International School Parent Magazine - Autumn 2021

What is an International School
and where will it lead my child?
WRITTEN BY ISP EDITORIAL TEAM
If you are reading this article you
probably already have a pretty good
idea of what an international school
is – a school that teaches an international
curriculum usually in English. But what
other factors make an international school
different to a ‘regular’ school and what
can your children do with an international
school education?
Traditionally, international schools
were located in non-English speaking
environments, however these days you can
find them in the United States, Canada,
the UK, and other English-speaking
countries. Modern international schools
also offer a diversity of languages and
programmes, from German-language
medium schools to schools that follow the
Australian curriculum – there are all kinds
of international schools to suit you and your
child’s needs.
The first international school was
founded in 1924, however the concept can
be traced back to the 1800’s to schools set
up by missionaries in Africa. International
schools as we know them, were established
to provide the children of diplomats and
expatriates the same quality and style
of education as back ‘home’. However,
recently, the international school student
body has also undergone a massive change,
with up to 80% domestic students in some
markets.
Most international schools follow the
International Baccalaureate (IB) and/
or an adapted British or American
curriculum. However, it is not unusual
to find international schools delivering
other curriculums or even a blend of
international and local content.
Almost 25 years ago, there were around
1000 English-language international schools
scattered around the world. In 2020, there
were almost 12,000 international schools
with a total student body of close to 6
million. International schools are on the up,
largely due to the increased perceived value
in the domestic market.
Let’s look at what makes international
schools different and increasingly popular in
some markets:
The differences between an international
and ‘regular’ school
The main difference between an
international and a regular school, be it
public or private, is the curriculum. As
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