As Executive Head of Schools, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our wonderful community here at Thames British School, Warsaw.  If this is your first contact with us we are a dynamic, internationally diverse community of learners the majority of whom originate from other parts of the globe each with their own customs and cultures.  What brings us together is our current home, Warsaw, our values and our commitment to the young people in our care.

What is an international, British-style education? One that combines the rich traditions of British education and British values, offering a global perspective while honouring local traditions and customs. It mirrors the high academic standards of the British system while embracing cultural diversity and internationalism. Broadly following the British curriculum, students benefit from exposure to a broad range of subjects, fostering a well-rounded education further enhanced by learning the Polish language and an understanding of local traditions and culture. The emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication remains central, preparing students for a competitive and interconnected world. British-style international education strives to create globally aware individuals who can navigate the complexities of the modern, interconnected global landscape.

A hallmark of British education is the emphasis on examinations in addition to other forms of assessment.  Students at Thames undertake a battery of assessments as they proceed through their learning journey.  These are often used to ensure students are on track to achieve what we know they should, in line with international and British standards.
As students reach the final 4 years of formal school learning, we offer the Cambridge IGCSE as a stepping stone in preparing them for studies in either A Level or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. 

 
Success looks different for everybody; by offering different programmes we provide students with two very different yet equally rigorous pathways to matriculation to world-leading universities, colleges or professional learning institutions.  These pathways to success mean that we can concentrate on what is important: getting young people ready for what comes next, whatever that may be.

“We are called to be the architects of our future, not its victims” With this statement, Buckminster Fuller embodies why we do what we do here at Thames, to help young people gain the knowledge, skills and agency to be the architects of their futures not victims of others’ design.  This is at the core of our mission: to lay the foundations for our pupils to improve the world they will inherit and our values: Responsibility, Integrity, Compassion, Resilience and Collaboration.

“It takes a village to raise a child” (African proverb) and at Thames British School this embodies our approach to learning.  Our dedicated professionals work tirelessly to provide the very best opportunities to facilitate learning, however, this does not happen in isolation, nor does learning stop when our students pass by the gate on the way home.  Strong home-school partnerships are vital in ensuring our shared values build the character traits that along with academic success define a Thames British school learner.  Such partnerships are built on an understanding of common purpose and trust. Trust must be earned and fostered by maintaining authentic communication and acting in a way consistent with our values. First and foremost is our commitment to safeguarding each and every young person entrusted to us and doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

We are a young ambitious school with a growing community as we bring the very best of International British Education to Warsaw with 4 very different campuses.  We constantly strive to improve our facilities to provide modern learning environments.  Each campus is in a different neighbourhood with its distinct feel and character, however, we all work together as one community, one village united by a common purpose: to prepare young people for whatever comes next.

Yours in partnership

Berrin Schofield

Executive Head of School
Thames British School Warsaw

Welcome on behalf of Thames British School board

For many of you, this will be your first contact with British education so I should like to invite you to visit one of our six Warsaw campuses to see for yourself why Thames British school could be the right choice for your child.

I have worked with British International schools for over half my working life and I am proud to be a part of the British international education family to which Thames British School belongs.

Schools should prepare their students for life and especially life after school. Consequently, education must embrace the whole child and their wellbeing, well beyond the knowledge he or she acquires in the classroom, and help them achieve their maximum human potential.

At Thames, your child will be learning in a safe environment which fosters respect for others and its natural counterpart, respect for oneself and self-esteem.

Your child will be prepared for the wider world by being encouraged to develop skills in independent research and critical thinking while also learning to work in teams. Being able to think outside the box will be increasingly necessary in our rapidly changing world.

As most of the teaching and learning is through the medium of the English language, your son or daughter will learn not only to speak English fluently but to think in English as well, an invaluable asset in today’s global marketplace. Your child’s British education qualifications and International Baccalaureate are internationally respected and accepted by employers and universities worldwide.

Thames is accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education, a department of the University of Cambridge. In Cambridge, Thames has a critical friend who not only monitors our schools to ensure the highest standards are maintained but also provides continuous pedagogical support to ensure that our schools are always up to date with developments in British education.

We believe that the education we offer prepares children to become fully developed and well-informed citizens with enhanced prospects for access to higher education and the best employment opportunities.

But seeing is believing, so I hope you will want to visit us soon and get to know us better. You will always be welcome at Thames British School.

John Carrivick, Thames British School Group

John Carrivick has lived in Spain for over 40 years and worked for the British Council in Madrid for 33 years until his recent retirement. His work included managing the relationship with the British schools in Spain, liaising with Spanish national and regional authorities and the British Department for Education on inspection, certification, equivalence of qualifications