How the British International School of Zagreb became a model of educational excellence and a home to students from over 80 countries, reveals its director
Tino Sven Časl In times when the domestic education system is still struggling with bureaucracy, curriculum reforms and the issue of school safety, there is an example that shows that it can be done differently. The British International School of Zagreb (BISZ), an international school in the heart of Zagreb with a British educational program and a boarding school, has been living for years what the state system is only discussing. However, this school is not backed by a corporation, foundation or state. It is the Časl family with its own vision.
We talk to the director of the school, Tino Sven Časl, a former student and now the leader of an educational institution that has been building a bridge between local and global knowledge for 30 years.
What was the beginning like? What was the idea behind the school you run today? We started in the 1990s, at a time when private education in Croatia was almost an oxymoron. My parents, Dr. Martin-Tino Časl and Zdenka Časl wanted a quality and modern education for me and decided to create it themselves. Thus, in 1995, the Kreativan razvoj Elementary School was founded, the oldest private elementary school in Croatia. Later, a high school was added, and in 2013, we launched the British International School of Zagreb, an international elementary school, and in 2014, the first British high school in Zagreb. Today, we have everything from kindergarten to high school, a boarding school, the Cambridge International Education program, and an exceptionally diverse international community. We continue to build through partnerships, curricular innovations, and strengthening the boarding program, which is unique in the region.
How do you differ from other schools, both private and state? What sets you apart? First of all, quality! We systematically invest in teachers, infrastructure and facilities. We have small classes, one per year with up to 15 students, highly qualified lecturers from a dozen countries, excellent results of our students and international accreditations. And what parents really appreciate, safety and a personal approach. Each student receives the attention they deserve. On the first day, we assess their strengths and weaknesses and adjust the program. Parents appreciate this and have the right to demand results, and we provide them. They know what their child gets here and where it can take them.
And where does that lead them? What opportunities do you open up for your students? Our students graduate with Cambridge IGCSE and A-level diplomas, which open the doors to universities all over the world. We are proud of the fact that we have one hundred percent of alumni enrolled in the faculties that were their first choice. We have alumni at Harvard, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, Edinburgh, Bocconi, Melbourne… even Tsinghua University in China. School is not just about knowledge – it is a passport to the world.
What exactly does the Cambridge A-Level program mean for students? It is an internationally recognized program that prepares students for admission to top universities in the world, as I mentioned. Students in the upper grades choose three to four subjects according to their own interests and career ambitions. They receive an international education without leaving home, without going abroad.
What other elements of school life are important to your students? What is the daily life of students at BISZ like? We are talking about a school where students from more than 80 countries around the world attend classes. Exactly. We have a very multicultural environment, and yet we offer stability and clarity. Classes are held in English, but the lower grades also include Croatian to maintain local connections. The boarding school is available to older students and offers full care, from mentoring, nutrition to extracurricular activities. This includes various sports, music, art workshops, critical thinking, civic education, which is already standard in our upper grades, while it is still a topic of debate in public schools.
Safety is often the most important topic for parents. How is it addressed in your school? We have a closed campus on 25,000 m² with 82 security cameras covering every protective perimeter, 24/7 security and controlled access. Even parents come by appointment, that is, they must announce themselves. Children are completely in a safe and supervised environment. But for us, security is not just physical, locked doors and protocols, it also means emotional support, clearly defined rules, professional staff and open communication.
When we talk about private education in Croatia, the question often arises – elitism or alternative? What do you think about that? Private education in our country is too often perceived as exclusive. But it should not be like that. It should be seen as a long-term investment. We advocate for the so-called voucherization. A system in which parents can receive an educational voucher from the state and decide for themselves where to use it, in a state or private school. This would not only reduce the cost for parents, but would also raise the quality of the entire system. Because when schools are on the market, they start fighting for students and for excellence. And we, who started an educational institution as a family, understand this very well. Why is this even important? It is important because the parent who pays taxes must have the right to choose, because state schools are financed from their taxes anyway.
What does a school look like “from the inside”? We have modern classrooms, over twenty of them with specially designed tables and chairs for proper sitting and relieving the spine. We also have a swimming pool and a gym. A laboratory, an art studio, an IT classroom, a large and small sports hall, a library, a kitchen and a dining room. There is also a multimedia area with sound barriers so that students can read books undisturbed during breaks and socializing. The boarding school has 52 deluxe rooms of 28 m2 with private bathrooms, a lounge and gaming room, a reception, an outdoor terrace, a large outdoor area and a landscaped environment in the form of a natural park. We are also proud of the orchard that the students themselves maintain and enjoy, especially in the spring when the flowers start to bloom, and later of course in the fruit trees, the fruits of their labor.
What are you most proud of after almost 30 years of school operation? The fact that we have not given up on quality. We have professors who have been with us for decades, students who return as parents, and a reputation that binds us. And perhaps most importantly, we are showing how a school can be created in Croatia that is not a compromise, but a fully-fledged international institution.
And finally – what does the enrollment process look like and how much do parents have to set aside for one school year? The main enrollment periods are spring and summer, and enrollments are made throughout the year in classes where there are free places. Parents contact us, get all the information, tour the school and talk to us. After that, they fill out an application form, sign a contract and pay a one-time amount of 1,500 euros for the enrollment fee and tuition. Tuition fees vary depending on the programs. In kindergarten, the tuition fee is 7,500 euros, in lower primary school the current tuition fee is 14,500, in upper primary school it is 16,000, while for high school the tuition fee is 18,000 euros. A full-year boarding program is 32,500 euros. However, what parents are buying is not just education, but an investment in their child's future. Top Croatian students can count on partial scholarships.
In a country where educational reforms are waiting, BISZ shows what reform looks like in practice, if there is the will, vision and responsibility for it. Private? Yes! Elitist? Not necessarily!
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