The purpose of our admission policy is to help you through the admission process effectively and to help you place your child in the appropriate class at Trivandrum International School. The more relevant information we have, the more effectively we will be able to achieve this.

STEP - 1

To begin with, documentation which you need to submit with your application must include:

• A copy of EITHER the child’s birth certificate (Original) OR attested photocopy of the relevant page from the child’s passport
• Official copies of the students academic reports for the past two years 
• Five recent passport size photographs Application Form
• Confidential Medical Record
• Transfer Certificate from the previous school. (From class 2 onwards)

Once your application is received, the admission process will begin. Your child’s age will give the initial indication as to the appropriate class and the aptitude test will either confirm this or lead to further assessment.

Age

These are the guidelines for dates of birth for children entering Trivandrum International School. We believe students should be with children of the same age, tackling tasks with the appropriate intellectual challenge.

Entering KG 1       - children will be 3 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class.
Entering KG 2       - 4 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class
Entering Class 1    - 5 ½ by 31 March  preceding entry to the class                       
Entering Class 2    - 6 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class         
Entering Class 3    - 7 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                      

Entering Class 4    - 8 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                                 
Entering Class 5    - 9 ½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class           
Entering Class 6    - 10½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class         

Entering Class 7    - 11½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                  
Entering Class 8    - 12½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                  
Entering Class 9    - 13½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                  
Entering Class 10 - 14½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                   
Entering Class 11 - 15½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class                   
Entering Class 12 - 16½ by 31 March preceding entry to the class     

STEP - 2

After receiving the initial documentation with your child’s application, we will arrange for an assessment to place your child in the appropriate class.

Aptitude Test

For entry to Class 3 and upwards, children are required to take an aptitude test. This will reflect what we expect a child to be able to do by the end of the preceding school year      (i.e. a child applying to enter Class 5 will be assessed on their ability to do what a student is expected to do at the end of Class 4), though those seeking admission during the final term will be assessed using learning objectives from the current year of study (i.e. Class 5 in the example given).

Those seeking admission for Classes 3 to 5 will be assessed on their skills in using English and Mathematics. Those seeking admission to Class 6 and above will also be assessed on their understanding of scientific concepts in addition to Mathematics and English. We prefer to meet students personally and discuss their interests and academic progress with them. This is compulsory for those seeking admission to KG1 through Class 5. This process is also essential for those who have found the aptitude tests difficult, for we would want to carry out a further assessment in order to place the student in the appropriate class. If possible, we like to meet both parents.

Some times the aptitude test indicates that a child may not have performed well enough to enter the class that the age guidelines suggest. We find this to be particularly the case with children whose English language skills are weak. Since everything else depends on the ability to use English, spending an extra year strengthening these skills is a worthwhile use of time. If the student makes exceptional progress, he or she might be promoted early   (i.e. to the class with children of the same age), but this should not be seen as inevitable.

At Trivandrum International School, we always welcome students and strive to offer them a platform to showcase.   

OTHER INFORMATION

Class 9 and 10

The school offers ICSE course and the Cambridge IGCSE course in Classes 9 and 10.

Students can choose either one of the two syllabi according to their interest and career plans.

Students entering Class 9 are expected to show the right aptitude to follow these courses.

We at TRINS do not encourage:

·        Transfer from one ICSE school to another between class 9 and 10 and from CBSE to ICSE   syllabus.        ·        Student seeking admission to the IGCSE course in class 10.

We believe that continuity is an important factor in helping students to be successful, particularly when preparing for external exams. If you are considering moving your child for the Class 9 and 10 courses, our recommendation is that the student should not join later than Class 8. This will give the student a year to adapt to the school and its approach to learning.

Students will not be admitted into the school in Class 10 if they require hostel accommodation. Changing school at this stage is a very stressful task and we believe having a family to go home to is particularly important for students undertaking this transition.

Admission Procedure for class 11 and 12·       

Application for ISC+2 course and CIE A –Level course will be accepted only after taking into consideration the percentage of marks achieved by the student in the exams taken in Class 10. At the time of application, the most recent school exam results should be submitted. Once the results of the Board Examinations are released, places will be confirmed.

This will be followed by an entrance process which includes personal interview of the candidate seeking admission.

The purpose of this interview will be not only to discuss academic progress, but also to find about interest beyond the classroom and how a young person might contribute to the life of the school. Prior to the interview, an applicant will be asked to complete a personal statement.

To enter the ISC +2 course, students need to achieve    

   75% in five of the ICSE subjects examined in class 10 and      

   80% in those chosen for further study in Class 11 and 12.This is also the case for those who have been following the CBSE curriculum.

If the student has taken O-Level or IGCSE examinations, he/she should have achieved ·       

At least 5 C grades in the above mentioned examinations including English Language.·       

B grade in the subject chosen for study at A Levels. For entry to the CIE A-Level course, a student will need to have achieved the grades given above if moving from ICSE or CBSE course.

We do not admit student into class 12(the final year of School)

Subject options in Class 11

ISC Plus 2  

If choosing this programme, all students must follow courses in English and Environmental Education and select 4 other subjects. The following are the possible options

 To enter professional courses in India, students need to take:

1. Medicine – Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English
2. Engineering – Maths, Physics, Chemistry, English

A - level

The A Level programme consist of AS qualification (studied in Class 11) and A2 qualification (studied in class 12).A student may choose to study four subjects in Class 11, but this will often be reduced to 3 subjects in Class 12 (students obtaining three A-Levels and one AS Level)

We would take into consideration demand for other subjects, but cannot guarantee to offer additional subjects unless there is adequate demand and available resources.

To enter professional courses in India, students would need to take A-Level English literature which can be a very difficult course. As a result the school’s advice would be to take the ISC

Second and Third Language:·       

All students are required to choose a Second Language from Class 2 to 10.·       

While in class 3 to 8 students have to choose a Third language. ·       

Students who sit the ICSE exam in Class 10 must take either Malayalam or Hindi as their Second Language. Students who sit the IGCSE exams must take either Hindi or French.·       

It is compulsory for all students up to Class 5 to study Malayalam as a language.·       

From Class 3 to Class 8 students must take an Indian language (Hindi or Malayalam) as their Second or Third Language – and may study both. 

It is advisable that the Second Language to be studied in Classes 8, 9 and 10, is identified by Class 6 and any change of language option after that need to be discussed with the school.

Extracurricular Activities:

The range of extracurricular activities that we offer is something in which the school takes pride. These activities enable the students to develop their competence and confidence in different areas, as well as take a break from classroom studies.  Given the distance that many day scholars have to travel, these activities are included within the school day for the most part, and students are required to participate enthusiastically. Swimming is part of the curriculum up to Class 8. 

Throughout the school, we expect the students to participate in a range of the activities offered.

It is the part of the school ethos that students get involved in extra curricular activities. We wish to ensure that all applicants and their parents understand this.  

Admission to the school is on the assumption that the child will take part in extra-curricular activities.  You must inform the school at the time of admission of any long-term health reasons that make swimming or taking part in any other sports difficult for the student.

Applying from Outside Kerala: 

If applying from outside Kerala, please post or fax copies of identification documentation and school reports to us. The school will conduct online aptitude test. We require you to ensure that the test is fair – that the work submitted is the child’s own work. Evaluating the test, if a talk with your child is essential, then a telephone interview will be arranged.

If you are traveling with your child to Kerala at any time, after sending in the application, it should be possible to arrange for the aptitude test to be taken at school. We would encourage you to explore this option, for we feel it is easier for a child to make the transition to a new school in a new environment if they have had the chance to visit first.

Applicants from outside Kerala are often interested in the hostel facility. Details of the hostel are to be found in the boarding option, but as guidance, we are reluctant to admit children under 9 into the hostel. All hostel students should have a local guardian and for younger students the local guardian, should be close enough to allow frequent weekend visits. 

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Close to 100 (as on June 2009) hand-picked, committed and versatile faculty including expatriates with rich professional experience is the School’s most critical resource.

The selection process takes into account:

• • Curriculum knowledge and instructional competence -advanced degrees                               and appropriate experience
• • Classroom management capabilities
• • Interpersonal skills

On-going competency enhancement programmes comprising training, job rotation and performance-based incentives keep the faculty at high levels of competency and commitment.