The Independent School of JakartaUnverified
Pondok Pinang Campus- 1 campus in South Jakarta
Ms. Eileen Fisher
In post since 2024
Ms. Eileen Fisher leads ISJ. The school follows the British National Curriculum and is part of The Schools Trust.
The Intelligence
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If you want the British prep school experience for children aged 2–13, ISJ is the only game in Jakarta. Small classes, UK staff, and serious pastoral care. ISJ is planning to expand through to GCSEs and A-Levels, so the full British pathway is in sight.
ISJ is a different kind of school from the large through-schools that dominate Jakarta. It's a British school currently serving ages 2 to 13 (Nursery to Year 8), with plans to expand through to GCSE and A-Level. Families who know the British prep model understand the focus on one stage at a time; the expansion will give continuity for families who want to stay through to 18.
What parents say first is how well the teachers know their children. Classes are capped at 15 in Early Years and 20 in primary, with two adults per class in the younger years. At 200 students, there's nowhere to hide. Staff are recruited from the UK with British qualified teacher status, which matters if you're planning to move back or send children to UK boarding schools later.
The school is part of The Schools Trust (schoolstrust.co.uk), a UK-registered charity running 15+ international schools globally. ISJ joined in October 2025, which brings curriculum support, staff training, and the governance structure of a larger network. ISJ is working towards BSO accreditation, guided by the same standards that earned other Schools Trust schools 'Excellent' ratings. It's early days, but the direction is clear.
+What parents value
- Classes of 15 in Early Years, 20 in primary, with two adults per room. This is the closest you'll get to a British independent prep school experience in Jakarta.
- Staff are recruited from the UK with qualified teacher status. Specialist teaching starts from Year 1 in music, PE, languages, and science.
- Purpose-built campus in Pondok Pinang with on-site swimming pool, football pitch, science labs, and art studios. It's newer and more thoughtfully designed than most competitors' primary sections.
- Part of The Schools Trust (schoolstrust.co.uk) since October 2025. External governance, curriculum development support, and peer review with partner schools in the UK and Europe. Expansion through to GCSE and A-Level is planned.
- Issues get noticed fast and relationships with families are close. A safeguarding lead sits on the senior leadership team. At this size, pastoral care isn't a policy - it's how the school works.
−Points of consideration
- Currently ISJ runs from Nursery to Year 8 (ages 2–13). Expansion to GCSE and A-Level is planned; until then, families in older year groups may need to consider a move to BSJ, JIS, or UK boarding schools.
- At 200 students, extracurricular options are limited compared to the bigger schools. Friendship groups in each year are inevitably small.
- No public exam results yet. The school opened in September 2021 and its first IGCSE cohort won't sit exams until 2026. However, GL Assessment benchmarking data published on the school's website shows students performing significantly above UK national averages across core subjects, which is the strongest available proxy for academic outcomes at this stage.
- BSO accreditation is in progress but not yet achieved. COBIS and IAPS membership status is unclear from public sources. The Schools Trust affiliation is recent.
Fees
2026–2027 fees shown in USD equivalent. Exchange rate updated 19 Feb 2026
| Year Group | Tuition | Capital Fee | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery (Age 2–3)(2–3 years) | US$8,841 | US$0 | US$8,841 |
| Nursery (Age 3–4)(3–4 years) | US$13,461 | US$0 | US$13,461 |
| Reception (Age 4–5)(4–5 years) | US$19,806 | US$0 | US$19,806 |
| Year 1 (Age 5–6)(5–6 years) | US$24,982 | US$0 | US$24,982 |
| Year 2 (Age 6–7)(6–7 years) | US$24,982 | US$0 | US$24,982 |
| Year 3 (Age 7–8)(7–8 years) | US$26,061 | US$0 | US$26,061 |
| Year 4 (Age 8–9)(8–9 years) | US$26,061 | US$0 | US$26,061 |
| Year 5 (Age 9–10)(9–10 years) | US$27,678 | US$0 | US$27,678 |
| Year 6 (Age 10–11)(10–11 years) | US$27,678 | US$0 | US$27,678 |
| Year 7 (Age 11–12)(11–12 years) | US$28,853 | US$0 | US$28,853 |
| Year 8 (Age 12–13)(12–13 years) | US$28,853 | US$0 | US$28,853 |
Annual tuition fees include teaching and learning, classroom materials and resources, and capital contribution. Fees are reviewed annually. Per-term payment arrangements may be agreed upon request. Sibling discounts: 5% (third child), 10% (fourth child), 15% (fifth+). Compulsory additional fees apply for lunch and trips & events (payable annually or termly). Fees do not include uniform, transport, optional co-curricular clubs, wraparound care, or individual music lessons.
Academic Results
ISJ follows the English National Curriculum throughout, with specialist teaching from Year 1. The school reports that students consistently achieve results in the top 10% nationally in English, Mathematics, and Science. Currently there are no external exams at ISJ (expansion to GCSE and A-Level is planned); these are internal assessments benchmarked against UK standards.
Class sizes are capped at 15 in Early Years (with three adults per room) and 20 in primary (with two adults per class). Older pupils in Years 7–8 are taught in small groups by subject specialists. The pupil-to-adult ratio is one of the lowest in Jakarta's international school market.
The curriculum includes STEAM activities, French language instruction, swimming, and music. The school is working towards alignment with BSO standards through its Schools Trust membership.
Student Body & Academics
ISJ serves approximately 200 students from 30+ nationalities. The school is co-educational and serves an international community, with a significant proportion of British and European families alongside families from across Asia and the Middle East.
The small size creates a close community where children across year groups know each other. The school's British identity is central - assemblies, pastoral care, and values education follow British independent school traditions. A dedicated safeguarding lead sits on the senior leadership team.
ISJ has a partnership with Ipswich High School (UK). Each year the school sends its top-year pupils to Ipswich High School for residentials, combining academic enrichment with the experience of a UK independent school.
Inspection
ISJ is part of The Schools Trust (schoolstrust.co.uk) and follows British National Curriculum standards. BSO accreditation is in progress.
School Life
Facilities
Age-appropriate play areas, Green grounds and outdoor spaces
ISJ runs co-curricular clubs including football, climbing, choir, coding, enterprise, dance, robotics, creative writing, and bouldering (the latter at IndoClimb Kemang). Clubs are led by ISJ staff and external specialists.
The sports programme includes specialist-led sessions in gymnastics, athletics, football, badminton, dance, and swimming. The on-site pool is used for enhanced weekday swimming. The school is planning a Saturday football initiative.
Educational enrichment includes museum and gallery visits, science centre trips, and community projects. Residential trips for older pupils - including the annual residential at partner school Ipswich High School (UK) - combine academic enrichment with adventure. The campus is still developing - a new gymnasium is under construction for sports, assemblies, and community events.
Location
Pondok Pinang Campus
Nursery – Year 8 (Ages 2–13), expanding to GCSE & A-Level
Jl. T.B. Simatupang Raya Kav. 12, Pondok Pinang, Kebayoran Lama, Jakarta Selatan 12310