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Theodore International Startup Academy

Netherlands, Rotterdam

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €9,800
Ages 3 - 12 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2022
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Dutch Curriculum
Taught languages English, Dutch
Typical class size 16
Strengths STEM, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Primary School
Introduction

Theodore International Startup Academy (TISA) in Leiden is an international primary school catering to students aged 3 to 12. Following an English and Dutch bilingual approach, TISA is a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme. The school uniquely integrates the TISA MBA program—a 24-module business curriculum where students design entrepreneurial projects and pitch them at the school’s startup fair. Students also choose between specific professional tracks: STEM, focusing on robotics, coding, and 3D modeling, or CAD, emphasizing graphic design, drama, and music. The campus features distinctive resources, including an on-site petting zoo with alpacas, goats, and rabbits to teach animal care. Additionally, the school provides a branded Tesla transfer service for students commuting from nearby areas. Daily schedules feature organic meals prepared by an in-house cook and mandatory sports sessions like jiu-jitsu, ensuring students engage directly with practical skills and hands-on projects.

Lorentzkade 15A, 2313 GA Leiden, Netherlands

The Essentials

Theodore International Startup Academy has typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English.

Location
Lorentzkade 15a, Leiden 2313 GB, The Netherlands.

Stages
Primary stage (ages 3-12), Middle stage (ages 12-16), Diploma stage (ages 17-18).

Type
Private international IB World School.

Additional learning support
Special Needs Care Group: Individualized Support for Neurodiverse Children (Ages 4–7).

Country affiliation
The Netherlands.

School day structure
08:30–13:00 Core programme; 13:00–17:30 Professional tracks (Track 1: STEM; Track 2: CAD).
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform; uniforms and merchandise are available through the TISA Shop, with delivery to the Leiden campus.

Governance and Ownership
The school is a private international school in Leiden and is owned by Teddy Kids BV.
Fees

Annual tuition at Theodore International Startup Academy ranges from EUR 9,800 for 2026/27.

Application fees and registration deposit

- Registration deposit: EUR 500 to confirm an application and secure a place. The deposit is paid at the time of submission of the admission application.

Tuition fees (by year group and per term/month)

- Annual tuition (all primary year groups): EUR 9,800 per academic year. The school lists this single tuition figure for its primary programme (no differentiated tuition by year group is published).

- Monthly instalments: the school bills in monthly instalments; the equivalent monthly instalment shown on the school's grade page is EUR 816 per month.

- Per term (calculation): the school does not publish a formal per-term fee, but for reference EUR 9,800 per year is equal to approximately EUR 3,266.67 if divided into three equal academic terms (EUR 9,800 ÷ 3 = EUR 3,266.67). This is a straight arithmetic division of the published annual tuition.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- School fees must be paid in advance and are collected in monthly instalments. Admission and continuation of education require timely payment. A signed School Fee Agreement is required during the admission process and creates the contractual obligation to pay school fees.

- The registration deposit of EUR 500 is used to confirm registration and the school notes that the deposit counts as payment for the first month once a place is reserved. Hold on a place is maintained for two weeks pending signing of the School Fee Agreement.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not offered as part of the primary programme; the school operates as a day school with an after-school (BSO) programme. No boarding fees apply.

After‑school care / additional hourly services

- After‑school / BSO fee: EUR 11.69 per hour (the after‑school offer is listed separately from the core tuition and is subsidised under the Dutch BSO system). The after‑school programme is charged on an hourly basis.

Other costs and optional fees

- Lunches: daily healthy, organic warm meals are provided by an in‑house chef; specific meal prices are not published in the core tuition summary. Lunch provision is listed as an available service.

- Extracurricular programmes and clubs (optional): music school lessons, instrument tuition, summer camps and special programmes have separate published prices (for example, the school's music school and summer camp pages list fees for those programmes). These optional programme fees are charged in addition to tuition when selected.

- Uniform and branded merchandise: a school shop / uniform shop is available; uniform and merchandise are sold through the TISA Shop. Specific uniform item prices are listed in the shop at the time of purchase.

- Transfers (optional): school transfer/transport from surrounding areas is offered for an additional cost; families are asked to contact the school for details.

Refund information and withdrawal

- A signed School Fee Agreement is required and governs obligations to pay school fees; the school states that admission requests will only be processed when the School Fee Agreement is signed. The School Fee Agreement sets the contractual terms for fees, withdrawals and any refunds. Specific refund terms and any conditions for refunds are set out in the School Fee Agreement (parents are required to sign that agreement as part of admission).
Academics

Theodore International Startup Academy teaches IB (PYP), Dutch Curriculum for students aged 3 to 12.

Curriculum
TISA Leiden offers three stages: Primary stage (3-12 years) started August 2022; Middle stage (12-16 years) planned start August 2026; Diploma stage (17-18 years) planned start August 2030. The Core programme runs 08:30–13:00 and includes Math, English, Science, Sports, Literature, Dutch, Social Studies, Chess, Languages, Jiu Jitsu, and Choreography; Arts and Craft, Music (Choir & Solfedjio), Drama; Extra: Swimming Lessons. The TISA MBA is a 24-module business education programme for children aged 4–18 that builds 21st-century skills, creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and leadership; modules include My First Project, Economics through Fairy Tales, Financial Literacy, My Company, Customer Development, Internet of Things. In the afternoon, 13:00–17:30, Professional tracks cover Track 1 STEM and Track 2 CAD. The school emphasises an entrepreneurial mindset and 21st-century skills and combines best practices from education systems across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Events include TISA MBA Conference, STEAM Fest, theatre performances, Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and Assessment Week.

Exam Results
Cambridge Exams are part of the assessment framework, covering G0: Language and Math Development; G1: Literacy and Mathematics; Personal, social and emotional development; and G2/3, G4/5, G6/7: Mathematics, Arithmetic, Reading, Spelling, and Developed Ability. Academic achievements include World Robotics Olympiad podium finishes (e.g., 5th place for Alexander H. and Egor I. in Robosport; 8th place for Fedor K. and Miroslav P.) and WRO Business Projects outcomes, along with rankings in the International Math Olympiad and Leiden chess events.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school runs the TISA MBA program for children aged 4–18 aimed at developing 21st-century skills, creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and leadership potential. The MBA consists of 24 modules, and students work in teams to develop projects and present them to business experts at startup fairs at the end of each module (December and May). The curriculum includes modules such as My First Project, Creative Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Economics through Fairy Tales, Financial Literacy, My Company, Customer Development, and Internet of Things. The school emphasizes an entrepreneurial mindset and collaboration as core elements of its learning approach. The program also emphasizes social-emotional development through its focus on emotional intelligence and teamwork.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has a Special Needs Care Group. It provides individualized support for neurodiverse children aged 4–7. The program is designed to support neurodiverse learners within the early years.
Parent Experience

History
The primary stage began in August 2022. TISA Leiden is a private international school in Leiden for students ages 3 to 12 and is an IB World School. Teddy Kids BV is the company behind the school. The leadership team includes CEO Artem Tolmachev; Head of School Karina Medvedeva; Deputy Director Numa Isaev; and Programme Director and IB Coordinator Emilia Shend. The campus is located at Lorentzkade 15a, Leiden.

Community
TISA Leiden hosts events such as the TISA Math Olympiad, TISA Startup Conference, TISA Theatre Play 2025, and TISA Summer Camp 2026. The school also runs the TISA MBA Conference and provides opportunities to tour the campus through scheduled open days and school tours. The campus is located at Lorentzkade 15a, Leiden.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus is located in the heart of Leiden at Lorentzkade 15a. The main building includes classrooms, a gym, a cafeteria, reception, a library, a play space and a yard. Multipurpose classrooms are designed to provide a modern learning environment. A library, music room and auditorium support a broad arts and learning program. The canteen serves organic meals, the yard offers outdoor space with a petting zoo of alpacas, and swimming lessons take place in the on‑site pool.

Sports Facilities
The gym hosts most sports classes and emphasizes participation. The swimming pool is used for swimming lessons on Wednesdays. The big yard provides outdoor space for breaks and physical education activities. The facilities support a broad physical education program.

Academic Facilities
Multipurpose classrooms are designed to provide a modern learning environment. The library offers a wide range of books for school and extracurricular reading. A dedicated music room supports music classes with instruments and zones for different music activities. The auditorium provides space for presentations, concerts and forums.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extra-curricular activities include Social Games, Workshops, Tours and Field Trips, Skills for Life (Cooking, DIY Clay, Gardening, Farm) and TISA for Culture. After-school tracks include Track 1 STEM (Robotics, 3D Modeling and Prototyping, Programming, Inventor Lab, Advanced Math) and Track 2 CAD (Arts, Music, Graphic Design, Industry Design, Creative Writing, Drama). TISA hosts events such as the TISA Math Olympiad, TISA Startup Conference, TISA Theatre Play and TISA Summer Camp. There is a Saturday Music School offering instrument lessons (piano, violin, ukulele, flute).
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Theodore International Startup Academy Leiden combines core academics with 21st-century skills through the TISA MBA programme. The core subjects include Math, English, Dutch, Science, Sports, Literature, Cooking, DIY Clay, Chess, Social Studies, Jiu Jitsu, and Choreography, with Swimming Lessons offered as an extra. TISA MBA is a professional business education programme for children aged 4-18, comprising 24 modules where students work in teams and present their projects to business experts at startup fairs in December and May. The school is an IB World School, joining a globally recognized framework that supports inquiry, knowledge and caring learning.

Arts & Creative
Arts and Craft, Music, and Drama are core components of the programme. A Music School on Saturdays lets students learn instruments such as piano, violin, ukulele, and flute. The timetable also incorporates arts and performing arts within the core programme and tracks, facilitating creative expression throughout the day.

Cultural & Language
Theodore International Startup Academy Leiden is an IB World School. The International Math Olympiad (TIMO) at TISA is conducted in English and Dutch. The school operates in a multilingual environment to support diverse language development. Extracurricular offerings include TISA for Culture to enrich cultural experiences.

Social & Hobbies
Social and hobby activities include Social Games, Workshops, Tours and Field Trips, and Skills for Life (Cooking, DIY Clay, Gardening, Farm), plus TISA for Culture. Students participate in competitions and events such as Jiu Jitsu tournaments and robotics/math Olympiads, with notable results in World Robotics Olympiad and International Math Olympiad. Chess tournaments are also part of the school's competitive activities.

Community & Service
TISA develops entrepreneurship and social responsibility and hosts events designed to broaden horizons and strengthen the school community. Events such as the TISA MBA Conference and the TISA STEAM Fest foster collaboration, leadership, and curiosity among students. The school emphasizes social responsibility initiatives as part of its educational approach.

Leadership & Professional
TISA MBA is a 24-module business education programme designed to develop essential 21st-century skills, creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and leadership potential. Students work in teams and present their projects to business experts at startup fairs at the end of each module. Afternoon sessions include professional tracks: Track 1 is STEM (Robotics, 3D Modeling and Prototyping, Programming, Inventor Lab, Advanced Math) and Track 2 is CAD (Music, Instrument, Graphic Design, Animation, Creative Writing, Theatre, Dancing). The school operates as an IB World School, reinforcing international-minded leadership and collaboration.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Jiu Jitsu is part of the core offerings and there are opportunities for dance and other performing arts, with Swimming Lessons available as an extra. A typical day for the Special Needs Care Group runs from 8:30 to 13:00 and includes morning circle time, therapy sessions, meals, and outdoor play to support wellbeing. The programme emphasizes healthy social-emotional development as part of its core approach to student welfare.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Dutch are taught as core subjects. A Languages component is included in the core timetable. The International Math Olympiad (TIMO) is conducted in English and Dutch.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit the Application. Prospective families must submit the online Admission Application Form and pay a €500 deposit to confirm registration; this deposit serves as payment for the first month's tuition. Applications should ideally be submitted three months prior to the start of a new school year, though they are accepted throughout the academic year. Earlier applications increase the likelihood of enrollment. The TISA academic year runs from September to mid-July. For mid-year entries, student placement is based on the grade most recently completed at the previous school.

2. School Tour/Meeting. The Admission Team carefully reviews each application and schedules a school tour and meeting with the prospective family. The purpose of this meeting is for the school and the family to become acquainted and to address any questions. Tours can be scheduled via the provided calendar link.

3. Sign the Agreement. Following the meeting, the school reserves the applicant's spot—including any applicable discounts—for a period of two weeks, pending the signing of the School Fee Agreement. Once the document is signed, families receive a formal placement confirmation and onboarding instructions for new TISA students. Signing the School Fee Agreement officially confirms the obligation to pay the associated school fees.
School Events
The school has not added events
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