Matija Gubec International School

Davorina Bazjanca 2, Zagreb, Croatia. The address is published on the school's pages along with contact details (telephone +385 1 383 6571; E-mail: ured@os-mgupca-zg.skole.hr). The school operates in Zagreb, Croatia.

Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP).

International school

The school meets individual learning needs and supports the well-being of all students.

Croatia

All PYP and MYP students start at 9:20 a.m. The homeroom teachers meet and assemble the students at the schoolyard (PYP) or the main school entrance (MYP) and lead them to their assigned classrooms.

The school is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The PYP is delivered in English from preschool to Grade 4 and uses Units of Inquiry to connect learning across subject areas including Language (English and Croatian), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts (Music, Visual Arts), Personal, Social and Physical Education (PSPE), and Language Acquisition (English, Croatian, German, French, Italian). The PYP emphasizes a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach and six global themes: Who we are; Where we are in place and time; How we express ourselves; How the world works; How we organize ourselves; Sharing the planet. The Programme of Inquiry integrates these elements to develop lifelong learners. The MYP provides a broad eight-subject framework: Language and Literature (English/Croatian); Language Acquisition (English/Croatian/German/French/Italian); Individuals and Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; Design; Arts; Physical and Health Education; with English as the language of instruction and Croatian, German, French and Italian taught as additional languages; ESL support is available. The MYP encourages holistic learning through Approaches to Learning (ATL), interdisciplinarity and global contexts, and includes field classes and a range of optional subjects and activities.

Matija Gubec International School supports social and emotional development within its IB-aligned, student-centered approach. The mission is to prepare students to be confident, caring, respectful and internationally minded lifelong learners and global citizens ready to change the world for the better. The school emphasizes freedom of expression, independent thinking, and the development of positive personal values while fostering responsibility to others through respect and collaboration. The school enhances each student's self-worth, confidence and pride within a diverse intercultural community. The inclusion framework notes that the school fosters the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students and teachers, supporting a sense of belonging.

Matija Gubec International School identifies students' learning needs and provides appropriate learning support through its systems and processes. The school provides learning support to meet diverse needs and evidences support through planning, policy and practice. All students, including those with language barriers or different linguistic backgrounds, receive appropriate learning support. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) would only be suggested if this is in the student's best interests, following recommendations by relevant specialists.

Diverse language offerings are provided, with English, Croatian, German, French and Italian. All teachers act as language teachers and develop literacy across languages as part of the IB-aligned approach. The school is committed to supporting students who are not proficient in the language of instruction by providing time and pedagogical expertise.

Matija Gubec International School fosters the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students and teachers. The Inclusion Policy states that well-being is central to creating an inclusive educational environment. We embrace students' personal and cultural identities, home languages, and backgrounds as part of the well-being and inclusive culture. The IB learner profile emphasizes balancing physical, mental and personal well-being as a core attribute. The school aims to provide an environment where students feel a sense of belonging and are supported in their personal development.

Primary Years Programme enrolment steps:
Step 1 – Application. Fill in the PYP Online Application form. After submission, your child will be placed on the waiting list. Parents are contacted by the end of April after reenrolment of continuing students and after the Admission Committee reviews new applications. Vacancies depend on the number of readmissions of continuing students.
Step 2 – Submitting the enrolment documents. If a seat is confirmed, the following documents are to be submitted: Original of the most recent report card; Court interpreter transcript of the applicant's latest report card in Croatian (if the applicant does not come from an IB school); Copy of the applicant identification document, i.e. passport, showing the applicant's date of birth, nationality, residency status and the spelling of the full name – for foreign nationals only; Copy of the applicant's Certificate of Citizenship ('Domovnica') - for Croatian nationals only.
Step 3 – Recognition. Submit the Request for recognition procedure for foreign education qualification. The recognition procedure is started at the request of the applicant who acquired foreign education qualification, or foreign document about finished or partly attended primary education. The request with the corresponding documentation is to be submitted to the Admission Committee of the School. Once the Admission Committee has received a complete set of application paper, the admission process begins. Consequently, parents receive a confirmation of receipt of application papers by email.
Step 4 – Interview. Once all the necessary documents are received, the Principal may arrange an interview with the applicant and parents.
Step 5 – Placement testing. For PYP0 and PYP1, children undergo a health screening and psychophysical ability testing prior to enrollment. For PYP2–PYP4, applicants are tested in English (interview and written) and Math. English readiness is helpful but not mandatory, and results determine placement in English classes (Language and Literature or Language Acquisition) or the ELS program if needed. Additional support classes may be recommended based on math results.
Step 6 – Decision on admission. The Admission Committee makes the final decision on acceptance. The process of review usually takes a couple of days and once the decision is made, the Admission Committee contacts the parents.
Step 7 – Registration. After admission approval, the programme coordinators schedule a registration appointment. The following occurs at that time: Payment of the enrolment fee in the amount of EUR 500,00 (non-refundable/non-transferable) (School fee payment details) and Sign the Agreement on Enrolment.

Applicants are placed on the waiting list after submitting the online application. The school contacts families by the end of April after reenrolment of continuing students and after the Admission Committee reviews new applications. Vacancies depend on the number of readmissions.