Two New International Schools Open in Leiden

Two new international primary schools have opened in Leiden for the 2022 school year: International School Leiden (ISL) and Theodore International Startup Academy (TISA). Both schools offer an international curriculum in English, and are a welcome addition for the many international families who have made Leiden their home. 

Read more about the new schools and their philosophies below. You can find a list of all the international primary and secondary schools in the Leiden region on our Children & Schools pages.

International School Leiden (ISL)

The ISL is a primary school with an initial capacity for 40 pupils, but the ambition is to grow quickly to at least double that number. Inclusivity is one of the key pillars underpinning the school’s philosophy and everyone is welcome, according to the principal Deon du Plessis.

“We firmly believe that fair treatment, justice, and equality for all regardless of race, creed, religion, color, culture, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical ability or socioeconomic status is the most basic of rights,” says du Plessis. 

The school opened its doors this week to coincide with the start of the Dutch school year in the region. The international school shares a building with a Dutch primary school  – Joppensz – and is run by a major school group in the city which manages a number of primary and secondary schools.

The ISL will follow the rapidly growing International Primary Curriculum which is now the basis for more than 1,000 schools in over 90 countries.  

Visit their website here: isleiden.nl

Theodore International Startup Academy (TISA)

Teddy Kids Daycare and KinderMBA have partnered together to found TISA. Combining school with after-school care, pupils are encouraged to work on creative and entrepreneurial projects alongside their studies.

Lessons will follow the Singapore teaching method, with no more than 16 students per class. Classes for ages 3 -12 years will begin in August 2022, with additional ages groups planned for future years.

Visit their website here: tisaschool.nl