Bright Horizons - International British School of Zagreb vs British International School of Zagreb

	B Bright Horizons - International British School of Zagreb Zagreb, Croatia	B British International School of Zagreb Zagreb, Croatia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €9,200 - 16,300	Fees / year €750 - 32,500
Age range	Age range 5 - 16 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 200	Pupils 355
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2013	Opened 2013
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Primary campus: Sveti Duh 122, 10000 Zagreb. Secondary campus: Ul. Augusta Harambašića 19, 10000 Zagreb. The school is located in Zagreb, Croatia, in a green residential area that is easily accessible by public transportation.	Location Address: Dedići 102, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. The campus is located about 5 km outside Zagreb's city centre in a valley at the foot of Mount Medvednica. The school comprises 9,000 m2 of indoor space and 25,000 m2 of outdoor sport and green areas. It is protected by 24-hour electronic surveillance with an on-site security guard.
Stages	Stages Primary and Secondary	Stages Nursery/Kindergarten, Primary, and Secondary. The Primary Section follows the English National Curriculum alongside the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). BISZ offers Cambridge Secondary (IGCSE) and Cambridge Advanced (International AS and A Level) qualifications. Boarding is available on campus.
School type	School type The school uses the International Primary Curriculum together with the British National Curriculum.	School type Private international school offering a UK-based National Curriculum and Cambridge qualifications.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 200+ students from 30+ nationalities.	Pupil nationality mix Over 50 nationalities represented; the environment is international.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school provides individual approaches towards pupils and tailored support to meet their needs.	Additional learning support Tutoring is available to provide subject-specific support; classroom and subject teachers guide individual needs, coordinated by boarding staff.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Croatia	Country affiliation United Kingdom
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day runs 9:00–16:35 Monday to Thursday and ends at 15:00 on Fridays. Lessons last 45 minutes. After-school activities and meals are scheduled during the day.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Students arrive to school using public or organised transport.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and assessment fees - First-time enrolment fee (Years 1–8): EUR 600 (one-time, non-refundable). - Re-enrolment fee (Years 1–8): EUR 400 (one-time). - Assessment fee for new pupils (Years 1–8): EUR 50 (one-time, covers entrance testing). - First-time enrolment fee (Years 10–11): EUR 1,200 (one-time, non-refundable). - Re-enrolment fee (Years 10–11): EUR 800 (one-time). - Assessment fee for new pupils (Years 10–11): EUR 100 (one-time). Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown as Annual fee and Monthly instalment where published) - Years 1–6: Annual fee EUR 9,200; Monthly instalment (when paid in instalments) EUR 920. - Years 7–8: Annual fee EUR 11,000; Monthly instalment EUR 1,100. - Years 10–11: Annual fee EUR 15,000; Monthly instalment EUR 1,500. - For the 2025/2026 published schedule the equivalent annual fees expressed in Croatian kuna (HRK) per grade were also published (illustrative): Kindergarten/Grades 1–5 ~ HRK 69,600 per year; Grades 6–8 ~ HRK 83,200 per year; Grades 9–10 ~ HRK 113,500 per year. These HRK figures correspond to the school's published 2025/26 fee schedule. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid as a single annual payment or in instalments; when paid in instalments the published arrangement is ten monthly instalments, paid in advance during the first week of each month. Parents remain contractually responsible for fee payments even if the child is absent. Payment of the registration/enrolment fee is required with the enrolment paperwork and the annual contract is signed once that payment is received. - First-time and assessment fees are charged at enrolment and are non-refundable. Boarding fees - Bright Horizons – International British School of Zagreb does not publish a boarding programme or boarding fees in its fees schedule; the published fee schedule covers day-school tuition and associated one-time enrolment/assessment charges only. Other costs and additional charges - Uniform and school kit are charged separately and are listed under the school's uniform/kit guidance; parents should expect a separate cost for uniform and sports kit. - Assessment/enrolment fees and any first-year one-off charges are additional to the annual tuition (see Application and assessment fees above). - School-provided meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks) are included in the published tuition for the school. Ancillary optional items such as extracurricular activities, optional excursions and private lessons are charged separately. Refund and withdrawal rules - Assessment and first-time enrolment fees are non-refundable. The published fee notes indicate that families remain contractually responsible for agreed tuition payments; the school's enrolment/payment terms require payment of registration/enrolment fees at acceptance. (Parents should note the school's contractual terms on cancellation and fee liability as part of the enrolment process.) Fee payment options - The school's published billing schedule is based on advance instalments (ten monthly payments) or a single annual payment; payment is handled through the school's finance procedures as set out at enrolment. The school provides contact details for its admissions/finance office for invoice and payment details. Notes: the figures above follow the school's published fee schedule for the 2025/26 academic year and the school's published fee pages that list the annual and instalment amounts by year group.	Fee details Annual tuition (by year group and per-term breakdown) - Preschool (Nursery and Reception): EUR 7,500 per year. Per standard three-term schedule (40% / 30% / 30%): Term 1 EUR 3,000; Term 2 EUR 2,250; Term 3 EUR 2,250. - Primary School (Years 1–6): EUR 14,500 per year. Per-term (40% / 30% / 30%): Term 1 EUR 5,800; Term 2 EUR 4,350; Term 3 EUR 4,350. - Middle Years (Years 7–9): EUR 16,000 per year. Per-term (40% / 30% / 30%): Term 1 EUR 6,400; Term 2 EUR 4,800; Term 3 EUR 4,800. - Secondary (Years 10–11 and Years 12–13): EUR 18,000 per year. Per-term (40% / 30% / 30%): Term 1 EUR 7,200; Term 2 EUR 5,400; Term 3 EUR 5,400. (Exam fees for Years 11/12/13 are charged separately to the student.) Application / admission / registration fees - Admission fee for new students: EUR 1,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable; payable within 7 days of notification of acceptance). - Registration fee for returning students: EUR 750 (one‑time, non‑refundable; payable within 7 days of notification of acceptance). Boarding fees and related charges - Full Boarding Programme (annual, includes tuition plus boarding services): Single room EUR 32,500 per year; Double room EUR 30,500 per year. The full boarding fee is stated to include tuition, boarding room and cleaning, all meals, laundry service for uniform and on‑campus sports/recreation activities. - Boarding application and enrolment fee (boarding students): EUR 1,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable; payable in the first year). - Security deposit for boarding: EUR 3,000 (paid in the first year on entry to boarding; refunded without interest after the student leaves minus outstanding fees/damages). - If a student attends only one semester, the tuition charge for that semester is 70% of the annual tuition (applies where relevant). Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard termly billing structure: three instalments — 40% due for the first instalment, then 30% and 30% for the second and third instalments respectively (specific instalment due dates are published by the school each year). There is also a one‑off payment option that attracts a discount in accordance with the school's payment terms. - Discount for one‑off payment: a 5% discount is offered when the annual tuition is paid in full by the deadline specified by the school (deadline historically stated as end of May). - Immediate payment obligations at enrolment: Tuition Fee and Admission Fee are required to be paid upon enrolment to confirm a place; the contractual obligation to pay tuition must be met within agreed deadlines regardless of attendance. - Late payment charge: EUR 100 per reminder. The school reserves the right to demand immediate payment of remaining fees or terminate the contract for late payment. Other recurring or optional charges - Private lessons: Individual lessons EUR 30 per hour (45 minutes); 2 students together EUR 25 each per session; 3 students together EUR 20 each per session. - Exam costs: Students in Years 11/12/13 pay Cambridge/assessment exam costs separately. - Optional excursions and out‑of‑hours activities: charged separately. - Additional supplier charges payable directly by families: uniform and sports kit; daily transport; laptops for Middle Years students; unofficial or certified translations of documents. Uniforms are noted as paid on request. - Textbooks and materials: students who are not enrolled or whose tuition is unpaid by the school's stated deadline are required to purchase curriculum books and materials independently. (School publishes the cut‑off date annually; historic notices refer to late‑June deadlines.) Refunds and deposits - Tuition and admission fees: paid tuition fees and the admission fee are non‑refundable. Certificates and diplomas will not be issued until all financial obligations are settled. - Boarding security deposit: refundable (without interest) after a student leaves, less any outstanding fees/charges or deductions for damage. Fee payment options and invoicing - Payment timing and instalment structure are specified in the school's fee policy and invoices. Bank/account details and formal invoice/payment instructions are provided to families through the school's administration and on enrolment correspondence; the school's public contact details are available for direct enquiry. Sibling discounts - Sibling fee reductions are applied: historically published reductions are 15% for the second child, 30% for the third child and 50% for the fourth child (applied to the relevant children according to the school's policy). Summary of immediate, one‑time sums often payable at enrolment - New student admission fee: EUR 1,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Returning student registration fee: EUR 750 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Boarding application/enrolment fee (boarding students): EUR 1,500 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Boarding security deposit: EUR 3,000 (refundable as described). If you plan to place any of this information into an external database, use the tuition rows and the boarding rows above for the main numeric fields and use the billing, deposit, refund and other‑fees bullets for auxiliary fields.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The curriculum is based on the UK National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). From Years 1 to 6, IPC is used for topics such as history, science and geography. English literacy is developed through daily reading, guided reading, phonics, spelling, speaking and listening, grammar, comprehension and creative writing. Maths follows the UK National Curriculum, with Singapore Maths support in some year groups. Croatian language is taught according to the Croatian curriculum. The school also teaches music, computing (including micro:bits), art, Croatian, Spanish, German and physical education. For secondary, Bright Horizons offers the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum with core subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Information and Communication Technology, Croatian language, National Subject (Croatian History and Geography), PSHE and Global Perspectives; students may choose 2–4 optional subjects such as English Literature, Art and Design, Physical Education, Geography and German.	Curriculum details The English language is the centrepiece of the BISZ curriculum and the programme is based on the UK Key Stages (EYFS, Key Stage 1 to 5). The Early Years Foundation Stage covers Nursery and Reception; Key Stages 1–2 make up Primary; Key Stages 3–5 cover Lower Secondary, Middle Secondary and Sixth Form. The Primary curriculum uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), with six‑week unit blocks covering Science, Health, History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music and International Mindedness; Croatian Language and Culture is offered to foreign primary students from Year 2, and German and Italian are offered as electives alongside Croatian. At Key Stage 3 BISZ teaches English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, and at least one Modern Foreign Language (Croatian, Italian or German) plus Art and Design, Music, Physical Education, Citizenship and ICT. Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) follows IGCSE/GCSE and includes core subjects English, Maths and Science, with ICT, PE, Citizenship and electives from The Arts, Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages. Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13) offers AS and A2 levels; on‑site boarding is available for ages 13–19; English remains the language of instruction.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Cambridge IGCSE is recognised globally and prepares students for higher education and beyond.	Higher education progression The high school follows the Cambridge International Curriculum, with IGCSE in Years 10–11 and AS/A‑Levels in Years 12–13, providing pathways to top global universities.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions The British International School of Zagreb offers a standardised programme aligned with the UK National Curriculum. The programme is taught in English, with foreign languages provided as supplementary electives. Admission is open to any student who meets the expected requirements. The admission procedure begins with families contacting the school by phone or email to arrange an interview and a tour with the Director/Principal and/or the School Coordinator. The initial visit allows students and parents to ask questions, meet teachers, and gain a clear understanding of how the school operates. A second follow‑up interview is arranged, and the school requires copies of the last two school reports along with completed application forms to be returned; these documents are reviewed by the Principal and school leadership and parents are informed as soon as possible. Prospective students are assessed before an offer is made. Primary School assessments are conducted by the Primary School Coordinator and involve standardised testing in Literacy and Numeracy; Secondary School assessments include subject‑specific assessments and a Skype interview if the student is abroad. Assessments for Secondary School students are conducted by the relevant subject teachers and the coordinator, and the school may identify the need for private English tuition, which is charged in addition. The school offers a one‑off open day for prospective students to spend a day in class to observe how lessons operate. If a student is deemed eligible for admission, parents receive an acceptance form/contract in three copies to be signed, and they must pay a non‑ refundable Admission Fee before the child's name is placed on the class list. The Principal may refuse admission if the student would not gain educational advantage from BISZ programmes, if the student has a low academic or disciplinary record deemed unsuitable for the BISZ community, or if the school cannot meet the student's special educational requirements. Enrolment is organised so that Grades 1–13 are placed in a class appropriate for their age based on successful completion of the preceding year, and students moving from Southern Hemisphere schools continue in the same grade (e.g., finishing Grade 6 in Australia in December would complete the school year in Grade 6 at BISZ from January to June). The following documents are required: 1. Application forms, 2) School records for the previous two years, 3) Confidential school recommendations, 4) Official English translations of school records, 5) Proof of payment of the admission fee, 6) Copy of the passport photo page, 7) Copy of the birth certificate, 8) Enrolment Contract, 9) Copy of the child's relevant medical information or vaccination records, 10) For Kindergarten and Year 1, the pediatrician's certificate stating that the child is ready for school.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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