The National Orthodox School Shmaisani

5 Al-Hajjaj Al-Sahmi Street, Shmaisani, Amman 11194, Jordan. The Shmaisani campus sits in western Amman in the Shmaisani district, a central area with major roads nearby. Wahbeh Tamari Kindergarten (KG1–KG2) operates at a separate but nearby site. The area is served by regular bus routes and local transport.

NOS-Shmaisani serves Grades 1–12. Wahbeh Tamari Kindergarten (KG1–KG2) operates at a separate campus nearby. The school divides its stages into Lower Primary (1–3), Upper Primary (4–5), Middle School (6–8), and High School (9–12).

Private, non-profit, co-educational, day school.

NOS Shmaisani has a diverse student body with about 21 nationalities represented; the most common nationality is Jordanian.

The Tamkeen Centre provides support for students with learning differences such as Dyslexia, Scotopic Sensitivity (Irlen) Syndrome, ADD and ADHD. The school notes limited capacity to accommodate severe intellectual or physical disabilities due to current infrastructure.

Greek Orthodox Christian affiliation; NOS operates under the Orthodox Educational Society in Jordan.

Religious Studies are part of the curriculum, including Christian and Islamic Religious Studies; the school has an Orthodox Christian identity embedded in its ethos.

Regular school days run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The day is organized around stages with subject loading and breaks as per the programme.

NOS offers a school bus service with routes to and from the campuses; each bus has an attending staff member. For 2025–2026, typical times are Wahbeh Tamari KG: 7:40 a.m. arrival and 1:45 p.m. departure; NOS-Shmaisani (Grades 1–5): 7:45 a.m. arrival and 2:00 p.m. departure; NOS-Shmaisani (Grades 6–12): 7:45 a.m. arrival and 3:05 p.m. departure. Bus fees are 710 JD per year or 355 JD per semester.

The National Orthodox School Shmaisani offers three programmes across Grades 1–12: the National Programme based on the Jordanian MOE curriculum (taught primarily in Arabic with English language components), the Cambridge International Programme (Cambridge Primary/Secondary) taught mainly in English, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for Grades 11–12 with Foundation Years in Grades 9–10; the school was reaccredited by the Council of International Schools on 20 March 2024. The school allows enrolment in either the National or Cambridge pathway from Grade 1, with movement between programmes possible depending on language ability and space. In Stage (1–3) Lower Primary, the Cambridge Primary offer provides English Language, Mathematics in English, Science in English, Social Studies in English, and Global Perspectives, while the National Programme delivers Arabic Language, Mathematics in Arabic, Science in Arabic, with other subjects taught by specialists (English, French, PE, Art, etc.). In Stage (4–5) Upper Primary, Cambridge Primary subjects are taught in English with Arabic and other subjects mirrored in the National Programme (Arabic Language, English Language, Mathematics in Arabic, Science in Arabic, French, and more). In Stage (6–8) Middle School, the Cambridge Secondary option comprises Science taught in English (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) alongside Arabic Language, Social Studies in Arabic, French, and other core subjects, with the National Programme continuing parallel offerings. At Stage (9–12), students may pursue the Jordanian General High School Certificate (Tawjihi), the International British Certificate route (IGCSE/IAL/Edexcel), or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) with Foundation Years in 9–10, the IBDP being English-medium and IB-accredited since 2018.

NOS Shmaisani places student happiness and well-being at the heart of its approach; educational counselling is explicitly described as contributing to students' happiness and well-being. The Tamkeen Centre is staffed by specialized professionals and provides learning-support for Grades 1-9, including non-Arabic speaking students. Tamkeen Centre services include screening and evaluation for learning difficulties (e.g., Dyslexia and Irlen/SSS), individualized lesson plans, assessment for SEN and LSC, a Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme, exam reading/writing support, and public awareness. NOS's vision and aims commit to psychological, emotional, social and spiritual well-being as part of student development. Educational Counselling offers one-on-one and group guidance to help students understand themselves, develop life skills, and promote mental health, while university guidance supports students through the application process. Citations: turn8view0, turn4view0, turn2search6, turn5view0

Tamkeen Centre delivers in-house SEN/LSC support with specialized, trained staff. It offers screening and evaluation for learning difficulties and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, along with individualised lesson plans and in-class or one-on-one support, and provides a Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme. The Centre also provides assessment for SEN/LSC and an exam-reading/writing service, plus public awareness about learning difficulties. The Tamkeen Centre serves Grades 1-9 and is part of NOS rather than a separate specialist SEN institution. The school notes that it cannot accommodate students with severe mental disabilities (IQ below 70) or severe physical disabilities due to current infrastructure. Citations: turn4view0, turn3view0, turn7view0

EAL support is provided through the Tamkeen Centre, including a Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme to help non-Arabic-speaking students improve their Arabic language skills; this service is offered to students with Arabic-language needs and is fee-based. The Tamkeen Centre serves Grades 1-9 and offers individualized lesson plans for registered students. The Non-Arabic Speaking Students Programme uses a tailored curriculum for reading, writing and conversational Arabic, with special exams prepared to match each student's plan. Non-Arabic speaking support is described as part of Tamkeen Centre services for those with language needs. Citations: turn4view0, turn8view0

NOS aims to ensure holistic well-being across psychological, emotional, physical, mental, social and spiritual domains (Our Vision/Mission/Aims). The Tamkeen Centre explicitly prioritizes physical, mental and spiritual well-being as a core focus for students. Educational Counselling emphasises promoting mental health, life skills, and social adaptability, offering one-on-one and group guidance to support students' emotional development. Education Counselling also provides strategies for dealing with feelings, conflict resolution, and general well-being, with aims that include preventing delinquency and improving motivation. University Counselling supports students with post-secondary planning, which contributes to overall well-being by reducing stress and uncertainty in transitions. Citations: turn2search6, turn7view0, turn8view0, turn5view0

NOS publicly references safeguarding-adjacent provisions: the Admission page notes an open Admissions policy and a Student Code of Conduct or best interests standard. The school operates clinics with a General Physician and nurses who provide medical care, vaccinations, and injury care, and maintain medical records for safety. Educational Counselling explicitly covers safeguarding-related processes, including special education referrals to competent specialists and handling issues before referring to the discipline council. Tamkeen Centre supports a safe, inclusive environment by addressing learning difficulties and raising awareness among school and families. The campus also implements health and safety measures, including CCTV, fire alarm systems, emergency exit maps, and a smoke-free environment. Citations: turn3view0, turn7view0, turn8view0, turn7view0

The National Orthodox School – Shmaisani accepts applications for KG1 through Grade 11. Application dates for new registrations start at the beginning of the 2nd semester each year, usually in January or February, for the following school year; in Wahbeh Tamari Kindergarten the process opens earlier (in November) for siblings of current students and for staff children to provide priority consideration. Registrations are for the 1st semester; start in the 2nd semester is not typical except in certain transfer cases from outside Jordan. The school has an open and inclusive Admissions Policy. It reserves the right to deny admission or re-registration if a student's behavior is not in line with the School's values. As a general rule, male applicants are admitted only with the registration of a female sibling of school age. Grade 12 admission is allowed only under exceptional circumstances after review by the Student Admissions Committee and approval by the Orthodox Educational Society Executive Board; Grade 12 IBDP requires completion of Grade 11 in the IBDP to be considered. A Tamkeen Centre supports students with learning difficulties, but the school notes limitations for severe disabilities given current infrastructure. Special consideration is given to non-Arabic speaking applicants during entrance exams and personal interviews. Admission steps include: Step 1 — online Admission Application Form with a pledge; Step 2 — submission of required documents; Step 3 — Entrance Exam; Step 4 — Personal Interview; Step 5 — Application Review by the NOS Admissions Sub-committee (Grades 1–8) or the OES Admissions Committee (Grades 9–12); Step 6 — Notification of admission decision (usually 2–3 weeks after exam/interview); Step 7 — receiving a New Students Information Pack (including school contract, tuition fees, bus information, and uniforms) and onboarding steps. Notifications of acceptance are by phone and email; if not accepted, families may appeal or reapply the following year. The school provides ongoing evaluation of students during the first year by an Internal Review Committee. Admissions, timelines, and procedures are described in detail in the school's How To Apply, When to Apply, Equal Opportunity and Acceptance Priority content.

Tuition and fee information is published for two programmes: National Programme and British Programme. For the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition includes a tiered set of discounts: 1st Sibling Discount, 2nd Sibling Discount, 3rd Sibling Discount, and separate Cash Payment Discounts for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th child; a non-refundable registration fee is listed for each grade. The numbers differ by grade and programme, and Grade 1 NP shows tuition of 2725 JD with corresponding sibling discounts (e.g., 1st Sibling Discount of 191 JD; 2nd 245 JD; 3rd 300 JD) and cash-payment discounts (136 JD for the 1st child, 127 JD for the 2nd, 124 JD for the 3rd, 121 JD for the 4th). British Programme prices are provided separately with a similar discount structure. Notes include a 150 JD deposit for Grade 12 NP/IG/IB and platform subscription charges (Kutubee and RAZ readings) along with a 60 JD or 70 JD grade-level deposit for 12th grade depending on programme. These discounts and deposits are published in the Tuition Fees section. The school also indicates that certain deposits and subscriptions apply to specific grades and streams.