St. Catherine's British School vs St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece
St. Catherine's British School and St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece are both in Athens, about 25 km apart. Both schools offer EYFS programmes. St. Catherine's British School also offers IB, and St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece also offers Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels and British. Published annual fees are €9,710 - 16,500 at St. Catherine's British School and €8,922 - 14,478 at St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece, which puts St. Catherine's British School roughly 12% higher. St. Catherine's British School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece from 2 to 18.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, British Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
1,000
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1956
Opened
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Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
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Location
Anemon St., Koropi, Attiki, 16602 Varkiza Attiki, Greece. Located near the southern suburbs of Athens with easy access via Attiki Odos.
Stages
Stages
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Stages
Junior School (Early Years to Key Stage 2) and Senior School (Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5)
School type
School type
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School type
Independent, co-educational British international school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
More than fifty nationalities represented among the pupil body
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
EAL; SEN - Learning Support
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
United Kingdom (British international school using the UK education system)
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
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Bus service details
Comprehensive bus service to most areas of Athens and Pireaus; air-conditioned buses; qualified bus drivers and monitors; routes designed to minimize travel time
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Fees (2025/26 academic year)
Application fee - A non-refundable application fee of €150 is payable when the application is submitted.
Registration fee and Development Fund (one‑off at acceptance) - Registration fee: €1,000 per child, payable by the date specified on the offer letter; this fee is non-refundable and is not a deposit against future tuition. - Development Fund (one‑off contribution paid at the same time as Registration): - Nursery to Year 10: €1,500 per child. - Year 11 to Year 13: €500 per child.
Reservation deposit - A non-refundable reservation deposit of €2,000 is due annually to reserve a child's place for the following academic year; it is allocated against the invoice billed in September once the current balance has been settled in full.
Annual tuition fees and per‑invoice amounts (school invoices twice yearly: September and January) - Nursery: Annual €9,710 — per invoice €4,855. - Reception & Year 1: Annual €13,300 — per invoice €6,650. - Year 2: Annual €13,970 — per invoice €6,985. - Years 3–6: Annual €14,120 — per invoice €7,060. - Years 7–9: Annual €14,660 — per invoice €7,330. - Years 10–11: Annual €15,830 — per invoice €7,915. - Years 12–13: Annual €16,500 — per invoice €8,250.
Discounts and mid‑year entry rules - Sibling tuition discounts: 2.5% for the second child, 7% for the third child, 10% for the fourth child. - Alumni discount: 5% for eligible families. - Prepayment discount: 2% discount if the applicable payment is received by the published prepayment date (example: 25 August 2025 for the 2025/26 schedule). - Mid‑year entry: second term entry charged at 65% of the annual fee; third term entry charged at 35% of the annual fee. Any family joining mid first term must pay the full amount due.
Bus (transport) fees - Annual bus fees by area (examples listed): - Area 1 (Kifissia, Kefalari): €2,089. - Area 2 (Ekali, Marousi, Filothei, Psychico, Kastri, Nea Erithrea, Politia): €2,576. - Area 3 (Dionyssos, Anoixi): €2,806. - Area 4 (Syntagma, Kolonaki): €2,806. - Area 5 (Holargos, Halandri, Papagou, Melissia, Aghia Paraskevi, Vrilissia): €2,806. - Area 6 (southern suburbs from Glyfada): €2,806. - Bus fees are reduced to 70% if only morning or only afternoon/late bus is used. - Bus sibling discounts: 2nd child 12%; 3rd and 4th child 50%.
Additional charges and items not included in tuition - Tuition does not include: daily transportation costs (unless separately charged), uniform costs, medical examination charges, externally marked examination fees, entry fees, costs of special or compulsory trips, extra‑curricular clubs, and other child‑specific charges. Parents are responsible for textbooks for Years 10–13. Examination charges for externally marked exams are payable by parents.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are invoiced twice per year (September and January). Fees must be paid within 10 working days of receipt of the invoice. Late payment charges of €60 per month apply to outstanding balances. The school may initiate legal action if tuition payments are more than 30 days overdue; readmission after legal action requires payment of all outstanding fees plus the full first invoice for the coming school year.
Cancellation and refund rules - All tuition fees are non‑refundable. No refund is available for children leaving the school mid‑term. - Cancellation fee if a child is unable to commence: Nursery to Year 10 — €1,500; Year 11 to Year 13 — €500. The Registration Fee remains valid for two academic years (24 months) if re‑application is made within that period.
Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods: cheque in euros (payable to “St. Catherine's British School”), credit cards (Visa and MasterCard), bank transfer or direct deposit to the school's bank accounts. Cash payments are not accepted. Parents are asked to advise the Financial Administrator when making bank transfers.
Other practical notes on fees - Reservation deposits are only considered payable once the current balance has been settled in full; the reservation deposit is allocated against the September invoice. Late arrivals and mid‑term joiners are charged reduced fees based on the term entry point rules above.
Fee details
Application / One‑off entry charges - Registration fee (for new pupils): EUR 1,500. - Development fund (one‑off, for new pupils): EUR 1,000. - Cambridge Primary Programme charge (Years 1–6): EUR 150 per year.
Tuition fees — annual rates (per academic year) - Foundation Stage: EUR 8,922 per annum. - Reception; Years 1–6: EUR 12,405 per annum. - Years 7–8–9: EUR 13,902 per annum. - Year 10 / 'A' Level inclusive: EUR 14,478 per annum.
Optional / additional programme fees - Extra‑curricular music programme (optional): EUR 1,395 per annum. Installments are collected as three equal payments of EUR 465 (due by the term instalment dates shown below). - Summer school (published example): Fee EUR 1,492; transportation EUR 440 (summer programme fees are charged separately).
Instalments, billing schedule and payment terms - The school operates term billing and a staged instalment system: an initial instalment is taken on registration (A) and the balance is collected in three further instalments due at the start of the school terms. The instalment points are: A — upon registration; B — by 1 September; C — by 1 December; D — by 1 March. Specific instalment amounts per year group are listed on the school fee scale and sum to the annual tuition rate. - Example instalment breakdowns (amounts relate to the published annual fees): - Foundation Stage (EUR 8,922 total): A (upon registration) EUR 3,300; B (1 Sep) EUR 1,874; C (1 Dec) EUR 1,874; D (1 Mar) EUR 1,874. - Reception / Years 1–6 (EUR 12,405 total): A EUR 3,300; B EUR 3,035; C EUR 3,035; D EUR 3,035. - Years 7–8–9 (EUR 13,902 total): A EUR 3,300; B EUR 3,534; C EUR 3,534; D EUR 3,534. - Year 10 / 'A' Level (EUR 14,478 total): A EUR 3,300; B EUR 3,726; C EUR 3,726; D EUR 3,726. - Music programme (EUR 1,395 total): three instalments of EUR 465 (B, C, D). - Administrative invoicing and due dates: the academic year is divided into three terms; invoices are issued termly and payments are expected upon registration and on the dates tied to each term (payments are expected on registration, 1 September, 1 December and 1 March as applicable).
Payment methods accepted - Payments may be made by credit card, by cheque (payable to Meyer Bridges Educational Trust) or by bank deposit/transfer to the school account(s).
Boarding - Boarding fees: not applicable — no boarding fee schedule is published for current intake; the school's published fee scale lists day‑school tuition and related charges only.
Other costs and parental responsibilities - Examination charges for externally marked examinations are payable by parents. Textbooks for Years 10–13 must be purchased by parents. Parents are responsible for the cost of special outings and trips. These items are additional to the tuition figures above. - School uniform is required for all pupils up to and including Year 11 and may be purchased from the school shop; uniform items and replacement pieces incur separate charges.
Refund and withdrawal terms - All tuition fees are non‑refundable. There is no refund of fees if a pupil is withdrawn during the term, expelled or absent. Parents wishing to withdraw their child must give one term's written notice (within the usual term windows); failing to give a term's notice will result in the full term's fees being due.
Notes on charges and what the tuition covers - Tuition fees cover the supply of most books, certain design materials and some stationery. Parents pay separately for external examination charges, special outings/trips and textbooks for Years 10–13.
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
Offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) with English as the language of instruction. A broad range of DP subjects is offered, including Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) and Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation), Business Management, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Geography, History, Psychology, Computer Science, Visual Arts, Theatre, and Music. Language subjects include English A: Language and Literature, English A: Literature, French Ab Initio, French B, Spanish Ab Initio, Spanish B, Mandarin Ab Initio, Mandarin B, German Ab Initio, German B, Chinese B, Chinese A: Language and Literature, Modern Greek A: Language and Literature. Other DP courses include Environmental Systems and Societies, Digital Society, and Sports, Exercise and Health Science; Theory of Knowledge is part of the programme.
Curriculum details
The school follows the British educational system and the English National Curriculum. Pupils experience a broad curriculum built around the UK National Curriculum for England at every Key Stage. The Greek language is taught to all pupils by Greek teachers with Greek qualifications, with Greek examinations offered at IGCSE and A‑Levels; from Year 4 in the Junior School, parents may choose additional Greek History lessons delivered and examined in Greek. The school provides education from Early Years through Key Stage 5, preparing pupils for British and international university entrance.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
In 2024, about 250 pupils sat public examinations, with 100 sitting 731 IGCSE/GCSE qualifications; 29% achieved A* and 49% achieved A* or A. 273 AS-Level qualifications were sat, with 44% at A and 77% at least C. 202 A-Levels were sat, with 22% A* and 41% A*-A; 77% A*-C. The UK remains the most popular destination for higher education among leavers, with graduates starting degree courses at UK universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Bath, Warwick, and more; graduates also enter universities in the USA, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Russia.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
The UK remains the most popular destination for higher education among leavers, with many graduates entering degree programs at UK universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Bath, Warwick, and others. Graduates also commence degrees at universities outside the UK, including the USA and mainland Europe.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
Gifted pupils usually comprise the top 5% of the school population.
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
An application fee of €150 is payable at submission. On official offer, a Registration Fee of €1,000 and a Development Fund payment are due (Development Fund €1,500 for Nursery–Year 10; €500 for Years 11–13). The Development Fund is a one-off contribution payable with the Registration Fee by the date on the offer letter and is non-refundable. The Registration Fee, if paid, remains valid for two academic years (24 months) if enrolment is pursued after cancellation. A Cancellation Fee is charged according to the child's year group. Tuition fees are invoiced twice per year (September and January). Mid-year entry points: second term entry 65% of annual fees; third term entry 35%. All tuition fees are non-refundable. Fees must be paid within 10 working days of the invoice; late payments incur €60 per month. Payment can be made by cheque (euros), credit cards (Visa, MasterCard), bank transfer or direct deposit. Additional charges apply for examinations (externally marked), textbooks for Year 10–13, daily transportation, uniforms, medical examinations, entry fees, special outings or compulsory trips, and extracurricular clubs. Applications require €150 at submission; once offered, the Registration Fee and Development Fund become payable.
Admissions
1. Interview and campus tour: Children must have an interview before a place can be offered. The Headmaster and the Headmistress of the Junior School meet with the parents and the child and show them around the school. The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the school and its programs. Registrations can be initiated by expressing interest and arranging a visit through the Registrar. 2. Documentation required: Complete the Application Form and sign it by the parents. Provide the pupil's report from the previous school, translated into English if necessary. Submit a Medical Form fully filled and signed by the parents, along with Medical Certificates. The Registrar will outline all required documents during the visit and confirm when the files are complete. 3. Admission decision and timing: After the interview and submission of the required documents, the admission decision is given verbally or in writing to the parent. Registrations take place throughout the academic year. The school aims to communicate outcomes promptly once procedures are completed. Parents may be contacted by the Registrar regarding next steps or to schedule the enrolment. 4. Enquiries and visits: To make an enquiry or an appointment to visit the School, fill in the online form or telephone the Registrar. Appointments can be arranged to suit the family's schedule. The school provides information about admission procedures during the visit.