Our School

The British School Warsaw, Nord Anglia Education’s first International School, was founded in 1992 by Mrs Iwona Thomas MBE. It began its life in a number of private residences in the desirable Mokotow suburb. As pupil numbers grew rapidly, Mrs Thomas looked for a more permanent home and in 2005 purchased the large and versatile purpose-built main school building on Limanowskiego Street which now houses the majority of our pupils and our school administration. The Early Years centre for our 3- to 6-year-olds has its own secluded Infant School on Dabrowskiego Street in Stary Mokotow.

The school now accommodates some 800 pupils, and The British School Warsaw proudly welcomes over 50 different nationalities into its international school family. The school has high expectations of all its pupils and engages highly professional, predominantly UK-qualified, teachers.

These teachers and their teaching assistants are dedicated to achieving the best results from all their students at every age and stage. The school is organised in the Key Stages of the English National Curriculum. Foundation Stage and Year 1 are taught at Dabrowskiego. Year 2 and Key Stage 2 are taught in our Primary School at Limanowskiego. Our Secondary School, also at Limanowskiego, comprises Key Stages 3 and 4, Years 7-11 and the IB Diploma Programme for Years 12 and 13.

Pupils achieve impressive results in their Primary Sat Assessments, and IGCSE results and IB Diploma scores regularly exceed world averages, enabling our students to gain prestigious places at top UK and North American universities at the end of their TBS school careers.

The school reports regularly to parents and holds parent meetings with teachers twice a year. The school also publishes a weekly newsletter that reports on current events and school activities and informs parents of forthcoming events.

There’s a very active group of parents who support the school with social and fun events for both students and parents. This group is called tbsf (The British School Friends) and succeeded the former PTA. Among the popular events organised by tbsf are the annual Halloween and Firework Party, the Christmas Fair, Quiz Nights and new parent welcome events. tbsf also organises fundraising events to support charities and buy special items for pupils’ use in school that fall outside the generous school budget provision.

At every age and stage, our children are challenged and motivated to do their best in class, and this is complemented by a stimulating range of supplementary activities. Whenever possible, trips and visits reinforce the learning and teaching. These include neighbourhood walks for our youngest pupils, day trips to Warsaw and further afield for museum and gallery experiences, and for our older students international expeditions, visits and camping opportunities.

The school has two large gymnasiums, a multipurpose dining hall which is also used for concerts and plays and an Assembly Hall at Dabrowskiego, as well as a new floodlit all-weather outdoor artificial sports field.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nigel Archdale joined The British School in August 2008 from his Headship of Cheltenham College Junior School and brings 20 years experience of school leadership to his new post as Principal. Nigel’s first degree came from the Univesity of Bristol and his Masters from the University of Edinburgh. Nigel and Charlotte very much enjoy their new life in the city of Warsaw and are greatly enjoying being part of The British School community at such an exciting stage in its development. Nigel and Charlotte have three grown up children, working and studying in the UK.