Parent's Review of Bosphorus International Primary Schools in Istanbul, Turkey

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

Bosphorus International Primary Schools

In what town or city is this school located?

Istanbul

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

International, following British curriculum

What grade levels are represented at this school?

Kindergarten (age 2) - grade 5 Primary, adding one grade more, each year

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Most children come by schoolbus. I choose for bringing them myself in order to have a close contact with the school. (as we are living close tot the school this is also practically possible)

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

Classrooms are well equiped. Preschool class was fully newly furnished after the hollidays (so I had a happy son!)The school has a big and nice garden with lots of play activities. This summer a prat of the playground was covered with rubber-material (so no muddy trousers to wash anymore).

The school offers a broad range of creative activities. eg: there is a separate pottery atelier in the garden and a pond (with fence around it) for nature topics.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

When we arrived I was most worried about adapting my son to his new school situation. But after 2 days he told me he had 3 friends already!!. As he didn't speak any English, he got extra English classes. With Christmas he was realy fluent in English! Repatriation is not planned yet, so no experience

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There was a charity concert at school (Peter & the wolf with a big orchestra: GREAT!) I would love to see more of this kind of activities! Lunches are sometimes organised by mothers. The school counsellor organised some very interesting workshops about 'living as an expat woman in Turkey' and 'effective communication with your children' (6 sessions, very usefull!)

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

Have a look yourself, feel the atmosphere, let your child (if possible) have a look in the classroom of his/her age. Speak to the teacher and ask if you can speak to maybe an other parent. For me it was the atmosphere at school and the way I saw my son felt 'at home' from the beginning he entered the school, what made me decide for this school

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