Rotterdam International Secondary School

What Rotterdam International Secondary School does

Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) is a semi-private international secondary school located in central Rotterdam, Netherlands, operating two campuses (Junior at Bentincklaan 294 and Senior at Schimmelpenninckstraat 23) and serving students aged 11-18 from Grades 6 through 12. The school is part of the Wolfert van Borselen school group under BOOR, a Dutch educational governance entity, and is accredited to deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), Cambridge IGCSE, and a NEASC-accredited High School Diploma, alongside proprietary curricula including the RISS Rose experiential learning programme and RISS Reach interdisciplinary subject.

RISS generates revenue primarily through annual tuition fees charged to families, with no application fees, no scholarships, and fees positioned below those of fully-private international schools to maintain accessibility. The student body represents 50-70+ nationalities, recruited through a direct-to-consumer admissions process using the OpenApply portal, school tours, information sessions, feeder-school relationships (notably Harbour International Primary School), and word-of-mouth through an active PTA and Erasmus+ European networks. The school serves two principal segments: expatriate families seeking internationally transferable qualifications, and Dutch HAVO/VWO students seeking an international stream.

The technology stack underpinning operations is a conventional integrated EdTech portfolio rather than a proprietary platform: OpenApply for admissions, Magister for student information, Rubicon Atlas for curriculum planning, Unifrog for careers and university guidance, JSTOR and Britannica Schools for academic research, Sora for e-books/audiobooks, Slim.nl for free Microsoft Office 365 provisioning, and Google Workspace for identity and communications. Recent strategic activity has focused on programmatic expansion (IBCP launch in September 2022, RISS Rose rollout in 2021), European partnerships via Erasmus+ (Spain and France, 2023), and governance continuity with the February 2025 appointment of Ms. Lani du Plessis as the new permanent Principal.

Name

Rotterdam International Secondary School

Legal name

Rotterdam International Secondary School

Website

https://riss.wolfert.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) is a semi-private international secondary school in Rotterdam, Netherlands, delivering IB Diploma, IB Career-related, Cambridge IGCSE, and proprietary Rose and Reach programmes to students aged 11-18 from over 50 nationalities across two campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• International secondary education
• IB Diploma Programme
• Cambridge IGCSE
• International baccalaureate school
• Secondary school tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: As a semi-private international school, RISS generates revenue through tuition fees. The school is part of the Dutch International Schools association and follows guidelines from the Dutch Ministry of Education. School fees are charged after a student has been accepted and started attending - no upfront application fees are charged. Security deposit and registration fee apply for new students. The school does not offer scholarships or financial aid as fees are already lower than fully-private international schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rotterdam International Secondary School (RISS) provides international secondary education for students aged 11-18 across Foundation Years (Grades 6-8), Middle Years IGCSE (Grades 9-10), and Senior Years IB Diploma and IB Career-related Programmes (Grades 11-12). The school is delivered in English-medium instruction across two campuses in Rotterdam, drawing students from over 50-70 nationalities and offering internationally recognised qualifications accepted by universities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RISS Rose Programme: Innovative teaching programme for Foundation Years students (Grade 6-8) designed to give students opportunities to explore and grow beyond the traditional classroom setting, fostering a love for learning through experiential opportunities.
• RISS Reach

Products and services

• Foundation Years Programme Educational programme for Grades 6-8 (ages 11-14) covering core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages (French, Spanish, German, Chinese), Arts, Drama, Music, and PE, including the RISS Rose Programme and secondary school transition support.
• Middle Years Programme (IGCSE) Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme for Grades 9-10, providing a broad, balanced, and connected curriculum preparing students for IB programmes, including compulsory IGCSE subjects and the RISS Reach programme.
• IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12, a globally recognised pre-university qualification enabling entrance to major higher education institutions worldwide, including six subject groups, Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS requirements.
• IB Career-related Programme (IB CP) IB framework combining DP courses with career-related study (BTEC Business International Level 3 Diploma) and unique CP core components including Personal and Professional Skills, Community Engagement, Reflective Project, and Language and Cultural Studies.
• RISS Rose Programme Experiential learning programme for Foundation Years students (Grades 6-8) inspired by the Rose Report, offering interdisciplinary courses including RoboLab (robotics/coding with LEGO Spike Prime), Oracy, Dance, Health/Puberty Education, Technical Skills, Nature Education, and EcoEcho environmental studies.
• RISS Reach Interdisciplinary subject for Middle Years (Grades 9-10) developing knowledge, skills, and dispositions for 21st century learning based on World Economic Forum Top 10 Skills and Fullan and Scott's Six Cs (Character, Citizenship, Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication).
• Music School Weekly individual music lessons taught by music professionals, offering instruction in drums/percussion, piano/keyboard, voice, guitar, bass, clarinet, cello, and violin, with 30/45/60-minute lessons available weekly or in packages.
• Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Prestigious global youth achievement award for students aged 14-24, including Volunteering, Physical Recreation, Skills, and Adventurous Journey sections, with RISS Grade 9 students starting the programme annually.
• Erasmus+ Programme European exchange programme enabling student and teacher exchanges with partner schools in Spain (IES Calvia) and France (Lycée Rosa Parks), including job-shadowing opportunities and collaborative projects.
• RISSUE Magazine Student-created magazine published in collaboration with professional publishers, featuring student writing, artwork, and creative contributions across annual editions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96-100% IB pass rate over 8 consecutive years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IES Calvia (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023European partner school under Erasmus+ programme. Two colleagues from the Spanish institution visited RISS for a week of job-shadowing, observing classes and discussing possibilities for student exchanges between schools.
• Lycée Rosa Parks (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023European partner school under Erasmus+ programme in La Roche Sur Yon. RISS staff visited to explore unique context of the school and discuss collaborative projects. First steps towards linguistic and cultural exchanges for students.
• International Baccalaureate (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIB is the overarching accreditation body for RISS's Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme. RISS has over 30 years of experience with IB and operates under IB's educational philosophy, curriculum frameworks, and assessment standards. The IB learner profile aligns completely with RISS's school mission statement.
• Cambridge Assessment International EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge International provides the IGCSE curriculum framework for RISS's Middle Years programme. IGCSE attracts over 800,000 entries from around 160 countries annually, and RISS follows Cambridge's syllabi, assessment standards, and curriculum guidelines.
• NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEASC provides accreditation for RISS's High School Diploma programme, ensuring the school meets high standards of quality and continuous improvement expected by universities worldwide.
• Wolfert van Borselen School GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISS is part of the Wolfert van Borselen school group, a network of schools in the Netherlands providing shared governance, resources, professional development, and strategic direction. RISS adheres to Wolfert and BOOR's Identity and Core Values Framework.
• OpenApplycoreTechnology or IntegrationOpenApply is the online admissions platform used by RISS for managing the complete application process. Families submit applications, upload documents, and track progress through this system. The Admissions Team manages all communications and tasks through OpenApply.
• MagistercoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information management system used by RISS for academic tracking, attendance, grades, and communication. Part of the Wolfert school group's digital infrastructure.
• Wayfarer EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides the International Personal, Social, Emotional and Health Programme of Study used within RISS tutor classes for the Pastoral Programme, focusing on health and wellbeing, society and the wider world, and planning for the future.
• UnifrogcoreTechnology or IntegrationCareers and university search engine platform used by RISS to support students in choosing career paths, finding best-fit universities, building CVs, and creating personal statements. Access provided to students and parents for university admissions criteria and country-specific tips.
• YOUZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch organization providing drug prevention programme that RISS participates in, supporting the school's pastoral approach to student wellbeing and health education.
• Harbour International Primary SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary feeder school for RISS. Students transferring from Harbour follow a special intake process based on Harbour International Team recommendations. RISS and Harbour work closely together to support smooth primary-to-secondary transitions, including Grade 6 Open Days.
• Breda University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with RISS for IB Career-related Programme students, hosting interactive supply-chain workshops and providing real-world logistics education. Being based in Rotterdam, a hub for logistics, enables students to access industry expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The British School in the Netherlands (BSN): BSN is a leading international school group in The Hague serving expatriate and Dutch families with British curriculum (IGCSE/IB). It competes directly with RISS for the same expatriate segment in the Randstad region.
• International School of The Hague: Primary and secondary international school in The Hague offering IB programmes to a multinational student body. Directly comparable to RISS in curriculum, target market, and delivery model.
• Amsterdam International School: Amsterdam-based international school offering IB PYP, MYP, and DP. Comparable to RISS in serving expatriate families in the Randstad with IB programmes, though at larger scale.
• International School of Amsterdam: One of the oldest IB schools in the Netherlands offering full IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP). Competes with RISS for internationally mobile families in the Randstad and offers comparable IB-focused international education.
• United World College Maastricht: International IB secondary school in Maastricht with a mission-driven, globally diverse student body. Comparable to RISS in IB DP delivery, international curriculum focus, and diverse student demographics.
• The International School of Hilversum: International school in Hilversum offering IB programmes to Dutch and expatriate students. Directly comparable to RISS in semi-private structure and IB-focused secondary curriculum.
• International School Utrecht: Utrecht-based IB World School offering primary and secondary international education. Comparable to RISS in serving Dutch international school families and delivering IB DP in the Randstad.

Broad incumbents

• Wolfert van Borselen School Group: The parent school group of RISS under BOOR governance, encompassing multiple primary and secondary schools in Rotterdam. While not a direct competitor, it shapes RISS's positioning and resource access within the Dutch semi-private school system.

Regional players

• Harbour International Primary School: Primary feeder partner of RISS offering international primary education in Rotterdam. While serving a different age band, it is directly comparable in international curriculum delivery and feeds the same expatriate community into RISS.

Others

• CIS (Council of International Schools): Accreditation and membership body of which RISS is a member. While not a competitor, CIS membership is a shared quality signal among accredited international schools and a benchmark for institutional credibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rissnetherlands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotterdam-international-secondary-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/rissnetherlands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rotterdam International Secondary School