Interesting thread for me too as 2 of my children will be starting ISB in September. We are coming from the International School of Paris which is equally expensive but with less 'luxurious' facilities (situated in the middle of Paris there ain't a whole lot of room for playing fields).

Terrible that you have to pay for photos - have you complained Mr Wibble?

The homework thing is all a bit tricky too - academically I think numerous studies have shown that homework sheets in primary schools have absolutely no impact on learning outcomes but I guess it's meant to get them into a habit of doing something in the evenings. Have you seen the teacher about the problems you have getting your son to do them (and I can so sympathise as we've been there too!). At that age we quite often didn't even bother and the class teacher seemed very unconcerned.

I have a three year old and I shall be sending her to the local playgroup and then school - I want her to learn a second language easily, unlike my oldest child who culture shocked rather badly in the French system (talk about homework!) and even after 5 years in Paris hates the French language with a passion (not too keen on france either to be honest!).

Just to add about accents - kid often have two - the kind of mid atlantic drawly mixed 'school' accent and then the family accent (in our case neutral English) for home.