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Primary Progressive School 1 Sofia

Bulgaria, Sofia

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Bulgarian
Fees €3,140 - 7,100
Ages 3 - 14 years
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages English
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, STEM, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

The Progressive School 1 Sofia offers International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for ages 3 to 14, located at Nishava 107, Strelbishte, Sofia. The school, affiliated with the Foundation for Educational Transformation, pursues a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach organized around six global themes. Bulgarian is the main language of instruction and English is taught as the foreign language, with progression to CEFR levels and Cambridge First prep by Grade 7. The curriculum integrates music, visual arts, and drama, alongside Jump Math and science delivered through a concept-driven inquiry and a ten-stage historical framework. From Grades 5–7, students engage in disciplinary learning with SMART goals and mentoring to develop learning-to-learn skills, and preparation for national examinations in 6th and 7th. A Relationships and Well-being program supports personal development, leadership and responsibility. The school year runs September to June, with holidays aligned to the Ministry of Education schedule. It supports a strong international outlook.

Sofia, kv. Strelbishte, ul. Nishava 107 (entrance from ul. Tvardiški prohod)

The Essentials

Primary Progressive School 1 Sofia has instruction in Bulgarian.

Location
The school is located in Sofia, in the Strelbishte district. The address is 107 Nishava Street, entrance from Tvurdishki Prohod Street.

Stages
Preschool and Primary Stage; Progymnasium Stage.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is privately run and governed by the Foundation for Educational Transformation. It is part of the ecosystem of Bulgarian progressive schools.
Fees

Annual tuition at Primary Progressive School 1 Sofia ranges from EUR 3,140 to EUR 7,100 for 2026/27.

Application / admission fees

- Administrative application fee for admission to the primary school: EUR 140.
- Administrative application fee for the preschool/kindergarten admissions process: EUR 50 (applies to the Progressive Children's Centre admissions).

Tuition and related fees for the primary school (2026/27 academic year) — annual totals and payment-plan options

- The school publishes three payment-plan options; the totals shown below are annual totals for each option. Components are listed separately and then combined as the total annual charge.
- Payment options available (annual totals):
- Single annual payment (one installment): EUR 7,850.
- Three installments (annual total): EUR 8,050.
- Equal monthly installments (annual total): EUR 8,250.

- Breakdown of the annual totals by component (amounts given per payment-plan option):
- Tuition (academic instruction):
- Single annual payment: EUR 3,140.
- Three-installment plan (annual total for the tuition component): EUR 3,220.
- Equal monthly plan (annual total for the tuition component): EUR 3,300.
- Extracurricular / Research programme:
- Single annual payment: EUR 3,140.
- Three-installment plan (annual total): EUR 3,220.
- Equal monthly plan (annual total): EUR 3,300.
- Introductory and closing activities (September / June):
- Single annual payment: EUR 785.
- Three-installment plan: EUR 805.
- Equal monthly plan: EUR 825.
- Recommended donation for development (FOT):
- Single annual payment: EUR 785 (recommended).
- Three-installment plan: EUR 805 (recommended).
- Equal monthly plan: EUR 825 (recommended).

- Per-installment example (inference by arithmetic division):
- Under the three-installment option (annual total EUR 8,050), the straightforward per-installment amount is EUR 2,683.33 (EUR 8,050 ÷ 3). This per-installment amount is a calculated value derived from the published annual total.

Tuition and related fees for preschool / kindergarten (annual totals)

- Early childhood group (3–4 years):
- Advance (single) payment: EUR 6,500.
- Equal monthly payment option (annual total): EUR 6,900.
- Daily catering (meals) charge: BGN 20 per day (includes morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack).

- Preparatory class (5–6 years):
- Advance (single) payment: EUR 7,100.
- Equal monthly payment option (annual total): EUR 7,500.
- Daily catering (meals) charge: BGN 15 per day (includes lunch and afternoon snack).

Discounts and fee reductions

- Family discounts applied to the published fees:
- Second child: 5% discount.
- Third child: 10% discount.
- The sibling discounts apply to each of the available payment-plan options.

- Tuition-free places: the school participates in the statutory provision for a proportion of pupils to be educated without tuition charge (the statutory minimum quota is applied and eligible cases are handled under the school's criteria for exemption). Eligible criteria include difficult family financial situation, death of a parent after admission, serious illness or high disability percentage arising after admission, special educational needs, giftedness, or a parent employed in the school system. Approved places are funded from delegated state financing.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Payment-plan choices are published as three options: single annual payment, payment in three installments (three-installment plan), or equal monthly installments. The published figures above are annual totals for each option.
- The administrative application fee is payable at the time of application (primary school: EUR 140; preschool centre: EUR 50).
- Specific installment due dates, exact monthly schedule (number of months for the "equal monthly" option) and late-payment penalties are not published in the school's financial summary pages. The three-installment per-term amounts shown above are precise annual totals; any per-installment figures beyond simple division of the published total are not specified by the school.

Other costs and fees

- Meals (preschool / kindergarten): BGN 20 per day for the early childhood group; BGN 15 per day for the preparatory class. These are charged separately for daily catering.
- The published annual totals note that the fee includes educational resources. The school also lists a recommended development donation (amounts shown above) as part of the published annual totals.
- No separate uniform fee, boarding fee, or transport fee is published in the primary-school financial pages or in the preschool admissions pages. No boarding provision or boarding fee is listed for the institution's Sofia primary or kindergarten provision.

Refunds and cancellation

- The school's published financial pages do not include a specific, detailed refund policy or a published schedule of refunds for withdrawal or cancellation. Where statutory provisions or exceptional financial support apply (for example, tuition-free places approved under the school's criteria), those funding arrangements are described; an explicit, itemized refund table for returned tuition payments is not published in the financial summary.

Fee payment methods (accepted payment types)

- The school's financial pages list the payment plans and amounts but do not publish an explicit list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer details, credit-card acceptance, or online-payment options). Payment method details and banking instructions are not included in the publicly displayed fee summary.

Notes for clarity (concise)

- The figures above reflect the school's published annual totals and component amounts for the 2026/27 academic year and the kindergarten annual totals where published. The three-installment per-term numbers shown as per-installment amounts are calculated by dividing the published annual total by three and are presented here only as straightforward arithmetic examples; the school's pages provide the annual totals and payment-plan labels rather than detailed per-installment due dates.
Academics

Primary Progressive School 1 Sofia teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 3 to 14.

Curriculum
The program covers Grades 5–7, transitioning from primary to middle stage. 5th grade introduces disciplinary learning with SMART goals and builds learning-to-learn skills through mentoring and project work. Bulgarian language and literature develops linguistic, analytical and communicative skills. English is taught at CEFR levels: 5th grade A2+, 6th grade B1.1, and 7th grade B1.2, with Lets Think in English modules and Cambridge English: First preparation in 7th. History, Mathematics and Natural Sciences are taught with a ten-stage historical framework and four branches of mathematics, with an emphasis on inquiry. The program emphasizes personal development through mentoring and prepares students for national examinations in 6th and 7th.

Exam Results
6th and 7th grade include preparation for the National External Evaluation (NVO) and Cambridge English: First (FCE) in 7th grade. The program emphasizes exam readiness through targeted practice and assessments integrated into the curriculum. English language objectives and CEFR-aligned outcomes support learners in meeting these formats.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The main goals are to support students in creating meaningful relationships with their peers and the adults in school, to foster a sense of belonging to the school community, and to strengthen their academic and socio-emotional competencies. The environment provides opportunities for students to explore and express themselves in the safety of trusting relationships, and to explore and understand the world. Mentoring meetings provide a structured, consistent framework for building meaningful relationships and developing respectful and trusting connections that meet students' needs. Thematic meetings for personal development, health education, financial literacy, and other topics are part of the program. Active student engagement supports adolescents to independently manage their goals, time, and learning, and involves them in creating and maintaining a climate of mutual respect and support to achieve personal goals. Team learning and projects, and career guidance, are also part of the program.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Special Educational Needs: An appropriate environment and resource provision for inclusion; capacity in the respective class relative to already admitted children with special needs; and willingness of the parents to provide an additional specialist to support the child, agreed with the school. The admissions approach also emphasizes trust in the educational model and the school as a professional organization, with respect and ethics and an understanding of the child's development as a whole person, along with readiness to share responsibility for the child's development and participate in the life of a learning community.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school provides intensive study of English.

Mental Wellbeing
Special programs on relationships, health, wellbeing, and thinking/learning/creativity are offered as part of the school's ecosystem.
Parent Experience

History
In line with its mission to transform Bulgaria's education system for 21st‑century development, the Foundation for Educational Transformation began building a new model of community schools in an integrated ecosystem. The Progressive School has the goal of building free and responsible individuals capable of independently determining the meanings of their lives and possessing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to realize them together. The academic year lasts ten months, from September to the end of June, with holidays following the Ministry of Education and Science schedule for the respective year.

Community
A learning community around the school includes parents as partners. Transparency and a sense of community around the school are valued. Testimonials describe a place where children grow, learn to think and create, and feel belonging and family rather than a standard Bulgarian school. The program uses the International Baccalaureate framework and Jump Math.
Facilities

Extra Curricular Facilities
To provide children with space to develop their talents and explore their interests, we offer a set of additional activities at school each year, led by our teachers or by external partners.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Primary Stage uses the Primary Years Programme (PYP) educational model based on the International Baccalaureate and leading global practices. The learning framework is transdisciplinary and organized around six global themes: Who we are; Where we are in time and space; How we express ourselves; How the world is; How we organize ourselves; How we share the planet. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and reflection to develop an international perspective. Jump Math is used to teach mathematics, focused on deep understanding and engagement, while science and social studies are taught through a concept-driven inquiry; the arts and physical education are integrated to support holistic development.

Arts & Creative
Arts are an integral part of the Primary Stage program. Students have weekly classes in music, visual arts, and drama. The arts are woven into the transdisciplinary inquiry program to support conceptual thinking, positive attitudes, and action. The arts expose students to diverse cultural perspectives and provide avenues for creative expression.

Cultural & Language
Bulgarian is the main language of communication and teaching. English is studied as the main foreign language for international communication, and by the end of Grade 7 students reach level B2, enabling participation in bilingual or fully English-medium education in the gymnasium. PYP teachers bear responsibility for recognizing and supporting language development to ensure inclusive participation in the curriculum and school life. The program promotes intercultural understanding and a global perspective through its transdisciplinary themes and activities.

Social & Hobbies
Each year a set of additional school activities is offered, led by teachers or external partners. These extracurricular options provide space for students to develop talents and explore interests beyond the core curriculum. Activities foster teamwork, creativity, and personal growth through hands-on projects and experiences. They are integrated with the IB framework to enrich learning and social development.

Community & Service
The Relationships and Well-being program creates belonging within the school community and strengthens students' academic and socio-emotional competencies. It includes mentoring discussions, thematic meetings on personal development, health education, financial literacy, and other topics. Students are encouraged to take active responsibility for goals, time management, and collaborative learning, and the program emphasizes teamwork and projects alongside career orientation.

Leadership & Professional
Mentoring sessions and structured guidance support student development and leadership. The program includes thematic meetings on personal development, health education, financial literacy, and career orientation. Students are encouraged to lead in goals, time management, and collaborative projects, with a focus on preparing for future study and professional pathways.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Relationships and Well-being program supports a caring, belonging-oriented environment and strengthens physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and social health. It emphasizes healthy living, resilience, empathy, and positive behaviors through mentoring and wellbeing activities, contributing to overall readiness to engage in school life and beyond.
Languages

Language Provision
English is taught as a foreign language. English language outcomes are CEFR-aligned for grades 5–7: 5th grade A2+, 6th grade B1.1, and 7th grade B1.2. Let's Think in English is part of the thinking program, and there is FCE preparation in 7th grade.

Immersion Programs
Let's Think in English is a module within the thinking program designed to develop cognitive skills in English. Additional English hours are integrated into mathematics and science, and Let's Think in English is included as part of the thinking program. There is Cambridge English: First (FCE) preparation available in 7th grade.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Admission is conducted according to a plan for admissions approved by the School Board and adopted by the Pedagogical Council. All candidates have equal rights, with the exception that siblings of current students receive places under an educational services contract. 2. The criteria for admission require sharing common values and attitudes with the family and the school's ability to provide adequate pedagogical and resource support to the child. 3. Step 1: Submit an expression of interest via the contact form published on the admissions page. The school will respond with feedback after receiving the application form. 4. Step 2: Receive feedback after the application form is submitted. Applicants should await further instructions from the admissions team. 5. Step 3: Invitations to meetings are sent to parents, and a parent questionnaire is included with the invitation. Meetings take place at the school; the child enters the current preparatory class and spends time from 08:30 to 10:30 with the class. 6. Step 4: A diagnostic meeting is held to determine the child's needs and interests and the family's expectations to make the most favorable decision to support the child's development. During the meeting the child will interact with other children, with the teachers, and with the classroom environment. A pedagogical diagnostic assesses the child's level of school readiness. On the same day, parents have a 30‑minute meeting with school representatives to discuss values, attitudes and expectations. 7. Step 5: Feedback and enrollment decision. The school provides feedback and a decision regarding enrollment. 8. Step 6: Enrollment application and additional meetings/consultations. Parents submit the enrollment application and attend any additional meetings and consultations as requested by the school. 9. Step 7: Enrollment contract. A contract for training is signed to finalize enrollment. For questions contact admissions.school1@transform.bg. If no response is received within 48 hours after submitting the form, email admissions.school1@transform.bg or call +359 876 30 29 84. The form allows selecting the school (Primary Progressive School 1, Sofia, Str investment area) or Progressive School 3, Sofia, Slatina, and selecting the class (Preparatory, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh).

Scholarships
Education without tuition is available in accordance with the school's rules and the Ministry of Education requirements. A minimum threshold of 20 percent of admitted children in the preparatory group and first grade may be exempt from tuition for the relevant school year. Eligible criteria for exemption include: financial hardship of the family; death of a parent after the child's admission; life‑threatening illness and/or high disability of a family member arising after admission; students with special educational needs; students with evident talents; siblings of children at the school in financial hardship; children where at least one parent works in the education system. The tuition costs for approved children are covered by state delegated funding for the respective year; the number of exempted children may be adjusted if the number of enrolled students changes according to the defined calculation criteria. The school charges an application/administrative fee of 140 euros for the 2026/27 admission year, which covers administration, organization, and communication during the admissions process and is paid at the time of applying. Tuition and other costs for 2026/27 (in euros) are: Tuition: 3140 (one payment), 3220 (three installments), 3300 (equal monthly payments); Extracurricular activities / Research program: 3140, 3220, 3300; Introductory and concluding activities – September/June: 785, 805, 825; Donation for development (FOT) – 785, 805, 825; Total: 7850, 8050, 8250. The note: the fee includes costs for educational resources. Discounts: second child 5%; third child 10%; discounts apply to any payment option. Education without tuition is granted under the school's charter and MOE guidelines.
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