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Summary for: How to choose a bilingual school in Prague that helps your child thriveChoosing a bilingual school in Prague can be one of the most important decisions for an international family. Beyond tuition fees and location, parents want a school that helps their child feel confident, understood, and motivated to learn in both Czech and English.
That’s exactly the perspective of Jan Voda, Principal of Fostra Elementary and recipient of the Ředitel roku 2024 Primary School Principal of the Year award. As a Czech educator helping to advance innovation, leadership, and 21st-century learning, Voda emphasizes that the key to choosing the right school is to focus less on polished marketing and more on what happens in classrooms every day.
He adds that a good bilingual school should do more than combine Czech and English lessons. It should build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging—qualities that shape how children learn for life. Here are some other aspects parents should consider when choosing a bilingual school.
Choose a program that builds confidence in Czech and English
Bilingual education should immerse children naturally in both languages, not treat English as an isolated subject. At Fostra, half of all lessons are taught by native speakers in English, and the language is used during after-school activities and class projects.
This structure mirrors best practices in dual-language education, where consistent exposure to both languages improves fluency and comprehension. It’s also part of a large push from the Czech Ministry of Education to make English lessons compulsory from the first grade under its new curriculum reforms.
However, Voda understands that creativity and exploration should still remain a large focus, especially for younger children.
The first years of school should be a playground for discovery,” he emphasizes. “No one knows yet what kind of learner a child will become, so schools should focus on exploration and confidence rather than exam rankings.”
Look for a school where children feel safe and inspired
A supportive and inclusive environment, regardless of the language, is one of the strongest predictors of student success, according to Voda. “A good bilingual school isn’t defined by what it says about itself, but by what it does,” he explains. “For example, how it prevents problems like bullying and how it resolves them. We promote positive relationships among students and maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of bullying.”
This kind of proactive approach is vital, as 67 percent of Czech teens have experienced cyberbullying and 94 percent encountered online hate speech, underscoring the need for schools to prioritize emotional safety and community building.
When looking into school programs, Voda recommends parents discuss their concerns with those who already have children in their prospective school, rather than relying solely on anonymous social-media reviews. Attending open days and observing how their child interacts with teachers and classmates is also encouraged.
That moment tells you everything, whether the child feels comfortable and whether the school fits their needs,” he adds, noting that a sense of safety also includes emotional well-being and engagement.
Find a school that teaches global thinking, not just languages
As society evolves, schools must evolve with it, Voda says. “Creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and digital literacy are the skills children will actually need,” he elaborates, believing that schools should help children adapt to a fast-changing world rather than rely on outdated systems.
A recent report highlights that almost all young Czechs now use AI tools, showing how early exposure to technology, innovation, and multilingual environments helps children navigate a globalised world. Within the context of bilingual education, this becomes especially relevant: the European Commission identifies “multilingualism” as one of the eight key competences for lifelong learning, promoting language skills to boost personal fulfilment, job opportunities and mobility across Europe.
At Fostra, teaching quality is built into the bilingual model itself. Each class has both a Czech teacher and a native English-speaking teacher who work together in tandem, allowing children to learn subjects in two languages and from two cultural perspectives. Voda says this structure encourages collaboration between teachers, who bring different experiences and methods to the classroom. This balance helps ensure that every child receives individual attention and feels supported.
Look for a bilingual approach that prepares children for the future
If you’re curious about how bilingual education works in practice, Fostra Elementary invites parents to see their structure for themselves. They welcome prospective families to observe how students switch naturally between Czech and English, collaborate in small groups, and grow in an environment that feels both supportive and stimulating.
For many expat families in Prague, finding a bilingual school that truly fits a child’s needs isn’t just about language, it’s about preparing them for a world where communication, empathy, and adaptability matter as much as academics. Bilingual classrooms give children the tools to think across cultures, express themselves confidently, and engage with an international future that begins right here in Czechia.
