A British education for everyone: This Prague school offers a full Cambridge curriculum

As more and more businesses send employees to Prague, parents are seeking a more diverse selection of international schools. Many of these parents are being drawn to Meridian International School in Kobylisy, a small school with a global ethos that offers an affordable British education.

Meridian is a small school with some mighty differences that make it stand out among Prague's international school offerings. It's unique for offering a full Cambridge Education, from early years to graduation. The continuity provided by this choice of curriculum, in combination with small class sizes (18 per class), and modern classroom technology, ensure an excellent educational experience for Czech and international students alike.

Meridian International School is located in a quiet, safe, residential area in Kobylisy, close to the Ladví metro station. Set across two sites within close walking distance of each other, the school comprises three sections: Early Years, Primary School and Secondary & High School, serving students from the ages of 5 to 19. 

As Meridian is a certified British School Overseas and is also accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, it offers a blend of British and Czech educational ethos, which appeals to both Czech and international families.

“The thing that sets Meridian apart is the ease of access for the members of our community to a comprehensive, rigorous British education within a diverse, multicultural environment,” says Arianne Elbuam-Rejsek, Head of Primary School. “It is crucial for us that students are supported in finding their place in the wider world. This is something our teachers and staff work towards daily to nurture in our students at every stage.”

The school follows the Cambridge (CAIE) system of learning, which corresponds to the National Curriculum of England and Wales. This curriculum is international in philosophy and approach, but can be tailored to the local context. It’s used by over 10,000 schools in 160 countries worldwide, and Cambridge international qualifications are widely accepted and recognised around the world. Also, the school offers Czech-speaking students the opportunity to take the Maturita qualification, in cooperation with their partner-school, Troja Gymnazium.

“Our senior students take AS and A Levels, where most international schools switch to International Baccalaureate (IB) for the final years. Whilst both programs offer an elite education, we feel that continuing with the CAIE program offers our students the best change to succeed and universities like to see that a student’s knowledge has built up over many years in a structured way,” says Jackson. 

This past year has been a year like no other, and like every other school in the Czech Republic, Meridian International School has faced some challenges as lessons were moved online due to the pandemic.

“The switch online presented a challenge for everyone in education and Meridian is not unique in this” said Deputy Director, PhDr. Michal Hájek. “However, I do think we went the extra mile to help our students in this difficult time. Our main aim with online education is to keep it as close to regular schools as possible without sacrificing any quality.”  

With the end of the restrictions in sight, both students and staff are looking forward to a full-time return to the classroom. Meanwhile, Meridian International School school continues to accept applications, and they are happy to meet any prospective families who are interested in joining the Meridian community.