Internationale Schule Frankfurt Rhein-Main

Internationale Schule Frankfurt Rhein-Main



Motto Education for a changing world.
Established 1994
School type Private
President Angus Slesser
Location Frankfurt Sindlingen, Germany
Enrollment 1000
Faculty 130
Endowment (Unknown)
Campus 43,000 m²
Mascot Bulldog
Home page ISF-NET

The Internationale Schule Frankfurt Rhein-Main (ISFRM or simply ISF) is a private school in Sindlingen, a borough of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is most notable for its strong focus on academic achievement through constant assessment.

Accredited by the Council of International Schools, the school offers IGCSE, AS- and A-Level and AP examinations. It has recently passed the application for the International Baccalaureate program and now offers IB courses as an alternative to the standard AS/A-Level and AP courses.

History

The International School of Frankfurt Rhein-Main was founded in 1994 as a public-private partnership in schools within Germany by the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce, the State of Hesse, the Frankfurt Economic Development GmbH and with financial support of international companies in the region. The school opened in September 1995 with 65 students enrolled in Kindergarten throughout Grade 8. In 2005, it celebrated its 10th Anniversary with an enrollment of around 900 students from 49 nations from preschool up through grade 13.

Assessment

Student performance is monitored through frequent assessment and progress reports. This is done to ensure that each student understands all previously covered material before new material is taught. According to the school, regular testing also prepares students for sustained mental effort over long periods of time and can help them to perform better under time pressure. At ISF, the assessment of students takes place in four forms:

Continual Assessment Tests (CAT)

Continual Assessment Tests (CAT) are monthly assessments in all academic subjects for students that are enrolled in grades 1-4. These tests are integrated into the normal timetable and are administered over a period of one week. They ensure that all basic knowledge taught in these primary grades is understood.

Academic Monitoring System

Also called AMS, these multiple-choice, computer-scored examinations are taken by students enrolled in grades 4-13. Depending on which subjects a student elected, they ensure that material covered in English (Grades 4-9), Mathematics (Grades 4-13), History (Grade 10), Economics (Grades 10-13), and Science (Grades 7-13) during the last week was understood. AMS examinations are taken on a weekly basis. Students in grades 7-9 who fail an AMS may retake it up to two times either during or after school. AMS examinations make up 20% of a student's grad

Periodic Examinations

Periodic examinations take place on a weekly basis. These tests include a mixture of multiple-choice and written questions. They are usually supplied directly by SABIS but can also include earlier IGCSE and AP exam questions. Students in grades 5-13 take two to four of these exams per subject in each term. Up to three exams are taken each week during the first three periods of the examination day. Periodic exams make up 30% of a student's grade.

End-of-Term Exams

Also called Final Exams, they are written three times yearly and include questions on material taught over an extended period of time. They may contain both multiple-choice and short answer questions and are taken in all subjects in grades 5-13. Failure in any final exam during the last trimester of the school year requires a student to attend summer school. Final exams make up the final 50% of a student's grade. If a student fails a periodic exam the opportunity arrises for the student to re-take the exam but a score of above 80% may not be given. A student can re-take periodic exams up to six times a school year.

Athletics

The school's extra-curricular athletic program was integrated into the sport programs of the Rhein-Main area with the foundation of the Sportverein ISF Sindlingen in 1999 because competitive sports in Germany are usually organized in sport clubs rather than by individual schools. The Sportverein ISF Sindlingen is member of the German Federation of Sports and competes in the leagues of the Rhein-Main area, and also participates in international competitions such as the GISST.

Members have a choice of the following sports:

ISF's strongest sport is Track and Field, causing it to become the recent recipient of the Peter Murphy Trophy, which is presented to the school which accumulates the most points in all of the GISST sports tournaments.

Student life

The school offers many extra-curricular activities ranging from study clubs to outdoor sport activities through the Student Life Organization (SLO). SLO is a so-called mini-society run by students for students, under the management of an SLO coordinator. Everyone is encouraged to contribute to help create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. For students enrolled in grades 4-9, it is mandatory to enroll in extra-curricular student life activities. Students in higher grades can also pursue these activities in their free periods. Activities offered by the Student Life Organization include:

The Student Life Organization also plays an important role inside the classroom. Group Leaders provide immediate help to their classmates if they do not understand something. After a teacher has presented a concept and an accompanying exercise, Group Leaders will check their peer's work to assist the teacher in locating and filling learning gaps.

Discipline System

ISF uses the SABIS negative point system. A student who misbehaves inside or outside of class may receive a negative point for his or her action. Once a certain amount of these points are allotted, a student receives a detention and a letter will be sent to his or her parents or guardians. Should further negative points be received by the student, disciplinary measures can escalate from a second detention, to suspension, and in extreme cases may even lead to expulsion.

Exceptionally positive behavior is rewarded by a so-called positive point. Positive points do not cancel out negative points, but students may receive a reward when allotting a certain amount of them.

See also

External links

Coordinates: 50°05′12″N 8°30′15″E / 50.086694°N 8.504266°E