Student Enrolment

Introduction

This guidance is intended to explain the application and enrolment process and to inform parents about the choices available and how these choices will affect the student once he/she has graduated from school. The government regulations regarding education can only be summarised here. Applicants are welcome to make an appointment to speak to the Registrar. This gives the family and the student a chance to discuss their interests and goals, and academic and personal strengths. The application process can start at any time during the year. The earliest age for enrolment in KG 1 is two years and ten months by the end of September.

1. Placement

From Grade 1 upwards, candidates will be given a placement test in English, Arabic and Maths. Students applying to enter from Grade 3 to Grade 12 will need to complete the online Cat4 Exam. All applicants are interviewed, including students entering the Infant Section, to determine language proficiency and allow us to place the student in the appropriate class.  The Registrar will arrange for a candidate to sit a placement test and inform the parents of the results within two weeks of the placement tests/interviews.

2. Provisional Acceptance

Where a family is applying from abroad, a provisional acceptance can be made, based on school reports. To gain final acceptance, students will need to attend an interview and/or sit a placement test.

3. BHS Acceptance Priorities

Where students have met the criteria for acceptance, but there is a limited number of places available, the priorities for admission are as follows: 1. Siblings of existing students; 2. Children of staff; 3. Children of old scholars; 4. All other applications.

4. Documents Required for Registration

4.1 All Students

For all students registering with the school the following are required:

• A completed BHS Student Application Form
• Transcript – report of academic work and conduct from the previous school for the past three years (including present year)
• A completed BHS Health Form for each child
• A non-refundable application fee to cover the costs of processing the application (see Fees Information)
• For Lebanese students: Photocopy of passport, Lebanese ID card and family Ikhraj Eid
• For non-Lebanese students: Photocopy of passport (for boarding students this should be valid for at least one year)

4.2 Students entering the Infant Section

For students entering the Infant Section, five passport photos should be provided at registration.

4.3 Non-Lebanese Students

For students without Lebanese nationality a Residence Permit is required. If BHS is asked to obtain the Residence Permit on behalf of the parents, the parents should provide the school with a power of attorney certified by the Lebanese Embassy in the country of the parents’ residence. The cost will be charged to the student’s personal expenses account 15 days after the start of the academic year or the date of enrolment.

4.4 Boarders

Boarding students are required to produce a valid medical insurance certificate. For boarders who do not have medical insurance, the insurance will be arranged by the school and charged to the parents.

4.5 Leaving Certificate

For students coming from a school in Lebanon they will need a leaving certificate (to be submitted prior to admission). This is a statement from the previous school certified by the Lebanese Ministry of Education.

4.6 Certified Transcript and Examination Certificates

Students coming from a school abroad (except Saudi Arabia – see below) should have the transcript (see 5.1. above) and IGCSE examination certificates, if applicable, certified by:

• The Ministry of Education of the country in which the school abroad is situated
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which the school abroad is situated
• The Lebanese Embassy in that country
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lebanon
• The Ministry of Education in Lebanon

IGCSE examination certificates should be certified by all of the above and the British Council or the British Embassy of the country in which the IGCSEs were taken.

Students coming from Saudi Arabia should have the transcript (see 5.1. above) and IGCSE examination certificates certified by:

• The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia
• The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Lebanon
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lebanon
• The Ministry of Education in Lebanon

IGCSE examination certificates should be certified by all of the above and the British Council or the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

4.7 School Grade Level Equivalence

Students (Lebanese or non-Lebanese) coming from a school abroad or entering the International Programme from a school in Lebanon should have school grade level equivalence equating their grade level to the Lebanese Programme and giving them permission to follow their chosen programme. This equivalence is obtained from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education on production of a certified transcript. Parents are responsible for obtaining this equivalence and are advised to start this process early since it may take up to one month. Please note that students entering the International Programme or coming from a school abroad cannot be officially registered with the Ministry of Education until this equivalence has been obtained.

5. The Lebanese Programme

A student of any nationality may join the Lebanese Programme, as long as they have an adequate standard in the Arabic language.

• All subjects are studied in English, except other languages, and social studies, history, geography and civics which are studied in Arabic.
• In addition to meeting the promotion requirements the student must pass the Brevet exam at the end of Grade 9 LP in order to be promoted to the Secondary Section.
• The Lebanese Baccalaureate exams are taken at the end of Secondary III.

6. The International Programme

The International Programme leads to a High School Diploma or International Baccalaureate, with all students sitting for the British IGCSE exams.

6.1 Registration as a non-Lebanese Student

A student may register in the International Programme as a non-Lebanese student if he/she has non-Lebanese nationality and permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to follow a foreign programme as a non-Lebanese. Equivalence of any degrees in the future will also be as a non-Lebanese. Please note that the Lebanese professional syndicates, for example, engineering, medicine, law and pharmacy will not accept members if their equivalence is on the basis of a non-Lebanese nationality (even if they also have Lebanese nationality).

6.2 Registration as a Lebanese Student

A student may register in the International Programme as a Lebanese student if he/she has Lebanese nationality and permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to follow a foreign programme as a Lebanese. The Lebanese Ministry of Education will only give this permission if the student has studied abroad (due to the legal guardian’s work and residence abroad):

• For a minimum of 3 years between KG 3 and Grade 6
• Or 3 consecutive years at the Intermediate level (Grades 7-9)
• Or 2 consecutive years at the Secondary level (Grades 10-12)

6.3 Lebanese Baccalaureate Equivalence

Students who register as Lebanese in the International Programme and later wish to become members of the Lebanese professional syndicates, for example, engineering, medicine, law or pharmacy must obtain equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.

To qualify for equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate, students should take the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests prior to enrolment at university.

The SAT Reasoning Test is composed of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing.

The SAT Subject Tests must be taken in three subjects as follows:

• For the sciences track: Mathematics Level 2C and any two sciences from biology, chemistry, or physics
• For the arts track: Mathematics Level 1C and any two tests from subjects of the applicant’s choice.
• The total score for the SAT Reasoning Test together with the three SAT Subject Tests must be at least 2,750 for the science track and at least 2,600 for the arts track.

At the end of the successful completion of a university freshman year in university (30 credits), the student may apply to the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education for equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate.

Further Information

Further information is available from the Registrar.
Telephone: 961 24 960430/1/2 x 249
Fax: 961 24 961225
Email: registrar@bhs.edu.lb