“Where students are prepared to make a difference”
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
OF AZERBAIJAN
PROFILE 2011-2012
CEEB Code: 661000 * UCAS Code: 45160 * IB School Code: 001303
Website: www.tisa.az Tel: (99412) 4973028 Fax: (99412) 4972194
Director:
John Gillespie
director@tisa.az
Primary Principal:
David Harrold
pprinciapl@tisa.az
Secondary Principal: Lesley Peacock ssprincipal@tisa.az
IB Diploma Coordinator: Nigel Gardner ibdiploma@tisa.az
MYP Coordinator:
Nadine Mains myp@tisa.az
Counselor:
Cheryl Travers travers_cheryl@tisa.az
MISSION STATEMENT
TISA seeks to provide a high quality, well-balanced educational program to its diverse student body in accordance with the
universally recognized educational principles, practices and beliefs of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Our
Mission is to prepare our students for higher education, to enable them to become life-long learners and positive
contributors to their local and global communities.
Accreditation and M embership
TISA is accredited by:
CIS
Council of International Schools
IB
International Baccalaureate
TISA is authorized to offer all three IB Programs:
DP
Diploma Program
MYP
Middle Years Program
PYP
Primary Years Program
SRAA
Silk Road Activities Association
Our School
The school is organized into three sections: the Baku
Toddler Klub (age 2), the Primary School (ages 3-10)
and the Secondary School (ages 11-19).
The Baku Toddler Klub is located next to the main
campus. The Primary School classrooms and specialist
areas are located in TISA 1 and 2 and in the new
purpose-built Early Learning Centre. Secondary School
classrooms are in TISA 3 and 4.
Admission
Admission is determined by previous school reports, an
admissions screening procedure, and the school’s ability
to provide a suitable program within class size
limitations. Azerbaijan International Operating Company
(AIOC)/BP employees have priority for admissions.
Curriculum
TISA is an IB World School and offers the Primary Years
Program (ages 3-10), the Middle Years Program (ages
11-15) and the Diploma Program (ages 16-19) as well as
the TISA High School Diploma. Students who have
successfully completed the final two years of the MYP
Program will receive an MYP certificate. All secondary
students enrolled in the Post-16 Program follow one of
three tracks: the IB Diploma track, the IB Certificate
track or the TISA High School Diploma track. Instruction
is in English.
Student Body
TISA is a non-sectarian, co-educational collegepreparatory day school of 550 students from ages 2 to
19 years. It serves both the expatriate community and
those in the local community that are seeking an
international education. Over 40 nationalities are
represented with the highest percentages being from
the UK, USA and Azerbaijan.
Our Faculty
TISA has 85 highly committed faculty members
representing 18 countries. All teaching staff members
are university certified, and most hold advanced
degrees. Extensive professional staff development
opportunities are available during the school year, and
funding is provided for continuing education overseas
during summer recess. The student-faculty ratio is 7:1.
The maximum class size for all Primary School classes is
18 and 20 for Secondary School courses. English
Language Support (ELS) is available for non-native
speakers up to age 13, as well as for some native
speakers who may also benefit. TISA has no special
provision for children with significant learning disabilities,
but is able to offer support for those with minor learning
needs. The school has a full-time Learning Support
Coordinator who is supported by a consultant
educational psychologist.
Extra-Curricular Activities
TISA strives to meet the academic, social, physical and
aesthetic needs of students.
As students are
encouraged to achieve their highest academic levels,
individual interests are encouraged through a variety of
activities including music, art, theatre, sports, Student
Council, Model United Nations, community service
activities, overseas study trips and various other
activities.
TISA High School Graduation
Requirements
To obtain a TISA High School Diploma, students are
required to accrue a minimum of 22 credits over the four
years of High School based on the following distribution.
One full credit is earned by completing two semesters of
each course.
Subject
First Language
Math
Science
Social Studies
Second Language
Electives/Arts/Technology
P.E.
Community Service (CAS)
Personal Project (M5)
Creativity, Action & Service
Credit
4
4
4
3
2
3
1
0.5
Passing grade required
0.5
TISA operates on a three term calendar year. The school
year consists of 180 teacher-student contact days from
the end of August through late June. Reports are
distributed in December, March and June.
IB Score
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
IB Description
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Satisfactory
Mediocre
Poor
Very Poor
Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and class rank are not
recorded on report cards or transcripts. In the
Secondary School, however, students are eligible for
progress, achievement and subject awards.
Secondary School Course Selection
2011/2012
All courses in the Secondary School are taught within
the IB Curriculum framework. The courses in the Middle
Years Program (MYP) are integrated. IB Diploma/Post16 courses are available at SL and HL, except for
Spanish Ab Initio, Math Studies and any Self-Taught
Language, all of which are offered only at SL.
Languages
M4-5: English, Russian, French, Spanish
IB: English A1/A2/B, Russian A1/B, French B,
Spanish B/Ab Initio, IB Self-Taught Language SL
Social Studies
M4-5: Integrated Social Studies
IB: History, Economics, Psychology
Math
M4-M5: Integrated Math
IB: Math, Math Studies
Science
M4-M5: Integrated Science
IB: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Arts and Electives
M4-M5: Music, Art or Drama
Design Technology or Computer Technology
IB: Visual Arts, Theatre
Information Technology
IB: ITGS
Other
M4-M5: PE, MYP Personal Project, Community & Service
IB: Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
Creativity, Action & Service (CAS)
Extended Essay
M4=Grade 9 M5=Grade 10 IB1=Grade 11 IB2=Grade 12
Testing: All students planning to attend North
American colleges and universities are able to take the
PSAT and ACT at TISA, or the SAT I or II at a local
university.
UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
UK: Aston University, Chelsea College of Art & Design, City University London, European Business College, Guildhall School of Music
& Drama, King’s College, Kingston College, The American University in London, Queen Mary University of London, University of
Plymouth, Richmond University, University of Bristol, University of Cardiff, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University
of Leicester, University of Portsmouth, University of South Hampton, University of York, Westminster University
Australia: University of Western Australia
Canada: University of Calgary, Vancouver Institute of Media Arts BC
France: ESEC Film School, Parsons School of Art and Design
USA: Brigham Young University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Drury University, Guildford College, Ithaca
College, Montana Tech, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, Sam Houston College, Savannah
College of Art and Design, Stanford University, Texas A and M University, University of Southern California Los Angeles, University
of Texas at Austin, University of Utah, University of Washington
The Netherlands: Inholland University of Applied Sciences
Russia: MGIMO, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Moscow State Law Academy
Switzerland: University IFM, Franklin College, University of Lugano, École Hotelier de Lausanne