Focus

An international education with distinction

Day fees 2024/25

$9,200–$34,000

Pupils

830

Ages

3–18

Spear’s Review

Monaco, more than almost any other country, has an international population. The International School of Monaco (ISM) reflects that diversity, with a bilingual French/English early years curriculum and students representing over 50 nationalities. 

The school is guided by five key ‘isms’: internationalism, intellectualism, dynamism, altruism and multilingualism. A key part of the education here is preparing future global citizens who have the independence and confidence they need to succeed in the world.

A collaboration with King’s College Wimbledon has boosted academic standards at ISM, and the school offers IGCSE courses as well as the IB diploma and IB career-related programmes. The extensive extracurricular programme includes creative arts, athletics, Model UN, language clubs and more.

Academics

Average IB score is 35.5.

School Profile

Celebrating its 30th year of delivering exceptional international education in the Principality, the International School of Monaco (ISM) stands out as a distinguished, independent, co-educational, not-for-profit day school. As the only fully accredited international private school in Monaco, ISM caters to a diverse student body of 800 students aged 3–18, representing over 50 nationalities. ISM will be moving to new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built premises in Testimonio II in August 2024. 

Driven by its vision of international education with distinction, ISM’s mission is to provide an outstanding education for students so that they are happy, confident, independent, multilingual and responsible global citizens. The school’s values emphasise integrity, learning, caring and respect, with strong emphasis placed on excellence, wellbeing and multilingualism as well as international mindedness and digital citizenship. 

Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), ISM received an outstanding CIS re-accreditation report in December 2023, meeting every international standard, surpassing 66 per cent of standards, and garnering 84 commendations. ISM has also worked in close collaboration with King’s College School Wimbledon since 2020 as part of the school’s aim to be among the best in Europe. 

Currently a candidate school for the IB MYP and IB PYP, ISM offers a distinctive bilingual education in English and French for Early Years and Primary School students (Kindergarten to Year 6). From Year 7 onwards, the Secondary School provides a comprehensive, multilingual, inquiry-based curriculum in English, leading to an IB Diploma or an IB Career-related Programme qualification. ISM also offers an extensive enrichment programme as well as numerous outreach opportunities via philanthropy clubs, Student Council initiatives and the PTA.

University and college destinations 

ISM regularly sends students to top universities in the UK, Europe and North America. In 2024, students matriculated at Oxford, St Andrews, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia, among others.

Head teacher

Stuart Bryan, director of ISM, has enjoyed a distinguished international career over the past 35 years, holding senior positions in international schools including Sha Tin College in Hong Kong, the British School of Brussels and Dulwich College, Shanghai. For more than 10 years he was the principal and chief executive officer of the Amman Baccalaureate School in Jordan. Bryan holds a MA (Hons) degree from the University of St Andrews, a postgraduate certificate in education from Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, and an advanced certificate in educational management from the University of Leicester. 

Admissions

Applications are accepted throughout the school year. The online application process includes the submission of school reports and other documentation. Younger students will attend an in-class assessment, while older students take standardised tests and and attend an interview. Students seeking entry to the IBDP or IBCP will be required to demonstrate strong performance in their GCSE/IGCSE examinations.

Accessibility

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport: 40 minutes

Location

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