Compare International Curriculum International Schools in Zambia

The school is located at 6945 Nangwenya Road, Ridgeway, Lusaka, Zambia (PO Box 50121).

The school serves students from nursery to Year 13, including Early Years, Primary School, Middle School and High School.

The school is an international day school.

The school represents 60 nationalities among learners and staff.

Learning Support and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) are provided across Primary and Secondary.

No religious affiliation; ISL does not align itself to any political or religious creed.

Nursery 08:00–12:00; Preschool 08:00–12:40; Reception 07:05–12:40; Years 1–13 07:05–13:30.

There is a tuckshop on site for snacks; during COVID-19 guidelines the tuckshop was closed.

ISL uses a house system. Students are members of Houses named Zambezi, Luangwa and Kafue, with House Captains and Vice Captains elected and supported by a teacher House Leader. House competitions emphasise maximum participation, fair play and learning how to lose gracefully.

ISL is owned and operated as a not-for-profit association, run by a Board of Governors composed of nine members who are all parents of current students. The Board oversees the running of the School and sets policy; Members serve for three-year terms and may be elected for a second concurrent term. The Head of School is a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Board.

ISL follows the International Baccalaureate continuum, from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma Programme. In High School, Cambridge IGCSE is offered alongside the IB Diploma Programme. ISL staff are IB (PYP, DP) trained and also trained in Cambridge (IGCSE) and IMYC. ESOL support is provided at Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels in both Primary and Secondary. French and Spanish lessons run from Reception to Year 13, Chinyanja language lessons are offered, Zambian Studies are included, and English for Speakers of Other Languages is available.

There are 721 students and over 80 teachers and teaching assistants, giving a student-to-staff ratio of about 9:1.

The school fosters a community built on mutual respect and understanding, ensuring learners feel welcome, safe, included, and valued.

The school offers an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) support programme at Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels in both Primary and Secondary.

The counselling programme supports the social, emotional and academic growth of the student body by providing a safe and happy environment through communication and support for our diverse student population.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures are in place.

1. Confirm eligibility and year placement. The minimum age to join ISL is 2 years by September 1 in the year of admission; Nursery must be over 2, Pre-School over 3, Reception over 4, and Year 1 over 5 by that date. Students are placed by age and school history, and ISL normally will not place a child more than one year outside the year appropriate for their age. 2. Start the online application. Begin via the ISL OpenApply portal by selecting 'Register Your Interest' or 'Apply Now' to start the application process. 3. Submit required documents and pay fees. Provide date of birth, academic records from the previous school, and the intended date of admission; complete the online medical form with vaccination details; the Registration Fee is non-refundable. The Capital Levy (Enrolment Fee) is payable after accepting a place and there is a 50% discount for second and subsequent children. 4. Undergo assessments for placement. ISL has an open admissions policy and an assessment is required for Years 1–13 to ensure correct class placement and to address any specific needs. Primary assessments are done by the class teacher; Secondary assessments cover English and Maths, with potential ESOL or Learning Support assessments if needed. 5. Receive and accept an offer. After an offer is made, acceptance is required and the Capital Levy must be paid by the date stated on the offer. ISL also notes that there is a 50% discount for second and subsequent children. 6. Induction and first day planning. Once an offer is accepted, new families attend a morning induction for Primary families and a New Students Orientation for all new students; new pupils can start the following day or as agreed. Details are shared closer to the start of the school year. 7. Start date and ongoing welcome. New students begin on the agreed start date, with induction and orientation arrangements completed prior to the first day of school.

ISL offers a limited number of scholarships each year for exceptional students. The Scholarship Selection Committee welcomes external applicants who demonstrate excellence in academics and the potential to be a positive and contributing member of the ISL community, with the aim of providing access to an excellent academic programme for families who otherwise may not be able to afford it. There are two scholarships available for external candidates: one for students entering the two-year Year 10–11 IGCSE programme and the other for students entering the two-year Year 12–13 IB Diploma Programme. Beacon Scholarship ISL partners with the Beacon Scholarship programme for students with strong leadership qualities. The Beacon Scholarship provides access for financially disadvantaged students to top-tier secondary schools in their home country and undergraduate programmes at world-class universities in the UK. The programme includes leadership training and mentoring, as well as a goal-setting performance management system; applicants must demonstrate that they are ‘Changemakers'—they are already making a difference and have the capacity to influence others.

ISL maintains waiting lists when necessary due to ongoing turnover; if a class is full, a waiting list is opened for the respective year level concerned.