Poland · Kraków
British International School of Cracow is a small, coeducational day school in central Kraków. Its English-medium teaching begins at age 3. Pupils follow British and Cambridge programmes before the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma.
British International School of Cracow, usually shortened to BISC Kraków, is an independent, coeducational day school at Smoleńsk 25. Its published age range is 3 to 19.
English is the main teaching language. The school combines British and Cambridge programmes with Polish requirements, then offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in the final two years.
This is not a boarding option. A family must be able to manage daily travel, local care and any immigration process independently.
Foundation follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, England’s framework for early childhood education, from age 3. Years 1–6 use the Cambridge Primary curriculum for pupils normally aged 5–11.
Years 7–9 form Key Stage 3, the first stage of secondary education, and use Cambridge Lower Secondary. Pupils normally take GCSE and IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11. These are the General Certificate of Secondary Education and its international version: subject qualifications that precede advanced pre-university study.
IB1 and IB2 are the first and second Diploma years, normally for ages 16–18. The IB record confirms that BISC has offered the Diploma Programme since 7 April 2006. It does not list authorisation for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years or Career-related Programmes.
Diploma candidates study six subjects alongside a compulsory core. Theory of Knowledge explores how knowledge is formed and evaluated; the Extended Essay is an independent research project. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) adds creative, physical and community activities. Subject availability can change with staffing and demand, so obtain the current timetable of available combinations before accepting.
The school is also an examination centre for selected private Cambridge and IB candidates. That service is separate from full-time admission and does not make AS or A Level a normal BISC school route.
BISC also advertises a forthcoming supported homeschooling programme for Years 7–13. Expressions of interest are open, but fees, attendance rules and IB registration conditions are not public.
BISC says it delivers the Polish core curriculum alongside Cambridge provision and is supervised by the Polish education authorities. Polish pupils receive additional Polish history and geography; international pupils can study Polish as a foreign language.
The school also says pupils receive an official Polish świadectwo szkolne. Ask what certificate your child will receive and which Polish subjects are compulsory for their citizenship and year group.
The public pages do not say BISC offers the Polish matura examination. Its published upper-secondary leaving route is the IB Diploma, alongside the applicable Polish school certificate.
The school states that it is a Cambridge International School and an IB World School. The IB’s own record confirms Diploma Programme authorisation and day-school status.
BISC describes itself as fully accredited through the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). The current COBIS directory instead lists British International School of Krakow as a Member (Compliance). Ask the school to explain the status and renewal date.
BISC is worth considering if you want an English-medium route in central Kraków and expect to continue through IGCSE into the IB Diploma. Its small scale may appeal to pupils who dislike large campuses.
The primary page publishes a maximum of 16 pupils per class. It does not give equivalent limits for Foundation, secondary or IB, so do not apply that number across the school.
The school describes itself as non-selective. In practice, admission still depends on a vacancy and on whether BISC believes it can meet the pupil’s academic and wellbeing needs.
Families needing intensive specialist provision should establish capacity before paying. The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) policy limits provision to what is reasonably practicable and compatible with other pupils’ education. That document is dated June 2019.
The published school address is Smoleńsk 25, 31-108 Kraków, near the historic centre. Foundation, primary and secondary pupils are described as sharing the same campus.
There is no boarding. The latest linked arrival policy, dated June 2019, says BISC does not organise transport and parents are responsible for drop-off and collection.
Because that policy is old, confirm the current position before choosing a home. Ask about arrival times, authorised collection, independent departure for older pupils and whether any privately arranged route serves your address.
The current application page gives no annual deadline. Families submit an enquiry and application, after which the admissions team confirms availability and required documents.
Depending on age, the school may use an assessment, classroom observation or meeting. A successful applicant receives a formal offer stating the year group and starting date.
Enrolment is secured only after the family completes the forms, accepts school policies and pays the required fees. The page does not publish selection scores, priorities or waiting-list rules.
The only detailed IBDP admissions PDF on the current policy page is labelled 2022–23. It expects at least five IGCSE grades from A* to C and C1 academic English, an advanced level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The same dated policy sets these thresholds for Higher Level subjects, the Diploma courses studied in greater depth:
Confirm the current thresholds and test arrangements before applying; these are the published 2022–23 rules, not a verified 2027 admissions policy.
It allows conditional admission for a narrow shortfall. A larger gap could lead to IB courses instead of the full Diploma, or a pre-IB programme largely based on IGCSE preparation.
The similarly dated inclusion policy describes at least five Diploma courses, including mathematics and English, for a course student. It also describes a pre-IB mixture of Diploma and Year 11 courses.
These routes do not appear clearly on the rebuilt live IB page. Ask whether they still operate, what qualification each produces and whether an external applicant can enter them in 2026–27 or 2027–28.
English is used across the mainstream curriculum. The live primary and secondary pages say English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available to pupils who are still developing English.
The 2022–23 language policy says IBDP teaching is in English, except Polish A and language-acquisition subjects taught in their target language. Language A is the programme’s language-and-literature category. The policy also describes a school-supported self-taught option in that category, whose outside tutor is paid by parents.
Do not assume every language listed in an older policy will run. Compare the current IB subject list, timetable and likely class size before choosing a Diploma combination.
The live programme pages describe a full-time Additional Learning Needs coordinator, classroom observation, individual plans, targeted intervention and the NESSY literacy programme. They also mention a psychologist, pedagogical staff and outside specialists.
The 2019 SEND policy makes extra staffing dependent on resources and staff availability. It says only the ground floor was accessible and promises an accessibility plan where further adaptation is needed.
Those statements are too old for a mobility decision. Request a current access tour and a written plan covering staffing, therapy, exam arrangements, emergency evacuation, cost and review points.
The 2022–23 inclusion policy says BISC screens records, English and mathematics, then may use literacy testing. IB examination arrangements require a separate request and approval; ordinary classroom support does not guarantee them.
They cover safer recruitment, reporting, intervention, online safety and support after a disclosure. Ask who currently receives concerns and how the procedures apply to trips, clubs and any private transport arrangement.
The live fee page does not identify an academic year. It says the PLN amounts remain fixed for the whole school year and that tuition is payable from 1 September through 30 June.
| Division | Published monthly fee | Ten-month calculation | First year including registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 4,000 PLN | 40,000 PLN | 43,000 PLN |
| Years 1–11 | 6,000 PLN | 60,000 PLN | 63,000 PLN |
| IB1 and IB2 | 6,250 PLN | 62,500 PLN | 65,500 PLN |
The annual and first-year columns are our calculations from the stated ten-month period. The school itself publishes only the monthly amount and a one-time 3,000 PLN registration fee.
The page lists textbooks, classroom and art materials, psychological and pedagogical support, laboratories, music and art facilities, staff-led clubs, extra languages and Polish classes.
It also lists Cambridge Checkpoint examinations, library access, swimming with instructors and group insurance. Ask for limits and exclusions, particularly for specialist support, external tutors and insurance cover.
For Years 1–11, the page excludes IGCSE examination fees, school trips and lunch. For IB1 and IB2, it excludes IB examinations, trips and lunch.
No current prices are published for those items. There is also no public transport charge because the latest policy says the school does not operate transport.
The site publishes no scholarship, bursary or financial-aid scheme. Families needing assistance should ask directly, without assuming that support is available.
The fee page calls the charges monthly but says tuition is payable for the full academic year. It does not publish invoice dates, advance-payment discounts, late charges, refunds or withdrawal notice.
The school does not publish visa sponsorship or local-guardian conditions. Families should confirm the child’s residence basis, responsible adult, insurance and address before relying on the place.
The Kraków guide provides local comparisons. The Poland guide explains the wider education and residence context.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
ISK is a not-for-profit day school in Lusina, with IB Diploma and US high-school diploma options. Check admissions priority, the daily journey and language support. Its published FAQ fee table has no academic year, so obtain a dated quotation.
WarsawA selective English-medium secondary school in Wilanów, with day and boarding places and A Levels in Years 12–13. The 2026–27 annual tuition is PLN 150,400 in Years 9–11 or PLN 178,900 in Years 12–13. Boarding is separate and is not guaranteed by a school offer.
Bielawa, Konstancin-JeziornaASW is an English-medium day school in Bielawa, south of central Warsaw. It offers PYP, MYP and DP, but the full IB Diploma is optional. Fees are payable in both US dollars and złoty.
GdańskBISG is a private co-educational day school for ages 2.5–18. English is the main teaching language, while Polish curriculum requirements run alongside. The upper route is Pre-IB followed by the authorised IB Diploma Programme.
BISC and ISK both teach in English and offer the IB Diploma. Their earlier curricula, locations and admission arrangements differ, so the IB label alone cannot decide the choice.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.