NUN Schools

In Brief

The basics. Beykoz campus, IB through to Diploma. English and Turkish instruction. Primary is co-ed; girls and boys are on separate buildings/campuses from middle school up. Worth knowing before you visit — it's not unusual in Istanbul, but it's not what most international families expect by default.

Who's behind it. NUN was founded in 2014 by the Albayrak family (Berat Albayrak is President Erdoğan's son-in-law). That's a feature for some Istanbul families and a hard no for others. You'll hear it raised. The campus itself sits on a Beykoz forest plot whose approval was politically fought over — your Turkish friends will probably mention it before you do.

The values piece. The school is open about being "values-led" — they talk a lot about raising "good human beings," love/respect/responsibility. In practice this reads as observant-Muslim, conservative-but-not-imam-hatip. Expat families who want a secular international environment usually look elsewhere (BISI, Enka, Robert College). Religiously-observant Turkish and Gulf families rate it highly.

The teaching. IB results are strong — 100% diploma pass rate, average around 36, which is genuinely good. According to one parent the school "has a really good way of teaching that helps students learn well." Class sizes around 15. Native English teachers in the mix. The campus is large and modern.

What to ask about. Two operational complaints come up repeatedly on Turkish forums: slow handling of withdrawal/refund requests (one parent reported six months of silence), and inconsistent scholarship decisions even after kids pass entrance exams. Worth pinning admissions down on both before signing.

Bottom line for your friend. If they're a practising Muslim family — Turkish, Gulf, or otherwise — this is probably on the shortlist and deserves a visit. If they want a secular, mixed-gender, Western-expat-heavy environment, NUN isn't really aimed at them and there are better fits in the city. Either way: tour both the boys' and girls' sides, and ask hard questions about admin responsiveness.