BIS… a truly international school
- A bilingual Early Learning
- A bilingual Primary
- A bilingual Middle School
- An international Secondary leading to IGCSEs and International Advanced Level.
In an international, multicultural, multilingual environment, BIS brings together on average 170 students from more than 25 nationalities who benefit from innovative, active, rigorous and inclusive educational programmes, taught by an international team of qualified teachers.
An international bilingual school, BIS welcomes students from both French and foreign families on the move, who wish to benefit from a continuity of teaching, as well as francophone pupils who wish to acquire or develop the English language. They all benefit from bilingual French-English teaching, requiring discipline, effort, and openness of spirit.
This mixing of nationalities, languages, and cultures makes BIS exceptional, and a genuinely international school.
From three to fourteen years, classes are guaranteed 50% in English and 50% in French. Teaching pairs and French and English-language classrooms allow pupils to move from one world to another, and to wholly immerse themselves in the languages.
Other elements of school life (cultural outings, school projects…) also benefit from this bilingualism.
In Secondary, the classes are predominantly given in English in order to prepare for international examinations, while the acquisition of linguistic skills in English, French, and Spanish (optional) remains a priority.
Since 1987, Bordeaux International School has constructed an active network of partners both in the educational world as well as economic, cultural, and social, in partnership with the key institutions who support the school.
BIS has been a cooperative institution (SCOP) since 1999. The teaching and administrative teams constitute the main associates, for whom each decision or action is exclusively dedicated to the improvement of learning conditions, the fulfillment of students, in harmony with the missions and objectives of the school.
Furthermore, frequent meetings and newsletters help to maintain active communication between all members of the school community and its representatives, who are also implicated in the key decisions and activities of the school.
Where do our students come from?
For over thirty-three years, the teaching team at Bordeaux International School has been developing a bilingual learning environment that allows our students to progress and flourish, whatever their age or nationality.
We have been, and continue to be, extremely lucky to work with teachers who are committed both individually and collectively, to putting in place the school’s Missions and Aims which underpin everything we do at BIS. As a team, we help our students acquire the intellectual, linguistic and cultural skills that will allow them to play a positive role in this constantly evolving world, in order to become enlightened, confident, united and open-minded global citizens.
To achieve our aims, we have made the choice to limit class sizes to no more than 16 students, so that each student receives individualised attention. They are actively encouraged to talk to their teachers, tutors, class representative or Heads of School at any time, which helps create a climate of understanding, cooperation, and mutual respect. Students are rewarded in their efforts as they develop their sense of responsibility and their skills of perseverance, creativity and rigour.
BIS welcomes students with a diverse range of profiles and from different systems such as children returning after expatriation, ‘gifted’ children or children with various language levels. Specific individual measures are put into place to ensure that their time spent at BIS is successful. For example, extra language support lessons are offered in French and / or English, Spanish is taught from the age of four and there are possibilities for extracurricular clubs in foreign languages.
We and the team would be thrilled to welcome you to Bordeaux International School, to share our enthusiasm and to experience the warmth of our school community. Together we will discuss, plan and agree on the most suitable programme for your child to ensure that the BIS experience is as inclusive and enriching as possible. Please browse through our site to learn more, and contact us for an admissions visit. We look forward to welcoming you, in-person, to Bordeaux International School.
Partners
and certifications
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The BIS Primary section has been under associative contract since 2010 (simple contract since 1999).
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In Secondary, BIS has been an official Cambridge International Examinations centre since 1991 – the only accredited school in the Gironde region.
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BIS has been accredited as a school of excellence by the highly recognised Council of International Schools since 2002
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BIS is a member of several organisations and associations for training in international schools (notably ECIS and ELSA).