International European School Warsaw vs Pines Forest School
International European School Warsaw and Pines Forest School are both in Warsaw, about 7 km apart. Both schools offer Bespoke programmes, and Pines Forest School also offers EYFS and British. Published annual fees are PLN 47,250 - 72,450 at International European School Warsaw and PLN 54,600 at Pines Forest School, which puts International European School Warsaw roughly 10% higher. International European School Warsaw takes pupils from 3 to 18, and Pines Forest School from 4 to 15.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
400
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
18
Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Polish
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2002
Opened
2019
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The school is located at Wiertnicza 140, 02-952 Warszawa, Poland.
Location
Pines Learning HUBs are located in Zabia Wola and in the Powsin Forest area on the outskirts of Warsaw, Poland, within the Kabacki Forest. Just forty minutes from the centre of Warsaw.
Stages
Stages
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Stages
Lower primary years with emphasis on British learning goals, progressing to Year 6 (Polish Grade 5) with greater focus on the Polish curriculum while continuing to benefit from the breadth of the British approach.
School type
School type
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School type
Forest School blending the Polish and British curricula.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
A growing international pupil community, with families from the UK, Canada, Germany, and Poland.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Inclusion-focused with attention to each child's needs, learning style, and interests.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
European Schools network
Country affiliation
Poland
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
The school day runs from 9:00 to 15:30.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
Transport from Warsaw is available for 800 PLN.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Registration fee
- One‑time registration fee: PLN 5,250. Example: for a three‑year‑old starting Kindergarten 1 the first‑year total (registration + tuition) is PLN 52,500.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑month where the annual fee is split into 10 monthly instalments)
- Tuition is expressed as an annual amount. For tuition contracts signed during the school year, the annual tuition fee is divided into 10 months of study and is calculated proportionally for each calendar month until the end of the school year (regardless of the start day within a month). Fees are stated and charged in Polish zloty (PLN).
Boarding fees
- The published fee structure does not list any boarding provision or boarding fees; no boarding fees apply.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- The published schedule highlights the one‑time registration fee and the annual tuition by year group. Separate charges commonly associated with international schools — examples include school lunches, transport (school bus), uniforms, extracurricular activity fees, examination or external‑exam entry fees and special trips — are not itemised in the published annual tuition schedule provided for the school. Parents should plan for possible optional / ancillary charges in addition to the annual tuition.
Refund information
- The registration fee is described as a one‑time payment valid for the pupil's entire period of study. No detailed refund schedule for tuition or registration is published in the referenced fee information.
Fee payment options
- Fees are calculated and billed in PLN. The school provides bank details for payment by bank transfer (Bank Pekao S.A.; IBAN information is published with the school's billing instructions). Parents should expect to be able to pay by bank transfer in PLN; other payment methods (credit/debit card, direct debit) are not specified in the published fee summary.
Fee details
Application and registration fees - No separate application fee or one-off registration fee is published for Pines Primary; project bookings for short courses are charged per project.
Tuition fees by year group / programme - Pines Primary (day programme, core primary provision): monthly tuition is PLN 3,300. This is stated as the monthly charge for the Pines Primary programme. - There is no separate published breakdown of tuition by individual year groups (Year 1, Year 2, etc.) or by academic-term amounts; a single monthly price is listed for Pines Primary.
Per-term / per-year calculation guidance (stated figures only) - Monthly tuition: PLN 3,300 (Pines Primary). Use this monthly figure for any monthly billing calculations. The school does not publish per-term or per-academic-year figures broken down by year group on the public pages.
Additional recurring charges and optional extras - Catered meals (optional): PLN 450 per month. - Transport (service from Warsaw): PLN 800 per month.
Project and session fees (short courses / extracurricular projects) - Project fee (typical short project length): PLN 800 for a project that lasts six weeks with one session per week. - Weekend and single-session workshop rates (where offered): e.g., Saturday or Sunday Forest School sessions have been listed at PLN 100 per learner per session (PLN 90 for siblings) for shorter workshop-style sessions in past schedules; such sessions are invoiced and payment is required in advance.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The Pines Primary fee is presented as a monthly charge (PLN 3,300), indicating monthly billing for the core primary programme. - Project and short-session bookings are invoiced and require payment in advance; advance payments for sessions have been stated as non-refundable for those sessions. Confirmation for bookings is issued in the form of an invoice. - Fees are the joint responsibility of all signatories on the registration/booking form. Standard terms reserve the right to terminate a place for serious breaches; in such circumstances no refund is given. If a parent withdraws a child immediately from a project they remain liable for the full project cost.
Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fees are published for Pines Forest School. The Pines Primary programme is a day school with hours given as 09:00–15:30.
Other costs / required items - Suitable clothing and outdoor kit are required for Forest School activities (long sleeves, waterproof coat, walking boots, hat, gloves, etc.); parents are responsible for providing appropriate kit. No uniform fee or compulsory uniform charge is published. - Occasional workshop or weekend session fees (e.g., PLN 100 per session) and project fees (PLN 800) are additional costs where applicable.
Refund information - Project/session payments taken in advance for short sessions have been described as non-refundable. The terms state that if a child's place is terminated for serious breach there is no refund. If parents withdraw a child immediately from a project they remain liable for the full project cost. In the event of session cancellation by Pines, sessions will be rescheduled; if sessions are cancelled due to severe weather and parents are asked to collect children, no refund is made for that event.
Fee payment options - Bookings and confirmations are handled via invoicing; the public pages show that confirmation is provided by invoice and that payment is required in advance for sessions. Specific payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit/debit card, or other payment channels) are not listed on the public fee information.
Brief note on available public information and gaps - The school publishes a single monthly tuition figure for the Pines Primary programme (PLN 3,300) plus explicit monthly charges for catered meals (PLN 450) and transport from Warsaw (PLN 800). Separate per-year-group tuition tables, per-term amounts, a stated application/registration fee for full-time primary places, a published academic-year total, and specific payment-method details are not provided in the publicly displayed fee information. Project and short-session fees and the policy that prepaid session payments are non-refundable are published.
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
Catered meals are provided on site (450 PLN).
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
The Pines Foundation is an offshoot of PINES. It governs projects connected with Pines Forest School and runs a range of educational and community initiatives in Warsaw, including forest school activities and refugee-support programs.
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school follows the Accredited European School (AES) framework. Primary education is international and conducted in English and Polish. Pupils whose mother tongue is not English or Polish are enrolled in the English section. From S1, all students learn a second foreign language (L3) chosen from English, Polish, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Syllabi are provided by the European Schools.
Curriculum details
Pines Primary blends the Polish and British curricula, with the early years emphasizing British learning goals and a progressive shift to stronger Polish study by Year 6 / Polish Grade 5. The core curriculum draws on EYFS, British curriculum learning goals, and Polish curriculum learning goals. It is delivered in small groups inside Learning HUBs and outdoors in the forest. The curriculum includes literacy, mathematics, history, geography, science, and phonics, with enrichment activities such as art and design, woodwork, music, sport, cooking, and photography. The school emphasises learning through play and aims to raise learners who are brave, resilient, confident, creative, adaptable, and happy.
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
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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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
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Library access is available to all pupils from preschool through high school. Three meals daily are provided (second breakfast, lunch and tea). Transportation is provided to pupils' homes within 20 km and to school‑organized activities. The school is located at ul. Wiertnicza 140, Warsaw. A wide range of after‑school clubs and activities run on the school grounds from 14:20 to 16:00. Annual events include European Day and Sports Day.
Facilities overview
Learning HUBs open out onto the surrounding forest, providing a space to learn, explore, and grow. The HUBs are modern, fully equipped learning spaces that function as bright and welcoming classrooms. Each HUB includes kitchenettes, toilets, and showers, ensuring comfort and practicality throughout the day. The Pines Learning HUBs are located forty minutes from the centre of Warsaw, set within a beautiful historic forest. Beyond the HUBs, learners have access to a tool-use area, wildlife habitats, a pond and a stream, and a garden with raised beds for plants and herbs.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
Physical Education and Swimming are part of the curriculum. The school offers after‑school sports clubs including football, mini tennis, basketball, karate, Taekwondo and gymnastics. Sports Day is an annual event.
Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The school provides high‑quality international education conducted in English and Polish. In Primary, the curriculum follows Polish and British national curricula. In High School, students may study via the Cambridge curriculum (IGCSE and A‑levels) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The school is accredited as an Accredited European School (AES). Additional mother tongue lessons are offered for foreign students, and language options include L2 and L3 languages such as English, Polish, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Academic facilities
Learning occurs in modern Learning HUBs designed as bright classrooms and connected to the forest environment. The core curriculum blends the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning goals with British curriculum learning goals and Polish curriculum learning goals. Lessons are taught in small peer groups, with session lengths tailored to the needs of each activity and learner. Learning takes place both inside the bespoke Learning HUBs and outdoors in the forest, where practical, hands-on experiences bring subjects to life. The forest setting and enrichment activities support a holistic approach to education and preparation for future educational pathways. Enrichment activities include art and design, woodwork, music, sport, cooking, and photography.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
A wide range of after‑school clubs and activities run on the school grounds, from 14:20 to 16:00. Activities include football, mini tennis, basketball, karate, Taekwondo, gymnastics, small engineers, chess, choir, piano, drums, programming, dance, arts & crafts, sewing workshop, jewellery making and ceramics. The programme supports social interaction and broad interests across sport, arts, performance and technology.
Extra curricular facilities
Enrichment activities include art and design, woodwork, music, sport, cooking, and photography. These activities nurture creativity, independence, and a sense of discovery. Learning happens in both the Learning HUBs and outdoors in the forest, providing real-life contexts for skills and knowledge. The programme integrates with the core curriculum to support a balanced, practical approach to learning.
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
Pines Forest School began in August 2019 with three children, one Forest Leader, and a backpack. It is a British Forest School based on the Scandinavian all-weather model and was pioneered by British OCN-certified Forest School practitioners. Pines is organized into three areas—Pines Forest School, Pines Primary, and Pines Foundation—sharing the same core principles of inclusivity, wellbeing, independence, and positive educational experiences.
Community
Community
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Community
Community is at the heart of Pines; relationships between children, educators, families, and the natural world are nurtured. Parents are invited to join for coffee in the mornings to observe the work, and regular free courses are available for those who wish to learn more and participate in the forest community. Our growing community includes forest leaders, park rangers, parents, enthusiasts, specialists, practitioners and pupils.
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
The school offers Cambridge IGCSE/A-levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). In Year 9, students choose eight subjects from groups including English, Polish, a foreign language (German, French, Spanish, Italian or Russian), Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and an elective such as Art or ICT. The IGCSE is an internationally recognized qualification that helps prepare students for IB DP or A‑levels. The school provides university and career counselling, and coordinates CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) along with CAS tutorials as part of the IB framework.
Academic & intellectual
Pines Primary blends the Polish and British curricula into a hybrid core of learning. The core British curriculum covers literacy, mathematics, history, geography, science, and phonics alongside the Polish curriculum. Lessons are delivered in small groups and take place both in Learning HUBs and outdoors in the forest, with hands-on, real-life experiences. The approach emphasises risk-taking, independence, and child-led exploration to foster curiosity and confidence.
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts and creative activities are offered across the school. In Preschool, after‑school clubs include choir, piano, drums, programming, dance, arts and crafts, sewing, jewellery making and ceramics, with field trips and art workshops. The after‑school program runs from 14:20 to 16:00 and covers sport, music, arts and technology. In Secondary, extracurricular activities include art and music classes as part of the after‑school offering.
Arts & creative
Enrichment activities include art and design, woodwork, music, sport, cooking, and photography. These experiences nurture creativity, independence, and a sense of joy in discovery. Learning happens in both forest settings and inside the hubs, supported by practical, hands-on experiences.
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
The school provides bilingual English–Polish education. Foreign languages taught include German, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian. Mother tongue language courses (SWALS) are available for pupils without a dedicated language section. An Accredited European School Section offers English instruction alongside Polish language, history and geography, with Polish as a foreign language for non‑native speakers.
Cultural & language
The curriculum blends Polish and British learning goals, creating a bilingual/multilingual learning context. Staff support English language learners and employ CLIL (Content & Language Integrated Learning) approaches through CLIL training. The team includes multilingual experience, supporting international perspectives in the classroom.
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Afterschool clubs run 14:20–16:00 and cover sport, music, arts and technology; activities include football, mini tennis, basketball, karate, Taekwondo, gymnastics, small engineers, chess, choir, piano, drums, programming, dance, arts and crafts, sewing, jewellery making and ceramics. The school organizes field trips and events such as European Day and Sports Day, and hosts annual concerts and performances. Students are encouraged to participate in outings and competitions as part of the after‑school program.
Social & hobbies
Animations and workshops for children are led by Pines staff, enriching the social fabric of the school. Outdoor learning and Forest School activities underpin play-based, experiential learning in the forest and hub settings. The school emphasises community through collaboration between staff, families, and pupils.
Community & service
Community & service
Throughout the year, the school organises events and competitions that involve pupils across language sections and supports charity activities. It runs charity events to raise funds for local causes. Annual events include European Day, Dance‑a‑thon, Christmas Bazaar, Christmas Concert, Earth Day and Carnival Week.
Community & service
The Pines Foundation supports the social and emotional wellbeing of children, teenagers and adults facing illness, social barriers, restricting conditions and disability. Projects include sign language workshops to bridge communication gaps, Forest School projects for diverse groups, and a Forest School for all initiative. Family weekend events and support for Ukrainian families relocating to Warsaw are part of the Foundation's work, and Erasmus+ STEAM in Nature connects Pines with international partners.
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
University and Career Counsellor supports students with higher education and career planning. CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) is coordinated as part of the IB framework, with a CAS Coordinator and CAS tutorials on study skills and career planning. The admissions process includes CAS coordination responsibilities and opportunities to engage in extracurricular leadership activities.
Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Full care for pupils runs from 8:00 to 16:15. Three meals daily (second breakfast, lunch and tea) are provided. Psychological and pedagogical support is provided by teachers, class tutors and specialists, and the school runs a Pastoral and Social Education programme to support well‑being.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Education takes place outdoors in the forest, with Learning HUBs opening onto natural environments near Warsaw. The school day runs from 9:00 to 15:30, and lessons are delivered in small groups with a strong emphasis on hands-on, real-world learning. Outdoor learning promotes physical activity, resilience, creativity, and wellbeing as core elements of development.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Languages taught include English as the language of instruction, Polish, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian. In primary, French and German are taught; in high school, German, French, Spanish, Italian or Russian are offered as foreign languages; two language sections (English and Polish) are used in the Accredited European School Section.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
The school provides a bilingual education conducted in English and Polish. A unique bilingual program is available across the preschool and primary levels, with English and Polish instruction and additional mother tongue lessons for foreign students (SWALS).
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
Two language sections exist within the Accredited European School Section: English and Polish, enabling language immersion within the curriculum. SWALS mother tongue support is available for foreign students. From secondary level, students may study a second foreign language (English, French, German) and a third foreign language (English, French, German, Italian, Polish or Spanish).
