Learning at ISM is driven by our six learning principles. Created and developed by our teachers and based upon leading global research, they are a summary of what good learning looks like. Our learning principles are at the front and centre of all our conversations at school, whether discussing daily classroom teaching or long-term professional learning for teachers.
Abigail's welcome
We focus on nurturing and strengthening independent learning in an environment that helps students become well-balanced, confident, and inspired by a love of learning and inquiry.
Learning at ISM is driven by our six learning principles. Created and developed by our teachers and based upon leading global research, they are a summary of what good learning looks like. Our learning principles are at the front and centre of all our conversations at school, whether discussing daily classroom teaching or long-term professional learning for teachers.
Our focus this year is “challenge” and how we learn from it. When we struggle, when we have to think hard, that is when learning takes place. Our teachers are looking at the importance of challenge in the classroom, and they ensure that our students use it as fruitful and worthy of celebration. As Frederick Douglass said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Academic results
ISM proudly celebrates a consistent IB pass rate of 100% with an average of 39.7 points in 2022, above the world average for IB schools.
Learning beyond the curriculum
TEDxYouth@ISMonaco
TEDxYouth@ISMonaco
”TEDxYouth events are fun, imaginative, and smart TEDx events designed for, and often organized by, young people. They bring ideas worth spreading to all ages.”
”TEDxYouth events are fun, imaginative, and smart TEDx events designed for, and often organized by, young people. They bring ideas worth spreading to all ages.”
Cambridge Science Competition
The Cambridge Science Competition is an exciting competition that gives IGCSE learners the opportunity to develop their passion for science through practical work, investigating topics of interest, and using the scientific method.
The Cambridge Science Competition is an exciting competition that gives IGCSE learners the opportunity to develop their passion for science through practical work, investigating topics of interest, and using the scientific method.
International Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a prestigious award appreciated by universities and employers at an international level. The Award has a non-competitive framework in which participants set and achieve personal goals related to four sections: community service, skills, fitness, and adventure. Students can participate at either Bronze, Silver, or Gold level. As each participant creates his or her own programme within the Award’s framework, each Award is unique and specifically tailored to the student’s interests. It is a great way for students to develop meaningful and transferable skills for becoming leaders of tomorrow by exploring new interests, trying new challenges, and even stretching their comfort zones.
The Award is offered at Bronze level to all year 10 students, and at Silver level to all students from year 11. The Gold level is offered to those in years 12 and 13. Participants typically spend at least 6 months completing the Bronze level and a year or more completing the Silver level, depending on whether the participant registers as a direct entry or continues from one level to the next.
For more information, click HERE to visit the International Award website.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a prestigious award appreciated by universities and employers at an international level. The Award has a non-competitive framework in which participants set and achieve personal goals related to four sections: community service, skills, fitness, and adventure. Students can participate at either Bronze, Silver, or Gold level. As each participant creates his or her own programme within the Award’s framework, each Award is unique and specifically tailored to the student’s interests. It is a great way for students to develop meaningful and transferable skills for becoming leaders of tomorrow by exploring new interests, trying new challenges, and even stretching their comfort zones.
The Award is offered at Bronze level to all year 10 students, and at Silver level to all students from year 11. The Gold level is offered to those in years 12 and 13. Participants typically spend at least 6 months completing the Bronze level and a year or more completing the Silver level, depending on whether the participant registers as a direct entry or continues from one level to the next.
For more information, click HERE to visit the International Award website.
Extracurricular Sports & Physical Activities
A variety of sports and physical activities are available after school each day. The activities on offer vary from year to year and may include Outdoor adventure club, basketball, rugby, aerobics, a variety of team games, yoga, running club, and sailing.
ISM also has sports teams that represent the school in various inter-school competitions across the year.
Click below to view a short video of our Outdoor Adventurous Activity Club’s excursion to Ecole Bleue in Monaco:
A variety of sports and physical activities are available after school each day. The activities on offer vary from year to year and may include Outdoor adventure club, basketball, rugby, aerobics, a variety of team games, yoga, running club, and sailing.
ISM also has sports teams that represent the school in various inter-school competitions across the year.
Click below to view a short video of our Outdoor Adventurous Activity Club’s excursion to Ecole Bleue in Monaco:
Music, Drama & Visual Arts
In addition to the music and drama programmes that are part of the curriculum, a range of other musical and art activities are on offer at ISM. For budding musicians, a variety of musical instrument lessons are available with visiting specialist teachers in piano, violin, guitar, flute, saxophone, and drums. Singing lessons are also available, and we have two choirs.
Students may register for the graded music exams of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Our results have been excellent, with many students gaining Merits and Distinctions.
Students may also take lessons in Public Speaking, Musical Theatre, and Drama and present for the examinations of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Many of our students have also gained Merits and Distinctions in these exams.
Lovers of art can join after-school art workshops, and the IB Visual Arts students present a public exhibition of artwork every year to which the whole school community is invited.
In addition to the music and drama programmes that are part of the curriculum, a range of other musical and art activities are on offer at ISM. For budding musicians, a variety of musical instrument lessons are available with visiting specialist teachers in piano, violin, guitar, flute, saxophone, and drums. Singing lessons are also available, and we have two choirs.
Students may register for the graded music exams of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Our results have been excellent, with many students gaining Merits and Distinctions.
Students may also take lessons in Public Speaking, Musical Theatre, and Drama and present for the examinations of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Many of our students have also gained Merits and Distinctions in these exams.
Lovers of art can join after-school art workshops, and the IB Visual Arts students present a public exhibition of artwork every year to which the whole school community is invited.
Model United Nations
In today’s era of globalisation, introducing students to the world of diplomacy and leadership is of ever-increasing value. The art of compromise has never been so important.
An extracurricular activity, MUN encourages critical thinking and develops social and emotional intelligence. Lobbying and debating with other students from around the world is a key part of the MUN experience; students learn to grow their cognitive flexibility when faced with representing a country with vastly different opinions to their own. The skills fostered in MUN are hugely relevant to any future career – not only international relations and diplomacy.
Students attend local and international conferences, and ISM also hosts its own annual MUN conference.
Contact: keith.oxley@ismonaco.com
Website: MUN Website
Videos:
ISM Model United Nations conference (ISMMUN) 2020
In today’s era of globalisation, introducing students to the world of diplomacy and leadership is of ever-increasing value. The art of compromise has never been so important.
An extracurricular activity, MUN encourages critical thinking and develops social and emotional intelligence. Lobbying and debating with other students from around the world is a key part of the MUN experience; students learn to grow their cognitive flexibility when faced with representing a country with vastly different opinions to their own. The skills fostered in MUN are hugely relevant to any future career – not only international relations and diplomacy.
Students attend local and international conferences, and ISM also hosts its own annual MUN conference.
Contact: keith.oxley@ismonaco.com
Website: MUN Website
Videos:
ISM Model United Nations conference (ISMMUN) 2020
Culture / Field Trips
Visits to museums and places of local interest form a valuable complement to academic life.
In the Primary School, field trips normally take place for a week in the spring.
In the Lower Secondary School, the field trips are an integral part of our curriculum in trimester 1, and learning is directed towards these trips in all subjects. These trips are mandatory for all Lower Secondary School students, and these trips give our students a real learning experience outside of the classroom.
Recent new destinations for the Secondary School have included a leadership and intensive study course in Oxford, while class 11 enjoyed a geographic expedition to Iceland. Art and science trips complement an already rich programme of expeditions for IB students.
Visits to museums and places of local interest form a valuable complement to academic life.
In the Primary School, field trips normally take place for a week in the spring.
In the Lower Secondary School, the field trips are an integral part of our curriculum in trimester 1, and learning is directed towards these trips in all subjects. These trips are mandatory for all Lower Secondary School students, and these trips give our students a real learning experience outside of the classroom.
Recent new destinations for the Secondary School have included a leadership and intensive study course in Oxford, while class 11 enjoyed a geographic expedition to Iceland. Art and science trips complement an already rich programme of expeditions for IB students.
Environment & Community Service
Various projects linked to environmental awareness help our students to understand the importance of taking care of the world in which they live.
Outreach helps our students to become internationally minded and reach out to help others through annual Giving Projects and fundraising for charity.
Various projects linked to environmental awareness help our students to understand the importance of taking care of the world in which they live.
Outreach helps our students to become internationally minded and reach out to help others through annual Giving Projects and fundraising for charity.
Other Clubs & Societies
The majority of our co-curricular clubs are offered throughout the year; however, some work on a half-term cycle to allow students the opportunity to benefit from the large range of clubs on offer.
A specific programme is circulated at the start of each half-term, and students sign up for their chosen activities based on their interests and needs.
We want to ensure that our students show commitment to their clubs, and we expect students to show regular attendance at their chosen activities.
Our clubs and societies include:
- Journalism (school newspaper)
- Maths enrichment groups
- Sustainability Club
- Robotics Club
- Multilingual Creative Club
- Community Leaders Group
- Student Council
- Yearbook Committee
- Forensics Club
- Chess Club
- Drama Club
- Club Ecologie
The majority of our co-curricular clubs are offered throughout the year; however, some work on a half-term cycle to allow students the opportunity to benefit from the large range of clubs on offer.
A specific programme is circulated at the start of each half-term, and students sign up for their chosen activities based on their interests and needs.
We want to ensure that our students show commitment to their clubs, and we expect students to show regular attendance at their chosen activities.
Our clubs and societies include:
- Journalism (school newspaper)
- Maths enrichment groups
- Sustainability Club
- Robotics Club
- Multilingual Creative Club
- Community Leaders Group
- Student Council
- Yearbook Committee
- Forensics Club
- Chess Club
- Drama Club
- Club Ecologie
University Counselling
The International School of Monaco has a diverse student body: each student has his or her own particular interests, talents, academic needs, and personalities. The university counselling process is tailored to identifying the school that best fits each individual student. From discussing personal goals, career aspirations, and personal preferences, to co-creating the plan for successful university admissions, our college counselling process supports students from start to finish.
Laura Núñez, University Counselor
M.A., M.S. University of Michigan, San Francisco State University
Class of 2023 university offers
We are delighted that our Class of 2023 students have received outstanding conditional offers from some of the most competitive and prestigious universities throughout the world, and we are excited to share with you an overview of their offers here!
University acceptances 2017-2022
UK UNIVERSITIES |
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES |
NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES |
CASS Business School | Aarhus University | American University |
Cardiff University | American University of Paris | Boston University |
Durham University | Bocconi University | Clark University |
Goldsmiths University | Copenhagen Business School | Concordia University |
Heriott-Watt University | Ecole Hôtelière Lausanne | Emory University |
Hult University | Ecole d’Art Contemporain de Luxembourg | Fordham University |
King’s College London | Erasmus University Rotterdam | George Washington University |
London School of Economics | ESADE University | Loyola Marymount University |
Royal Holloway University | ESSEC University | Merrimack College |
Sussex University | EU Business School | McGill University |
University Arts London | IE University | The New School |
University of Bath | International University of Monaco | New York University |
University of Brighton | La Salle Campus Barcelona | Northeastern University |
University of Bristol | Istituto Marangoni | Northwestern University |
University of Cardiff | Modul University | Pace University |
University College London | Parsons School of Design Paris | Parson’s School of Design |
University of Edinburgh | St. Louis University, Madrid | Pepperdine University |
University of Exeter | Turiba University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
University of Manchester | University of Amsterdam | Santa Clara University |
University of Nottingham | University of Copenhagen | Tufts University |
University of Oxford | University of Rijeka | Tulane University |
University of Reading | Vienna University of Economics and Business | University of Michigan |
University of St. Andrews | Willem de Kooning Academy | University of Oregon |
University of Warwick | University of San Francisco | |
Queen Mary University | Washington University St. Louis | |
Yale University | ||
UCLA | ||
Villanova University |
University Visitors
The International School of Monaco welcomes university visits throughout the year. Our school is located at 12, quai Antoine 1er on the Port Hercule. It is easily accessible from the Monaco train station approximately 25 minutes from Nice by train.
Please contact Laura Núñez at laura.nunez@ismonaco.com or +377 93 25 68 30.