OIS: One of Europe's Best Schools
One of Europe's best schools lies in a small neighbourhood outside Oslo. The new Head of School, Thale Herbertson, has every reason to smile about this year's IB Diploma results. She's also delighted to see the diversity in educational paths chosen by former students.
Recently, the results of the world's IB schools were released, with Norway's Oslo International School scoring sky-high. We met with the new Head of School and a few students who have completed their education here.
"IB Diploma students are probably a more diverse group than many people think," says Thale Herbertson, the new Head of School at Oslo International School in Bekkestua, just outside Oslo.
In recent decades, more and more IB schools have emerged, including in Norway. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, which is widely recognised as one of the most rigorous educational programmes globally, renowned for its emphasis on fostering critical thinking, intercultural understanding and academic excellence among students.
In July each year, the results of how the world's IB Diploma schools perform are released. The numbers for Oslo International School are not only impressive in Norway but also in the world.
"The highest mean score I've seen so far in the EU is 38 out of 45. We score an average of 37, which is almost a full 7 points ahead of the global mean score of 30.3. These results are even more impressive because we are a non-selective school, meaning there are no specific performance-based entry requirements."
Historically, Norwegian parents have been concerned that choosing an international school could leave their children outside the Norwegian system. Herbertson believes the results dispel this myth.
"The school also performs very well on national tests, delivering above average in all subjects, including Norwegian. Norwegian families, therefore, have no reason to worry, and many are surprised when we tell them that almost a third of our students are Norwegian," says Herbertson.
Fact Box: Global Results for IB Diploma Schools
- This year, 97% of students at Oslo International School passed their IB Diploma exams, compared to 80.1% globally. In the five consecutive years before this one, the pass rate was 100% at OIS.
- The highest score graduating students at an IB school can achieve is 45. At Oslo International School, the highest score this year was 44. For the last five years at OIS, it has been 44 or 45 points.
- The average mean score at Oslo International School is an impressive 37, while the global average is 30.3.
Championing Norwegian IB Schools
The new Head of School at OIS has long been a passionate advocate for IB schools and is pleased with the close collaboration among international schools in Norway.
"The IB Diploma programme offers the most stimulating upper secondary education available," Herbertson asserts. "It's academically rigorous and demanding, yet grounded in a holistic philosophy. When the Norwegian government revised the national curriculum in 2020, it was partly inspired by the IB Diploma programme."
Another unique aspect that sets an IB Diploma education apart from other paths is inclusion of "the Core." It consists of three components: "Theory of Knowledge," which teaches critical thinking skills; "Extended Essay," requiring students to write a 4,000 word research paper; and "CAS: Creativity, Activity & Service," encouraging students to engage in enriching, self-developmental and service-minded projects.
Herbertson believes international schools will become more relevant in our increasingly globalised and complex world.
"The job market is constantly evolving, making it difficult to predict what skills students will need in the future. However, by equipping them with resilience and the ability to ask the right questions, I believe we can better prepare them for whatever challenges they may face.
Combining this with the experience of learning within a diverse, international environment provides a broader perspective on the world, which I believe will be invaluable moving forward."
New Head of School with Global Teaching Experience
Herbertson knows what she's talking about. She, herself, has a very diverse teaching background, characterised by international experience. She is half British and attended school in both Norway and England.
After teacher training with Teach First in Manchester, where she had two years of practice at an underprivileged school, she worked at international schools in China, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Trondheim.
She believes that the diverse environment, the holistic approach, and the culturally mixed classes give students an advantage in a changing job market. "Many of our students have access to some of the best universities in the world if they want to. However, what we care most about is helping our students develop their unique potential and finding a good match for all of them, regardless of whether they are the best in the class or not."
She reminds us that a great guiding principle is: "Start here – go anywhere." "That doesn't mean everyone should go to Harvard. We're here to help people develop their unique potential and become successful in exactly what they want."
Three former students of OIS have chosen different educational paths but have one thing in common: a great admiration for their teachers.
Three Alumni - Three Different Paths
We spoke with three of the school's graduates to hear which path they have taken and how Oslo International School influenced their study choices. A clear common denominator is how much the teachers have meant to them.
Frida Looks Forward to Adventures at Sea
Frida Bratsberg (18) grew up in Jar, Oslo, and attended Oslo International School throughout middle and high school.
Frida went through the whole university application process last year and had several great offers from universities in Norway and the UK. "It's so exciting knowing I have lots of options open to me. However, since the beginning of my second year of high school I've also known that I wanted to join the military. So, I went for it and got accepted by the Navy in February. I think the military can give you a lot. Dad has spoken very positively about his experience there," says Frida.
Frida believes her OIS experience will come in handy. "Especially discipline. The IB programme is quite tough, and I think that will be useful, especially during those moments where you have to keep going even when you’re very tired."
She praises her teachers for doing everything possible to support the students. "This is such a caring environment and the teachers really help you through. I had a maths teacher who moved mountains to give me the extra help I needed. That's what I call commitment."
Fanny Returned to Oslo International School to Teach
Today, it's been 10 years since Fanny Berg (28) completed the IB programme at OIS. After studying economics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and taking pedagogy, she is now back at OIS - this time as a teacher.
She remembers her first time as a student at the school well. "It was a pretty tough transition. I wasn't used to all the instruction being in English, and in addition at a very high level."
What she remembers best were the teachers. And maybe that's exactly why she's back today. "The teachers worked so hard for us. Especially when I found it a bit challenging in the beginning. They made a real impression and inspired me. And now they are my colleagues."
Fanny's first experience as a teacher has been incredibly rewarding. "I really care about my students and want them to discover their passion. In addition to their textbook learning, I encourage them to stay informed about current events. I often ask them to bring in news articles for discussion, as it helps them gain a deeper understanding and makes the subject much more engaging. My goal is to create that spark of interest, and support them in whatever they choose to pursue after IB."
Nriprendra Rounds off his First Year at Cambridge
Nripendra Bhati (19) from Kolsås started at OIS in 5th grade. Now, he has just completed his first year of engineering studies at the University of Cambridge. He believes the years at OIS have made the transition to a demanding university life easier. "I was actually a bit surprised. It wasn't as hard as I thought it might be, and I’ve even had time to pick up basketball again. I think IB prepared me for what was to come. All the skills I gained from researching and writing my extended essay, for example, really paved the way for my first year at university."
He also believes that schooling at OIS has made it easier to fit into an international student environment. "We do a lot of collaborative projects in groups, and I think it's easier for me to work with people from different cultures and with different perspectives. I have a definite advantage there."
Although he describes studying at OIS as intense, it's a completely different word he uses to describe how schooling at OIS has influenced him the most. "Balance. School isn't just about academics, but also about what happens outside of the classroom. They encourage us to set aside time for personal projects, hobbies, and to get involved in something. You simply get 'life skills'."
Where the road goes next after Cambridge, he doesn't know yet. "My teachers really nurtured my love of maths. I’m studying engineering now, and who knows where I’ll go with this in the future. I do know that IB opens doors, so hopefully there will be plenty of options for to me when I complete my degree!"
Fanny, Nriprendra, and Frida have all chosen different directions after completing the IB programme at OIS, but share the sentiment that this is a school that lives by its values of respect, care, collaborate and innovate.
Fact Box: About Oslo International School
- Oslo International School was established in 1963.
- The school currently has just short of 600 students, divided into three levels: Kindergarten and Primary School (pre-school and primary), Middle School (lower secondary), and High School (upper secondary).
- The school has a strong focus on international understanding and global citizenship.
- The students come from over 50 different countries, and almost one third of students comes from Norway.
- The teachers represent over 25 different nationalities and are highly qualified and experienced in their subject areas.
- The School also has two full-time socio-emotional counsellors, in addition to two university counsellors, who help advise and guide students through the often complex university application process.