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Gimnazija Kranj

Slovenia, Kranj

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Slovenian, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 945
Type Co-educational
Opened 1810
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, German, French, Spanish, Russian
Typical class size 27
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Gimnazija Kranj is a historic secondary school in Kranj offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside a bespoke general gymnasium curriculum. In Year 1, students follow a common programme; in Year 2 they select from four study packages; Year 3 forms the IB department and elective subjects; Year 4 focuses on maturita preparation with electives. The first foreign language is English, with German or Spanish as a second language (plus options in French and Russian); since 2014/2015 Chinese has been available. The campus supports extensive facilities: three gymnasia, a stadium, a swimming pool, a library with over 20,000 items, and a computer lab with workstations. The school emphasizes a wide range of extracurriculars, including MEPI, classical music ensembles (Girls' Choir, Boys' Choir, Orchestra), and debate while maintaining a robust IB programme with CAS, Extended Essay, and TOK. With about 1,000 students, Gimnazija Kranj is a educational hub in the region.

Gimnazija Kranj, Koroška cesta 13, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia

The Essentials

Gimnazija Kranj has 945 pupils, typical class sizes of 27, instruction in Slovenian, English.

Location
Gimnazija Kranj sits in the new business district of Kranj on Koroška cesta 13. It is bounded on the west by Slovenski trg; to the south are Hotel Creina and the City Library of Kranj (Globus). North of the square lies the building of the Municipality of Kranj. SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia.

Stages
Gimnazija Kranj offers a general education gymnasium with a four-year program. The school provides four implementation packages; in the second year students select among the packages, in the third year the department of international maturity forms, and in the fourth year students prepare for the matura in two or three elective subjects. The International Matura program has been offered since 2010/2011. The first foreign language is English; the second foreign language is German or Spanish (taught at two levels), French and Russian are also available, and since 2014/2015 Chinese has been offered as a third foreign language.

Additional learning support
The School Counseling Service provides student support, including guidance and psychological services; staff include Tanja Varjačič (univ. dipl. ped. in soc.) with morning and afternoon office hours, Katja Pegam (univ. dipl. psih.), and Tina Kaltenekar (univ. dipl. ped., mag. znanosti) listed for support.

Country affiliation
Slovenia

School day structure
Classes run in a single morning shift, starting at 7:10 and ending between 13:05 and 13:55 depending on the number of periods. Students have a one-hour lunch break. The school year runs from September 1 to August 31 and spans about 38 weeks, with 32 hours of classes per week (up to 36 with additional activities).
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
No uniform is required. Wardrobe rules require students to store outerwear and shoes in their own wardrobe locker in the basement or on the ground floor; indoor footwear is used; if slippers are forgotten, they can be borrowed from the school secretariat. Formal days promote dress etiquette.

Food Options
Hot meals are provided for students; contract with SLOREST D.O.O. Ljubljana; meals served in a canteen with 108 seats; six menus (the seventh is a diet option); pupils pre-order online; monthly menu posted in the canteen; canteen open 9:35–12:30; pupils have one hour for their meal; subsidy information is handled by the Ministry; contact malica@gimkr.si.

House System
Hišni red Gimnazije Kranj governs daily student life with rules on organization, wardrobe, sanitation, meals and other aspects; it functions as a house-rule framework rather than a formal, separate house system.

Governance and Ownership
Gimnazija Kranj is a public educational institution established by the Republic of Slovenia (Sklep o ustanovitvi javnega zavoda, 27 February 1992). Organi zavoda are the ravnatelj (principal), svet zavoda (school council), and svet staršev (parents' council); professional bodies include razrednik, oddelčni učiteljski zbor, učiteljski zbor, and subject-area activities.
Fees
*Application fees*
- There is no separate application fee charged by Gimnazija Kranj for admission to its regular secondary programmes (general gimnazija or IB).

*Tuition fees (by year group and per term)*
- Tuition for all regular secondary programmes (all year groups 1–4) is not charged; education at the school is provided as a public service and no annual or per-term tuition fees apply for enrolled students.
- The one‑year maturitetni tečaj (preparation course for the national matura) is offered as regular schooling and is provided without tuition.
- The school's IB Diploma Programme is delivered as part of the school's programme offering; the school does not list a separate tuition charge for the IB programme on its informational materials. (Any external IB organisation examination/registration fees are not specified by the school.)

*Billing schedule and payment terms*
- Charges that do apply (textbooks, selected activity fees, exam-related fees) are billed or requested as one‑off payments when relevant and must be paid by the deadlines stated for each item. Examples and specific deadlines below.
- Matura (state exam) payment deadlines: proof of payment to the national exam body (RIC) must accompany the candidate's registration — for the spring exam session no later than 30 March and for the autumn session no later than 14 July (exact deadlines follow the published exam‑session calendar). Proof of payment to the school for its internal matura costs must also be provided with the registration.
- Textbook/workbook ordering: lists for 2026/2027 are published and workbooks may be ordered via the school's ordering application by the stated ordering deadline (workbook order deadline example: by 6 July for some lists). Textbook loan items are distributed at the start of the school year.

*Boarding fees (if applicable)*
- Boarding is not provided as a service operated by Gimnazija Kranj; the school does not operate an on‑site boarding house. Families who require residential accommodation typically use local student hostels in Kranj. No boarding fees are charged by the school.

*Other costs and fees (examples and typical items)*
- Textbooks and library loans:
- Loan fee for textbooks from the school textbook fund: one‑third (1/3) of the new price of the textbook per loan. In 4th year, re‑loan of textbooks from earlier years is charged at one‑sixth (1/6) of the new price. Students must return or compensate for lost/damaged items.
- School meals (malica):
- The school operates subsidised hot school meals; families are billed for taken or improperly cancelled meals. Correct and timely meal cancellation procedures must be followed (see meal rules). Parents/students must cancel by the stated time to avoid charges for that meal.
- Matura (school charges for internal elements and practical parts):
- State (RIC) fees: 26.00 EUR per subject or 130.00 EUR for the full five‑subject matura (payment to the national exam centre).
- School charges related to matura when the school administers parts of the exam: 15 EUR for registration at the school; 30 EUR for the school's internal part of one subject (Slovenian, foreign languages, mathematics); and 100 EUR for subjects requiring laboratory work or a supervised seminar/laboratory project (e.g., Biology, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, History, Art History) unless the candidate has paid for full‑year preparation at the school which covers these costs. These charges are payable to the school with the matura registration.
- One‑off activity costs: certain curricular or compulsory out‑of‑school activities (sports days, excursions, field trips, multi‑day camps and some obligatory targeted activities) carry parental co‑payments for transport, entrance fees and accommodation where applicable. Example items and sample prices are set in the school's annual plan (for example: winter sports day ~EUR 28; some theatre visits ~EUR 15 — individual activity prices appear in the school's annual schedule/plan).
- Voluntary parental contributions: the school maintains a voluntary school fund (šolski sklad); parental contributions are voluntary and are used to support participation of students in activities and to subsidise costs for eligible families. Contributions are paid to the school's accounting records as instructed by the school.

*Refund information*
- Matura refunds: a candidate who withdraws a matura registration in writing no later than two days before the start of the exam session is entitled to a refund of the paid amount; refunds processed by the school/Državni izpitni center are subject to an administrative deduction (example: a nominal administrative fee of 2.10 EUR when RIC processes a refund as described in the matura cancellation procedure). Exact refund mechanics follow the published matura cancellation rules.
- School meal refunds / charges: meal cancellation rules specify that a timely cancellation (by 8:00 on the preceding school day, or earlier as required) results in no charge; late or missing cancellations normally result in full charge for the meal unless exceptional illness or other allowed reasons are documented under the meal rules.
- Refunds for other one‑off activity fees are handled according to the activity's terms (the school's annual programme or activity consent/registration form sets the conditions for any refunds or cost adjustments). Sample activity policies and charges are published in the school's annual plan.

*Fee payment options and bank details*
- Accepted payment method for statutory/exam and school charges: bank transfer via the universal payment order (UPN) to the specified account with the required reference and candidate identifier; the school instructs parents and candidates to include the candidate's personal identifier (EMŠO) and name on payment orders for proper reconciliation. Cash or in‑person payments are handled subject to the school's accounting practices and office (contact the school bookkeeping/secretariat for office hours).
- Example account details used for school payments (as published for school accounting): EZR (school) account SI56 0110 0603 0693 636 (UJP Kranj). Payments to the national exam centre (RIC) use the RIC account and reference provided in the exam payment instructions (for example RIC trans. account 01100-6030632914 with the published reference). Always use the exact payment reference and identification required for each payment type.

*Notes on routine incidental charges*
- Incidental charges may include replacement dijaška cards or temporary meal chips, replacement or compensation for lost or damaged library/textbook items (replacement cost or reimbursement), and specific materials for courses that are not supplied by the textbook fund (these are charged at cost). The school's accounting office publishes instructions and handles reconciliation for such charges.
Academics

Gimnazija Kranj teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
The school offers a general gymnasium program. Year 1 follows a common curriculum; in Year 2 students choose among four study packages; in Year 3 the International Baccalaureate (IB) department forms and students select elective subjects; Year 4 focuses on maturita preparation with elective subjects. The first foreign language is English; the second foreign language is chosen between German or Spanish (two levels) and French and Russian; since the 2014/2015 school year Chinese has also been available. Compulsory elective contents (OIV) are delivered as excursions, cultural and science days, camps, sports days, a first-aid course, a road-safety knowledge test, and a civics program, with some elements freely chosen as electives. Classes run in one morning shift from 7:10 until 13:05–13:55; the school year runs from September 1 to August 31, about 38 weeks. The school timetable includes 33 hours per week in Year 1, 32 in Year 2, 32 in Year 3, and 30–36 in Year 4. Subjects include Slovenian, Mathematics, English, a second foreign language, History, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Informatics, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Art History, a third foreign language, ITS-related subjects, and other courses.

Higher Education Progression
The school provides preparation for university study; graduates can access all university faculties.

Gifted and Talented
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for advanced students; the IB department forms at the start of the third year and students select elective subjects. The program began in 2010/2011.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Dan ZaMe is Gimnazija Kranj's annual Day for Mental Health, designed to educate students about mental health through lectures and a variety of workshops. The event features guest speakers and activities led by professionals in psychology and health, focusing on topics such as mood, stress, relationships, and coping strategies. It aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage students to seek help when needed. The school continues to weave mental health topics into ongoing programs and activities with involvement from staff, students, and partner organizations.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school adjusts scholastic obligations for a pupil who studies concurrently at a conservatory for music, for a pupil with special needs (in accordance with an individual plan), and for a pupil who is frequently or long-term absent due to health reasons.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The languages of teaching and learning are English and Slovene. Language A is Slovene, and Language B includes English and German; English is offered as a Language B option within the IB Diploma Programme, alongside German.

Mental Wellbeing
Gimnazija Kranj organizes Dan ZaMe, a yearly Day for Mental Health with lectures and workshops by mental health professionals to educate students about mental health. The program includes collaborations with guest speakers and organizations, and it aims to raise awareness and destigmatize mental health within the school community.

Safeguarding
The school has a School Counseling Service with on-site staff: Tanja Varjačič (educational and social pedagogue), Tina Kaltenekar (pedagogue), and Katja Pegam (psychologist), with regular office hours and contact details provided. Students can visit the counselors by appointment or reach them by email or phone. External resources for support include POSVET (Center for Psychological Counseling), Centers for Mental Health, and Kaméleon (online counseling), among others.
Parent Experience

History
Gimnazija Kranj, established in 1810, is one of Slovenia's oldest schools and was the first gymnasium to teach in Slovenian. It has long served Kranj as a regional educational hub and underwent several reorganizations to meet changing societal needs, marking the 100th anniversary of the fully eight-year gymnasium with a renewed curriculum and maturita. The school survived two world wars—activity dwindled during the first and was interrupted in the second—before postwar reforms redefined its structure. After World War II, the education system introduced the unified eight-year school and, in 1958, a four-year gymnasium; in 1981, directed education was introduced to unify upbringing and education. The current campus began construction in 1896, with the cornerstone laid in 1897 and a northern wing added in 1903; major extensions occurred in 1979, and renovation from 1986 to 1990, followed by 2008 kitchen and dining upgrades and a 2009 library renovation. Today the gymnasium is among Slovenia's largest, with 33 classrooms, two gyms, a conference hall, and a multipurpose space for 33 classes and about 982 students, standing as a central educational institution in Kranj.

Community
Annual activities at Gimnazija Kranj cover Charity, Arts, Tradition, Education, and Sports. Charity includes DrugaRoka, blood donation drives, fundraising for animals, and environmental cleanups; the Arts program features Christmas and Spring concerts, and the school publishes a literary journal and calendar. Traditions include the student ball, Maturantski sprevod (graduation parade), Fazaniranje (freshman initiation), Pustovanje (carnival), Gatsby ball, and Miklavževanje, while educational initiatives include Learning Parade, Lifelong Learning Week, TEDx, and the Week of Elective Content. The school also runs primary-school outreach with Open Days and Night at Gimnazija Kranj, and sports activities include regional and national competitions, chess tournaments, and inter-school leagues.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Gimnazija Kranj enrolls about 1,000 students aged 15 to 18. The campus includes three gymnasia for physical education, the Stanka Mlakarja stadium, and a swimming pool, with outdoor Kokra canyon trails used for PE. The dining hall seats 108 and serves hot meals from a monthly menu offering six standard options plus one dietary option; the dining hall is open from 9:35 to 12:30, and students have a one-hour meal period. The library is open weekdays from 7:00 to 14:00 and contains over 20,000 items across four sections: Proza, Lirika, Dramatika, and Literatura v tujih jezikih, with subscriptions to more than 50 journals and a UDК classification system. A computer laboratory supports the Informatics program, with theory classes in well-equipped classrooms and practical work conducted in the lab with each student having their own computer and necessary hardware and software.

Sports Facilities
Three gymnasia are used for physical education, supported by the Stanka Mlakarja stadium and a swimming pool. PE lessons also take place on the Kokra canyon trails.

Academic Facilities
Informatics is taught in the first and second years for two hours per week and in the fourth year for four hours per week (elective for graduation). Theoretical lessons take place in a classroom with full equipment (DVD player, computer, LCD projector). Practical lessons occur in a computer lab where every student has their own computer with all required hardware and software. Year-by-year coverage includes basics of informatics (Year 1–2), programming and entrepreneurship (Year 3), and multimedia plus maturidad preparation (Year 4); additional activities include integrating computing with other subjects and working on projects, including national and international collaborations.

Extra Curricular Facilities
MEPI (International Award for Young People) is offered, enabling students to pursue personal goals in volunteering, skills, and sport, with a fourth expedition component; Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels specify durations and expeditions, plus a project called Unknown Friend. Music is a major extracurricular focus with three permanent ensembles: Girls' Choir, Boys' Choir, and Orchestra; membership is by audition, and the groups have earned numerous awards and performed internationally (e.g., Istria Cantat). The school also runs a variety of other arts and cultural activities as part of its broader program for motivated students.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to foster academic excellence and an open worldview. The programme includes the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). IB students engage in social projects weekly for CAS and undertake independent, research‑oriented work with faculty mentors. The school supports participation in national and international knowledge competitions and provides research‑oriented clubs, such as science camps and astronomy, to broaden inquiry and expertise; the program also includes events like TEDx and a Week of Elective Contents.

Arts & Creative
Music is taught in the first year for two hours per week, with additional opportunities to engage in musical culture and performance. There are regular arts activities, including concerts such as symphonicMatinees and opera visits in Ljubljana, and local concert engagements. Visual arts are taught two hours per week in the first year and four hours per week as an elective in the fourth year, with enrichment activities such as gallery visits to the Narodna galerija and other local museums. These arts activities culminate in showcases and exhibitions linked to the curriculum.

Cultural & Language
Frankofonski dan (Francophone Day) brings together students from across Slovenia to celebrate Francophone culture and music. An English debate club runs throughout the year, with on‑site and online practice and participation in national and international debates, including EPAS and Model United Nations activities. Literature and journalism are nurtured through the Literary Journal and related competitions, while the school calendar project and other cultural activities foster cross‑cultural engagement and creativity. The program also supports English debate participation in national and international tournaments and collaborative projects.

Social & Hobbies
Literary and journalism circles (Literarno‑nnovinarski krožek) contribute to the school's literary journal and public communications, with opportunities to publish on the school site and social media. Theatre activities are offered through a theatre club, with drama productions for younger audiences and school performances. Other cultural projects include nature filmmaking under the ‘Čarovnija narave' initiative, creating short science films for younger audiences and sharing them on YouTube. These activities strengthen creative collaboration and informal student communities.

Community & Service
Dobrodelnost (charity) activities include DrugaRoka clothing drives, blood donation campaigns, fundraising for animals, and environmental clean‑ups. Students participate in community service projects and fundraising efforts that support local organizations and causes. These activities emphasize social responsibility and hands‑on giving as part of the school's culture.

Leadership & Professional
The Dijaška skupnost (Student Council) represents the student body within the Dijaška organizacija Slovenije (DOS) and participates in DOS parliament; a designated school representative attends these sessions and communicates with peers. A dedicated mentor guides the student leadership process, and the school maintains an active alumni network to foster leadership and professional development among graduates. This structure provides students with formal channels to develop leadership and civic engagement.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Physical education runs across all years: three hours weekly for first and second years, and two hours weekly (with an optional third hour) for third and fourth years. Activities take place in three gym halls, at the Stanka Mlakar stadium, at the swimming pool, and along the Kokra gorge, with a curriculum covering gymnastics, athletics, and ball‑sport techniques. The school supports a broad sports program, participates in regional and national competitions, chess tournaments, and organized running events like the Pokljuški marathon, promoting physical and mental wellbeing. MEPI also emphasizes Creativity, Activity, and Service, including voluntary, skill‑building, and expedition components to develop resilience and balance.
Languages

Language Provision
The first foreign language is English. The second foreign language is chosen from German and Spanish (we teach these at two levels) and French and Russian. The third foreign language can be any of the listed languages; since 2014/2015 students can also study Chinese. The language of instruction in the general gymnasium programme is Slovene.

Bilingual Teaching
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered. It was authorized in 2009. Languages of instruction are English and Slovene. The programme targets ambitious students who welcome new intellectual challenges.
Admissions

Admissions
Enrollment for the 2026/27 school year. 1) Important dates: February 13–14, 2026 are Informational Days at Gimnazija Kranj. 2) April 2, 2026 is the deadline to apply for enrollment for the 2026/27 school year. Anyone planning to enroll in the 1st year of secondary school in 2026/27 must submit the enrollment application on the form Prijava za vpis v začetni letnik srednje šole. 3) April 9, 2026: the number of applications for enrollment is publicly announced on the Ministry websites. 4) By April 20, 2026: changes to the enrollment scope and the status of applications are publicly announced on the Ministry websites. 5) By May 6, 2026: potential transfers of applications to another secondary school may be possible; after this date transfers are not possible without justified reasons until the enrollment process at schools with restricted enrollment is completed. 6) By June 1, 2026: the public announcement of enrollment restrictions and changes to the enrollment scope is published on the Ministry websites. 7) By June 5, 2026: secondary schools inform candidates about the status of applications and any enrollment restrictions. 8) From June 16 to June 19, 2026: enrollment at selected secondary schools or submission of documents for the first round of the selective process. 9) By June 19, 2026: the lower thresholds for the first round and available places for the second round are published on the Ministry websites. 10) By June 26, 2026: if enrollment is restricted, the results of the second round are published by that date. 11) By June 30, 2026: enrollment of candidates successful in the second round. 12) By July 2, 2026: the Ministry websites post the availability of places for enrollment (for the first and second rounds). 13) By August 31, 2026: enrollment continues at schools that still have available places. Sports: For enrollment in the sports department, athlete status is not required. Athlete status will be arranged in September 2026. Until then, no documents regarding categorization need to be submitted.

Scholarships
Šolski sklad (School Fund). The fund finances activities not part of the educational program or not funded from public funds, such as the purchase of above-standard equipment and improving teaching standards. The funds from the School Fund may also be allocated to support participation of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in activities connected with publicly funded programs, but not fully funded from public funds, if this ensures equal opportunities. Eligible for covering costs of participation in individual activities are students who have been granted the right to a subsidy for lunch at the highest share of lunch price; according to current income scales this corresponds to the first four income classes for calculating the child allowance. If funds allocated to the School Fund are not sufficient to cover all eligible beneficiaries, the managing board distributes funds to all eligible in equal shares. Exceptionally, the board may allocate funds to only one or some beneficiaries if special circumstances justify it, and such a decision must be made unanimously. The Fund obtains resources from parental contributions, donations, bequests, and other sources; parental contributions to the School Fund are voluntary. Regardless of tax regulation, a beneficiary can allocate up to 0.3% of a resident's income tax donation to the School Fund for the year. The School Fund is listed among recipients of donations for income tax purposes. The Fund is managed by a governing board consisting of a president and six members, at least three of whom are school representatives. The Parents' Council appoints the governing board, and the school representatives are proposed by the School Council. The operation of the Fund is governed by the Rules of Gimnazija Kranj School Fund.
School Events
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