Thames British School is a prominent name among the international schools in Warsaw, and its scale is part of the appeal: where many British curriculum options in the city are single site, Thames runs four campuses, letting it cover every stage from nursery to the senior examinations across different districts. The school teaches in English to a strongly international community, and it gives sixth form students a choice that not every British school offers, A Levels or the IB Diploma. For families who want a full English language pathway with options at the top, that breadth is the central argument.
Thames British School Warsaw at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum; IGCSE; A Levels and the IB Diploma in the sixth form |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years through sixth form, a full through school |
| Community | More than 50 nationalities |
| Type | Private, coeducational day school |
| Language | English medium |
| Campuses | Four sites across Ochota, Wlochy and Mokotow |
Exact tuition by year group, current pupil numbers and the precise entry ages at each campus are set by the school and revised each year, so we describe Thames qualitatively here and point you to the school and our tools for live figures rather than quoting a number that could be out of date.
Curriculum and academics
Thames follows the English National Curriculum from the early years, so children move through the familiar British stages of primary and lower secondary before sitting IGCSE in the middle secondary years. The distinctive part comes in the sixth form, where students choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, two well regarded but different senior routes: A Levels allow specialisation in a small number of subjects, while the IB Diploma keeps a broad spread with its core of theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Offering both is unusual and lets a family choose the path that suits their child rather than the school dictating it.
For families focused on the diploma route, it helps to see Thames alongside the other campuses that carry it. Our Warsaw IB schools hub maps which schools deliver each stage of the IB continuum, and our shortlist of the best IB schools in Warsaw compares the through schools so you can judge where Thames sits on programme, size and campus. Because Thames also offers A Levels, it is worth weighing both senior options rather than assuming the IB is the only route through.
Planning the cost of a British school place?
Use the fee calculator to model tuition, registration and the extras of a four campus school, then weigh it against the others on your shortlist.
Thames British School Warsaw fees
As a full British through school running from nursery to the senior examinations, Thames spans the city fee bands rather than sitting in one, with the senior and diploma years falling into the premium international tier that dominates Warsaw fee headlines. Our guide to international school fees in Warsaw places primary tuition broadly between 18,000 and 65,000 zloty a year across the city, with secondary and sixth form higher as schools add the cost of examinations and specialist subject teaching. The only reliable figure is the current schedule the school issues by year group.
Treat any number you see online as illustrative until you have that schedule, because Warsaw schools revise fees each year and the rate steps up grade by grade. Beyond tuition, budget for registration, lunches, optional activities, examination entry in the senior years and transport, which matters more here than at a single site school because the campus your child attends depends on their stage. The fee calculator is a practical way to model the full cost across the years and to set Thames against the other British and IB schools you are considering.
Admissions
Families apply directly to Thames, choosing the campus that matches their child's stage, and the school reviews previous reports and assesses English where a child is new to an English language environment, arranging support so a new arrival can access lessons. Because the school is large and runs every stage, it can often accommodate families moving in during the year, which makes it a practical option for relocations that fall outside the usual cycle. Entry into the sixth form is shaped by the chosen route, with the IB Diploma and A Levels each carrying their own subject expectations.
The main intake aligns with the September start of the school year, but mid year places do come up given the international turnover in the city. Visit the specific campus your child would attend, since the four sites differ in stage, feel and facilities, and the right primary campus may not be in the same district as the senior one your child later moves to. For the wider set of options, the Warsaw city hub lists schools by curriculum and stage so you can compare Thames with other through schools before applying.
Location and who goes there
The four campuses sit across the Ochota, Wlochy and Mokotow districts on the western and southern sides of Warsaw, each tuned to a stage: a primary campus in Ochota, a secondary and IB campus in Wlochy near the business hub, a primary and early years campus in Mokotow, and a dedicated high school campus in Mokotow for IGCSE, A Levels and the IB Diploma. That structure means a family plans not just for a school but for a journey between campuses as their child grows, with the location of each stage worth checking against where you live and work.
The community is strongly international, drawn from more than fifty nationalities, with the mix of diplomatic, corporate and globally mobile families that a large English medium British school attracts, alongside Polish families who want a full English language education. That gives Thames the busy, multinational character of a major international school rather than a small neighbourhood one. Families who value scale, a wide co curricular programme and the choice between A Levels and the IB tend to be the ones who choose it.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can verify the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family has experience of Thames British School Warsaw, you can help other relocating parents by sharing it through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Thames British School Warsaw fees?
As a full British school running from nursery to the senior examinations, Thames spans the city fee bands, with senior and diploma years sitting in the premium international tier. Our Warsaw fee guide places primary tuition broadly between 18,000 and 65,000 zloty a year, with secondary higher. Confirm the current schedule by year group directly with admissions before you budget.
What curriculum does Thames British School Warsaw follow?
Thames follows the English National Curriculum from the early years, leading to IGCSE in the middle secondary years and then a choice of A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form. Teaching is in English throughout.
How many campuses does Thames British School Warsaw have?
Thames operates four campuses across Warsaw: a primary campus in Ochota, a secondary and IB campus in Wlochy, a primary and early years campus in Mokotow, and a dedicated high school campus in Mokotow for IGCSE, A Levels and the IB Diploma.
Where is Thames British School Warsaw?
Its campuses sit in the Ochota, Wlochy and Mokotow districts of Warsaw, spread across the western and southern sides of the city. Families choose the campus that matches their child's stage and their home location.
Does Thames British School Warsaw offer the IB Diploma?
Yes. Alongside A Levels, Thames offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma at its high school provision, so sixth form students can choose between the two senior routes. Compare it with the other diploma schools on our Warsaw IB hub.
