Educating Tomorrow's Leaders

ML: British Primary School of Wilanow (BSW) was founded in 2015 and now has over 400 pupils enrolled. Can you briefly sum up the first decade of operations in Wilanów? Who benefits from your educational provision?

Tom McGrath: I joined the fledgling school in 2017, and I am now in my eighth year at BSW. While I missed the very early days, I have a perspective on much of this period. It was a modest start in a small building with just four classrooms. By the time I joined in 2017, the school had grown into a primary school up to Year 5. Here are some highlights:

In 2018, we gained Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Compliance Status. This professional body represents British international schools worldwide, and this was an important quality mark for us and our parents. Additionally, we became a Cambridge Accredited School, offering the Cambridge Checkpoint Curriculum at Key Stage 3 (Upper Primary).

In 2019, we opened a major extension to the school, adding six new classrooms, cloakrooms, and other facilities. These spaces soon filled up.

In 2021, we had our first graduating class of Year 9 pupils—just four in this pioneer group—and achieved COBIS full accreditation.

In 2023, we joined the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global organization of over 80 schools, and began constructing two new wings of the school.

In 2024, we opened our new preschool building, sports hall, KS3 building, and various specialist rooms. We are now planning further development of our outdoor spaces.

All of this has been achieved thanks to our amazing staff, supportive parents, and wonderful pupils, while adhering to our strong values-based education and “Walk of the Lion” ethos. We are proud to represent over 40 nationalities, with our diversity growing each year. Our school serves the internationally minded community in Warsaw.

ML:  Your school joined the prestigious network of ISP schools in 2023. How has this changed BSW?

TM: First, it accelerated the construction project that was fundamental to our school’s development; we are now operating on a new level. Secondly, it gave us access to a range of skills, expertise, and experience, primarily in international education but also in other areas of operation. Finally, it connects our pupils and staff with peers around the world, fostering international learning opportunities for our community.

ML:  What activities outside the classroom do your pupils participate in?

TM: For many years, we have successfully run a Forest School program, giving all ages—from Nursery upwards—the chance to explore, cooperate, and learn in a forest environment. As part of ISP, we are running a Changemakers’ project where pupils take responsibility for a memorial site in Wilanów, commemorating young scouts killed during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. This helps foster a sense of positive patriotism. We also organize excursions, foreign trips, and green camps. As we integrate further into ISP, we look forward to more connections with like-minded schools in the group.

ML:  Is BSW looking at extending its offerings to older age groups beyond primary?

TM: We are fortunate to have a sister school, Akademeia High School (AHS), also a member of ISP Schools, located just across the road. AHS offers a prestigious high school program, with many graduates attending leading world universities. Many of our pupils join AHS after completing their studies at BSW. ISP is an ambitious organization, and it is open to exploring new projects in the Warsaw region.

ML:  The local context is key for pupils. How does BSW integrate this multicultural community into Polish traditions and culture?

TM: Our Polish context is central to the school’s identity. All international pupils can learn Polish as a foreign language, and we encourage them to maintain and develop their multilingual skills. We celebrate a range of events throughout the year. For example, we mark Warsaw Day in early October to commemorate the end of the Warsaw Uprising, and St. Nicholas’ Day (Mikołajki) is approaching soon, which we celebrate as a fundraising event for Smile Warsaw, a charity supporting the homeless. Warsaw’s many museums and landmarks are invaluable for bringing history and culture alive for our pupils. One of my favorite annual events is leading Year 4 pupils in exploring Łazienki Park to discover the Roman influence in this magical place.