Admission Criteria and Policies

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Admission Criteria

Admission criteria Admission to the School is dependent on the applicant meeting the School’s admission criteria in terms of academic performance, behaviour and ability to benefit from the School’s programme. The School shall not admit students whose presence within the school deems likely to harm the learning or well-being of other students.

Admission Procedure

The Director shall ensure that there are effective regulations in place for identifying the learning needs of students, both at admission and whilst enrolled, to ensure that students in the School can benefit from the School’s programmes.

Admission Test

As part of the admission process, the School shall secure relevant information about an individual student’s abilities, learning differences, talents and learning styles to assist in determining whether the student’s educational needs can be met by the School. The School reserves the right to assess all applicants and to deny admission to any student who does not meet the defined entrance requirements.

Provisional Admission

At its discretion, the School can determine to grant provisional admission to applicants for whom it is uncertain as to whether there is an appropriate educational programme in place. The provisional admission will be for a specific period of time, and will allow the School time to assess an individual student's situation more clearly. At the end of the provisional period, the School will make a final admission decision.

Admission of non-English Speaking Children

The School provides a comprehensive English as Additional Language (EAL) programme throughout the Elementary School and most of the Secondary School. Students shall be admitted to the Elementary School irrespective of their knowledge of and experience with the English language, as long as they meet the other admission criteria. At Secondary School the curricular demands of the International Baccalaureate Middle Section 6 | Curriculum and Instruction School Policy Manual 2018-19 | April 25, 2018 Years and Diploma Programmes make a reasonable command of the English language a pre-requisite for admission to these programmes.

Admission of Children with Special Learning Needs

The School shall admit all students who, in the School’s judgment, can benefit from its programmes and services and whose needs can be met by the School. The School shall accept as eligible for admission students with moderate as well as mild learning support needs. The School shall also consider, on a case by case basis, the admission of students who require intense support. The School shall, however, only admit students for whom it is able to provide suitable resources and support. In cases where the School determines that it is necessary to provide extra assistance to enable a child to access the School’s programmes, it may require the parents to fund some or all of the additional associated costs. The School shall provide guidance to parents when they are considering applying to IST regarding the types of support that the School can provide. Prior to an admissions decision being made, the School shall consult with parents regarding the type and level of support that their child might need. The final decision on admission, however, rests with the School.

Admissions Denied

The parents or guardians of a child denied admission to the School may request a meeting with the School management to better understand the decision. The School’s decision is final.
Date of Adoption: March 06, 2014
Date of Implementation: March 06, 2014
Cross-references: 6.100 Admission Philosophy 6.102 Admission Priority 6.102

Admission Priority

Students enrolled as of the end of the previous school year that have been able to meet the School's financial and performance requirements, including effort, behaviour, academic and attendance dimensions, shall be automatically enrolled for the following year. Whenever it is not possible to accommodate all qualified applicants, applicants are classified by the following admission categories with priority for admission given in that order:

1. A child of a full time member of School Leadership, Professional Management or Teachers employed by the School;
2. A child of an employee of an international agency, foreign government or private company that has formally become a grant-giving organisation to the School;
3. A child who has a sibling enrolled at the School;
4. A child of a parent who is subject to international assignments and who has taken on residence in Tanzania
5. A child of an IST alumnus or alumna who attended the School for at least one school year;
6. All other children.

The School’s Admissions Office shall determine the necessary documentation to establish parents’ employment situation and newly commenced residence in Tanzania. Admission to the School is dependent on the applicant meeting the School’s admission criteria as defined in policy 6.101. To preserve the diversity of the student body of the School, no single grant-giving organisation shall occupy more than 15 % of the total enrolment of the School. The total number of students permitted under admission category (2) above should not exceed 30 % of the total enrolment of the School.

Waiting List

When the number of eligible applicants exceeds the availability of spaces for a particular Grade, year or programme, applicants may be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available. The category of admission priority of the student and the date of the completed application, including payment of the application fee, determine the applicant’s position on the waiting list. The first student placed on the list will then be eligible for the first opening at the Grade for which he/she was accepted.

Date of Adoption: March 06, 2014
Date of Implementation: March 06, 2014
Cross-Reference: 6.100 Admission Philosophy 6.101 Admission Criteria