Bilkent Laboratory & International School Ankara
Reviews & Information

The worst international school we have ever seen. I would give 0 star if it was possible. Pay attention to reviews of expats, it should be a sign for you..It is actually not international, but Turkish school in english. May be years ago it was a good school, but now it is a nightmare for kids! Especially if you are not local. Bullying, constant peer pressure, cyber bullying, and no discipline. From principal to teachers everyone would cover all misbehaving in case the parents of the kids are Turkish and hold high positions in government or rich businesses men(90% of school) Students need to go to the tutors after school, most of the teachers speak poor English. If you are an international parent and don’t want your kid to have a mental break,think twice before you send your kid there.

(7) Embed

It is amazing to read some of the negative commentary about BLIS, which is regarded as the 'premier' school in Ankara, Turkey. It is, unfortunately, human nature to belittle and demonize things upon either having to leave yourself or be asked to leave. This happens with workplaces and relationships most commonly, whereby people feel better about their own decisions in life when they can blame conditions in a workplace or their horrid partners for all the concerns and issues they face as individuals. The number one factor to consider with any school is how they fare with international recognition and accreditation. BLIS is fully accredited by the International Baccalaureate (IB), Council of International Schools (CIS), North England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB), and is a recognized Cambridge school. This means that almost every year, dependent on accreditation cycles, this school is visited by international committees that evaluate the school on specific international school standards. These standards include administration and leadership, faculty, facilities, curricular programs, assessment etc etc. BLIS has been fully accredited by these outside agencies for over two decades (20 years). It's easy to make anonymous negative comments on random websites. It's much harder to maintain a high level of academic rigor and continued success in graduating ALL students to well regarded international universities across the globe, which BLIS has been doing since the day it started serving it's wider school community.

(6) Embed

Most of the teaching staff are not teachers. Half of them even do not have a teaching certificate or not a diploma from a faculty of education. Most of them just got a certificate with a so-called "being teacher program". They are trying to just hire every foreign people they see, even the spouse of teachers since they can talk in English and have a degree in something else. There is a high level of mobbing among Turkish teachers. I am so sorry about some of my friends who exposed it. Most of them are obviously snakes. We witnessed that administration is not even informed about most of it if the department leader is also Turkish. They are just devil's friends. So happy to leave that school. However, Turkey was a wonderful country. I strongly recommend seeing the country.

(7) (3) Embed

Amazing school however some teachers are not the best of people.

(1) (3) Embed

BLIS is a subpar school. They lie when hiring staff. Admin bullies both local and ex-pat staff- curriculums are in shambles, parents run the school with no regard to education or best practices, grade fixing is expected. Academics are poor. The Director of the school is a yes "woman" for the board. No real vision or direction as a school. School has a hard time retaining staff- most leave after their contract and even break contract.

(14) (6) Embed

This is a very bad school. I only liked the food.I got bullied a lot.

(9) (2) Embed