How to join IST?
IST’s aim is to offer stimulating and challenging international education in a multi-cultural environment. The school is open to students from anywhere in Norway and to any student filling the requirement of public elementary (1-11) schools [1]. When there are more applicants than available places, the Principal shall decide how these places will be granted according to this procedure.
Available places
- Maximum total number of students: 210
- Maximum number of students per class: 21
- Classes per level: 1
These numbers are the current approval by Utdanningsdirektoratet and reflect current school policy (students per class, classes per level).
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FAQ about IST
Procedure
1.
Information meeting for interested families in January or February
2.
Application date for normal admissions: 1st March
3.
Decision on applications communicated to parents: No later than 20th March
If a parent is not satisfied with the conclusion of the intake, the decision can be appealed to the School Board and ultimately to the Fylkesmann in Telemark. An appeal must be forwarded within 3 weeks.
IST accepts new students until September 30th of each academic year. After this date, IST will only accept students that fulfill the first level of the school’s admissions criteria, namely, ‘Students with previous international or English language schooling’. Students accepted on to a class waiting list before September 30th will be admitted during the academic year if a vacancy occurs.
The parents are asked to bring in all relevant paperwork and information, and they should inform the school of any special requirements or educational needs for their child. Parents will be required to sign the school transfer form.
The respective department coordinator (PYP, MYP, LS) and class teacher will meet with the parents and child.
Interested students are required to have a three-day trial of the school. The school will also assess the level of English as the main instructional language of IST is English and will also seek to gain any further information about a potential student. This will help the school understand and cater for any needs. Any visiting student must be registered with the office, and parents must also meet with the relevant IB section coordinator.
Before accepting a new student after a three-day trial with the school, there must be a transition meeting between IST which would include the class teacher, the parents and the previous school, particularly the contact teacher. The meeting can include the department coordinator, if necessary, and LS coordinator, if there is a specific learning support need. This meeting would be to discuss how the student fits with IST, any observations during the trial period, and any information about the student from the previous school. The meeting is to ensure that the school has all necessary student information, both social and academic, in order to cater best for the individual student’s needs.
Criteria
The following criteria, listed in order of priority, shall be used:
- Students with previous international or English language schooling
- Students with siblings at IST
- Students with at least one foreign parent
- with at least one parent employed at IST
- registered on the waiting list
More detailed definitions of the terms used in these criteria are found at the end of this document. If a student qualifies for more than one criterion, the one with the highest priority applies.
If, using the criteria above, two or more applicants are tied for the last place(s) in a class, the tie is resolved as follows:
- If two, and only two, applicants are tied for the same class level and both are qualified according to criterion 1, the principal may at his/her discretion expand the size of the class to which they apply by one, thus admitting both applicants.
- In all other cases, priority is given to the remaining candidate(s) whose applications were received the earliest by the school.
IST scholarships
A scholarship is for one year at a time and must be re-applied for each academic year. There are ten scholarships available each academic year.
The scholarship system at IST is as follows: You will need to explain why you feel your child should have a scholarship at IST and how this fits with the admission criteria.
The scholarship is regarded as offering the opportunity for students to study in an international school environment and in the IB, and is available for students whose families find it not easy to pay the school fees. You do need to provide information about your economy in order to justify a scholarship. The principal will also look at how the student benefits being at IST, and what the student brings in terms of engagement with the school’s goals and philosophy as an IB and international school.
Please ensure you apply in writing by June 1st
School Fees
The International School Telemark is a non-profit making foundation, which actively seeks to keep the level of fees as low as financially viable.
Tuition fees follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education and the Education Directorate and are ratified by the Board.
Tuition fees are now:
Grade 1 – Grade 10
NOK 3 400, – per month
(34 000, – per year)
(2 children 5780- and 3 + 7480.-)
Sibling discount
Full fee for the first child, 30% for the second child, 50% for the third child and free for any more siblings.
School fees are invoiced once a month for 10 months. Payment free months are July and August. Please contact the school administration if you would like payments divided over more months.
Fees for other services provided by the school: These can be revised in January and July each year
From autumn 2023, the government has decided to introduce 12 hours of free after-school care per week for 1st & 2nd Grade. This covers all our SFO time during the school week.
SFO fees: (after school child minding)
- Full time place (186 school days) NOK 2500, – pr. month
- Part-time, per day per month NOK 500, – per month Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri
- Wednesdays NOK 700, – pr. month
Part-time places are bound to a specific day each week
- Individual days NOK 200, – each time & 300, – for Weds
Break Snacks:
- Milk, juice and Yoghurt can be ordered at www.skolelyst.no
If you have any concerns about payments please do not hesitate to contact the school administration
