The International School of Athens (ISA) & International Education
The main advantage of international education is that it provides students with an alternative kind of education, an education for the real world of global communication, international opportunity and cultural diversity. This is an education which goes far beyond the confines of the classroom and allows the opportunity for some remarkable lessons. Education is no longer restricted to academics. Students are given a chance to hone their skills and be trained in a niche of their choice. Since the world is becoming a global village, international schools prepare their students to match their skills up to international standards.
The International School of Athens provides a world-class English-language education from 2 years old (Melina’s Kindergarten) through 18 years old, drawing from the best curricula worldwide and dedicated to fostering a love of learning. Our students come from different social backgrounds and nationalities, which give them the advantage of studying in a tolerant, multicultural environment.
The International School of Athens’ ongoing commitment to excellence in education, enhanced by an international perspective, earned for the school the status of IB World School by virtue of which the IB Diploma Programme is offered to students in grades 11 and 12. From September 2013 onwards, ISA will implement the PYP (Primary Years Programme) and MYP (Middle Years Programme) IB programmes for ages 2-16 and grades PreK to grade 10 (first of high school), in candidacy phase. In this way, ISA will become the only English-speaking school in Greece offering the three IBO Programmes. Many surveys in the world have come to the conclusion that students studying for the IB Diploma, having previously completed the PYP and MYP, obtain systematically higher grades in their subjects, TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and Extended Essay, than their peers coming from other curricula. The International School of Athens’ teachers are well trained and teach in accordance with international standards. The student:teacher ratio is small, which means that a greater amount of attention can be given to individual students as well as a more secure environment.
The International School of Athens helps its students become effective cross-cultural communicators, lifelong learners and competitive players in the global marketplace, where they can apply their international perspective and independent thinking to their everyday lives, gaining access to the best universities.
The International School of Athens in its continuous effort to enrich its curricula, its commitment to internationalism and, at the same time, its dedication to providing ISA students with additional tools to use in their future endeavours, is proud to offer a unique language programme in grades K-12, namely: Modern Greek for Native Speakers and for Foreign Speakers, five hours a week, and in grades 1-12, the choice of an additional foreign language, including French, Spanish, German or Arabic in age and level appropriate classes. Additionally, the study of a child’s mother tongue may also be pursued.
In addition to the very successful preparation for receiving the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Greek, already offered to our students from grade 8 onwards, the acquisition of foreign languages gives our students from grade 7 onwards the opportunity to sit external and internationally recognized examinations and thus receive a diploma in the foreign language that they study at the school.
Moreover, the International School of Athens has one of the most comprehensive Counselling and Learning Centres in Greece. It has been designed to meet all the needs of ISA’s students and parents to have, as soon and as effectively as possible, a solid and complete psychological counselling and academic assessment and planning. The guidance, counselling and career planning centre provides the necessary services for the emotional security and stability of the students within our school but is also an effective tool for their present and future psychological wellbeing, their academic development and their future professional advancement.
Additionally, ISA offers a five-week daytime summer programme for children from 2 to 17 years of age in a safe and caring English-language environment. The focus of the programme is on having fun while learning English or improving children’s English-language skills at all levels through a flexible and stimulating programme that balances academics with athletic and recreational activities. Some of these include art, drama, water sports, information technology and weekly excursions.
Furthermore, ISA provides English-language classes to children and adults from pre-Junior to Proficiency level in an effective programme that takes place from 10 a.m. Till 3 p.m. every Saturday from October through May. Thanks to the modern, hands-on teaching methods employed by our highly qualified and experienced native English-speaking instructors, we have an enviable success rate in the Cambridge Examinations.
The International School of Athens equips its students with the tools they need to succeed.
