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

The Meridian International School is a small school with a big difference – it makes international schooling in Prague affordable and accessible to all.

Marcus Bradshaw

Written by Marcus Bradshaw Published on 26.05.2021 12:48:00 (updated on 05.09.2023) Reading time: 3 minutes

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 prague school
The secondary and high school is only 200m away from the main building, in the quiet residential area of Prague 8.

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. 

“We like to think of ourselves as a generational school” says Head of Secondary & High School, Richard Jackson, “where we can lead a child’s education all the way from arrival at kindergarten to departure for university”.

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.

meridian school kids enhance
Early years are divided into two sections as in the British National Curriculum: reception and year 1 with children from 3 to 5 years old accepted.

“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.”

Meridian School Prague
The early years and the primary school are located in the main building.

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.

Meridian school.
Meridian school has currently students of 58 nationalities.

“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. 

“The IB is often seen as the main way to get to university, but it isn’t true,” he says. “AS and A Levels are accepted by universities around the world, and in many cases, they are even preferred.” Recent graduates have gone on to study at top universities across Europe, including prestigious universities in the Netherlands, the UK, and in Prague. 

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.

Meridian International School is starting a new diploma program, taking into account the current situation in the distance education program.
Meridian International School started a new diploma program, taking into account the current situation in the distance education program.

“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.”  

Meridian kids.
MIS offers the possibility of door-to-door transport for the children to school and back home after school.

He is full of praise and admiration for students, teachers, and parents. “Maintaining a full academic timetable is ambitious and our students have worked so hard and done so well. Working together, students, parents and teachers, we have all found positive aspects of online education.”

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.

This article was written in cooperation with the Meridian International School. Read more about our partner content policies here.

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