THE KOÇ SCHOOL

THE KOÇ SCHOOL
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The Koç School at a Glance
Foundation 1988 High School
1998 Elementary School
Location Tuzla, İstanbul
Number of Students
2.081 (996 High School + 1.085 Elementary School)
Boarding Students171
Number of Teachers296
Student/Teacher Ratio14:1
Instructional Programme
Instruction in the school is provided through a coherent programme from Kindergarten to Grade 12. During the application of this programme, grades are grouped as Grades 1-3, Grades
4-5 and Grades 6-8 in the Elementary School; and a High School Preparation class and Grades 9-12 in the High School. Students who wish to may also undertake the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) programme in the High School.
Campus Features
In addition to the high school and elementary school buildings, the school campus also houses dormitories, lodgings for staff and
faculty, a social centre for the residents and outdoor sports facilities.
The elementary school and high school facilities also include computer and science laboratories, workshops for ceramics, arts and handcraft, activity rooms, painting and music classrooms, gymnasia, auditoriums, infirmaries, cafeterias and libraries.
Sports Opportunities
Sporting events such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, badminton,
trekking, table tennis and ski camps are organized.
Correspondence with Parents In addition to the regular first and second semester report cards, the
mid-term report cards are emailed to the parents in November and
April. The parents are also informed of the students’ progress during
the parent-teacher meetings which are determined at the beginning
of each term. An online follow-up system is also available to parents.
Counselling - Guidance The Koç School supports students through three structures - the
Psychological Counselling and Guidance Office, the Turkish Universities Guidance Office and Overseas Colleges Guidance Office. These three units work cooperatively.
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The Koç School
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The Koç School is a leading Turkish school with an internationally recognized curriculum, a highly
qualified faculty and a modern campus. It presents the students with the best practices of the
Turkish and international education systems in a multicultural academic environment.
The School aims to develop young individuals to serve their country and humanity who stand
firm by the principles of Atatürk, embracing universal values. The Koç School guides its students to
discover their skills and abilities in all fields. Upon graduation, the students educated in line with
international standards have the opportunity to be enrolled in the best colleges in Turkey and
throughout the world.
The Koç School was established by the Vehbi Koç Foundation (VKV), a non-profit organization
investing in education, health and culture in support of the development of Turkey. The Koç School
follows the vision of the philanthropist Vehbi Koç, who stated “the most valuable asset of this
country is highly qualified manpower; consider it a duty to raise highly qualified people”. The Koç
School keeps up-to-date with the changing world and successfully represents the name of Turkey in
the international arena with its high achieving students.
The Koç School is in contact and cooperation with numerous local and international schools and
institutions. Hosting various national and international platforms and events, the Koç School aims
for the continuous development of its students and faculty.
Differentiated instruction methods are applied at the Koç School with the support of competent
administrators. All faculty attend “Differentiated Instruction” seminars to further develop
themselves with the aim of producing individuals that make a difference. They also share these
experiences with teachers at other schools as well as becoming role models for their students under
the scope of the “Hand in Hand for Development” Project. Thus, with these proactive methods in
education, high achieving individuals are developed.
The Koç School presents the students with a living environment close to nature through its world
standard campus. With state of the art technology modern campus life and superior education,
The Koç School will continue to be named among the most prestigious schools in Turkey and of the
world.
Vehbi Koç Foundation (VKV)
The Vehbi Koç Foundation was established as the first major private foundation of Turkey in 1969 by Vehbi Koç.
The Vehbi Koç Foundation is active in education, culture and health, to ensure a modern and advanced Turkey.
The Koç School, The Koç University, Semahat Arsel Nursing Education and Research Center (SANERC) as well as
the School of Nursing within the Koç University are the institutions of the Vehbi Koç Foundation in the field of
education. The foundation has built numerous facilities such as schools, dorms and libraries through donations
and contributions; later transferring these to the relevant state authorities for their regular operation. Thousands
of gifted young individuals are granted scholarships with the aim of creating equal opportunities in education.
The Vehbi Koç Foundation has granted the largest sum among public and private institutions as scholarships to
university students until today, and continues on its path with the mission of being a role model for the “best” in
all its activities.
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The Koç School
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THE KOÇ SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN TURKEY. IT OFFERS
STUDENTS A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMME UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
TURKISH AND FOREIGN TEACHERS HIGHLY
RECOGNISED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.
Aim
The Koç School, with a current student population
of over 2000, embarked on its journey in 1988
with the aim of developing world citizens, having
adopted the principles of Atatürk. The High School
section was founded in 1988, and the Elementary
School was founded later in 1998 by the Vehbi Koç
Foundation, the first private foundation in Turkey.
The Koç School soon became one of Turkey’s most
prestigious educational institutions, priding itself
in being a Turkish school.
The school offers the best of the Turkish and
international education and provides an
internationally recognised education under
the guidance of teachers competent in their
respective fields.
Distinct Approach:
National Education with a Global Perspective
The Koç School is guided by the vision of being a
reputable and model school both in Turkey and
abroad with its thorough educational programme
in terms of academic and ethical standards from
Kindergarten until Grade 12.
The school has a global perspective with an
academic faculty drawn from across the world,
innovative methods and a coherent bilingual
educational programme from Kindergarten to Grade
12. The school aims to enhance the intellectual and
humanitarian qualities of the students and develop
them as self-assured and responsible world citizens
with high ethical and leadership qualities.
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The Koç School
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K-12
K-12 IS AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES COHERENCE
AND CONTINUITY FROM KINDERGARTEN UNTIL GRADE 12.
The Marathon of the Students
At the Koç School, an educational programme providing
coherence and continuity from kindergarten until grade
12 is followed. This programme aims to help students in
all grade levels gain basic knowledge and skills as well
as introducing them to diverse cultural and conceptual
perspectives. The creativity and awareness levels of the
students are enhanced, whilst being aided to grasp the
meaning of being a “responsible citizen”. The students,
who become knowledgeable and aware of the issues
concerning the whole world and the effect of these
on Turkey, also gain the skills of conducting academic
research and of developing and carrying out projects.
LP-12
6-8
Grade 6 to Grade 8
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KG
Grade 1 to Grade 5
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is the first
step of an educational
system to build physically,
emotionally and socially
fit and self-assured, young
individuals sensitive to
themselves, their families,
the society they live in and
the environment.
The aim is for the students
to become self-sufficient,
inquiring, reflective and
thinking individuals
defending one’s rights
whilst respecting the rights
and freedom of other
people and cultures.
The students are guided
to research and discovery
based activities to
understand the advances
in science and technology.
Thus, they gain the skills
of independent thinking,
prediction and problem
solving. They also start
learning a second foreign
language.
High School (Lise)
Prep to Grade 12
The students at The Koç
School continue their High
School education with
a university preparatory
curriculum aiming for
the best universities in
Turkey and abroad for their
higher education. Students
may also graduate with
two separate diplomas
if they wish to study the
International Baccalaureate
Diploma programme.
Continuing on the way with firm steps…
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The Koç School
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THE AIM OF THE ‘IB’ PROGRAMME IS TO CREATE INTERCULTURAL
AWARENESS AND TO ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND
TO OFFER AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME.
IB: International Baccalaureate Programme
The Koç School, with the mission of leadership in the field of education, has
offered the International Baccalaureate Programme to its students since
1994, as the first institution to implement this programme in Turkey.
The aim of the programme is to create intercultural awareness and to enrich
the educational and instructional programme of the Ministry of National
Education to international standards. The Koç School presents a “convergent”
programme, merging the IB and national programmes which, in itself helps
with developing teaching strategies.
The IB student learner profile parallels the academic goals of the Koç School.
IB students take part in the learning process with curiosity and acquire the
skills necessary to conduct research and explore the major concepts of the
global world and acquire a significant body of knowledge across a range of
disciplines. They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and
creatively and also use information in more than one language and in a
variety of modes of communication.
IB Social Sciences Day
The IB Social Sciences
Day, organized with the
participation of students
and teachers of various IB
schools is hosted by The Koç
School. The presentations
under the theme “Localism –
Globalism”, part of the special
curriculum of “20th Century
and Turkey” are appreciated by
the participants due to their
quality and focus on diverse
perspectives.
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The Koç School
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THE TEACHERS OF THE KOÇ SCHOOL, LIFE LONG LEARNERS
THEMSELVES, HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE MISSION OF GUIDING
THEIR STUDENTS TO BECOME SELF ASSURED, INQUISITIVE,
CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DISCOVERED THEIR SKILLS
AND STRENGTHS.
Teachers That Make a Difference
The true quality of an educational institution can be seen in the
features of its teaching and learning practices. With this in mind,
The Koç School continuously supports teachers in advancing
their teaching skills. The teachers provide students with an
enriched educational experience based on the best practices in
Turkey and throughout the world.
The teachers of The Koç School aim to be role models for
their students under the guidance of the principles and
reforms of Atatürk as well as the state-of-the-art educational
developments based on research. Besides furthering their own
professional development, they are also a part of the teamwork
in their respective departments. They make maximum use of
information technology in guiding their students.
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The Koç School
The Koç School teachers attend
numerous in-service training
events, seminars, symposiums and
conferences in and out of the school
and later share what they have
acquired with their colleagues. The
school provides significant support
for developing language skills and
advancing academic qualifications.
The teachers of The Koç School guide
the students to enhance their skills of
expressing themselves and their ideas
in the best way possible. They cooperate
with their students to enhance their
creativity, embracing innovative
approaches in education with the goal
of developing confident, inquiring
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individuals who have discovered how
to learn. Therefore, they closely follow
recent developments on teaching and
learning strategies.
Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated Instruction is a proactive
approach in which the contents,
products and learning environments
are organized according to the
interests, readiness, learning profiles
and emotional needs of the students.
The aim of such instruction is to use
a common language, to reflect on
the current and prospective teaching
practices and to cooperate on the
implementation of relevant concepts
and strategies.
‘HAND IN HAND FOR DEVELOPMENT’ IS A SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY PROJECT WHICH ENABLES
TEACHERS TO OPEN UP TO THE OUTER WORLD BY
MAKING USE OF THE AGE OF INFORMATION AND
TO GUIDE THE STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY WITH THE
EXPERIENCE THEY ACQUIRE.
Hand in Hand for Development…
‘Hand in Hand for Development’ is a project
prepared for the teachers of numerous schools
throughout Turkey which were built by the
Vehbi Koç Foundation to support eight-years
of uninterrupted education. It aims to share
information by forming bonds between the
teachers of The Koç School and the teachers of
these schools. It helps the teachers to develop
themselves through the experiences gained by
serving others through participation in social
responsibility projects and by becoming reliable
role models for the students.
Teachers of The Koç School support this project
as volunteers. They determine the educational
needs in cooperation with the teachers of the
schools created by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, in
line with the scope and subject of the project.
The teachers of The Koç School who attend
in-service training in these fields later come
together with the teachers of the schools
included in the project. At The Koç School, an
interactive environment is created to share the
information and experiences from in-service
training. Within the scope of the project and
based on the feedback of the previous years,
the topics of the training as well as the groups
to be giving and receiving the training are
determined. Thus, it is possible to have new
faces participating in the project.
The project enables the teachers to benefit
from sharing. Teachers who open up to
the world and become self-confident can
thus guide the students more effectively.
Another aspect of the ‘Hand in Hand for
Development’ project is the cooperation
established between the schools within the
scope of the project and for these teachers to
come together throughout Anatolia. Another
outcome supporting the goal of sharing of the
project is the project journal that is printed
each year. The content provided from all the
schools within the scope of the project is
edited by one of the schools each year.
The ‘multiplier’ effect in influencing a vast
number of students, means that the ‘Hand in
Hand for Development’ project, initiated in 2002,
had reached a total of 17 schools by 2009.
The ‘Hand in Hand for Development’ project,
aims to include each and every school created
by the Vehbi Koç Foundation in the project.
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The Koç School
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THE SCHOOL AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME LEADERS AND
TAKE ON CHALLENGES WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF VALUES
AND DEMOCRACY.
Distinctive Students
The learning style of each student differs from
that of others; however, ‘learning by experience’
provides solid learning opportunies. The main aim
of The Koç School is to offer its students the chance
to make a difference in their lives.
synthesis with their individual personalities.
Students with diverse fields of interest, come from
many different cities in Turkey. They learn together
and share experiences during extracurricular
activities.
The students of the school discover their
strengths. They are expected to value the skills
and experiences of others as well as their own. The
students, by expressing their creativity internalize
the education offered to them and create a
Creative Individuals in all Fields of Life
The Fine Arts education aims to support the
artistic development of the students and to help
them acquire creative talent in all fields of life
through classes such as painting, music, ceramics,
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The Koç School
photography, art history, visual arts, and music
as well as various projects. The School Museum is
one of these creative projects. Exhibitions are held
at the school with the support of the museums
of the Vehbi Koç Foundation, aiming to help
students develop their cultural background and
to enrich them artistically.
The Team Players of the Future
Sports activities aim at strengthening student
awareness of working in cooperation and
solidarity as well as undertaking responsibility.
The sports activities of the Physical Education
Programme support the physical, mental and
emotional development of the students as well
as enabling them to acquire qualities such as
facing challenges, developing team spirit and
leadership.
Student Clubs
• Arabic Club
• DJ Activity Club
• Folk Dance Club
The Koç School has student
• Archaeology and Cultural Interaction
• “Turkish Paper Marbling” Art Club
• Prep English Club
clubs suitable for a range
Club
• Ecology Club
• ISTA Drama Workshop
• European Youth Parliament Club
• Philosophy Club
• English Drama Club
• Basketball Club
• Photography Club
• English Movie Club
• “Boyut” Magazine Club
• Soccer Club
• English Debate Club
• CAS Consultancy Club
• Young Entrepreneurs Club
• Istanbul and Its Culture Club
• Environment Club
• Guitar Club
• Japan Club
• Kids Games Club
• Invisible Kids Club
• JMUN Club
of ages and interests to
enhance their creativity and
to help them to have a more
efficient and happy social life.
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THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOCUSING ON THE THREE
MAIN FIELDS OF CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY AND SOCIAL SERVICE
ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR ABILITIES.
Students Active in Social Life
The Koç School is a school that enables students
to enhance their skills and to develop their
personalities rather than just receiving knowledge.
The extracurricular activities allow the students to
discover their abilities and to steer and develop
their skills in three main fields; creativity, activity and
social service. The students are guided by teachers
on their preferred activities. The students are obliged
to complete a certain amount of activity hours from
high school prep until the end of grade 11. Students
in the IB Programme carry out activities in all three
fields with a balanced distribution of 150 hours over
the two years.
International clubs such as the Model United Nations,
European Youth Parliament, Comenius Projects
Group, UNESCO Projects Group and Archaeology Club
Museums in the School Halls...
In The Koç School artifacts from prestigious
museums such as the Sadberk Hanım Museum,
Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Pera Museum are
exhibited in the school halls, with the goal of
providing a cultural stimulus for the students. The
regularly renewed exhibits of the School Museum are
extraordinary teaching tools that allow the students
to see examples of the subjects that they are
covering, to discover the link between the concepts
of concrete and the abstract and to activate their
creative thinking processes. The School Museum
facilitates learning by supporting the bond of the
theoretical dimension of education and life.
• The Films We Missed Club
• Library Club
• Musical Club
• Ceramic & Sculpture Club
• International Movie Club
• Cartoon Club
• Latin Dance Club
• Orienteering Club
• Movie Club
• Volleyball Club
• Classical Ballet
• Table Tennis Club
• Rollerblade Club
• Sports Club
• Foreign Movie Club
• Co(medy) C(lub)
• Penpal Club
• Pop-Rock-Jazz Orchestra Club
• Poetry Recital Club
• Creative Drama Club
• ARM in ARM Mentoring Club
• MEMDER Youth Committee Club
• Popular Culture Club
• Tap Dance Club
• Creative Writing Club
• Bridges Project Club
• “Mindscapes” Magazine Club
• Painting Club
• History Club
• String Instruments Club
• Junior Environmentalists Club
• Model United Nations Club
• Art and Travel Review Club
• Community Volunteers
• Cooking Club
• Culture, Literature and Publication
• Modern Dance Club
• Chess Club
• Turkish Movie Club
• Trekking Club
Club
• Music Club
• Ceramic Club
• Turkish Theatre Club
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The Koç School
also provide the opportunity to conduct joint
activities with students in various countries.
Thus the students get to know the peoples,
cultures and diverse perspectives of numerous
countries.
Community Service for Individual
Development
The students take part in one or more social
service project in each academic year. The
students may teach other students and carry out
projects at day care centres or state elementary
schools. They may also work in social service
institutions such as hospitals or senior care
centres. They participate in NGO activities
such as the ‘Clean the Shores’ campaign of the
Deniztemiz (Cleansea) Association, ‘1 Million
Seeds, 1 Million Trees’ campaign of the TEMA
Foundation as well as various education
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campaigns realized by the ÇYDD (Association
For Supporting Contemporary Living) in the
Regions of Eastern and South Eastern Anatolia.
They also participate in campaigns to collect
books for schools without libraries or to collect
clothing for the children living in extremely poor
regions.
The International Youth Award Programme
As a part of its contribution to the individual
and social development of the students, The Koç
School was one of the first organizers in Turkey
of the International Youth Award Programme
aiming to ensure social development. The
programme, comprising the four major
activity fields, social service, expedition, skill
enhancement, and physical development has
been awarded to over 200 students of The Koç
School up until today.
The Youngest Branch of the Turkish Red Crescent
The Koç School Red Crescent Branch, the first branch
of the Turkish Red Crescent ever to be opened
in a school, was a project accomplished with the
initiative of a group of students who believed that
young people should also actively participate in the
corporate structure of the Red Crescent.
JADE
The students of The Koç School took part in the
Junior Achievement project, one of the world’s
major organizations that train and support young
entrepreneurs. Junior Achievement Developing
Enterprises (JADE), established as a part of the
Junior Achievement Foundation gave qualification
for participation in the 10th Vienna Trade Fair.
JADE was granted awards in the fields of The Best
Company and Leadership, out of a total of five
fields.
Traditional Events
• Archaeology Day
• Book Fair
• Poetry Recital
• Atakan Demirseren Mathematics Contest
• Koçovizyon
• Talent Show
• Springfest
• Live@koç
• Utopia Day
• Science Fair
• Careers Day
• Foundation Elementary Schools
• ISTA
• Ramfest
Painting Exhibit
• Elementary School Story Contest
• Sevgi Gönül Art Night
• History Day
• Jr. Ramfest
• Sociology Day
• Overseas Colleges Fair
• Jr. Science Fair
• Suna Kıraç High Schools Story Contest
• Turkish Universities Fair
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The Koç School
THE KOÇ SCHOOL BRINGS STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE CULTURES
TOGETHER IN PROJECTS CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
Extracurricular Activities
MUN (Model United Nations) &
JMUN (Junior Model United Nations)
The Model United Nations Club (MUN) activities
provide the students the chance to investigate
and explore events currently on the agenda
of the UN. Students have to qualify for this
club through two tests. If they are successful
in the club activities, they become qualified
to participate in the conferences organized in
numerous countries. The Elementary School
version of the MUN Club is carried out as JMUN
in the Elementary School.
The school also hosts a different
international MUNDP (Model United Nations
Development Programme) conference each
year where the field work of the United
Nations is simulated.
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ISTA: International Schools Theatre Association
The International Schools Theatre Association
(ISTA) brings students, teachers and artists from
all over the world together through the shows
and festivals it organizes. The events are held
in English and create an opportunity for the
students to improve their foreign language skills
besides developing their creativity in the arts.
SEMEP: South Eastern Mediterranean
Environment Project
SEMEP is a student-focused international project
supported by UNESCO. The project attended by
the countries with a coast to the Mediterranean
aims to strengthen the awareness on both
the environment and friendship. The students
develop different projects under the title of
SEMEP each year.
As an example of these projects, the students
work to solve the common problems of all
Mediterranean countries, such as water supply,
and to share their results with other SEMEP
students.
EU Educational Initiatives – The Socrates
Programme
The Socrates Programme, an educational initiative
of the European Union, functions to reinforce
cooperation between the schools in Europe and
to promote European languages and cultures.
This Programme foresees the enhancement of
quality and the establishment of a common
platform in education through a series of
activities carried out in cooperation with the
member states of the EU.
Comenius Projects
As a part of the Socrates Programme, the
Comenius Projects introduce the students
to diverse cultures. Projects such as ‘Bridges’
and ‘Color My World’ are some of the projects
bringing students from different countries
together to form a common bond and to
enable them to discover their respective
cultures. Such projects are implemented
throughout the years under various headings,
the framework of which is drawn by the
creativity of the students.
A good example for the Comenius projects is
the project titled ‘Young Generation – Active
European Citizenship’ carried out by The Koç
School Social Sciences Department with the
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participation of Portugal, Italy, Romania, and
Turkey. In the most recent meeting of the project
held in Romania, students of The Koç School made
presentations to the project participants on the
career choices of Turkish youth, the economic
structure of Turkey and the global crisis, Turkish
employer associations and unions. Numerous
participants gathering for various activities have
also formed the basis of brand new friendships.
The ‘Bridges’ Project
The ‘Bridges’ Project is an international ecology
project based on learning through research.
The Koç School and the Fort Myers High School
(Florida, USA) have jointly brought this project
to life to build a bridge of knowledge and
friendship. The students of both schools come
together to experience the diversities of their
countries and to build a bridge between cultures.
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European Youth Parliament
The European Youth Parliament is a movement
with headquarters in Germany, aiming to raise the
awareness of students in numerous high schools in
Europe on global and regional issues. This project
which includes all countries in Europe has been
carried out in Turkey for eight years. Within the
framework of the project, meetings attended by
numerous schools are held each year to discuss global
as well as regional issues.
The Koç School has been actively involved in the
project for four years. The school club under the
same name carries out its activities with the students,
preparing for national and international conferences
on issues that occupy the world agenda.
Let’s Build!
Students of The Koç School and Marmara University
STUDENTS OF THE KOÇ SCHOOL TAKE PART IN DIVERSE
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE
TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
have constructed an observatory in the Alibeyhüyüğü
village in the city of Konya under the theme “Let’s
Build an Amateur Observatory” within the framework
of the “Let’s Build!” project. The process included sky
observation, car races with remote controlled cars
operating on solar panels, theatre pieces as well as
presentations on children’s rights.
The Key to the Future in the Footsteps
of the Past
The Koç School Archaeology and Cultural Interaction
Club organizes projects and events to create
awareness of the scientific discipline of archaeology,
archaeological excavations and artifacts as well as to
preserve cultural heritage.
Initially planned to be carried out with the elementary
school students in Alibeyhüyüğü, the Project turned
into a project assisted by everyone in the region.
Within the framework of the project, the students
focused on the theme “Let’s Build a Çatalhöyük Home”
for a week and organized activities on the topics
of history, physics, astronomy and geography. The
Project takes on a different theme each year.
One of the projects of the Club, ‘The Key to the Future
in the Footsteps of the Past’, expands the awareness
of the students towards history and shapes their
perspectives for the future. The exhibition of the
photographs of the club members reflecting the
historical and cultural features of Istanbul, Rome,
Hungary and Spain constitutes a fine example to the
international recognition of the club’s activities.
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THE KOÇ SCHOOL SUPPORTS ITS STUDENTS IN
THREE MAJOR AREAS OF COUNSELLING:
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE,
TURKISH UNIVERSITIES GUIDANCE AND
OVERSEAS COLLEGE GUIDANCE.
Preparing for the Future
The Psychological Counselling and Guidance
Department
The Psychological Counselling and Guidance
Department implements counselling programmes to
meet the developmental needs of the students. These
programmes take into consideration the stages that each
individual will encounter as they mature. The activities
focus on enhancing the social skills, the self-confidence
and problem-solving abilities of the students. The
Psychological Counselling and Guidance Department
also aims to assist the students to determine and realize
their personal objectives. Besides the student-focused
activities, Counselling also carries out work focusing on
teachers and parents.
The Turkish Universities Guidance Office
The Turkish Universities Guidance Office was established
in 1997 to provide counselling and guidance for students
who wish to continue their higher education in Turkey.
A “first” in high schools, university guidance focuses on
preparation for the central exam and promotion of the
universities but also on career counselling. Within this
framework, the three counselling and guidance offices
cooperate to develop and implement various career
support programmes. The office supports the students,
their parents and also the school faculty and staff in
diverse topics throughout the process. The annual
Turkish Universities Fair allows the students to make face
to face interviews with the leading universities of Turkey
but also brings them together with over 2000 students
from different high schools, since this activity is regarded
as a social responsibility project by the school.
Overseas College Guidance Office
The services of the office enable the students of The Koç
School to pursue their career objectives at prestigious
colleges in the international arena with full confidence
for the future. The office provides counselling and
guidance to meet the personal needs determined jointly
by the students and the parents on the path from the
freshman year of high school to college objectives.
Besides individual counselling, the office assists the
students in choosing the most suitable college objectives
for themselves through opportunities such as overseas
college fairs, trips to overseas colleges and visits of
individual overseas to the school.
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THE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TURN THE USE OF THE
LIBRARY INTO A REGULAR PART OF THEIR DAILY LIFE BY HELPING
THEM ACQUIRE THE HABIT AND JOY OF INDIVIDUAL READING.
Rich Source of Information
The libraries of The Koç School provide the material to support the
school’s educational objectives and give the students fast and efficient
access to information through state-of-the-art technology. This in turn
supports the development of diverse views and ideas in the students
who have access to local, regional, national and universal resources.
Libraries
• 12 hours access
The school facilities include two libraries, one in the elementary
school and the other one in the high school building. The libraries
include resources, written, visual and auditory materials in English,
German, French and Spanish besides Turkish with a constantly
updated online database. The Suna Kıraç Library in the high school
building has also a special Atatürk Library Section focusing on the
period of Atatürk.
• Online database at five different levels
The library administration aims to encourage the students to turn
the use of the library into a regular part of their daily life by helping
them acquire the habit and enjoyment of individual reading. The
students and teachers come together for the most interesting
events organized by the library with this very objective. Discussions
and book signing days support the development of students in an
interactive atmosphere. The Book Fair also brings the students in close
contact with prominent authors whereas these and other visiting
authors attract them into the world of literature with their discussion
programmes.
• Corporate archive section
• Computer section
• Student and teacher study rooms
Facts and Figures
Elementary School Library:
1.450 m2
High School Library: 1.400 m2
Average number of visitors daily: 400-450 students
Average number of loaned books monthly:
2.000-2.300
Number of material added to the library annually:
3.000-3.500
Printed book collection:
70.000 volumes
(in Turkish, English, German, French and Spanish)
Electronic book collection: 49.000
Atatürk Library collection:
4.000
Printed and electronic book collection: 119.000
Number of weekly and monthly periodical subscriptions: 180
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The Koç School
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BOARDING STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN A WIDE RANGE OF
ACTIVITIES LEARN TO MAKE EFFICIENT USE OF THEIR TIME
EARLY IN THEIR LIVES.
A Distinctive Boarding Experience
Boarding students make efficient use of their time throughout
the day with a preset daily schedule and thus enhance their time
management skills while being able to focus on their education
under home-like conditions. Students qualifying for boarding school
life can choose one of the two boarding programmes offered from
Grade 6 though 12. They are offered options of 5-day or 7-day
boarding at the school.
The boarders at The Koç School enrich their extracurricular time
with social, cultural and recreational activities. Memory training and
maths, jogging group, English reading group, tennis, theatre, soccer,
model plane, folk dance, decoration, knitting and volleyball are
among the choices offered to boarders.
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The Koç School
30
THE KOÇ SCHOOL CAMPUS IS A GREEN AND SAFE LIVING
ENVIRONMENT CLOSE TO NATURE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
A World Standard Campus
A Green Living Environment Close to Nature
The region in which The Koç School is located reflects the dynamic
development of the city of Istanbul. Plans for the future of the school
always focus on the preservation and development of the natural
habitat. The campus comprises approximately 65 thousand trees.
Each year new saplings are planted to ensure further attempts at
enhancing the environment. In the campus, high technology is used to
treat drinking and tap water. Recycling projects are implemented for
materials such as paper, plastic, glass, vegetable oil and tetra pack; the
waste water in the campus is treated and recycled.
Healthy and High Quality Catering Services
The catering services in the school are provided with the support of
expert companies in their respective fields. The menus prepared under
the supervision of dieticians and food engineers provide highest quality
service to the school in terms of taste, quality and sanitation.
Health Services, American Hospital Intermed
Health services at the school are provided by Sağlık A.Ş. Medamerican
Polyclinic. Two night nurses, and a physician are stationed on campus.
Medline provides emergency and a round-the-clock ambulance service.
Facts and Figures – The Campus
Total school indoor area: 57.000 m²
Total school outdoor area: 680.000 m²
High School Auditorium: 1.200 people
Security
Campus security is provided by experienced staff on duty round-theclock with state-of-the-art technology.
High School Library:
900 m²
Elementary School Library: 960 m²
High School Gym: 1.342 m²
Transportation
The transportation of the students is provided by the most advanced
vehicles manufactured specifically for student transportation under the
supervision of drivers and hostesses ensuring safety and comfort.
Elementary School Auditorium: 667 people
Elementary School Conference Hall: 150 people
Elementary School Gym: 1.342 m²
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The Koç School
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THE KOÇ SCHOOL ALUMNI OFFICE ENABLES CONTINUITY
AND DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE ALUMNI.
Always Together, Hand in Hand…
The Koç School Alumni Office aims to enhance
communication between the alumni. The office forms
the organic bond between The Koç School Alumni
Association and the school and undertakes the mission
of establishing a bridge between the students, the school
and the alumni. While establishing this mission, the office
also works to nurture a sense of continued belonging to
the school.
Mentoring Programme
K.O.L. KOLA (ARM IN ARM)
The students of The Koç School take numerous significant
decisions throughout their academic life such as their
choice of track, of IB or Koç School diploma, of college in
Turkey or abroad, of college major, etc. The Mentoring
Programme helps the grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 students
at The Koç School to take sound steps in their decision
The Koç School Alumni Association
The main objective of the association is to enhance
communication between the members of the association
and the school. The Association was founded in 1990,
under the leadership of a group of parents.
making, thereby preparing them for college and for life.
In line with its objectives, the Mentoring Programme
brings experienced students and alumni together with
students in need of support.
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The Koç School
34
THE KOÇ SCHOOL, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF
THE VEHBİ KOÇ FOUNDATION ALSO OFFERS A WIDE
RANGE OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ITS HIGHLY QUALIFIED
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME, MODERN FACULTY AND
CONTEMPORARY CAMPUS.
Scholarships and Admissions
Elementary School
Students gain entry to the school by a
lottery at kindergarten and grade 1 levels,
and by a qualification exam at grade 4 and 5
levels. A total of 48 students are admitted to
kindergarten (24 girls and 24 boys) and a total
of 42 students are admitted to grade 1 (21
girls and 21 boys). Students are not admitted
to grades 2, 3, 7 and 8. Students are admitted
to grade 6 by a qualification exam if vacancies
exist.
High School
The number of students determined by
the school are admitted to the high school
preparatory class based on the results of a
nation-wide central examination system. The
base score determined each year is announced
on the website and, in case of vacancies,
students may be admitted to grades 9 and 10
via a transfer exam. The School Regulations do
not allow admissions to grades 11 and 12.
Scholarships
The Koç School, a non-profit organization of the
Vehbi Koç Foundation offers students needsbased as well as merit-based scholarships.
Needs-based scholarships are granted at
a ratio determined according to the need
by the scholarship committee. Merit-based
scholarships are granted to high achieving
students graduating from the Elementary
school section of The Koç School and the
students with the top three scores among those
who prefer The Koç School as a result of the
central Private School Examination.
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The Koç School
Accreditations
The Koç School is fully accredited by the Turkish Ministry of National Education.
International Contacts
Host to numerous international platforms and events, the school has developed cooperation and extensive contact with national
educational forums and institutions for both the students and the teachers.
The European Council of International Schools
The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC)
Turkish Private Schools Association
International Schools Theatre Association
Council of International Schools (CIS)
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
International Baccalaureate IB
The Near East and South Asia Council of Overseas (NESA)
Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC)
Association for the Advancement of International Education(AAIE)
Transportation
Equipped with some of the most modern facilities in Turkey,
The Koç School is located on a spacious campus at the Sabiha
Gökçen exit from the TEM Highway.
Bridge
HIGHWAY
From the TEM Highway (traveling East or West):
THE KOÇ SCHOOL
Airport
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1. Take the “Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı” exit.
2. Take the second right (Akfırat direction) after you go through
the toll booth.
3-4. Follow the “Akfırat” direction the next two roundabouts.
5. After Shell gas station, take the first right turn to “Gebzeİzmit” direction.
6. After the “Petrol Ofisi” gas station (on the left) turn to “Akfırat”
direction.
7. Follow the road signs leading to the school.
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THE KOÇ SCHOOL
Orhanlı Köyü, Çayırlar Mevkii
34941 Tuzla, İstanbul Turkey
P: +90 216 585 6200 F: +90 216 304 1048
www.kocschool.k12.tr