Admissions

Pinewood welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by local laws, provided that they meet the admission requirements.

Citizenship
In accordance with Greek law, students who possess only Greek citizenship and seek admission & enrollment in grades K-9, are required to apply for special permission from the Greek Ministry of Education with guidance from Pinewood. There are no other citizenship restrictions for Grades Pre-K and 10-12.

English Proficiency
Students with limited English proficiency in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 6 are considered eligible for admission without pre-admissions language proficiency testing. Once a student is admitted to the school, a diagnostic test will be administered to determine the student’s English Learner level.

All prospective students for Grades 7-12 are required to demonstrate a specific level of English language proficiency on the scale of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), as determined by the online school-administered Cambridge Admissions Test. Upon admission to Pinewood, students are placed in their respective English Language and Literature groups in accordance with their score in the school’s paper-based Placement Test which is administered in the first week of the student’s enrollment at Pinewood.

Recommended English proficiency levels, based on the CEFR, at the time of admission, are as follows:

Grade 7: A2 or higher
Grade 8: A2 or higher
Grade 9: B1 or higher
Grade 10: B1 or higher
Grade 11: B1 or higher

The CEFR serves as the comprehensive basis on which students’ language progression is measured. The placement of students is decided in accordance with their score in mandatory end-of-year examinations and MAP tests.

Age Requirements
There are minimum age requirements for admission to the Early Years Program through Grade 1. To be eligible for Pre-Kindergarten 1, a child must have reached the age of three by December 31. For Pre-Kindergarten 2, a child must have reached the age of four by December 31. For Kindergarten, a child must have reached the age of five by December 31. For Grade 1, a child must have reached the age of six by December 31. For all subsequent grade levels, age and previous school experience will be considered.

Grade Level Placement
Students are placed in the appropriate grade level based on age, previous schooling, ability, and English language proficiency (Grades 7-12) as determined by the Pinewood administration after a thorough review of application materials and assessment results where applicable. A new student may be placed in a grade level on a trial basis, before his/her final grade level placement is determined.

Class Size
Under normal circumstances class sizes, from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade, shall not exceed 22 students. Classes are kept to a size that allows more than average individual attention to every student. Parents and staff are expected to understand the complexities and uncertainties inherent to the operation of a private, international school. The uncertainties of family movement, the need to ideally enroll whole families, and the need to recruit enough students to maintain budget targets make achieving exact policy figures a complex process. Because of these complexities, class size target figures may vary from one class to another at the discretion of the Head of School. Every effort, however, will be made to keep the number of students at the policy figure.

Students with Special Needs
Pinewood offers learning support for students with mild to moderate special educational needs (see Learning Support under School Programs and Services). Pinewood values learning diversity. However, the school may not be able to accommodate all needs beyond the regular curricular, facilities, and staff capacity without assistance from outside professional services. Any such needs, as determined by the school’s Student Services Department, will incur additional costs to be covered by the family. Please see HERE for more comprehensive information about the Learning Support procedures and protocols.

Student Transfers from Pinewood to Anatolia in Grade 1
Pinewood parents interested in enrolling their children in the first form of Anatolia Elementary School should apply directly to Anatolia College by October 10th of the previous year and also pay the deposit required (1000 euro). Anatolia reserves three places for Pinewood students and enrollment is on a first come first serve basis.

Enrollment Requirements
In order to be considered fully enrolled, the following is required from all new students and their parent(s)/guardian(s):

1. Each student file must include the following paperwork, requested upon registration:
● Birth Certificate
● Parent passport or ID
● Student passport or ID
● Personal Student Health form (provided by Pinewood, completed by parent and doctor)
● Student Vaccination & immunization records
● Proof of previous studies (at least 2 years, with Apostille)

2. Each student’s parent or guardian must pay the following charges & fees:
● Capital Levy: an enrollment fee applicable to new students only, from Kindergarten to grade 12.
● Prepayment: a non-refundable payment due in the spring, deducted from the upcoming year’s tuition. The prepayment shall be refundable only in the case of denial of enrollment.
● Tuition and Fees: an amount that includes tuition and any other school fees as approved by the Board of Trustees.
● Transportation Fee: an additional and non-refundable fee for those who choose bus transportation to and from school.
● Boarding Fee: a fee paid directly to Pinewood for students who choose to reside in the Pinewood student residence hall.

3. Agreement with the terms and conditions of the privacy policy of the school in adherence with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and/or future Privacy regulations, as defined by the EU and/or local legislation.

Note: Upon registration each school year, parents and/or legal guardians shall receive a proforma invoice for each child enrolled at the school. This proforma is created once the parent completes the online enrollment from through the Athena platform. By submitting the enrollment form the parent and/or legal guardian agrees with the amount to be paid and the dates on which to pay. The school reserves the right to require full payment of tuition and fees prior to enrollment.

4. In accordance with Greek law, Greek students applying to be admitted in grades EYP 2 until Grade 9 must fulfill certain criteria. Contact admissions on how to get the approval from Ministry of Education.

Re-enrollment
In order to hold a place at Pinewood, families are required to re-enroll in the spring of each school year. This procedure involves re-enrolling their child through the Athena portal and making a deposit as detailed in the proforma invoice sent home to families once the re-enrollment process is completed. The deposit is applied to the upcoming year’s tuition/fees.

Student Placement / Teacher Requests
Pinewood is not able to honor parent/guardian/student requests for specific teachers. Student placement is initiated according to a process involving time and careful thought concerning the best interest of every child in each classroom. Classrooms are heterogeneously grouped to mirror our international school community and society. In order to create balanced classes of students, factors that are considered include gender, ethnicity, English proficiency, student needs, behavior concerns, and special program needs. Please note that the final decision on all student placements rests with the administration. Parents/guardians of twins may request for their twin children to be in the same class or in different classes if possible. However, as stated above, they may not request specific teachers.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to meet with their child’s teacher(s) prior to the school year if special circumstances are present. Equally, parents/guardians are welcome to meet with the Principal prior to the start of the school year to discuss their child’s progress, needs, or other factors related to their education. Each year, the school organizes a Parents’ Night in the first week and a half of school in order for parents/guardians to meet their child’s teachers and to learn about the year’s academic program.

Greek Experience Study Abroad Exchange Program
The Pinewood Greek Experience is an innovative Study Abroad program for high school students interested in spending an academic semester or year in Greece. This is a unique opportunity for those with Greek roots or those interested in Greece to continue their education, uninterrupted, while discovering the wonderful culture and history of Greece. The program is open to students entering Grades 9-11.

The well-rounded program includes:
● Full credit courses that complement your current course of study; our Principal works in coordination with your current school
● Creative participation in Greek national school assemblies, such as October 28th & March 25th
● Guided day trips to historic & notable sites around Greece
● Modern Greek Language courses; beginner, intermediate & advanced levels available