To: all parents, via the BST website and Advisory Committee members
Tehran, 8 January 2012
Dear Parents,
It is with great regret that the Board of Trustees of the BST had to take the decision to cease trading from
31 December 2011. The BST has become an important feature in the lives of over 100 international pupils every
year, offering high quality, British-based education. Unfortunately the political and security environment leading
to the attacks on the two British Embassy compounds on 29 November and subsequent actions by the Iranian authorities
left us with no choice.
Whilst several parents have decided to school their children outside Iran, many wish to continue education in Iran.
Unfortunately, this cannot be through any BST-related entity. We are aware that the German School (Deutsche Botschaftsschule Teheran)
is looking to establish an international wing to continue English-based education. We are doing everything we can to
assist with that, including an offer to provide BST-buildings from 1 February 2012.
Many of you have also asked about the refund of school fees and emailed the Finance Officer, Keith Evans.
As you can imagine, the volume of traffic has been high and Keith will endeavour to set out a clear system,
supported by the BoT, for such refunds. The BoT has agreed that refunds should be backdated to 1 December 2011.
Although there have been numerous requests for refunds via bank payments overseas, parents will be aware of the
difficulties in doing so, which is why the School has accepted payment in IRR. Most parents paid in IRR in cash this
school year. We will therefore have to work on the principle that if a parent paid in IRR, then that will be the currency
in which the refund is given, pro-rata.
If parents have subsequently left Iran, we will do our best to ensure the refund reaches you but, if this does not prove
possible, the onus will be on the parent to nominate a contact in Iran to receive the refund. Repayments will be
prioritised to those parents who have paid school fees themselves, rather than their employer.
With thanks to Head Bill Strath and the teachers, all parents should now have transfer letters and teacher reports for
the autumn term. We are in the process of working out a system to ensure any future letters of attendance and records
can be provided and will communicate this through the BST website in due course. If parents have any additional
questions, these can be directed to keith.britishschooltehran@gmail.com
The Board would like to formally thank the staff of the BST, pupils and parents past and present for their
contributions to the School and send their best wishes to all.
ROBERT IN DEN BOSCH
JANE MARRIOTT
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, British School, Tehran