AIS vs BIS

[mrmoosmum]

Thanks KW. We assumed the same too and have never actually approached them, but we'll give it a shot.

[mrmoosmum]

KW was correct - there is a waiting list for JIS. Does anyone have any experience of spots becoming available from waiting lists?

[kingwilly]

Ask what position on the waiting list you will be, 3rd or 4th maybe an even chance it will came open. 17th or 23rd, dont even bother.

But either way, dont rely on it only. Also consider BIS and AIS. STB- Tiara Banksa might be an option. (if I remember the correct school, near highscope in Cipete. Actually, for younger children even Highscope could be a good option, I think they use a Montessori method.

[mrmoosmum]

Thanks KW. I did ask how many applicants were on the waiting list and while they wouldn't give a figure, they did say that it was a 'soft' waiting list with many students still to confirm if they'd be returning in August, so we are cautiously optimistic. Otherwise we'll be going with AIS.

[Sage1]

We moved to Jakarta in July last year (2011), where we live in the Kemang Dalam area. Initially our 6 year old son went to BIS. He was picked up by the school bus at 6.25am and returned home at about 2.30pm. While we were very happy with the teachers he had and the standard of education he received our son did not cope well either with the early starts or sitting on the bus for long periods of time with mainly older children. Other people have mentioned the range of sports and activites available at BIS, but these are not available to children of your son's age. There were no after school activities available for our son on weekdays at BIS. My wife was also concerned about the safety of our son on the school bus. The buses are only fitted with fixed lap type seat belts which were never adjusted to fit him and the traffic on the toll road moves quite quickl;y andis not well disciplined.

In January this year we moved our son to AIS Kemang. The standard of the education at AIS is as good as at BIS (at this level at least). While the facilites at AIS are not as impressive as BIS our son couldn't care. He now gets to sleep longer, he participates in after school activities 3 afternoons a week and his new friends all live close by in the Kemang area so he can play with them more often. We are also much more closely involved with the school because it is only 5 minutes away.

We are very happy that we made the move but we know several families in the Kemand area with children of the same age who don't find the travel to BIS a problem.

[mrmoosmum]

Thanks Sage - very helpful information. It is sounding like AIS is a good option for us. Even if a spot came up at JIS, our son would be in Kindy there and could end up behind on our return to Australia.

[mrmoosmum]

Just an update for people researching schools in the future.

No spots came up at JIS even though they had suggested the waiting list was 'soft' and places likely.

Our son started at AIS on Friday and although he has only been there 2 days, he claims he 'loves' his new school. We like the fact that it is small and more like the small local school he attended in Australia. His teacher is lovely and I'm sure a major part in him liking the school. Looking at the school work hanging in his classroom, I would perhaps think the standard is slightly higher than his school in Australia which was one of the top two in our city. At this early stage we are very happy with our decision to send him there.