B.I.S was re-accredited by the
Council of International Schools in June 2010
(www.cois.org)
and is recognised by the French Ministry of Education

Secondary school (14 - 18 years)



IGCSE Classes (14 - 15 Years)

Often pupils come to Bordeaux International School specifically to complete their secondary education in English. They obtain internationally recognised qualifications that will equip them for higher and further education throughout the world.

Entry requirements
The Secondary school is open to all 14-15 year-olds wishing to take courses leading to IGCSE exam subjects. We have no statutory educational entrance requirement, although the school does operate a strict policy on good behaviour. We do not accept pupils with a history of disruptive or poor behaviour in previous schools.

Subjects offered
The following subjects are offered at IGCSE level:

Advanced level classes  (normally 16 – 18 years)

Most of our A-level school-leavers go on to attend colleges and universities in Great Britain, Australia and the USA. Those with a satisfactory level in French have the option of attending a French University, building on the language skills they have developed at Bordeaux International School.

For those students wishing to take A-levels, the standard sixth form college entry qualifications apply. This means a minimum of five C grades at IGCSE, GCSE or equivalent with a minimum of B grades in their chosen A-level subjects.

The following subjects are offered at AS and A-level, although subject availability depends on sufficient demand. Pupils can choose to take between three and five subjects.

Academic achievement
The school achieves excellent exam results, which is particularly impressive given that we have a non-selective entry process with no formal entrance exam.

For demonstration purposes, we have taken the school’s results and compared them with those of the same period in the UK:

Additionally, pupils take standardised tests in English, Maths and Science twice a year so that their performance can be monitored against national statistics.

Examination boards and membership
The Bordeaux International School is registered with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) as an official centre for examinations and is accredited as a school of excellence by the Council of International Schools (B.I.S. has been accredited by the Council of International Schools since 2000 and was  re-accredited in June 2010).

Class size and age bands
The school is dedicated to maximising the talents of its pupils.  Classes are deliberately kept small – normally a maximum of 12 – allowing for a great deal of individual interaction between the teacher and the pupils.  Broadly, we group pupils according to their age as on 1st September.

Personal tutor
For many parents, it can be daunting, moving their child to a new school in a new country with a new language and new way of life. To ease the transition, each pupil is assigned a personal tutor whose role is to guide and assist them in settling in happily at the school, and with their peers and host family where applicable.

The tutor follows their progress and achievement, co-ordinates their social integration and pastoral care, and liaises closely with their parents. They also assist in resolving any difficulties and provide career advice to help the pupil and parents make decisions regarding which subjects to study.

School hours for students aged 12 - 18
The timetable is adapted to accommodate those pupils who travel home to their own family at weekends. On Mondays, class starts at 10.00 and on Fridays, school finishes at 14.30.  During the rest of the week, the hours are 08.30 – 17.00. Pupils staying with host families benefit from an additional hour of supervised private study at the end of the day.

Non-native English speakers
For pupils whose mother tongue is not English and who require additional support, we provide individual English as a Second Language tuition (at a cost). This ensures exam success is not compromised.

Integration into the local community
We make every effort to involve pupils in the life and culture of Bordeaux with regular visits to theatres, art galleries, museums and a number of community-minded organisations (such as Banque Alimentaire and Fair Trade). In addition, older pupils, keen to gain real-life experience, are assisted in obtaining work placements with local organisations.

Duke of Edinburgh International Award Scheme
Pupils are encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Scheme. Founded in 1956, the scheme aims to develop people aged between 14 and 25 mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Award is equally about learning new skills, exploring cultural heritage and assisting people within the community.

Indeed, the Duke of Edinburgh award has four elements – learning a skill, taking part in a service for the community, being involved for a period of time with a sport and taking part in an expedition involving hiking and overnight camping.

The skills of initiative and autonomy developed are highly regarded by employers the world over and will stand all participants in good stead throughout their working lives. Some activities can be completed at school, but the majority of activities requires a commitment from the pupils to give up some of their own time.

Host family arrangements
Living with a local family in Bordeaux is an ideal arrangement for Secondary School pupils whose parents live a long way from the school.  It is also the most effective way to gain fluency and to absorb the French language and culture. The pupils become part of the family and are soon chatting at the breakfast table, going shopping, visiting relatives and helping at meal times.
Accommodation is full board either on a weekly or full-time basis. All host families are personally vetted and selected, some of whom have been hosting pupils for several years, and with whom the school has built up very close relationships.
We aim to match pupils to host families as far as possible, for example with children of similar ages, hobbies and interests. We always consult the parents and introduce both families before the pupil moves in. It is vital that the pupil is happy in their host family and we devote a lot of care to this aspect.

Other information
Each year pupils in both sections of the school have the opportunity to take part in an extended trip lasting between 3 and 7 days.  This can be to Paris, England, Wales, Spain or skiing in the Pyrenees.
To assist pupils in their studies outside the school, all pupils are registered with the BIS platform – a system of "e-learning" where work is set, completed and marked on-line.  This is particularly useful for students in their final years completing examination practice.
All senior students have personal individual interviews on a regular basis with the head of senior school for help with university applications and career prospects.