Kristiansand International School

About KIS

Kristiansand International School (KIS) opened in January 2008 with just five teachers and 15 students.  The school was founded to serve the needs of the international business community in Kristiansand, as the flourishing businesses in and around Kristiansand attract engineers and professionals from around the world in sectors including the oil, chemical, renewable energy and education industries. In the six years since the school opened, KIS has expanded and now offers an international education to around 190 students from 35 countries, taught by 25 staff members representing 11 countries.

The school offers an international education from 1st to 10th grade, following the curricula and philosophy of the International Baccalaureate (IB), and was authorised to offer both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in 2011.  All learning at the school follows the philosophy and practices of the IB, although the school is required to cover the learning outcomes of the Norwegian National Curriculum in the subjects of Religion and Ethics, and in Norwegian language for students who learn Norwegian as a second language.  For students who study Norwegian Language and Literature (as a first language), the school follows the IB curriculum, but also uses the Norwegian National Curriculum as guidance, although our students receive less instruction in Norwegian than they would in a state school.

Places at the school are prioritised for international families in line with the school’s terms and conditions and admissions policy.  The school was initially opened as a state or public school, but is now a private school under section 2:12 of Norway’s Education Act.  The school is owned by Stiftelsen (foundation) Kristiansand International School, and is financed through generous support from both Kristiansand Kommune (Council) and various companies who sponsor the school’s foundation.

Life in Kristiansand

Kristiansand is a small but flourishing town in Southern Norway.  With 110000 inhabitants, the city is large enough to have a flourishing creative life and an active expat community, but small enough to be easily able to get out of town and enjoy Norway’s natural beauty.  With four distinct seasons, the outdoor life in Norway is truly amazing, with some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in the world.  Staff members at the school take part in a wide variety of activities, from team sports to hiking in the mountains, fishing to sailing competitively, from skiing to nights in a rented cabin.  With a ferry to Denmark and good transport links by air, road or train, the city offers great access to Northern Europe, as well as wide variety of attractions within easy reach in this popular tourist area.  More information is available at this link.