2_1_DiscoverGermany_January15_Issue22:Scan Magazine 1
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Discover Germany | Special Theme | Top International Schools Germany
ISR – International School on the Rhine We enable great minds and strong characters ‘It’s cool to excel academically’ – the school’s mission statement is reflected in every aspect of school life. “Many families entrust their children to the ISR because we do not only teach math and science, but also moral values in partnership with parents,” Eileen Lyons, school director, says. TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF | PHOTOS: ISR – INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON THE RHINE / VIOLETTA ODENTHAL
The ISR is a privately financed, non-profit school with a full-day academic programme in the Düsseldorf, Neuss and Cologne region, which seeks to develop students into well-rounded, multi-lingual, self-aware and socially-responsible global citizens. It offers an excellent, international education with a holistic concept from nursery school to grade 12. The school’s vision is to pose as a leader in academic achievement, to provide self-development and character-building experiences, to prepare for life and to connect their graduates world-wide through building an active alumni network.
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600 students from 48 different nationalities can enjoy the 50,000 square metre campus and a new school building from 08:20 until 16:20, with supervision starting at 07:45 until 18:00. Modern infrastructure includes new interactive white boards in all class rooms and well equipped science labs, music facilities, and sports halls. Some optional varsity sports (football, track, tennis and swimming) and private music or language lessons round out the programme. A private school bus company facilitatessafe transport to the ISR and back to all residential areas of the region.
Starting in Kindergarten, all classes are taught in English by native Englishspeaking teachers. The German curriculum is a fully-fledged accredited programme. Hence, children are fully immersed in English and German over their entire school career. Additionally, French, Spanish and Mandarin are taught – Japanese to be added shortly. These are the languages required in an increasingly competitive job market later in life. Graduates of ISR have consistently achieved the best IB (International Baccalaureate) exam results – an average of 34 points in 2014 – in the Düsseldorf region over many years. ISR is non-selective with respect to who enters the IB programme and all graduates entered leading universities directly after graduation, such as Cambridge, Berkeley or TU München. As an accredited school, the ISR IB diploma is accepted as“Allgemeine Hochschulreife”in