Clubs

The Art and Crafts Club offered in Early Learning and Year 2 provides a stimulating space for young children to explore and express their imagination. Pupils discover the pleasure of creating with their hands, developing  cognitive (thinking, listening, learning), emotional and physical skills. This environment encourages creativity, builds self-confidence and fosters collaboration. Through various projects such as painting, collage and sculpture, children develop their artistic sense while acquiring fine motor skills.

This club introduces children to music in a fun and caring way. Over the course of the year, they will listen to and play the Suzuki violin repertoire and other selected pieces. They will learn tonic solfeggio using hand gestures. They will prepare for the body posture of the violin, holding a bow and the posture of the left hand by developing agility, strength and flexibility in their fingers. Playing, interpreting, nurturing musical sensitivity, improving listening skills, developing memory and self-confidence: these will be our objectives throughout the year.

Chess develops multiple skills whilst having fun. By playing the game, they become researchers, thinkers and communicators, honing their intelligence in the excitement of exchange. Chess requires strategic thinking, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Children who are introduced to chess learn to think critically and make decisions based on logical reasoning; valuable skills that can be applied in school subjects such as Maths and Science. Once a week, a teacher from l'Échiquier Bordelais leads a workshop dedicated to this exciting game.

Blog: Echiquier Bordelais

Bordeaux International School aims to promote international understanding. Discovering Chinese at primary level is part of this approach to opening up to the world. A beginners' workshop (3 levels) is held once a week after school. It is run by a teacher from Club à la découverte de la Chine.

Decouverte de la Chine

Bordeaux International School has chosen Magic Makers, a partner of many international schools in France, to run its coding and robotics workshops. Pupils from Year 3 upwards discover many different areas of creation, with easy access to tools such as Scratch to emphasise the development of logical and algorithmic reasoning.

These workshops are offered to our primary school pupils once a week after school.

Magic Makers

This club will offer children a wide range of creative and educational activities, designed and run by an anglophone BIS teacher. Early learning children will have the opportunity to take part in fun and educational workshops and each month, the children will explore new themes, whether scientific, artistic, sporting, culinary, theatrical, musical or ecological.

The Singing Club is the ideal place for students who enjoy singing and exploring music in English. A varied repertoire including traditional English songs as well as childhood melodies will be worked on. This Club enables children to:

1. Develop their vocal abilities, improving their technique and discovering the full potential of their voice.

2. Improve their musical skills, by understanding different rhythms and mastering nuances.

3. Sing in harmony, by practising the art of group singing and creating vocal harmonies.

4. To develop by having the opportunity to express themselves freely and gain confidence in an encouraging and fun environment.

In partnership with the H25 dance school, this club introduces children to an artistic world rich in history and with an exceptional cultural heritage: classical dance.
Through specially adapted teaching methods, children discover not only a technique, but also a living tradition, imbued with grace, mastery of the body and artistic expression. They are taught with respect for their bodies, with rigour but also with pleasure, in order to awaken in them an awareness of the danced gesture, grace and a taste for effort. The discipline of dance enables them to gain confidence, concentration and artistic sensitivity. 

This workshop is for children aged 7 to 8 who are beginners and want to learn music through playing the piano and playing together. Each session combines the discovery of musical language, piano playing, rhythmic work using percussion instruments, the development of inner and collective listening skills and the pleasure of playing together.

'A Model United Nations (MUN) is a role-playing exercise in multilateral diplomacy, simulating the work of the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies to introduce high school and university students to global citizenship.'

Students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. For example, a student may be assigned to the United Kingdom and will have to solve global topics such as nuclear non-proliferation or climate change from the policies and perspectives of the United Kingdom. MUN allows students to bond within the group and to participate in conferences with other schools. This collaborative work is a key component towards creating a united school spirit and formidable teamwork.

This club offers an opportunity for the IGCSE and A Level students to practice and develop their practical skills, necessary for the Paper 6 at IGCSE Science and Paper 3 for A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The club not only helps students prepare for exams but also provides them with an opportunity to explore science topics that interest them more deeply.

The BIS French Club provides Middle School students with a great opportunity to learn and practice French in a relaxed, non-academic setting. It also helps them become more familiar with the culture of their host country. All club sessions will be conducted entirely in French, which will include informal conversations on a variety of topics, as well as attending cultural events in the city. The club will also make visits to different neighbourhoods in Bordeaux and offer hands-on workshops, such as baking lessons, games, and more.

This club introduces students to the rich history and exceptional cultural heritage of classical dance, in collaboration with the neighboring H25 dance studio.

Through specially adapted teaching methods students will discover not only the technique but also a living tradition of grace, physical mastery, and artistic expression. Our classes are taught with respect for students' bodies, combining rigour with enjoyment to awaken an awareness of danced movement, grace, and an appreciation for effort. Through the discipline of dance, students will build confidence, improve their concentration, and develop their artistic sensitivity.

This club, in collaboration with the neighbouring H25 dance studio, is for students aged 14 and older.

Contemporary dance emerged in the 1960s with choreographer Merce Cunningham and is known for its dynamic, free-flowing movements. Unlike classical dance, it has no rigid framework and often integrates other art forms and technology. Classes will take place in the studio centre and will begin with a comprehensive warm-up. Students will then work on a variety of exercises, including jumps, turns, and floor work, before learning a full dance variation to put their skills into practice.

BIS has chosen Magic Makers, partner of a number of international schools in France, to lead the coding and robotics club. Their active teaching is inspired by the work of MIT (magicmakers.fr). Makers will discover block programming and 3D modelling by creating animations using Scratch and Tinkercad, creating video games with Construct and programming artificial intelligence.

Over the course of the year, the students will develop strong skills in text-based programming. They will begin with Python, a language that is widely used in both professional and educational settings. From there, they will move on to designing simple "retro" games using Pygame, a library that integrates seamlessly with Python. To cap off the year, they'll learn how to create video games using the popular Roblox Studio.
This course is designed to give them a solid foundation in text-based programming, helping them become comfortable with coding logic and the syntax of various programming languages.

The Chess Club is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with a game that encourages the development of many qualities essential for a global citizen and scholar.

Through playing chess, students become more knowledgeable, thoughtful, and communicative. They also learn to be principled, open-minded, caring, and balanced individuals who are willing to take risks and reflect on their actions. This club is designed to cultivate intellectual growth in a fun and stimulating environment.

No matter your child’s experience level, this is an excellent opportunity for them to learn the game, refine their skills, and take on new challenges with their peers.

The Bilingual Digital Newspaper Club is a great way for students to improve their second language writing skills in both English and French. Through a cross-linguistic approach, students will enhance their writing abilities using peer editing and collaborative learning.

This club will also help students develop essential 21st-century skills. Participants will gain experience with fact-checking, online research, writing for digital platforms, and responsible digital citizenship. Additionally, they will learn about teamwork, project management, and taking on real responsibilities within a student-led initiative.

Our Homework Club offers a dedicated space for students from LMS1 to IGCSE2 to get support with their weekly assignments. Beyond simply completing tasks, the club is designed to help students build confidence and become more independent learners.

By providing targeted support, we aim to help them unlock their full potential, strengthen their skills, and develop the autonomy needed to succeed in their studies. It's a structured and supportive environment where students can tackle challenges, get ahead on their work, and grow as students.

This club offers a fun and enriching introduction to Chinese, helping students develop their cultural and cognitive skills. Participants will learn the basics of the language, explore traditions and recipes, developing their intercultural awareness.

The BIS Band is for secondary school students who already play an instrument and want to perform pop and rock songs as a group. The band gives public performances at our end-of-term shows, Open Day, and Graduation Day. They even sometimes play at the Fête de la Musique!

This club prepares students for the 1st and 2nd level ASSR (Attestations Scolaires de Sécurité Routière), which are awarded after a theoretical knowledge test. The aim is to understand and anticipate high-risk situations, so that students can always make the right choices when on the road to avoid putting themselves or others at risk.