Atherton International School

Atherton International School is located on Geoje Island in Okpo-dong, Geoje City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The campus address is 9-8 Seogando-gil, Okpo-dong, Geoje 53227. Geoje Island sits off Korea's southeast coast and AIS serves both international families and local Korean residents within the Okpo district. The public address confirms the campus location in Geoje, Republic of Korea.

AIS educates students from age 2 to 18, spanning Early Years to Year 13. The school's program is structured as Early Years (age 2–5), Primary (age 5–11), Middle School (age 12–15), and High School (age 15–18). The curriculum combines the English National Curriculum (EYFS/Primary/Middle) with Cambridge International qualifications (IGCSE and A Levels) for the senior years, along with IMYC/IPC in appropriate stages.

The school type is a co-educational, day international school offering a British Curriculum. AIS welcomes both international students and qualifying Koreans and does not operate boarding facilities.

AIS provides ongoing assessment and adapts lessons to support each child's individual learning needs within the classroom setting. Specific dedicated SEN provisions are not publicly listed on AIS pages.

AIS operates in Korea and follows a British Curriculum rather than a national Korean system; there is no formal country affiliation stated.

AIS does not indicate any religious affiliation in its public materials.

Specific daily start and end times are not published publicly. AIS offices are open 8:00 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday, and visits can be scheduled through the contact channels. For exact school-day timings, please contact AIS admissions.

AIS offers a school bus service. Public listings and third-party databases confirm a bus service is provided, though route details are not published on AIS pages.

Atherton International School is a British Curriculum School in Geoje, South Korea, educating students from Early Years through Year 13. Early Years (ages 2–5) use a play-based, child-centred approach that aligns with the English National Curriculum's Early Years Foundation Stage, focusing on reading, writing, creativity, and social development. Primary (ages 5–11) follows the English National Curriculum, using White Rose and Pearson schemes, with specialist lessons in art, music, physical education, and Korean Studies. Middle School (ages 12–15) continues with the English National Curriculum, supported by Pearson Maths Progress International and Exploring Science International, with English development and leadership opportunities through the William Pike Challenge Award. High School (ages 15–18) offers Cambridge International IGCSE and A Levels using Cambridge-endorsed textbooks, with the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award included to promote leadership and service.

AIS places social and emotional learning at the core of its student development. The safeguarding policy states that teachers must build positive relationships with students and act if concerns arise to support students socially and emotionally. The campus includes a dedicated Wellbeing Space designed to support student welfare. The school also supports personal growth through enrichment programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh Outdoor & Adventure Learning scheme. A Year 13 student testimonial describes AIS as providing support in many ways, including when topics are challenging.

Public information about specific SEN provision, including which needs are supported or whether AIS operates as a specialist SEN institution, is not publicly disclosed. AIS states an inclusive ethos and a commitment to supporting the academic, social, and emotional development of each student.

AIS is described as a British Curriculum school with instruction in English and welcomes both international students and qualifying Koreans. Public pages do not specify any dedicated EAL program or staffing details.

AIS supports mental wellbeing through its safeguarding policy, which commits to educating students socially, emotionally, and academically and to maintaining positive relationships. The Wellbeing Space on campus provides a dedicated area to support wellbeing. The Duke of Edinburgh program and broader emphasis on social development contribute to wellbeing through experiential learning.

AIS has a formal Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy revised October 2023; it aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and iCMEC materials and draws on Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023. The policy states that the health, safety, and welfare of all children are paramount and that all staff have a responsibility to act on concerns. It describes AIS's role as educating children socially, emotionally, and academically within a caring environment. All employees are expected to uphold these safeguarding responsibilities.

1. Admissions Introduction and campus visit. Families start by contacting AIS admissions to arrange a personalized campus tour. The admissions team will explain the enrollment process during the visit and answer initial questions you may have about the school and its programs. AIS states that applications are accepted throughout the year, so you can schedule a visit at a time that suits your family.

2. Submit the application form and initial documents. If you decide to proceed, you complete the AIS Application Form as the first stage of placement. The application form is accompanied by a set of required documents including birth certificate, passport copies, and school reports. The school emphasizes that submission of these materials starts the formal placement process and is read by the school leadership team as part of the initial screening.

3. Documentation, SLT review, and potential further assessment. After submission, the Leadership Team reviews the application and accompanying information; this review does not guarantee a place. If additional information is needed, AIS may request previous school reports or assessment data. For students with potential EAL needs or other learning considerations, the SLT may propose a further assessment (including potential assessment with external centers) before a placement decision is made.

4. Offer, enrollment agreement, and readiness to start. If a place is offered, AIS aims to contact the family to confirm status, schedule a pre-start meeting, and issue the school fees invoice. An offer may be revoked if the school cannot reach the family within one week of the offer. Once an offer is accepted, families enter the enrollment phase and must address any required paperwork and invoicing.

5. Induction, placement, and class assignment. AIS intends to place new students in the class that aligns with their chronological age, with a two-week induction period for students entering from outside the local calendar. After induction, a decision may be made about continued placement in the initially assigned year group based on educational needs. This placement decision is final and driven by the child's needs rather than parental preference.

6. Fees, invoices, and ongoing payment terms. The enrollment process culminates in the issuance of invoices for enrollment and tuition. The 2025-2026 information lists an enrollment fee of USD 1,000 (non-refundable) and tiered tuition for new and returning students by year group, plus transportation fees. A payment schedule is provided, including refunds and late fee terms if payments are not made by their due dates.

Notes on the sources: The detailed application steps, the role of the SLT, and the possibility of assessments come from the AIS Application Checklist and Admissions Information for 2025-2026. The specific fee amounts, refund policy, late entry discounts, and payment schedule are drawn from the same 2025-2026 admissions document and the 2025-2026 school fees sheet.

3) Scholarships. AIS does not publish information about scholarships or financial aid in its admissions materials. The 2025-2026 admissions information and the fees document list enrollment and tuition fees, transportation charges, and payment terms, but there is no mention of scholarship programs or financial assistance options. If you need confirmation of available financial support, you would typically discuss options during the admissions process or via direct inquiry with the admissions team; however, no scholarship details are listed in the published documents.

2) Waitlist/Pool. AIS Geoje does not publish a formal waitlist or pool system in its publicly available admissions materials. The admissions page notes that AIS accepts applications throughout the year and invites campus visits, but it does not describe a waitlist process. Because no waitlist policy is stated in the published documents, there is no explicit waitlist mechanism described for AIS. Sources confirm the open, rolling admissions stance but do not outline a waitlist/pool procedure.