About IGA

OVERVIEW:  International Gateway Academy (IGA) offers an international education, with English as the medium of instruction, to children in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Located in Istanbul, Turkey, IGA seeks to provide an education that will nurture students in all areas of life.  The academy was originally established by a group of expatriate parents in 1991 as an informal learning center to supplement their children’s elementary education. By 2004-2005, it grew to become a registered international private elementary and secondary school under the Turkish government’s Ministry of Education (MEB). In 2006 the school was registered as a “Cambridge International Centre” and authorized to administer Cambridge University’s High School division IGCSE, AS and A Level academic programs and OCR programs.  At present, IGA has been approved for candidate status and expect to be accredited by ACSI and the Middle States Association (USA) in June 2011.

STUDENTS:The school currently has 238 students enrolled with 77 of those in the high school. The first class graduated from IGA’s high school (grade 12) in June 2007. Overall, the students represent 18 countries, with approximately 47% from the USA, 32% from Korea, 8% from the UK.

SCHOOL FACILITY:The school is housed in a 7-storey building on the eastern edge of the
Asian side of Istanbul. Four floors each have 5 or 6 classrooms, including 2 science laboratories, and 2 computer labs with high-speed internet access. There is an office floor, library floor, and a ground floor with a multi-purpose room used as an assembly, lunch, theater, and indoor sports facility. The library has more than 15,000 books, primarily in English, but also has books in Turkish, Spanish, and Korean. The campus includes a basketball court, small playing field,
children’s playground, and parking area. Adjacent to the school is a sports center with a covered, artificial turf field that is rented for physical education and sports activities. The school also rents a full-sized soccer pitch.

COURSE OF STUDY & CURRICULUM:IGA endeavors to provide a quality international education to our students. We are therefore committed to a program of curriculum development, evaluation and improvement in order for the curriculum to reflect the international character of the school.  English is the primary language of instruction. Academic standards, textbooks, and instructional materials are drawn for the most part from American and British sources. Students attend school 180 days between early September and mid-June.  All students receive instruction in the core areas of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Religious Studies.  Electives include Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, I.T., and Physical Education / Health.

Course descriptions are available at {PDF link}

The curriculum used in 9th and 10th grade is intended to prepare students to take the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams set by University of Cambridge in England. IGCSE courses are advanced level courses that culminate in comprehensive final exams. (For further information see www.cie.org.uk or our site, [link to IGCSE page]. Ninth and tenth grade students may take exams in the following:

Standardized exams:  Elementary students in grades 3,5 and 8 take the Stanford Achievement Test in April of each year on site. In addition to IGCSE, high school students have the possibility of taking College Board-administered tests (PSAT, SAT and SAT II subject tests, AP) and the ACT test. These are administered at schools locally.  The CEEB code for IGA is 696149.

Secondary Semester Exams or Projects: Semester exams/projects are administered in high school core courses and count for not less than 10% and not more than 30% of the total semester grade.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: The entire school is divided into four teams or houses which cross grade levels. Various events and competitions—sports, academic, and just for fun—pit house against house to earn points. The “house council,” with representatives from each house and acting as the student council, plans activities. The drama department puts on two plays and a fine arts festival. Team sports for middle school and high school include baseball, basketball, floorball, soccer (football), ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.

AWARDS: Each month, secondary teachers vote for “student of the month,” based on positive attitude and a service-attitude. Departments give academic and improvement awards at the end of the year. Students may also receive ACSI “Distinguished High School Student” awards in leadership, academics, fine arts, athletics, and service. Four other honors (which include a monetary gift and plaque) are given to top students:

• The Brian Greensill Service Award
• The IGA International Awareness Award
• Senior of the Year Award.

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