Families relocating to Poznań from abroad soon face one of the biggest decisions of the move: where their children will go to school. Poznań does not have the long list of international schools found in Warsaw, but it does offer a small and varied mix of English-medium, bilingual and Polish options. This guide sets out what families should know before they start visiting.
What is on offer
The schools fall into three broad groups.
English-medium international school. International School of Poznan (ISOP), at ul. Taczanowskiego 18, is an IB World School teaching in English from kindergarten through to the IB Diploma Programme.
Bilingual and alternative-pedagogy schools. Poznań British International School (PBIS), at ul. Darzyborska 1A, is a primary school combining the Polish core curriculum with the British National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum, with classes of up to 16 pupils. Montessori International School, at ul. Promienista 78, is a privately run Montessori primary school working to Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) standards, with a focus on inclusion and support for children with special educational needs. Turquoise Curiosity Tree, at ul. Umultowska 116, is a Polish-English primary school (grades 0–8) that follows the Polish curriculum and adds Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary, using a Reggio Emilia approach. The same organisation runs a Polish-English nursery and preschool on ul. Maków Polnych.
Polish secondary schools with the IB Diploma. Two Poznań secondary schools (licea) offer the IB Diploma alongside Polish education. The state II Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Generałowej Zamoyskiej i Heleny Modrzejewskiej, at ul. Matejki 8/10, runs the Diploma in its final two years after two pre-IB years, with entry based on aptitude tests. The private Gaudium et Studium high school, at ul. św. Michała 50M, has an IB class taught in English for students with B2-level English, and a bilingual class leading to the Polish matura; it advertises scholarships of up to 90% of tuition and recruits throughout the year.
How much does it cost?
Not every school publishes its fees, so families often need to ask directly. Among those that do:
ISOP lists tuition for 2026/2027 of PLN 30,900 a year for kindergarten, primary and middle school, PLN 29,100 for high school and the IB Diploma, and PLN 26,500 for its preparatory HS0 year, paid in ten monthly instalments. There is also a one-off enrolment fee of PLN 2,500, and Diploma students pay an annual IB programme fee of EUR 600.
Turquoise Curiosity Tree lists PLN 1,650 a month, paid over 12 months (PLN 19,800 a year), covering care and education from 7.00 to 17.00, though not every extra activity.
Always check what is included. Enrolment fees, deposits, meals, transport, trips and exam entries are often charged on top, and fees are usually updated each spring for the following year.
Curriculum: the first decision
Before comparing buildings or fees, decide which pathway fits your plans.
International Baccalaureate (IB): a common choice for families who may move again, as IB schools operate worldwide and the Diploma is recognised by universities internationally.
British and Cambridge programmes: a natural continuation for children coming from British-system schools.
Polish curriculum, with or without bilingual elements: leads to the Polish school-leaving exam, the matura, and often suits families staying long term or wanting their children to integrate fully.
Montessori and Reggio Emilia: child-led approaches, mainly at nursery and primary level.
Admissions and timing
The Polish school year starts on 1 September. Places at small schools can be limited, so it is sensible to make contact as soon as a move is confirmed. Processes vary: PBIS, for example, describes an initial enquiry, a meeting with the principal and a tour, then an application form and documents; ISOP charges its enrolment fee when the school contract is signed; II LO's IB programme sets entrance tests. Families should expect to provide the child's identity documents and recent school reports, and older pupils may be assessed, particularly on their English.
State primary schools work differently: places are linked to the family's registered address, and children living in Poland have the right to attend school. Families from outside the EU should check residence requirements with the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office (Wielkopolski Urząd Wojewódzki).
Location and the daily journey
The schools are spread across different parts of the city rather than clustered in one area. Because the daily journey shapes family life, many families visit schools first and then look for housing nearby, checking tram and bus routes at school-run times.
A short checklist for visits
Which curriculum and exams does the school offer up to the age my child will leave?
What language support is there for children new to English or Polish?
What is the full annual cost, including extras?
How large are classes, and how settled is the teaching staff?
Is there space in my child's year group?
Visiting in person or attending an open day remains the best way to judge whether a school is right. Families who want to compare curricula and published fees side by side before visiting can find a summary on the InternationalSchools.net Poznań page. Above all, contact schools early: in a city with a limited number of international places, timing often matters as much as choice.
