21st February - every year - is set aside by the United Nations to observe Mother Language Day - so we thought it was time that we joined in! According to the United Nations:

“An essential factor in harmonious communication among peoples and an enabler of multilateral diplomacy, multilingualism is of particular importance to the United Nations.”

The theme this year was 'multilingual education' - with nearly 50 languages represented at ISH, this is a theme that is close to all of our hearts! In the secondary, we decided to base our activities around a 'treasure hunt'. Thanks to our amazing parent community, we were able to represent over 20 languages. Students had to hunt all over the school building to find out greetings and key words in all of these different languages. It was terrific to see all of these languages come alive for our students. One of the highlights for all of us was the involvement of all the PYP students, who were chaperoned by Grade 10 students as they hunted for clues.

Our primary students were treated to a full day of activities. The first 'My Languages Day', as it is called in the primary, was a great success! 

The PYP students thoroughly enjoyed the My Languages Day. The day began with students choosing to listen to stories in a variety of languages. It was such a pleasure to have so many parents and guardians offering up their precious time to join our PYP family. The parents read books in their home languages and it was wonderful to see our students captivated as they listened. 

The afternoon was used to celebrate our international community. Parents,  grandparents, family members and friends joined us for the last 2 hours of the school day. They set up stands where students could learn about the various cultures and languages. It was wonderful to see the pride as students saw their culture, language represented and many joined parents in sharing information with their peers. There were posters,  music, food, dancing, maps, crafts, games and so much more. Watching the various stall organisers engaging with each other and learning from each other was very special. 

It will go down as a day in which, by the action of our extended Hilversum community, wonderful learning opportunities were created. Ones which we hope will be embedded in the memory of our students and volunteers for years to come. 

Student Services Contact Details

Email: studentservices.ish@atscholen.nl

Phone Number: 035-6729934

On Mother Tongue day, we wish to give a voice to all the forms of communication which are important to our community. In past celebration we have even had Sign language and the language of Music represented. It is a moment in the year when we focus on languages for the sake of their personal importance to us, rather than their use as vehicles for academic learning.

Students, parents/guardians and staff are invited to prepare a presentation during which they introduce the audience to their language and culture. Below you will find examples of such presentations. 

Presentations:

We celebrated our first OWL Day on 26 September 2022. This is deliberately planned to coincide with the European Day of Languages.

The plan at International School Hilversum is to have OWL Day on the European Day of Languages as a recurring event on the calendar - and to make this a celebration of multiculturalism and intercultural understanding across the school.​

Our very own podcasters interviewed Mr. Claxton (Head of Multilingualism) to find out more about this day and to discuss the interesting topic of culture and languages:

And afterwards our podcasters dived back into the studio to review the very first edition of OWL Day:

The European Day of Languages is on 26 September and is an initiative of the Council of Europe - it has been running every year since 2001.​
​
We have chosen to call the event OWL Day for 2 reasons:

• The symbol for AT Scholen is the owl, so it makes the day more personal to our school community
• We have taken the letters of owl to signify:
  • OUR
  • WORLD
  • LANGUAGES 

We are planning to use OWL Day to promote 3 big priorities from the school's action plan:

• intercultural understanding​*
• multilingualism**​
• student agency​

​International mindedness within the context of the International Baccalaureate encompasses three dimensions: multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and global engagement: 

*Intercultural understanding: “developing knowledge of other cultural groups, appreciating different ways of being and behaving, developing positive attitudes to others” 

**Multilingualism: “a reconfiguration of how we think about languages that takes into account the complex linguistic realities of millions of people in diverse sociocultural contexts” ​

​Global engagement: “undertaking activity outside of schools, in the global community and/or foreign communities”​

It is an opportunity for us to promote the languages that we teach (including English) as well as give the students and our broader school community the opportunity to celebrate their own diverse cultures and languages.​ We are actively involving students in the planning and delivery of activities - and we are also working with our parent community and external cultural and language organisations.​

Our planning obviously builds on existing good practice across the school – we are not trying to replace all the excellent initiatives that are already in place, including language of the month and mother tongue day. The intention is to consolidate and build on what is already there and to engage and involve the whole school community. The intention is also to be very explicit about our priorities to promote multilingualism and intercultural understanding.

Activities will take place across the whole school – all the way from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The day is documented by our film club so we will have a permanent record – and something to inspire the school community for OWL Day 2024! We are delighted to be supported by our colleagues across AT Scholen in our plans for OWL Day. 26 September has been set aside as OWL Day for all schools across AT Scholen to celebrate multilingualism and intercultural understanding, which is a priority for all AT Scholen schools.

For the Language of the Month celebration, we take a new language each month to be showcased. This gives us an opportunity to think about all the other languages in our community which are not routinely reflected in our curricula. The students in each language group help us provide a visual, auditory and gustatory experience! Each language is visible in bilingual posters throughout the school; there is music during the breaks; a quiz is created by the students to reflect their language and culture and, finally, there are tasty treats from each culture in the aula during lunchtime.

We encourage students to involve their parents and families to make this an initiative for the community!

Students can also take part in Language of the Month Celebrations as a part of Service as Action. For more details about the link between Service as Action and Languages, please see here.

The PYP is designed for students between the ages of 4 and 11. It focuses on the growth of the whole child as an inquirer, in school and in the world beyond. It aims to build upon conceptual understandings by using a student-centred, inquiry-based and transdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning.

At the centre of all learning in the PYP is the student. They use their own initatives to take responsibility and ownership, becoming agents of their own learning. Through inquiry-based learning, students in the PYP develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

Transdisciplinary Learning

Learning in the PYP is transdisciplinary in nature. It embodies the relevance between, across and beyond subjects, incorporating the perspectives of various disciplines and providing students with deeper conceptual understandings. Transdisciplinarity offers students a broad and balanced learning experience.

In the PYP, there are six transdisciplinary themes which are explored yearly. These themes have been chosen by the IB as they have global significance regardless of the location or background of the students. The themes serve as a starting point of inquiry: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organise ourselves, and sharing the planet.

Inquiry-Based Learning

An inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning allows students to be actively involved and take responsibility for their own learning. It nurtures students’ curiosity and promotes lifelong learning, providing students with authentic and relatable learning experiences to explore the world around them and develop deeper conceptual understandings. Voice, choice and ownership are key features in the inquiry process, building student agency and encouraging them to extend their ideas and take action.

Although most learning is experienced through inquiry and within the Programme of Inquiry, there is scope for stand-alone lessons to take place. This may occur in subjects such as Mathematics and Language where learning does not coincide with a Unit of Inquiry.

Approaches to Learning

Approaches to learning in the PYP form an essential foundation which further inspires lifelong learning. They encompass five categories of interrelated skills, which are: communication, research, self-management, social and thinking. These skills aim to support students in becoming active and dynamic participants of the process of learning and increasing their sense of agency.

The primary school day starts at 8.30.​ The doors open at 8.20. These 10​ minutes give the students the opportunity to settle, organise themselves and socialise with their friends in class. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday the school day ends at 14.45, on Wednesday it ends at 12:30. All students bring their own snack and lunch and eat this at school. 

Every class has Physical Education twice ​a week and Music once a week. Grade 5 has drama from a specialist teacher once a week. Our Visual Art specialist teaches some of the primary classes and Dutch is taught twice a week in every class as well.

Schedules are published in the parents login section of this site.​​

Action is integral to the process of learning in the Primary Years Programme, as well as agency, the learner profile and international-mindedness. Action is student-initiated and can be carried out individually as well as collectively. It may be a short-term action, or an action which is revisited and ongoing. Furthermore, action may not always be visible or immediately have an impact. Action may be teacher-led, teacher-initiated shared, student-initiated and/or student-initiated and led. 

Action in response to student inquiries lays the foundation for Service as Action in the MYP and CAS in the DP. Through taking action, students show how they can link their learning to real-life issues, being authentic, meaningful and mindful.

ISHilversum has a Works Council that conforms to the Dutch participatory model for schools. In this official body, staff, parents and students have a voice and play an advisory role for certain areas of school vision and planning.

Two parents, four staff members and 2 Diploma Programme students form the Division Council (DC). All members are elected. The Principal and Head of Upper school attend meetings as a representative of the school boards and in an advisory capacity.

Division Council Members     

• K. Schumacher; 
• M. Schumacher; 
• Mrs. R. Pradeep; 
• Mr. R. Knoppert; 
• Ms. S. Willemsen; 
• Ms. J. van Lemmen - Chairperson;
• Mrs. P. Cloyd-Lighaam; 
• Mrs. L. Prakoso; 
• Ms. C. Neethling; 
• Mr. H. Otjes. 

There are certain decisions, issues and/or topics that the Principal requires the prior consent and/or advice of the DC. The DC has a right to request consultation with the Principal on certain subjects. The DC also has a right to any information reasonably required for the performance of its tasks.

For enquires, please contact Mrs J. van Lemmen or parent-members of the Works Council.

De International School Hilversum biedt ook Nederlandstalige leerlingen een uitdagend en gevarieerd programma. De leerlingen leren Engels op een academisch niveau en worden voorbereid op een steeds verder globaliserende wereld, terwijl zij tevens hun Nederlands op peil houden. Door hun contacten met internationale leeftijdsgenoten ontwikkelen leerlingen ook de vaardigheid Engels te spreken in informele situaties.

Leerlingen die in het bezit zijn van een Nederlands paspoort en die een getekend VWO advies van de basisschool hebben kunnen zich aanmelden voor ons Internationaal Tweetalig VWO programma. De opleiding bestaat uit twee fasen. Tijdens de eerste vier jaar doorloopt de leerling het Middle Years Programme, waarin, behalve aan het vergaren van kennis ook aandacht wordt besteed aan het ontwikkelen van eigenschappen die het leerproces bevorderen en daarnaast belangrijk zijn voor het dagelijks leven. Wij moedigen leerlingen o.a. aan om risico's te nemen, te reflecteren op hun keuzes en ideeën, zich tolerant op te stellen jegens anderen en kritisch om te gaan met informatiebronnen. Na afsluiting van het Middle Years Programme stromen leerlingen door in het International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Het IB-diploma wordt internationaal erkend en heeft enkele van onze leerlingen toegang geboden tot prestigieuze universiteiten als Oxford, Cambridge en Harvard. Het IB onderwijs is een uitstekende voorbereiding op het wetenschappelijk onderwijs.

Lees het "Toelatingsbeleid"​ van de school om er zeker van te zijn dat u in aanmerking komt voor een plaats in de tweetalige afdeling. 

In het Middle Years Programme (MYP) wordt gebruikt gemaakt van twee soorten beoordelingen: 

• Formatieve beoordelingen: worden gebruikt om regelmatig de vooruitgang en inzet van de student te evalueren en om te zien in welke mate doelen worden behaald;
• Summatieve beoordelingen: worden regelmatig gebruikt om de eindprestaties van individuele studenten te beoordelen in verhouding tot specifieke doelen. 

Beide formatieve en summatieve beoordelingen zijn gebaseerd op specifieke criteria die zijn opgesteld door het International Baccalaureate (IB). Tevens worden een aantal prestaties gevalideerd door de IB, zoals bijvoorbeeld het Personal Project (profielwerkstuk). 

​Toelating tot het Diploma Programme 

The IB Diploma Programme is designed for students aged between 16 and 19. It is a unique curriculum, not based on the pattern of a single country, but is a balance ​between the specialisation required in some national systems and the breadth of learning preferred in others.​​​

In achieving this, students who successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme demonstrate a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of their mastering of a range of subjects and in their development of skills and disciplines necessary for success in our competitive, global world. The Learner Profile, embedded throughout the PYP and MYP, continues as an integral part of the Diploma programme.

The IB Diploma allows entry to universities around the world. In recent years, students from the International School Hilversum have been offered places at such respected universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Warwick and Durham in the United Kingdom, as well as Georgetown and New York University in the US. Students have also been admitted to the University of British Columbia in Canada. Some US universities offer advance credit for IB Diploma students on certain courses. All leading universities in Europe recognise the IB Diploma.

Diploma candidates are required to select six subjects from a broad spectrum of disciplines, incorporating the arts, the humanities and sciences. Three of these subjects are taken at Higher Level, the others at Standard Level. While an overall balance is maintained, a focus on three Higher Level subjects a​llows the student to pursue areas of personal interest and meet t​he re​quirements necessary for university entrance. In addition to the study of six subjects, students also follow a Theory of Knowledge course, submit an extended essay and participate in the CAS programme​ (creativity, action and service activities).

For a list of subjects that are taught at ISHilversum, click here.

University recognition

Philosophy

CAS purposefully builds on the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), establishing continuity across the IB continuum of international education. CAS represents part of the Diploma Programme's ongoing commitment to the IB learner profile. As the IB's mission in action, the learner profile concisely describes the aspirations of a global community that shares the values underlying the IB's educational philosophy.

Through CAS, students continue to strengthen the approaches to learning they encounter and develop in the PYP and MYP. In approaches to learning, students are encouraged to grow both personally and socially, developing skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, conflict resolution and creative and critical thinking, as well as developing their own identities. CAS continues to develop students' ability to engage in critical reflection, offering increasingly sophisticated opportunities for students to analyse their own thinking, effort and performance. Students also learn how to set challenging goals and develop the commitment and perseverance to achieve them. ​

The elements of approaches to learning and the attributes of the learner profile highlighted and developed across the continuum of IB programmes are lived through the variety of CAS experiences and CAS project(s). Further, during CAS students continue to develop individual and shared responsibility, and effective teamwork and collaboration.

(Creativity, activity, service guide; 2015)

Application

The emphasis in CAS is on helping students to develop their own identities, in accordance with the ethical principles embodied in the IB mission statement and the IB learner profile. CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. It involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the DP. The three strands of CAS are Creativity (exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance), Activity (physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle) and Service (collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need). CAS contributes to the IB's mission to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

(Diploma Programme: From principles into practice, 2015)​

Through CAS, students will develop themselves through achievement of seven (7) defined Learning Outcomes:

• Learning outcome 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth;
• Learning outcome 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process;
• Learning outcome 3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience;
• Learning outcome 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences;
• Learning outcome 5: Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively;
• Learning outcome 6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance;
• Learning outcome 7: Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

Students will undertake singular Experiences and long-term Projects with the aim of achieving the CAS Strands and Learning Outcomes in ways that are meaningful to them as individuals.​

The International School Hilversum requires that all students meet the IB Diploma Programme minimum requirements for CAS Achievement. The school culture, however, stimulates students to achieve above and beyond these requirements.

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) welcomes students from age 11 onwards. The MYP is a five year programme preparing students for the IB Dipl​oma Programme. MYP students study eight subject areas which are Language Acquisition, Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Mathematics, Design, Arts, Sciences and Physical and Health Education​. 

Each subject e​mphasises the MYP's fundamental principles to student learning which are:

• Holistic learning - accentuating the interrelatedness of one subject to another while, at the same time, thoroughly studying each subject discretely;

• Intercultural awareness - considering and understanding multiple perspectives in a bid to foster tolerance, respect and empathy;

• Communication - developing inquiry and understanding, reflection and expression through all subjects. This is represented in the form of ICT and visual and performing arts as well as through language communication.

Student assessment within the MYP consists of two types, each with a specific function:

• Formative assessment is used to judge periodically the progress and efforts of studies and to see to what extent the objectives have been achieved.
• Summative assessment takes place regularly and shows the final achievement of the individual student in relation to specific objectives.​

MYP assessment, whether formative or summative is carried out using assessment criteria established by the International Baccalaureate. In addition, the overall standard is externally validated through the IB in areas such as the Personal Project.

​Admission to the Diploma Programme

The Careers department at ISHilversum is made up of many parts and a good number of staff members are involved in delivering a comprehensive programme for students, starting in Grade 9 and finishing with university entrance in Grade 12 and beyond. 

Grade 9 Parents' Career Evening

Once a year, the Grade 9 students have an opportunity to meet volunteer parents from all walks of life in a series of short presentations with questions and answers. The evening is organised in collaboration with the PTA and well over 20 other parents!

STEP-ONE Careers Profiling

In Grade 10, we try to focus the students towards their Diploma Programme subject choices and the choices they will be needing to make as they approach graduation. STEP ONE is an independent organisation that is employed by the school to carry out specialised profiling on an individual basis. The tests are administered online but conducted in school and administered by a STEP ONE professional. The testing is essentially a series of comprehensive psychometric tests which are designed to assess the student in a number of ways. The students receive feedback in small groups from the visiting consultant.

After The Middle Years Programme

Later in Grade 10 the careers department helps with decision-making and package building for the Diploma Programme. We try to help students who are leaving the school at this point, providing transcripts, organising references and giving some advice as to what options are available to the student. There is a dedicated careers officer for this purpose and the same person specialises in Dutch career opportunities. These may be higher education studies in Dutch or a career in the military as well as possible relocation to another secondary establishment.

​

Contact

It is important for parents to be part of the planning for any eventuality, from subject choices in the Diploma Programme to relocation. To this end the careers department holds an information evening for parents concerning subject choices. If a student is considering leaving the school after Grade 10, they can make an appointment at ANY time during Grades 9 and 10 to talk about their plans or ask questions. Parents can e-mail Ms. Isaac, who is head of the careers programme at the school and Ms. Gulikers who is responsible for Dutch careers information.

Learning Outside the Classroom

As part of our aim to learn through diversity, we create many opportunities for our students to learn outside the traditional classroom environment. This helps them to develop many personal skills as well as to focus on their academic and cultural learning through real, hands-on experiences. From Grade 6 (age 11-12), where the students go on a day out at the beginning of the year, students take part in a number of long-distance, external learning experiences. These include the following:

"IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.​"

(MYP: From Principles into Practice 2014)

At the International School Hilversum, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) welcomes students from age 4 to 11. Our aim is that, in today’s fast-changing world, we help to develop each one of our students as an academically skilled and reflective individual with an appreciation for diversity. We offer a supportive and secure environment where every student can reach their full potential. We also give the whole school community the opportunity to embrace challenges and contribute positively to an ever-changing world.

The emphasis of the PYP is on student-centred, inquiry-based and transdisciplinary learning, building upon conceptual understanding. We provide opportunities for students to build upon prior knowledge and use real-world and relevant examples to introduce new concepts. Our students learn through:

• A variety of learning approaches that help to encourage critical and creative thinkers;

• The opportunity to learn alongside students from the local community and from all over the world, helping to encourage respectful, all-embracing world citizens;

• A range of learning environments including many opportunities for learning outside the classroom as well as in, and through all forms of communication technology to inspire life-long learners;

• New and unique learning situations that encourage students to be confident, responsible and thoughtful risk-takers.

The beauty of the PYP at ISHilversum is our size. Everyone learns, works, plays and socialises under one roof and so everyone knows everyone. They share some whole-school activities such as the primary school play. Our primary students grow up alongside our teenagers and peer learning is something we value whenever the opportunity allows.​

The primary has a small, active group of parents who together form the primary PTA. Apart from helping the teachers organising events, they also organise events for the students such as culutural celebrations, a book club and the annual 'avondvierdaagse'.

We appreciate your interest in our school as a potential educational home for your child. We understand the weight of this decision and sincerely thank you for considering us. The journey of selecting the right educational environment is a significant one, and we're honored to be part of this process with you.

At International School Hilversum, we recognize the responsibility and trust placed in us by families seeking an exceptional educational experience. Your consideration means a great deal, and we're committed to providing the necessary guidance and support throughout the admissions process.

Please know that beyond the admissions process, our school community extends a warm and genuine welcome. We embrace diversity, value inclusivity, and strive to create a nurturing environment where every child thrives.

We're excited about the possibility of welcoming your child into our community and accompanying them on their educational journey.

The International School Hilversum has a mandate to provide a quality international education in English for 4-19 year olds. The school welcomes applications from students regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion. 

For admissions enquiries to the Secondary School, please contact Mr. Charles Claxton, through our Admissions Team: admissions@ishilversum.nl

For all Primary School enquiries, please contact Ms. Evelien Luijt: e.luijt@​atscholen.nl.

We invite all potential families and candidates to go through our Admissions Policy and 'How to Apply' section before putting in an enquiry with us.

Click here to access the school's Admissions Policy.

Admissions to the International Stream (Secondary)

Enrolment is possible at any time during the school year provided space is available. In order to place students as accurately as possible entrance tests will be administered where necessary. Grade placement depends on an evaluation of the student's transcript of previous academic results, a reference from the student’s current school his/her ability to function in English, and the results of any entrance tests (if applicable). The applicant must provide two concurrent years of school records for the period immediately prior to the time of the application.

The enrolment procedure for parents/legal guardians of International Stream students is as follows:

1. All applications are made online through “Open Apply”. A visit to the school can be arranged by setting an appointment with the Admissions Officer;
2. Initial enrolment is by means of an interest only form on “Open Apply” and does not guarantee a place at ISHilversum;
3. Parents/legal guardians need to upload a copy of transcripts and report cards from the previous two years, together with a valid copy of the applicant’s passport or ID card. Additionally, the current school of the student will be asked to complete a reference, which must be completed before placement can be confirmed;
4. Where necessary, the school will arrange for the student to sit an entrance test and be interviewed;
5. There is an initial, non-refundable administration fee, which must be paid before any admissions interview can take place;
6. Upon acceptance of an offer, a deposit of €500 is charged to confirm enrolment and secure the student’s place at the school. This deposit is payable prior to the official start date.
7. After acceptance, parents/legal guardians will receive an invoice for payment of tuition according to the current fee structure.

The International Stream does not work with waiting lists. If entry is denied for any reason, the application procedure is stopped. Families may re-apply at a later time, if the situation changes. No administration fee is charged for re-applicants.
 

Toelating tot Internationaal Tweetalig VWO

Over het algemeen sluiten Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-studenten zich aan bij de school in het eerste jaar van het voortgezet onderwijs (Grade 7, meestal 12 jaar oud). De aanmeldingsprocedure volgt de normale procedure van de scholen in de regio, inclusief de afronding van de aanmelding voor een bepaalde tijd (normaliter in maart).

De aanmeldingsprocedure voor het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO- programma voor ouders/voogden is als volgt:

1. Alle aanmeldingen worden gedaan via “Open Apply”. Voor de aanmelding hebben Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-studenten de kans om de school te bezoeken tijdens onze open dag en/of open lesmiddag;
2. De eerste aanmelding wordt gedaan via ons Aanmeldingsformulier. Het invullen van dit formulier garandeert niet automatisch een plaats bij de school;
3. Ouders/voogden moeten het officiële advies van de basisschool (VWO) uploaden, samen met een geldig kopie van een Nederlands paspoort of ID-kaart van de student;
4. Mocht het nodig geacht worden, dan zal de school na een aanmelding voor het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma een interview aanvragen met de betreffende student;
5. Na toelating zullen ouders/voogden een factuur ontvangen.
    

Admissions to Primary Years Programme

The enrolment procedure for parents/legal guardians of primary students is as follows:

1. All applications are made online through “Open Apply”. The primary school Administrator has a meeting with parents/legal guardians and the potential student.
2. Initial enrolment is by means of an interest only form on “Open Apply” and does not guarantee a place at ISHilversum;
3. Parents/legal guardians need to upload a copy of transcripts and report cards from the previous two years, together with a valid copy of the applicant’s passport or ID card. For students under 4, who do not yet have report cards, parents/legal guardians can override the system report request in Open Apply by uploading a blank document;
4. There is an administration fee, which will be charged upon definite entry to the school;
5. After acceptance, parents/legal guardians will receive an invoice for payment of tuition according to the current fee structure.

The conditions of entry to the Primary Years Programme (PYP) are governed by the availability of space at the appropriate grade level, the school’s ability to meet each student’s needs and the student’s ability to fulfil the programme requirements. The school is also bound by the conditions laid down by and the agreements made with the Dutch Ministry of Education

Access to international primary education is permitted for:

• Students with a non-Dutch passport where one or both of the parents/legal guardians are temporarily employed in The Netherlands;
• Students of Dutch nationality who have been educated (in English) outside the Netherlands for a period of two years or more;
• Students whose parents/legal guardians are intending to move abroad within the coming two years and who can therefore demonstrate a particular need for international education;
• In addition, where spaces are limited, we will give priority to students who have no viable alternative upon arrival in the country. Hence students arriving from abroad are prioritised over students who are already at school or have access to Dutch education.

All PYP students are re-assessed for a second time as to their eligibility to continue on into secondary international education.

Parents/legal guardians must be aware that the application procedure is often a complex affair, where applications are held up for any number of reasons and other applications move in front of them. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deal with all applications in strict chronological order. Although we do try to be as fair as we can, the ISHilversum does reserve the right to make its own choices on applications and may choose to fast track certain applications at its own discretion.

Prioritisation

When carrying out the admissions process, we try to be fair to all parties. However, as an international school, we must give priority to certain categories of students. As a guideline we set ourselves the following list of priorities:

1. Emergency cases, where a family may be forced out of a country through civil conflict or natural disaster;
2. International students that need to find a school in the Netherlands and are unable to access the national system;
3. Qualifying siblings of students currently in the school and children of staff;
4. Students transferring from another international school in the Netherlands who have moved into the region and/or have other extenuating circumstances (only in consultation with the student’s current school);
5. All other qualifying applicants.

Age requirements

Amongst other things, students are placed according to their age. Exceptions to this rule are rarely made and only upon careful evaluation of the applicant by the admissions team.

In the primary school, students must be between the ages of 4 and 11. When starting Grade 1, students must be 6 by October 1st of the year of admission.

How to Apply

The enrolment procedure for parents/legal guardians of primary students is as follows:

1. All applications are made online through “Open Apply”. The primary school Administrator has a meeting with parents/legal guardians and the potential student;
2. Initial enrolment is by means of an interest only form on “Open Apply” and does not guarantee a place at ISHilversum;
3. Parents/legal guardians need to upload a copy of transcripts and report cards from the previous two years, together with a valid copy of the applicant’s passport or ID card. For students under 4, who do not yet have report cards, parents/legal guardians can override the system report request in Open Apply by uploading a blank document. As part of the process, parents/guardians are asked to upload any inclusion support plan that is running at the student's current school, so that we have the option of assessing how we may take this over. Additionally, the current school of the student is asked to complete a questionnaire, which must be completed before placement can be confirmed. Other relevant documents concerning special needs should also be uploaded at this stage;
4. There is an administration fee, which will be charged upon definite entry to the school;
5. After acceptance, parents/legal guardians will receive an invoice for payment of tuition according to the current fee structure.
6. Parents/legal guardians will be requested to fill out an introduction form, which allows the applicable Classroom Teacher to gain more information about the student upon entry to the school. 

Conditions of Entry

Prioritisation

Academic Expectations

Inclusion

Age Requirements

Language Requirements

Diploma Programme

How To Apply

Conditions of Entry

The conditions of entry to the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) are governed by the availability of space at the appropriate grade level, the school’s ability to meet each student’s needs and the student’s ability to fulfil the programme requirements. The school is also bound by the conditions laid down by and the agreements made with the Dutch Ministry of Education.

Following the agreements made between the Dutch Government and the Dutch International Secondary Schools (DISS), the International Stream at the ISHilversum considers applications from:

• Students with a non-Dutch passport where one or both of the parents/legal guardians are temporarily employed in The Netherlands;
• Students of Dutch nationality who have been educated (in English) outside the Netherlands for a period of two years or more;
• Students whose parents/legal guardians are intending to move abroad within the coming two years and who can therefore demonstrate a particular need for international education;
• In addition, where spaces are limited, we will give priority to students who have no viable alternative upon arrival in the country. Hence students arriving from abroad are prioritised over students who are already at school or have access to Dutch education.

Prioritisation

When carrying out the admissions process, we try to be fair to all parties. However, as an international school, we must give priority to certain categories of students. As a guideline, we set ourselves the following list of priorities:

1. Students, from our own PYP Grade 5, that qualify according to one of the criteria listed above;
2. International students that need to find a school in the Netherlands and are unable to access the national system;
3. Qualifying siblings of students currently in the school and children of staff;
4. Students transferring from another international school in the Netherlands who have moved into the region and/or have other extenuating circumstances (only in consultation with the student’s current school); 
5. All other qualifying applicants.

Parents/legal guardians must be aware that the application procedure is often a complex affair, where applications are held up for any number of reasons and other applications move in front of them. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to deal with all applications in strict chronological order. Although we do try to be as fair as we can, the ISHilversum does reserve the right to make its own choices on applications and may choose to fast track certain applications at its own discretion.

Academic Expectations

Admission to the ISHilversum is open to students who can profit from a challenging, international (university preparatory) education offered in the English language. The ISHilversum aims to guide its students towards the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Therefore, the academic programme is demanding, with a strong language component. Almost all students enter colleges, universities or other higher educational training programmes after graduation. Students applying for the Diploma Programme will have to indicate through previous achievement their ability to cope with rigorous academic work. The ISHilversum offers the full Diploma Programme only.

Inclusion

As a school that celebrates diversity, we offer admission to students with certain learning challenges or physical disabilities. The nature and severity of each individual case will be measured against our available facilities and resources.

Upon registration, the student’s parents/legal guardians must report any (diagnosed) need for learning support. This is in the best interest of the student and enables the school to provide learning support within the scope of the school’s resources. Failure to report an already diagnosed need for learning support on the registration form may result in de-registration from the school. Parents/legal guardians can be asked to make documents and reports available to the school at the time of registration so that supportive measures can be implemented where required. As part of the induction process students may be tested diagnostically in order to best support their learning needs. This process is not intended to determine the academic ability of the student.  

Age Requirements

Amongst other things, students are placed according to their age. Exceptions to this rule are rarely made and only upon careful evaluation of the applicant by the admissions team.

Language Requirements

In keeping with the philosophy of international education, the ISHilversum does offer places to international students with a limited command of English, but who can demonstrate a need for international education. This may be the case when, for example, parents/legal guardians come to The Netherlands to work and the student has little or no alternative because of the language barrier or their personal situation. To be allowed to complete the programme, the student in this case must acquire sufficient language skills within a reasonable period of time and demonstrate academic ability that is suitable to the level required by the school. In Grades 6-10 the needs of students in the International Stream with a limited command of English are therefore accommodated in special English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes in addition to their regular classroom work. It is the aim of the EAL teacher to bring students to a workable standard as quickly as possible.

Diploma Programme

At ISHilversum, we offer the full IB Diploma Programme, which by definition includes the Core, i.e. a course in Knowledge (Theory of Knowledge) and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). Students applying for the Diploma Programme will have to indicate their ability to cope with rigorous academic work through previous achievement and show a willingness to fully engage with the Core of the programme. For more information regarding subject packages and the DP Core see DP Booklet.

Placement could be dependent on the school requesting additional tests in Languages, Mathematics and Sciences.

Enrolment is possible at any time during the school year provided space is available. In order to place students as accurately as possible, entrance tests will be administered where necessary. Grade placement depends on an evaluation of the student's transcript of previous academic results, a reference from the student’s current school, his/her ability to function in English, and the results of any entrance tests (if applicable). The applicant must provide two concurrent years of school records for the period immediately prior to the time of the application.

The enrolment procedure for parents/legal guardians of International Stream students is as follows:

1. All applications are made online through “Open Apply”. A visit to the school can be arranged by setting an appointment with the Admissions Officer;
2. Initial enrolment is by means of an interest only form on “Open Apply” and does not guarantee a place at ISHilversum;
3. Parents/legal guardians need to upload a copy of transcripts and report cards from the previous two years, together with a valid copy of the applicant’s passport or ID card. Additionally, the current school of the student will be asked to complete a reference, which must be completed before placement can be confirmed;
4. Where necessary, the school will arrange for the student to sit an entrance test and be interviewed;
5. There is an initial, non-refundable administration fee, which must be paid before any admissions interview can take place;
6. Upon acceptance of an offer, a deposit of €500 is charged to confirm enrolment and secure the student’s place at the school. This deposit is payable prior to the official start date.
7. After acceptance, parents/legal guardians will receive an invoice for payment of tuition according to the current fee structure.
8. New Admissions will be considered for students starting in September, January and April. We regret that we cannot normally consider admissions at other times in the year except by prior agreement with the Principal.

The International Stream does not work with waiting lists. If entry is denied for any reason, the application procedure is stopped. Families may re-apply at a later time, if the situation changes. No administration fee is charged for re-applicants.

*De datums voor de open lesmiddagen, de open dag en de aanmelding voor het schooljaar 2025/2026 vindt u hieronder.

Leerlingen die een VWO-advies van de basisschool hebben gekregen, een Nederlands paspoort hebben, vloeiend Nederlands spreken en waarbij de voertaal thuis Nederlands is, kunnen zich aanmelden voor ons Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma.

Het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma wordt voor een groot deel in het Engels gegeven en de studenten krijgen Latijn als extra uitdaging. Samenwerken en zelfmanagement zijn heel belangrijk in het Middle Years Programme (MYP) van het International Baccalaureate (IB). Dit programma is veeleisend voor jonge studenten en past niet bij alle type leerlingen. Mocht de school het dan ook nodig achten, dan zullen zij leerlingen die zich aanmelden voor het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma tijdens de aanmeldingsprocedure uitnodigen voor een interview.

Om toegelaten te worden tot het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma op een ander moment dan tijdens het eerste jaar, moet de student voldoen aan eerder genoemde criteria en op dat moment een gelijkwaardige opleiding aan het doen zijn (inclusief Latijn). Om toegelaten te worden tot het Diploma Programme (DP) als tweetalige student, moet minimaal VWO 4 succesvol zijn afgerond. Voor de gekozen ‘higher-level’ vakken is een minimum cijfer van een 7,5 nodig (op een schaal van 1 tot 10). Voor toelating tot het DP is een intake interview een essentieel onderdeel van de aanmeldingsprocedure. Tweetalige studenten die al staan ingeschreven bij de ISHilversum moeten Grade 10 succesvol afgerond hebben om toegang te krijgen tot het DP (voor specifieke criteria zie ‘Promotional Guidelines Policy’).

Leeftijdeisen

Studenten worden onder andere geplaatst in een jaarlaag op basis van hun leeftijd. Uitzonderingen worden zelden gemaakt en enkel na een zorgvuldige evaluatie van de student door het Admissions Team.

Aanmeldingsprocedure

Over het algemeen sluiten Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-studenten zich aan bij de school in het eerste jaar van het voortgezet onderwijs (Grade 7, meestal 12 jaar oud). De aanmeldingsprocedure volgt de normale procedure van de scholen in de regio, inclusief de afronding van de aanmelding voor een bepaalde tijd (normaliter in maart/april).

Belangrijke datums aanmeldingsprocedure 2025/2026:

• 11 december 2024 15:00-16:30: open les middag, groep 8 vwo leerling (alléén bij inschrijving)*
• 28 januari 2025 18:00: voorlichtingsavond voor ouders
• 08 februari 2025 09:30-12:00: “open dag”: groep 8 vwo leerling met ouder(s)
• 05 maart 2025 15:00-16:30: open les middag, groep 8 vwo leerling (alléén bij inschrijving)
• 25 maart tot 31 maart 2025 15:00: ingevulde en ondertekende aanmeldingsformulier (via Open Apply) met verplichte formele basisschooladvies (uploaden).

*De inschrijving voor de Open lesmiddag van woensdag 11 december: 15:00-16:30 is gesloten. Mocht u de inschrijvingsperiode gemist hebben en uw zoon of dochter toch nog graag willen inschrijven, stuur dan even een email naar admissions@ishilversum.nl .

De aanmeldingsprocedure voor het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO- programma voor ouders/voogden is als volgt:

1. Alle aanmeldingen worden gedaan via “Open Apply”. Voor de aanmelding hebben Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-studenten de kans om de school te bezoeken tijdens onze open dag en/of open lesmiddag;
2. De eerste aanmelding wordt gedaan via ons Aanmeldingsformulier. Het invullen van dit formulier garandeert niet automatisch een plaats bij de school (25 maart – 31 maart van scholen voor voortgezet onderwijs in het Gooi);
3. Ouders/voogden moeten het officiële advies van de basisschool (VWO) uploaden, samen met een geldig kopie van een Nederlands paspoort of ID-kaart van de student;
4. Mocht het nodig geacht worden, dan zal de school na een aanmelding voor het Internationaal Tweetalig VWO-programma een interview aanvragen met de betreffende student;
5. Na toelating zullen ouders/voogden een factuur ontvangen.

Disclaimer

Despite the constant care and attention that Alberdingk Thijm Scholen devotes to the school website, it can occur that the information the site contains may be incomplete or incorrect. The information posted on the site gets supplemented and updated periodically; changes can be made at any time with immediate effect and without notice.

Visitors to the site are not permitted to publish or duplicate copyright protected works or other information published on the site in any way whatsoever, without the prior consent of Alberdingk Thijm Scholen. This also includes the reproduction of information or its parts by publishing it on an electronic (computer) network.

Alberdingk Thijm Scholen excludes all liability for any direct or indirect damages of any nature whatsoever arising from or in any way related to the use of its website and the information it contains, or caused by the (temporary) inability to consult the site or its information. Alberdingk Thijm Scholen will not be liable for any damages that occur, directly or indirectly, resulting from the use of information obtained through our site.

Privacy

The school website regards its responsibility regarding your privacy, very seriously. Please read the following section to find out more about our privacy policy. The school attaches great importance to the protection of your personal data. By accessing this website, you agree to the applicability of this privacy policy, which may be amended or modified periodically without prior notice. 

Personal Data

You do not need to provide us with personally identifiable information in order to use our website. When we receive, collect and/or process personal information from a third party, we will respect its confidentiality and afford it appropriate protection using it in a fair and lawful manner. We are committed to your privacy and will never disclose personal information to any third party whatsoever. 

Our website contains links which, once used, will lead you to leave the school’s site and access those of third parties. Please note that we do not have any control over other parties’ websites which are linked to ours. It is therefore possible that a different privacy policy may apply to the use of websites of third parties. We accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever for (the operation and/or content of) websites of third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies and practices of other websites you visit. The school website is careful to provide its visitors with accurate and up-to-date information. We are therefore not responsible for information, data, or programs you might obtain from third parties through our site. Bear in mind that the information you obtain from other parties does not always represent our opinions.

Please note that we will not be held liable for any direct or indirect damages that could result from using the information offered on our website. No rights or claims can be derived from the content of this website.

Visual material

On the websites and social media channels of the Alberdingk Thijm Scholen we make extensive use of representative visual material commissioned by our school. When registering a child at the school, parents or guardians will be requested permission to allow for publishing of visual materials of their child. In general, we strive to show students in a non-recognizable way whenever feasible. Those students and staff who are otherwise portrayed, will always be asked for permission beforehand. In the unlikely event that a person, who has not given permission, is depicted in a recognisable way in a photo or video, and objects to it, their views can be made known to the school management by e-mail. In that case, please include the link to the photo and the school concerned. The material will be then removed immediately.   

Google Analytics

Through our Website a cookie is placed by an American company Google as part of its ‘Analytics’ service. We use this service to monitor how visitors use the Website. Google may pass this information on to third parties if it is legally required to do so or if third parties process the information on Google's behalf.  The school has no influence over this. We have not authorised Google to use the obtained information for other Google services. The information collected by Google is made as anonymous as possible. Any potentially identifiable personal information will not be made available, we emphasize that your IP address is not part of the collected information.  Google stores this information on servers in the United States.