Admissions Policy

Philosophy

At the International Standards Academy for Education - Amman (ISO), our Admissions policy stems from the IB philosophy in inclusive education. Therefore, we accept applications from all who wish to attend the school with no discrimination based on race, color, faith, gender, or national origin. The regulations of admissions apply to all applicants equally, and we are committed to meeting students’ needs to the best of our ability, supporting their personal and academic growth and development.

The Admissions committee, which comprises the Head of School and the IB Programmes’ Coordinators, admits new students in a forthright manner, maintaining the integrity of the school, the students, and their families. Also, the committee is responsible for ensuring that the prospective families understand the ISO mission and philosophy and establish an initial understanding of the requirements of all IB programmes through induction sessions.

At ISO, applications for admission are accepted throughout the year and admission is open year-round to students of all nationalities, faiths, and backgrounds. We strive to cater for the needs of applicants unless there is a reason to believe that admission would not be in the best interest of the applicant or the school. Nevertheless, ISO still caters for students with special learning needs. The final Admissions decision is made by the School Principal and the relevant IB Programme Coordinator.

Assessment arrangements for new students are aligned with the Assessment Policy.

Admission into ISO Is Based On

• Space availability, which determines the number of accepted applicants.
• The potential of the applicant to benefit from the IB programmes offered and the educational services available.
• The completion of the Admissions form that can be obtained from the Admissions/Registration department with the signature of the parent or legal guardian.
• Receiving all required documents and a full review of all relevant documents.
• The ability of the school to cater for students with special learning needs. In such cases, details of individual cases should be reported in an official manner, and failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of admission.

Entry Criteria for IB Programme(s)

Each application form is carefully studied in order to assess suitability for admission.

We look for candidates:

• Who are committed to the ISO vision, mission, and philosophy.
• Whose conduct is overall good and who are respectful to others.
• Who are internationally minded.
• Who exemplify the IB Learner Profile attributes.
• Whose qualities would enrich the ISO community and be a positive contribution.

Language requirements and support are further detailed in the Language Policy.

Admission into the Primary Years Programme (PYP)

The Primary Years Programme is inclusive by design and is open to all students from K–5 to benefit from and participate successfully in the programme.

• Students applying for Kindergarten and Grade 1 are to be interviewed and are admitted regardless of their level of proficiency in the language of instruction (English), provided there are no other additional learning needs. Nevertheless, ISO caters for students with special needs (refer to ISO Inclusion Policy).
• In Grades 2–5 in the PYP section, students should sit for three placement tests in English, Arabic, and Maths to identify areas of weakness as well as areas of strength, to be able to support learners in the PYP programme and help them achieve their full potential. For students with special learning needs, refer to ISO Inclusion Policy.

Admissions Policy Review Cycle

ISO reserves the right to amend the Admissions Policy at any time during the academic year and/or waive some provisions stated in the Admissions Policy. Amendments to and waiving of the Admissions Policy require the permission of the pedagogical leadership members.

The Admissions Policy is reviewed annually based upon feedback collected throughout the review cycle.

Frequency

Reviewed annually by the Admissions Committee (Head of School, IB Coordinators, Principal).

Process

1. Collect feedback from coordinators, parents, and teachers regarding admissions procedures.
2. Analyze admission trends, student placement tests, and support cases.
3. Recommend modifications to ensure inclusivity and alignment with IB and ISO philosophy.

Approval

Changes must be approved by the Pedagogical Leadership Team.

Communication

Updates shared with parents and staff at the beginning of each academic year.