set by the school's bursary and admissions process.

Refund information
- No refund can be made once the academic course has commenced; fees are non-refundable after the school year has started and the student is withdrawn. The school does not permit transfer of funds from one student to another.
- Cancellations made two weeks before the academic year start date result in loss of deposit; the remaining balance will be refunded. Refunds may take up to 90 days to process once notice of cancellation has been given.
- Cancellations due to visa refusal will result in loss of deposit; refund of tuition fees for visa refusal is processed only after the school verifies the refusal with original embassy/consulate documentation. Students dismissed for poor attendance or misconduct are not entitled to a refund.

Fee payment options
- The school accepts bank transfers and notes that transfers may take up to one week to clear; certificates and enrolment confirmation are issued only after funds have cleared. Public materials do not list a published credit-card acceptance policy or other specific electronic payment methods. For payment methods beyond bank transfer, families should use the school's admissions contact channels.

Concise summary of publicly available fee information and limitations
- The publicly available pages and admissions materials provide clear policies on deposits (20% deposit option for international students), payment timing (fees due in full before the academic year begins), refunds and cancellation rules, and bursary/discount criteria (including a 5% sibling discount). However, the school does not publish a detailed, itemised tuition schedule showing per-year and per-term amounts for the 2026/27 academic year in the materials reviewed; an external directory lists an approximate annual range of GBP 12,000–18,000 as a guide. Exact per-year / per-term tuition figures, application fee amounts, and explicit card-payment options were not published in the public materials reviewed.
Academics

Tarabya British Schools teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Taiwan 108 Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
Tarabya British Schools offers a dual curriculum blending the British and Turkish education systems. The Turkish National Curriculum content is taught in Turkish, while most other lessons are taught in English and follow the Cambridge International framework. Cambridge Primary supports the early years, and Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge Advanced are provided for upper levels (Grades 11–12). The curriculum is mapped to satisfy both the Turkish National Curriculum and the British National Curriculum, reflecting the school's blended approach.

Student Teacher Ratio
Class sizes are up to 12 students in primary and up to 15 students in middle and high school.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates have admissions to universities worldwide, with a 100% university placement rate. Notable destinations include Oxford, Bristol, King's College London and UCL among others.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Tarabya Schools' Learning Development Department provides academic, social-emotional and behavioral support for all students. The mission is to help students with special needs fully develop their academic potential through these supports. The program removes learning barriers by creating engaging learning environments and works in close collaboration with teachers, families and external specialists. Learning support is delivered by certified teachers trained abroad and includes counseling and learning support, remedial and restorative education, development of targeted skills, re-teaching, and content support. The department coordinates with families and external professionals to provide a broad range of services to support healthy student development.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Tarabya Schools' Learning Development Department provides targeted support for students with special needs to help them reach their full academic potential through academic, social-emotional and behavioral support. Learning support is delivered by certified teachers trained abroad. The team coordinates with families and external specialists to provide a broad range of services, including counseling, remedial and restorative education, development of special skills, re-teaching, and content support. This collaborative approach ensures inclusive access to the curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Tarabya Schools offer a double-curriculum program with all subjects taught in English except Turkish language, literature and culture. Turkish language and culture lessons are taught in Turkish. This bilingual policy is part of Tarabya Schools' overall curriculum approach.

Mental Wellbeing
Counseling and learning-support services are provided to support students' mental wellbeing. The Learning Development Department delivers counseling and remedial/ restorative education as part of ongoing support for student wellbeing. The department collaborates with families and teachers to promote healthy development.

Safeguarding
Child Protection Policy: All children, young people and families must read and accept the safeguarding policy and procedures before enrollment. In cases where there is a safeguarding concern, Tarabya Schools staff and teachers may take actions, and families may not be consulted before action. Understanding these procedures helps parents stay informed and engaged.
Parent Experience

History
Tarabya British Schools is part of the Horizon Education Group. Dr. Mehmet Gültekin is the founder of Horizon Group and serves as Mütevelli Heyeti Başkanı (Trustee Chair) of Tarabya British Schools. The school blends the British and Turkish curricula to satisfy both the Turkish National Curriculum and the British National Curriculum. It is authorised by Cambridge International Examinations to offer Cambridge Primary, Secondary and higher level programmes, including IGCSE and A-Levels, and earned the Patrons Accreditation of COBIS in 2021. Tarabya British Schools operates across two campuses: the Tarabya Campus and Yeniköy Campus.

Community
Tarabya British Schools maintains a vibrant school community with a programme of events, clubs and guest programs. The events calendar features World Book Day, World Art Day, and End-of-Year Carnival, alongside university fairs such as the UK Top University Fair. Student clubs include Debate Club and Model United Nations, among others that foster student leadership and teamwork. The school has hosted visits from the British Royal Family, most notably Prince Edward, and activities connected to the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The School Parent Association (Okul Aile Birliği) runs social and charitable projects. One project campaigns to provide winter clothing for students at Nardağı Primary School in Hakkari, organized via cake sales at the Yeniköy campus, with all proceeds directed to the campaign. The Association has supported UNICEF through concerts and other charity initiatives such as Çocuklar İyi Olsun Diye and Rehber Köpekler Derneği. It also coordinates projects such as Dilekler Gerçek Oluyor I–VI and the Okul Aile Birliğimizin Projeleri, contributing to community outreach across school campuses. The accreditation logos on the PTA materials include the British Chamber of Commerce, the Duke of Edinburgh award program, Cambridge, and other international affiliations.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Tarabya Campus has been renovated recently and is designed to meet student needs. The school provides students with a comfortable atmosphere to spend time after or between classes.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers year-round, varied, challenging, enjoyable and safe extracurricular experiences to complement in-class learning. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award program is part of the school, and the majority of students reach the Silver level. MUN, sport, music, art, cooking and street dancing are among the extracurricular activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS and A-Level programs. Cambridge IGCSE, for students aged 14-16, provides preparation for Cambridge A-Levels and is internationally recognized by universities and employers. English can be studied as a first language or a second language, and core subjects include English, Mathematics, and Science, with electives such as History, Geography, Business, Global Perspectives, and languages (French, Spanish, German, Turkish). A-Level programs are offered with flexible routes to support direct entry to international universities.

Arts & Creative
Arts and Music are part of the curriculum. The IGCSE electives include Drama, Music, and Art. The Summer School features creative drama, theatre, painting, music, dance, and design activities, with an English language course daily. The Arts & Music program is complemented by Student Clubs and other arts-focused activities.

Cultural & Language
English is taught as the language of instruction in many subjects, with English available as a first language or a second language. The IGCSE curriculum includes Turkish and international language electives such as French, Spanish, and German. The school engages with global education through guest universities and international university visits.

Social & Hobbies
Students participate in Student Clubs, Sports and Activities as part of the extracurricular program. The school runs social projects and events, including UNICEF-supported initiatives and Make-a-Wish campaigns. Summer School offers art, sports, science activities and daily English language lessons.

Community & Service
Social projects include UNICEF support concerts and Make-a-Wish campaigns organized by the school. The programs emphasize volunteering and social responsibility as part of student life.

Leadership & Professional
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader Training has been held at Tarabya. The school runs leadership and service programs, including Model United Nations and Erasmus+ projects. Cambridge International AS and A-Level programs prepare students for international universities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Tarabya Campus offers Sports and Activities as part of student life. Summer School includes sports, arts, and outdoor activities, along with daily English language lessons. The Yeniköy campus is used for some programs and events as part of a well-rounded physical education and wellbeing approach.
Languages

Language Provision
Turkish language and literature are part of the Turkish curriculum, and Turkish culture is integrated into the program. English is the language of instruction for most lessons, with Turkish and English developed concurrently. English, mathematics and science are taught in English as part of the Cambridge curriculum, alongside Turkish requirements. The dual curriculum combines Cambridge International Examinations with Turkish Ministry of Education requirements, resulting in dual diploma qualifications.

Bilingual Teaching
Tarabya British Schools offers a dual curriculum that satisfies both Cambridge International Examinations and the Turkish Ministry of Education. The language of instruction is primarily English, and Turkish and English are developed simultaneously. With the exception of Turkish language and literature, Turkish culture, and second language lessons, all lessons are taught in English. The aim is for students to become bilingual in Turkish and English.
Admissions

Admissions
1. A Pre-registration Form is available for applicants. The Pre-registration Form is listed in the admissions resources as 'Ön Kayıt Formu'. 2. Documents to prepare and submit include: For 9th grade applicants, transcripts for grades 6–8; for middle school entrants, last 3 years of transcripts; English language test result, or the school's own test result; two reference letters; a letter of intent; four passport photos and a copy of the student's ID. Documents may be delivered by hand or by courier to Tarabya Mah. 3. Registration fees: Details on registration fees are available by filling out the contact form. 4. Registration procedure: Students whose documents have been received in full will be invited to an interview with the Academic Committee. 5. Scholarships: The school offers partial and full scholarships for academic, social, sports and artistic areas; see below for high school and middle school criteria (top percentages, exam scores and other criteria) and for documents required to apply. Scholarships are cumulative, and for primary/elementary applications the only discount mentioned is a 5% sibling discount.

Scholarships
The school offers partial and full scholarships for academic, social, sports and artistic areas. High School Scholarships Criteria (for 9th grade applicants): 1) In the LGS, the top 1% receive a 100% tuition scholarship; 2) The school's Entrance Exam score of 85+ yields 10%; 3) Activities in sports, art, social and cultural fields yield 5%; 4) Previous year's average above 4.50 yields 10%; 5) Sibling discount 5%. For middle grades applications: 1) Previous year's average above 85 yields 10%; 2) Entrance Exam score 85+ yields 10%; 3) Activities in sports, art and social-cultural areas yield 5%. Documentation of these achievements must be provided. Scholarships are cumulative. Primary/Elementary scholarships: For primary and middle school, only a sibling discount applies (5%). Scholarship Application Documents include: Transcript(s) for the applicable grade years; English language test result or school test result; Two reference letters from previous school administrators or teachers; Letter of intent describing the student's goals and why Tarabya Schools; Four passport photos and one copy of ID. Documents delivered by hand or courier to Tarabya Mah. Şalcıkır Sokak No:44, Sarıyer / Istanbul, or emailed to bilgi@ingilizokullari.com.tr.
School Events
The school has not added events
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