MEF International School

MEF International School is a full Pre-school to IB school (ages 3-18). It is situated in central Istanbul, in an area of the city favoured by expatriates and near to the Bosphorus Sea. MEFIS is housed in its own modern building on a purpose-built 40-acre campus shared with MEF Schools' National division. Classes are small (range 10-20 students) with a personalized, 'whole child' approach to learning within an international context. The motto of the school is 'Building Bridges Between Countries and Cultures', and the appreciation of other cultures, peoples and language is evident within the more than 30 nationalities represented in the student population. MEF International School has a fully authorized IBD programme, and is currently a candidate status school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP authorization visit is scheduled for April 2004; the MYP visit will be in June 2005. The language of instruction is English. Foreign language offerings include French, Spanish and German, as well as Host Country Studies (Turkish). There is a full academic schedule in core subjects, complemented by a range of specialist offerings (musical arts, dramatic arts, information technology, PE, visual arts, and library/research). The Learning Support Team consists of six educators: learning programmes teachers, remediation and enrichment, ESL Teachers, and Guidance Counsellors, offering assistance in their respective areas.

The faculty members at MEF International School are certified, highly qualified (40% have higher degrees), and trained in the programmes offered. The faculty members come from 16 countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, the USA, Britain, Morocco and Turkey. The Academic Affairs Committee and the Advisory Committee coordinate polices and procedures at the school. The administrative office staff comprises the Director, the Upper School Principal, the Lower School Principal, the Admissions Officer, the College Counsellor/Dean of Students and school executive assistants/secretaries.

MEF International School makes good use of the MEF Schools' facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, a number of gyms, basketball and tennis courts, music rooms, and art studios. There is a range of popular co-curricular activities offered at the school. The school calendar includes two semester breaks for one week in each of the terms (fall and spring), as well as a two-week break in December.

The MEF International School school year begins in early September and ends in late June. During the school year a number of field trips are organized, both inside and outside Turkey.