The school system in Estonia has four levels – pre-school, basic, secondary and higher education. Expats usually prefer sending their children to international schools since these follow the curriculum of their home countries. There are some locals who also prefer these schools since they offer an international environment that can be helpful for further overseas education. International schools may follow the US, UK or French curriculum and the language of instruction can be English or French.International schools across the globe follow similar schooling methods and this allows overseas students to make an easy transition between schools. The admission and enrollment process may vary among international schools. The following is an overview of international schools in Estonia.
The following international schools are located in Tallinn and Tartu, two of the biggest cities in Estonia.
Tallinn
International School of Estonia (ISE)
Address: Juhkentali 18, Tallinn 10132 I Tel 666 4380 I Email: office@ise.edu.ee
The International School of Estonia provides education for students aged 3 to 19 years. The curriculum follows the programs of the International Baccalaureate Organization. English is the language of instruction at ISE and the school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). ISE believes in inquiry-based learning and encourages students to use technological devices to conduct research, present and communicate. Since it was founded in 1995, the number of students has increased from 20 to the current approximation of 141. These students together represent 29 nationalities. The faculty also consists of people from several different nationalities and many of the teachers received their training from different countries such as the UK, US, Portugal, Uruguay, Japan and France.
Tallinn International Kindergarten
Address: Väike-Ameerika 39, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn International Kindergarten is a good choice for expats with pre-school children. It offers an inviting and engaging environment and maintains a balance between being a homely place for children, while also teaching in a professional manner. The language of instruction is English. The teaching staff are highly qualified and teachers make a point to understand the specific needs of each child. The school house is a modern structure and the location is a convenient one, being just a short distance away from the city center. The curriculum is designed to take care of the developmental needs of children between the ages of 24 months and 7 years. It includes different subjects and children participate in activities relating to the subject of the week.
Tallinn French School or Tallinna Prantsuse Lütseum
Address: 3 Hariduse Street, Tallinn, Estonia
The Tallinn French School or Tallinn French Lyceum comprises basic school and secondary school. Basic school includes students from ages 7 to 16 and secondary school includes students between the ages of 16 and 19. The students of this school have done exceptionally well in the national exams over the years. The national exams take place at the end of secondary education. Students at the Tallinn French School learn French from the first year of education, Russian from the third year and English from the fourth year. The school places emphasis on appreciation of art forms such as painting, concerts and ballet.
Les Petits Francophones
Address: 20 Toom Kuninga, 15 185 Tallinn, Estonia Tel: (372) 6 461 306
This is a French language school that is recognized by the Ministry of Education of France. It is aimed at teaching students who speak French and includes students of different nationalities such as Estonian, Canadian, African, Russian and Swiss. It has about 30 students, between the ages of 3 to 16. School activities are held during the week and extra-curricular and recreational activities take place on the weekends.
Tartu
Tartu International School (TIS)
Address: Veski 1, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
A private school that offers education in English, the Tartu International School enrolls students between the ages of 6 and 15 years. The school enrolls students who are native English speakers as well as those with limited or no English language skills. TIS also encourages awareness of the local culture and language. Students begin learning Estonian as a foreign language from the first year through the means of visual aids and games. Native English speakers and those students that reach an adequate skill level in English can choose to learn either German or Swedish in the third year.