Application process

Please see the admissions policy.

Nursery

• The child must be 3 years old by December 31st of their year of entry.
• All Nursery applicants are encouraged to come to the individual observation to determine their level of readiness to start our Early Childhood Program. In case a family is not able to come to BFIS, a video/s of their child will be requested with specific instructions. In cases where assessment results are not conclusive, the admissions team will recommend further external assessments or to delay entry.
• The child must be toilet trained before starting school.
• The child must be able to feed and dress him/herself reasonably independently.

Grade 11

• BFIS values the IBDP and its engaging and challenging curriculum, which encourages critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and integrity. As such, we seek to enroll engaged and motivated students who embody the IB learner profile.
• Prospective Grade 11 students may be required to interview with a member of the HS Admissions Team to discuss their course preferences and the demands of the IBDP.
• Exceptionally, if a student wishes to enter Grade 11 once the school year has started, only students previously enrolled in the IBDP and whose subject choices coincide will be considered.
• BFIS does not accept students entering Grade 11 after October 15th.
• BFIS requires passing grades in all HS subject areas.
• To enter the IBDP, students should be no more than one year older or younger than the average age for their grade and cannot be older than 19 when they graduate.

In general, students will be placed according to their age on December 31st of their year of entry and/or the completion of the previous grade elsewhere.

Under exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Team will consider a different placement than the above based on academic records, date of birth, school system, location of previous country and cut off dates in the country of study.

The final decision is determined by the Admissions Team.

Early Childhood is a two-to-three-year program, depending on student readiness and development, as determined by the Elementary School Principal. The Elementary School Academic team will decide in May whether a child will be promoted to Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten.

Once the application has been reviewed, the decision is communicated within two weeks. Please take note that applications for support services and those including special circumstances may take longer.

Qualified - Acceptance: If the application receives a positive review, the applicant meets criteria for admission at BFIS and is considered a Qualified applicant.  Qualified applicants are offered space based on the Admissions Policy prioritization sequence (Refer to Admissions Policy). The Admissions Office will contact the family by email regarding Enrollment (Step 4).

Qualified - Waiting Pool: If a candidate meets all the admissions criteria and qualifies for acceptance in a grade level that has reached capacity, then he/she will be placed in the waiting pool for that particular year. The Admissions Office will send a written note to the parents to request if they would like to remain in the waiting pool. BFIS uses a prioritization sequence to determine which qualified students in the wait pool will be offered space (Refer to Admissions Policy). Please note that a qualified applicant’s position in the waiting pool may change based on the prioritization sequence.  When a place becomes available, the Admissions Office will contact the family by email regarding enrollment (Step 4).

Denial: The school may decide to deny admission when there are concerns about behavior, academic achievement, social/emotional stability; and/or when a candidate’s English language proficiency is not commensurate with the grade level for which they are applying. Admissions may also be denied when the school is unable to offer a program to adequately meet an individual student’s learning needs. If an applicant is denied admission, notification of the decision will be communicated to the family by the Admissions Office.