Budapest British International School vs REAL School Budapest
Budapest British International School and REAL School Budapest are both in Budapest, about 7 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes. Budapest British International School also offers IB, and REAL School Budapest also offers Bespoke. Published annual fees are HUF 12,090 - 25,250 at Budapest British International School and HUF 14,970 - 18,640 at REAL School Budapest, which puts Budapest British International School roughly 11% higher. Budapest British International School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and REAL School Budapest from 5 to 14.
BBIS operates on two campuses in Budapest at 4 Zsolna utca, 1125 Budapest, and 55/B Istenhegyi utca, 1125 Budapest, Hungary.
Location
Located in Graphisoft Park, Óbuda, Budapest, next to the Danube River. Housed in a historic factory building repurposed for learning, it features large, multi-purpose spaces and upcycled furniture. The address is 1031 Budapest, Hungary.
Stages
Stages
Early Childhood; Primary Years Programme; IB Middle Years Programme; IB Diploma
Stages
Primary and middle school for ages 5-14.
School type
School type
Independent international day school; IB World Continuum School
School type
Not-for-profit, British international school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
Representing over 35 nationalities.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Inclusive education with high-quality teaching; supports individual learning through Special Educational Needs & Inclusion.
Additional learning support
The school does not have staffing provision to accommodate children with special needs, severe learning differences or serious behavioural issues.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
British international school; COBIS-accredited
Country affiliation
British international school (follows the English National Curriculum).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Door-to-door bus service provided by Levissimo Bus.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and entry charges - Application Fee (new students): €450. - Registration Fee (new students): €1,200. - Deposit (new students): €1,000. - Seat reservation deposit (deducted from school contributions): €1,700 (applies to new and returning students).
Annual tuition by programme / year group (full-year amounts) - Early Childhood (FS1–FS2; ages 3–4): €12,090 per year. - Early Childhood (FS3; age 5): €14,980 per year. - Primary Year 1 (age 6): €17,660 per year. - Primary Years 2–5 (ages 7–10): €19,850 per year. - MYP Years 1–3 (ages 11–13): €21,990 per year. - MYP Years 4–5 (ages 14–15): €23,270 per year. - DP Years 1–2 (ages 16–17): €25,250 per year.
Per-term tuition (standard three-term year) - The school operates on a three-term academic calendar. The per-term amounts below are the annual contribution divided into three equal term payments: - Early Childhood (3–4): €4,030.00 per term (€12,090 ÷ 3). - Early Childhood (5): €4,993.33 per term (€14,980 ÷ 3). - Primary Year 1: €5,886.67 per term (€17,660 ÷ 3). - Primary Years 2–5: €6,616.67 per term (€19,850 ÷ 3). - MYP 1–3: €7,330.00 per term (€21,990 ÷ 3). - MYP 4–5: €7,756.67 per term (€23,270 ÷ 3). - DP 1–2: €8,416.67 per term (€25,250 ÷ 3).
Billing schedule and payment terms - The school year is organised into three terms; invoicing and term dates follow the three-term calendar. Families receive invoices and payment is managed through the school finance process. - The seat reservation deposit is applied against the school contribution and is deducted from the invoiced contribution. - Acceptance, invoicing and the formal Education Agreement (Terms and Conditions) are issued alongside the offer and set the contractual payment terms.
Boarding - BBIS in Budapest does not publish a boarding provision for students; there are no boarding fees listed for the Budapest campus. (Day-school provision and transport options are described separately.)
Other costs and additional fees - English as an Additional Language (EAL): EAL support is charged as an additional fee where required. - Special Educational Needs / one-to-one support: Additional charges may be levied if the school determines interventions are required beyond the standard contribution; such charges are itemised separately. - After-school clubs, Stay & Play and extra‑curricular activities: charges apply for club participation and Stay & Play sessions. - School bus (door-to-door): bus service is available through contracted providers; bus charges are separate from tuition. - School lunches and snacks: primary students are provided with lunch; EYFS and Years 1–2 are provided with morning and afternoon snacks. Any specific meal-plan costs or third‑party catering charges are managed separately. - Uniform: school uniform is required and is purchased separately via the designated uniform supplier. Costs for uniform items are payable by families at the point of order. - Examination or external assessment fees (for DP/IB, external assessments, standardised tests) and dedicated course costs may be charged in addition to the contribution where applicable; these fees are billed separately.
Refunds, withdrawal and cancellations - Refunds, withdrawal procedures and any prorating of contributions are governed by the Education Agreement (Terms and Conditions) provided with an offer and by the school's invoicing policy. Families receive the contractual refund and withdrawal terms in the Education Agreement accompanying the offer. For specific refund terms and timelines contact the Finance Office.
Fee payment options and contact for payments - Payments and invoicing are handled via the school's finance process and Finance Portal. For payment queries and instructions contact the Finance Office at finance@bbis.hu.
Concise note on publicly available details - The publicly posted fee chart provides the annual contribution amounts and the listed one‑off charges (application, registration, deposit, seat reservation). The school calendar shows a three-term year and the Admissions and Terms pages indicate that the Education Agreement contains full payment and refund terms; specific payment‑method details (card, bank transfer or other accepted methods) and a full public refund schedule are not published in the publicly accessible materials and are managed through the Finance Office and the formal Education Agreement. For payment-method specifics and contractual refund terms, contact finance@bbis.hu.
Fee details
Application fees
- Application fee: EUR 100 (one-time; non-refundable). - Seat reservation fee: EUR 800 (payable on contracting for new students; for continuing students the seat reservation fee is due by 30 April each year to secure a place). The seat reservation fee is non-refundable and is applied to the first tuition payment (it is not an additional cost).
Tuition fees by age / year group (amounts in EUR)
- Age 5: - Full year: EUR 14,970. - Term payments: 1st term EUR 5,990; 2nd term EUR 4,490; 3rd term EUR 4,490. - One-payment amount (with 4% discount): EUR 14,370.
- Age 6–7: - Full year: EUR 15,970. - Term payments: 1st term EUR 6,390; 2nd term EUR 4,790; 3rd term EUR 4,790. - One-payment amount (with 4% discount): EUR 15,330.
- Age 8–9: - Full year: EUR 17,630. - Term payments: 1st term EUR 7,050; 2nd term EUR 5,290; 3rd term EUR 5,290. - One-payment amount (with 4% discount): EUR 16,920.
- Age 10–11: - Full year: EUR 18,070. - Term payments: 1st term EUR 7,230; 2nd term EUR 5,420; 3rd term EUR 5,420. - One-payment amount (with 4% discount): EUR 17,350.
- Age 12–14: - Full year: EUR 18,640. - Term payments: 1st term EUR 7,460; 2nd term EUR 5,590; 3rd term EUR 5,590. - One-payment amount (with 4% discount): EUR 17,890.
Additional tuition-related charges
- EAL (English as an Additional Language) pull-out tutoring: 10% of the tuition fee while additional lessons are provided. - Sibling discounts: 10% for the first younger sibling and 20% for all subsequent younger siblings.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Term payments are due 30 days before the start of each term. - The one-payment (full-year) discount of 4% applies when the full-year fees are paid by 31 May, or within 7 days of enrolment (whichever is later). No discounts apply to corporate, institutional or diplomatic payments. - Minimum enrolment is for one full school year; any special enrolment agreement shorter than one full year carries a 25% tuition surcharge. - The seat reservation fee is applied to the first tuition payment (it is not an additional cost). The seat reservation fee and the application fee are non-refundable.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. REAL School operates as a day primary and middle school (ages 5–14); there are no boarding fees.
Other costs and typical extras
- The fees include plant-based lunches and snacks. - Families should expect to cover transportation and accommodation costs for learning trips. - All students aged 10 and above are expected to have a good quality notebook computer; the family is responsible for acquiring this device. - Additional charges may apply for specific support services (for example, pull-out EAL as noted above). - No specific uniform fee is listed in the school's published fee information.
Refund information
- The Application fee is non-refundable. - The Seat reservation fee is non-refundable; it is credited against the first tuition payment in the applicable academic year.
Fee payment options
- Fees are set in Euros but may be paid in EUR, HUF, USD or GBP. - No cash payments are accepted.
Notes on discounts and surcharges
- A 4% discount is offered for full-year one-payment settlements (conditions above). - A 25% surcharge applies to any enrolment agreement shorter than one full school year.
(End of fee overview.)
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
BBIS delivers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Primary School. The PYP places the individual learner at the heart of learning within a holistic approach that supports academic, social, emotional, and physical development. Teaching and learning are inquiry-driven, transdisciplinary, and student-centered, fostering curiosity and ownership of learning. The PYP is concept-driven and organized around six transdisciplinary themes: Who we are; Where we are in place and time; How we express ourselves; How the world works; How we organise ourselves; Sharing the planet. BBIS teachers develop a Programme of Inquiry (POI) that reflects the school community and links units of inquiry across ages, building a long-term curriculum plan. In the Secondary School, BBIS offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma (DP). Learning and teaching in the secondary are guided by six IB Approaches to Teaching: learning is conceptually framed; learning is contextualised; learning is collaborative; learning is differentiated; assessment is criterion-related; and learning emphasises reflection. BBIS is an authorised IB Continuum World School.
Curriculum details
REAL School follows the National Curriculum in England and is COBIS Accredited. It serves children from kindergarten to grade 8 (ages 5-14) and is licensed in Hungary as a primary and middle school. In the lower school (ages 5-9), literacy and numeracy foundations are built with Read Write Inc and Oxford Reading Tree, while science and humanities are woven into projects. In the upper school (ages 10-14), maths is taught as core skills, problem solving, and applied maths; literacy is integrated with Dream to Reality projects when possible, and science is taught both as a project-based and standalone subject. The learning emphasizes project-based experiences across Academics, Nature, Smart tech, Wellbeing, Entrepreneurship, and Regeneration, with weekly excursions and outdoor learning. End-of-term reports track progress against the English National Curriculum and REAL School's learning competencies, and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
IB Diploma: 92% pass rate since 2024; 100% of Diploma students who pursue higher education gain university places; BBIS average DP score is 31.08 (out of 45) with the highest score of 43.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Class of 2025 matriculated to Emerson College (USA); Pennsylvania State University (USA); McGill University (Canada); Bath Spa University (UK); Courtauld Institute of Art (UK); ELTE and Semmelweis University (Hungary); and other universities worldwide. Since 2024 BBIS students have also received offers from University College London (UCL); Stanford University; University of Michigan; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Cardiff; and other leading universities.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
BBIS is an IB World School authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). It is the first fully authorised IB Continuum School in Budapest and an Accredited Member of COBIS, with a British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary membership and sponsorship of events with the British Embassy and expatriate organisations. The school has over 400 students from 35+ countries. In Primary, the adult-to-child ratio is 1:5; in Secondary, 1:7. BBIS operates rolling admissions with applications accepted year-round. All applicants undergo an assessment as part of the process: Secondary students complete two entrance tests (CAT4 and an English language assessment if English is not the first language); Primary students spend time in the prospective class and participate in lessons; Early Childhood to PYP2 have Read Write Inc screening; from EC3 upwards, standardised reading assessments are used; from EC3 upwards, arithmetic and problem-solving assessments provided by White Rose Maths are used for appropriate year groups. If a child cannot speak English, BBIS assesses the current English level; intensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available, typically at an additional cost and depending on year group. BBIS offers German, Spanish and Hungarian as foreign languages; within the DP, a variety of international languages can be studied ab initio. After-school provision includes a diverse range of clubs daily from 3:20 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with Stay and Play from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. if there is sufficient interest, and charges apply. The BBIS campus is located at 4 Zsolna utca, 1125 Budapest, and 55/B Istenhegyi utca, 1125 Budapest.
Admissions
Step 1 Research: Get to know the school by reading the website, downloading the brochure, contacting the admissions team, watching the YouTube channel, and following the school's social channels. Review the School Calendar and Fees Schedule to understand term dates and costs. REAL School offers rolling enrolment, accepting families to start throughout the year, with a minimum one-year commitment. The primary language of teaching is English; for students older than 8, conversational English is required to engage in projects, and 11+ applicants must have fluent spoken and written English, with proficiency assessed as part of the application process.
Step 2 Register your interest: Indicate your interest for enrolment by providing the name and age of your children and your contact details. Expect to receive a welcome email from the Family Ambassador. This initiates the application flow and helps the school provide the right information for your family. The link to indicate interest for enrolment is available on the admissions page.
Step 3 Meet Us!: Join an online call to learn more about the school and answer questions. The Family Ambassador, the Principal, an educator, or the Founders will be happy to meet you. Open Tour sessions are held every Tuesday, and there are other ways to get in touch if you prefer.
Step 4 Apply Online: Apply through the online application system and submit supporting documentation. This includes basic data, schooling history to date, any special needs or issues to be aware of, and questions about motivation for wishing to join the school. For applicants aged 11+, a short video introduction and a personal statement are requested. The application fee will be invoiced following submission.
Step 5 Meet the Founders: Following the review of the application, families are invited to meet the Founders through an online call to help establish whether the values and intentions of the School meet the expectations and values of the family. This is an important step in the process because the community plays an essential part in the School's ethos and education process.
Step 6 Trial Days: After the family meeting, your child would normally be invited for 3 trial days at the school to get a feel for the learning experience and the community, as well as to assess their readiness to join REAL School.
Step 7 Contract & payment: Once a formal offer of a place has been made, parents are asked to agree to the contract, and pay the Seat reservation fee to secure a place at the school. REAL School Budapest welcomes families from diverse backgrounds and does not discriminate on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or family structure. The school also provides a Privacy Policy for applicant data.
Note: REAL School offers rolling enrolment and is currently accepting international students aged 5-14.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
Scholarship programme: A limited number of tuition assistance opportunities are offered for displaced families seeking full-time education at REAL School. Priority will be given to students who have been enrolled at REAL School since March 2022. Sustainable Entrepreneurship: The Ukraine offerings incorporate the Dream to Reality process to build a sustainable entrepreneurial mindset and address environmental and social issues. Saturday School: Every Saturday REAL School becomes a Ukrainian school, organized by the Ukrainian Association Unity. Children have fun, interactive activities; adults can join a Hungarian lesson and Q&A about Budapest; programs are in development for sustainability and entrepreneurship. Summer camps: Financial support is provided to displaced children to join summer camps, cultivating creativity, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, sustainability mindset and skills. Contact: Reach out to Ukrainian support catalyst Olesia at olesia.kuzo@realschool.hu and +36702828087. How you can help: Contributions are managed by the non-profit Dream to Reality Foundation for Sustainability, set up to provide scholarships and fund sustainability initiatives related to REAL School.
