Parent's Review of Windhoek International School in Windhoek, Namibia

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

Windhoek International School

In what town or city is this school located?

Windhoek

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

International

What grade levels are represented at this school?

primary to grade 12

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

Drive

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

There are sports and after-school activities available such as Model UN, football/soccer, basketball, netball, etc Every term the school provides a list of activities for parents to sign up. In Namibia, it is normal for kids to do activities outside of school with clubs so many WIS kids are affiliated with other sports clubs such as tennis or swimming.

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?

The curriculum at WIS is demanding, compared at least to the US. My daughters are strong students but the first year was definitely challenging especially for the 14-year-old. However the teachers in the classes where she struggled took the time to work with her and ensure she got back on track. They met her during lunch and after school. They bolstered her confidence and were constantly checking in with us (her parents). After the first year, we have seen a huge improvement. There is also a fabulous school nurse who was a tremendous resource for us. Learning Support is also very strong at WIS as it is an inclusive school so no one is turned away on the basis of ability. So if a child does struggle the support system is phenomonal.

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

There is a PTA. I have not been involved but it seems to be very active. There are also a lot of school events and particularly in the primary years, the community of parents seems quite close knit.

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

Hands down the best choice in Windhoek. Americans should not be turned off by the IB, on the contrary it is the only matriculation recognised outside of Namibia. The other private schools do not offer IB and thus the options are very limited for graduates who wish to study in Europe or US. Even to study in South Africa, students will find they may have to do additional courses. You are paying more but honestly there is no comparison with the quality of teaching - WIS learners are taught to be inquirers, they do not do rote learning and there is a lot of hands-on experimentation. My daughter is doing a class called Theory of Knowledge (age 16) and it pretty much offers university-level content. It's also a diverse and open-minded school: no uniforms, kids are accepted for who they, lots of diversity, respect etc ... unparalleled in Windhoek

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