Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
 
 
         
   
   
 
   
Pre-School, Primary, Middle and High School
Ecole Maternelle, Primaire, Collège et Lycée
 
     
Dear Parents,

I am delighted to welcome you to the International School of Béarn’s web site.
I founded the I.S.Béarn in May 2002 as a non-profit institution to provide an excellent international education for children of the community of Pau and its surrounding areas.

The I.S.Béarn has quickly become renowned throughout Pau as the only school offering an Anglophone education for the international community of Béarn. It is also known as a school children enjoy coming to and learning in. Everybody associated with the school is very pleased by this. We know the excellence in educational quality which our school offers lies in well-motivated children in small class sizes supported by an extremely professional and caring teaching staff who work closely as a team.

We currently offer classes from Pre-School (age 2 ½) through to grade 13 (age 17). The majority of the curriculum studied is based upon the English National Curriculum adapted to an international environment.
French as a foreign language is focused on basic oral comprehension and communication. For French mother tongue children the content of the lessons is based on the national programme for French primary schools.

More than seventy percent of our pupils come from English – speaking families, but many nationalities are represented and all are welcome.
Family involvement in the school is encouraged and there is an active PTA association.
We realise that parents often do not have any choice in the timing of their relocation and we welcome children in school at any stage in the school year, not only at the start of a term.

Please feel free to have a look into our school. My staff and I look forward to meeting you and your family.

Yours faithfully

Maria Elias
Head of School
 
    Pour recevoir la brochure de l'école en français ou pour avoir de plus amples renseignements, veuillez contacter la Directrice, Madame Maria Elias.  
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
   
   
From Place Clémenceau (Pau Center), take the right and go straight.

You'll pass:
- Centre Commercial Bosquet on your left
- 8 traffic lights

Then you'll arrive at AUCHAN's roundabout.
At this roundabout follow the sign MORLAAS then go straight on.
You'll pass at the first roundabout the company TOTAL and then at the second roundabout turn to the left, direction Berlanne ZI.
Immediately on your left is Rue des Fougères. The school can be found at the end of this road on your right.
 
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
   
   
The International School of Béarn provides an education based on international principles and values such as responsibility, understanding and co-operation.

Admission is open to all students. The programme is taught in the English language and is structured around an academically challenging curriculum.

We believe that the development of values and curriculum go hand in hand and that individual skills and abilities should be encouraged and nurtured in an atmosphere that provides support for each student’s personal needs and which celebrates and respects all differences of nationality, culture and religion.

We provide a broad, balanced, relevant and international curriculum, which will enable students to take on a full and active role as citizens in an international world.
The effectiveness of implementing this philosophy is articulated through a series of inter-related responsibilities for all members of the community – and is evidenced by our vision of the entire community’s responsibility to the world in which we live.

AIMS of the academic and extra-curricular programme
• to sustain a friendly, safe and interesting environment that stimulates and encourages the fascination of learning.
• to determine and improve the capabilities, proficiencies and talents of each child in all sections of the curriculum.
• to create a collaborative community for teachers, students and families and to develop good home-school interaction and together improve the quality of learning.
• to encourage students to enjoy their work and develop a love of learning.
• to promote an environment based on mutual care and respect.
• to help students develop inquiring minds, a sense of responsibility, self-discipline and self-esteem.
• to provide an education which facilitates transfer to other international schools and French schools.
• to develop a curriculum that refers to international issues and content in all subjects and disciplines so as to encourage a genuinely global international outlook in the students.
• to enable the children to make a positive contribution to our multicultural society and to enjoy life, appreciating and coping with its disappointments and triumphs. 		 
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
   
       
   
Comparative Educational Systems
Pupil's age (years)
English / I.S.Béarn System
 
French System
21/2 - 4

Pre-School
Early Years
Maternelle
Maternelle petite section
4 - 5
Reception
  
Maternelle moyenne section
5 - 6
Primary school
Key stage 1
Grade 1
  
Maternelle grande section
6 - 7
Grade 2
Primaire
Cours Préparatoire (CP)
7 - 8
Primary school
Key stage 2
Grade 3
  
Cours Elémentaire 1 (CE1)
8 - 9
Grade 4
  
Cours Elémentaire 2 (CE2)
9 -10
Grade 5
  
Cours Moyen 1 (CM1)
10 - 11
Grade 6
  
Cours Moyen 2 (CM2)
11 - 12
Secondary school
Key stage 3
Grade 7
Secondaire- Collège
Sixième
12 - 13
Grade 8
  
Cinquième
13 -14
Grade 9
 
Quatrième
14 -15
Key stage 4
Grade 10
 
Troisième
15 - 16
Grade 11
Lycée
Seconde
16 - 17
6th form     
Grade 12
  
Première
17 - 18
  
Grade 13
  
Terminale
 
       
   
The Academic Framework
Phase
Grade
Age of student
as at 31 August
Subjects Taught
Pre-school
EY 1
EY 2
R
2 1/2
3
4

In Early Years and Reception the areas of study are:Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Development, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development, Creative Development.
Key Stage
1
Grade 1
Grade 2
5
6

In Key Stages 1 and 2 the following subjects are taught:
English, Mathematics, Science,
ICT, French, History,
Geography, Drama,
Art, Music,
Physical Education.

Key Stage
2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
7
8
9
10
Key stage
3
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
11
12
13

In Key Stage 3:
In addition to the Key Stage 2 subject list, Spanish and Design and Technology are also offered.

Key Stage
4

Grade 10
Grade 11

14
15
 In Key Stage 4:
Preparation to I.G.C.S.E. exams
I.G.C.S.E. exams
6th form
Grade 12
Grade 13
16
17
 Preparation for International A-levels
Exams AS - A levels
 
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
   
   
ADMINISTRATION, TEACHERS and SPECIALISTS
Head of School
Administration Manager
Mrs Maria Elias
Professeur - Agrégée - en Sciences Mathématiques
Formation en Comptabilité (Asfo)
French Foreign Language teacher
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Head of Primary
Mr Steve Hayman

Bachelor of Education
First Class Honours in Primary Studies (5-11) University of Plymouth
Rolle Faculty of Education
Exmouth Campus, Devon
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Head of Secondary
Mr Mike Kirby
 B.A. Dual Honours (French & Hispanic Studies), university of Sheffield
P.G.C.E. Diploma in Teaching English Overseas (Dip. T.E.O.) & Modern Languages, University of Manchester
Dip. Ed. (TESOL), University of Manchester
Mr Kirby has been the Deputy Director of the British Council in Porto (Portugal) from Sept. 1993 to August 1996 and The Principal of the Middle School in the International School of Milan (Italy) from Sept. 1996 to August 2007
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
PRE-SCHOOL
Early Years
Form Teacher

Lower Primary
School Coordinator
Mrs Heather McCluskey
 Masters with honours in Italian, University of Glasgow
PGDE Primary/Pre 5 Education, University of Glasgow
Grade 2 class teacher in Glasgow
Nursery teacher and Team leader at Family Center in Glasgow
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Early Years
Classroom
Assistant
Mrs Corine Mariotti
 CAP Petite Enfance (France)
CAP Couture (France)
Corine lived 15 years in the UK and worked as a Production and Administrator Manager in the bridal industry.
Certificate and Diploma in Communication and Social Skills at Birbeck College in London (UK)
Certificate and Diploma Citylit Art Foundation in London (UK)
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Reception
Form Teacher

Events
Coordinator
Mrs Michele Fournier
 BA Honours Degree, University of London
Certificate in TEFL
Certificate in LCCI
Co-Founder of “Fun Club” (Learning English through Play), Pau
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Reception
Classroom Assistant
Mrs Sally Keller
Certificate of N.N.E.B.- National Nursery Examination Board
Certificate in Education of Cambridge Institute
Bedford College of Education
Certificat Pratique de Langue Française (Pau, Université)
Certificat d'Habilitation à l'Enseignement de l'Anglais (Inspection Académique, P-A)
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Key Stage 1
Grade 1
Form Teacher
Miss Susie Morton
B.A. Honours Degree, University of Salford
P.G.C.E.- PostGraduate Certificate in Education
University of Sheffield
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 1
Grade 1
Classroom Assistant
Ms Sabrina Deveaux
A-level in Medical & Social Sciences
BAFA : French Diploma for creation of projects and activities for children
Red Cross First Aid Certificate
Sabrina has worked in Nursery schools during 7 years and in the Joyeux Béarn during 5 years to organise childhood festivals and family days.
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 1
Grade 2
Form Teacher
Miss Dorothea Rogers
 Bachelor of Education with Honours with specialism in English Language and Literature, University of Liverpool
BEd with honours of English Language, Liverpool Hope University
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 2
Grade 3
Form Teacher
Head of PE
Mr John-Mark Hanrahan
 Bachelor of Education – Honours Degree in Primary Education and Design Technology
University of Exeter, Exeter
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 2
Grade 4
Form Teacher
Miss Judith Walters
 Joint Honours Degree English/Media Studies 2:1 De Montfort University
P.G.C.E.- Post Graduate Certificate in Education Nottingham Trent University

Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 2
Grade 5
Form Teacher

Upper Primary School
Coordinator
Mr Ludovic Bernard
Bachelor of Education - Honours Degree in Primary Studies
Anglia Polytechnic University of Brentwood
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 2
Grade 6
Form Teacher

Head of Primary
Mr Steve Hayman
 Bachelor of Education
First Class Honours in Primary Studies (5-11) with a specialism in the 7-11 age phase
University of Plymouth
Rolle Faculty of Education
Exmouth Campus, Devon

Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Key Stage 3
Grade 7
Form teacher

English and ESL specialist

Head of Secondary
Mr Mike Kirby
 B.A. Dual Honours (French & Hispanic Studies), university of Sheffield
P.G.C.E. Diploma in Teaching English Overseas (Dip. T.E.O.) & Modern Languages, University of Manchester
Dip. Ed. (TESOL), University of Manchester
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Grade 9
Form teacher

Science specialist
Mr Ben Biggs
 B.A. Liberal studies (Environmental Science) Flinders University of South Australia
Bachelor of Education (Secondary) University of South Australia
Mr Biggs has worked extensively with special needs students in Australia and Cambridge in the UK and is a specialist teacher for working with students with Dyslexia. He has also worked with Gifted and talented secondary students.
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Grade 10
Form teacher

English specialist
Ms Marianne Hooijer
 Masters in International Law, University of Amsterdam
CELTA – Certificate of English Language Teaching
PGCE secondary – London Metropolitan University
Teacher and subject leader of Politics and Citizenship in inner-London secondary school for three years.
English teacher in France and Italy.
Currently doing a Masters in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching – University of Nottingham.
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Grade 11
Form teacher

Physics and Chemistry
specialist
Mr Tom Culley
 Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Humanities and Drama specialist

Students Council
Responsible

Mr Marcus Rackowe
 Bachelor of History at Liverpool University
Postgraduate at Cambridge University
Teacher in a comprehensive school in South Wales
Head of History department at the international school of Valencia (Spain)
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Grades 12 & 13
Form Teacher

Maths and ICT specialist
Mr Sébastien Vieilhescazes
 Engineer Diploma from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications de Paris
CAPES of Mathematics (French equivalent for P.G.C.E.)
Maths Teacher in french secondary and high schools
ICT Teacher at the University of Paris 1 Sorbonne Panthéon
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3 & 4

Business Studies
specialist
Mr Kevin Polk
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

Language Coordinator

Grade 8 Form Teacher

French Specialist
Mrs Sophie
Julien-Bernard
 Bachelor of Education Secondary French – with Honours
Anglia Polytechnic University of Brentwood
Certificate of DEUG d'Anglais, University of Avignon, France
Head of Language Department in Shenfield High School 2000-2005
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Key Stage 3, 4
& 6th Form

French Teacher
Mrs Anne-Laure Biggs
 Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
French Teacher
ESL Specialist
Mrs Carole Frederico
 B.A Education of French and Spanish
Carole has lived 10 years in Venezuela and 8 years in US
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
French Teacher
Mrs Murielle Bonifacy
 Masters de Droit Privé, Université de Montpellier
Certificat de Sciences Criminelles, Académie de Montpellier
Primary School Teacher Degree, académie de Bordeaux
Diplômée du Conservatoire Régional de Musique (flûte traversière et solfège)
Primary School teacher and Secondary School French in Angola (5 years), Netherlands (3 years) and in Gabon (2 years)
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
French Teacher
Ms Nathalie Lacoste
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Spanish Teacher
Mr Daniel Vie Alvarez de Cienfuegos
 Bachelor of Spanish Language, Litterature and Civilization
University of Bordeaux III
Spanish teacher in french secondary and high schools since 2000
Free lance spanish teacher for adults
CFAPSE Advanced First Aid Certificate – yearly updated
ARTS DEPARTMENT
Music Specialist
Drama Teacher		 Mrs Clara Garms
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Music Specialist
Drama Teacher		 Mrs Kate Save
Art Specialist
Primary School
Mrs Sara Heath
 Specialist in Textiles, Stage Design, Graphics, Painting, Ceramic, Mosaic, Drawing
South East Derbyshire College
10 years professional dancer including Comedy musicals, dance troope, toured Europe and Britain, dance shows in EuroDisney, music clips, ...

Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Art Specialist
Secondary School
Mrs Jane Buckler
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
OFF CLASSES
Lunch & Security
Supervisor
Mr Marco Morand
 Marco was in the Army for 24 years as a paratrooper instructor
and military aircraft loadmaster (C160 and C130). Afterwards he worked in a fire security company
ERP3 Diplom, in the centre CREFOPS in Bordeaux
Red Cross First Aid Certificate - November 2011
Caretakers
Mrs Léo Morand
Mr Marco Morand
 Léo is responsible for the cleaners
Marco and Léo take care of the school building and its premises
Léo has worked for many years as a cleaning supervisor
Both are expert gardeners
 
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
 
 
       
   
Admission

The admission of students to ISBéarn is conditional upon our satisfactory appraisal that the school can offer a valuable educational experience for each child. Criteria that will be taken into account for admission are :

representation from the international community in the city and French families who respect the philosophy of the school.
previous school experience.
ability to work in the English language or to benefit from our ESL support program.
the likelihood of being able to profit from courses offered at the I.S.Béarn.
 
Placement
Placement in a particular grade is dependent on :
the age of pupil.
the report from the previous school.
a consultation with parents.
interview with pupil and tests, if appropriate
Our primary criterion for placement is the age of the child, there is however some flexibility for individual needs and hence an overlap of ages may occur in any class, especially with admission in the later grades of Primary School. Please note that children at ISBéarn are placed into a class depending on their age on 1st September, since the school admission year runs from September to August and not from January to December.

If a child’s birthday is within a few days of September 1st, then the policy of the school is place the child in his or her correct class depending on their age on 1st September, irrespective of how close their birthday is to 1st September.
 
Admittance 2008-2009
Children will be admitted to school on the basis of birth dates as follows :
Pre-School :
September 2006 - February 2007 : Early Years 1
September 2005 - August 2006 : Early Years 2
September 2004 - August 2005 : Reception
Key Stage 1 :
September 2003 - August 2004 : Grade 1
September 2002 - August 2003 : Grade 2
Key Stage 2 :
September 2001 - August 2002 : Grade 3
September 2000 - August 2001 : Grade 4
September 1999 - August 2000: Grade 5
September 1998 - August 1999 : Grade 6
Key Stage 3 :
September 1997 - August 1998 : Grade 7
September 1996 - August 1997 : Grade 8
September 1995 - August 1996 : Grade 9
September 1994 - August 1995 : Grade 10
September 1993 - August 1994 : Grade 11
 
New admissions are accepted throughout the year according to the above criteria.
 
Requirements: When a child enters school, parents are required to submit the following :
a completed application form ;
a teacher’s confidential report ;
a medical record form ;
In addition, parents may be asked to provide a record or report from the child's previous school.
Withdrawal : 90 days notice of intention to withdraw a child must be given in writing, otherwise the refundable deposit will be retained by the school.
 
Fees - Schedule and Information - September
 

Annual Fees

Registration: Guarantees reservation of place
A non-refundable down payment of 220 Euros is due on registration. The remainder to be paid on receipt of the invoice.

Tuition Fees:
Payment Payable in one single payment - before June 15th or Payable in 10 times by direct debit from a French bank

Insurance: Compulsory - ensures coverage for whole year
Bus service: Optional, if requested

Tuition fees
In addition to classroom instruction and supervision, the fees cover :

• Supplies.
• Remedial work and/or instruction (Primary school).
• Teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL) for non-English speaking.

Some fees depend on the Yearly Family Income. Because the International School of Béarn is a new school, the Administration is faced with enormous costs but the school will try, as much as possible, to keep fees accessible for most families.

Fee schedule
Application fees : 200 Euros to be paid at the time of application (Non-refundable)
Family discount : For the second child attending the School, a 5% discount is applied for the tuition fees only and from the third child, a 10% discount (if fees are not paid by employer).

 

In order to know the school fees in detail, please contact the school.
 
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
     
   
   

Students will be admitted at the school's opening date in September 2006, provided there are places available and provided the applicants have submitted an Admissions File. Admission in the middle of the year could be accepted.

Please submit the document listed below to :

International School of Béarn
Admissions Office
Rue des Fougères
64160 Morlaàs
France

1. The Student Registration Application Form completed and signed by the parents or legal guardian.

2. A Registration fee of 200 Euros to reserve a place.

Upon receipt of the registration application, the school will send you an Application for Admission, a Teacher's Confidential Report and a Medical Record Form
  
       
   
Welcome - Location - Philosophy and aims - Comparative system - Staff - Gallery - Admission and Fees
Registration procedure - The school logo		  
       
   
   


The school is located at the limit of 2 cities : Pau and Morlaàs. This is why the right side of the logo is a combination of two different blazons :

The H IV comes from Pau’s blazon and is the symbol of Henri the 4th, king of France. More details may be found in Pau’s web site : www.pau.fr

The logo’s background is inspired by Morlaàs’ blazon : a yellow cross surrounded by yellow dots mounted on blue.

More details may be found in Morlaàs’ web site : www.cdg-64.fr/Collectivite/Morlaas/

The left side combines the British and the French flags representing the language they symbolise. The world map expresses our international opening. Our school, the International School of Béarn is the only school offering an Anglophone education for the international community of Béarn. We wanted to help this fantastic area, the Béarn, to open its doors to the international world.

The school motto is :” Learning for living in an international world”.

Hotel Villa Navarre

The beautiful hotel of 30 rooms, 12 in the Villa, English style family house built in 1865, and 18 in the adjacent building, is surrounded by a park with an amazing view over the Pyrenees.
The hotel is situated just 5 minutes driving from the city centre or from the International School of Bearn, and 18 kilometres from the Pau Uzein international airport.
La Villa Navarre offers a restaurant combining regional food and delicate flavours, a bar, relaxation lounges, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, only accessible to our hotel guests.



Hotel Villa Navarre
59, avenue Trespoey – 64000 Pau
E-mail: reception@villanavarre.fr
Website: www.villanavarre.fr



What is the Béarn?

Pau is the capital of Béarn, a former court of the Navarre kings, Gaston Phœbus (1343-1391) turned his viscounty, the Béarn, into a sovereign principality. The Béarn kept this title until the year 1620. Even the king Henri the 4th didn’t try to change Béarn’s personality !

In 1620 King Louis the 13th, in 1620 pronounced its incorporation into the kingdom of France but only with the express promise of always respecting its own customs and laws.
More details are contained in Béarn’s web site : www.bearn-online.com

Béarn’s map
 
     
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