Wawel International School and Preschool

About WIPS

Wawel International School: A private primary school and preschool offering exceptional educational experiences in both Polish and English. Inspired by international standards, our institutions educate and develop children in an environment that supports learning and creativity.

Insider Interviews & Perspectives

Location

ul. Leona Wyczółkowskiego 7, Kraków, 30-118

Academics

Academics Summary: [Hide summary]

Curriculum: Progressive/Play-based
Preschool/K Curriculum: Play-based
Academic Culture: Supportive
Developmental priorities: Balanced
Special needs support: Not provided
Gifted learner support: Not provided
Homework Policy:

Curriculum

Central to your child's school experience is the underlying curriculum taught in the classroom. "Curriculum" refers to both what is taught and how it's taught. When considering the different curricula outlined in the next few pages, keep in mind that few schools fall neatly into one category or another. Most schools' curricula comprise a blend of best practices drawn from multiple curriculum types. Having said that, most schools do have a general overall curriculum type. These are identified for each school on OurKids.net.
Primary Curriculum: Progressive
Progressive (sometimes called "inquiry based" or "discovery based") curricula use students' interests and their natural curiosity as the driver for instruction. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources necessary for students to investigate a topic or issue. Students are then encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers, solutions, and insights.
Secondary Curriculum: Play-based

What WIPS says: Wawel International School in Krakow offers a modern approach to education, combining the international Cambridge Primary program with the Polish national curriculum. The school provides two educational paths: English-language classes, where lessons are conducted mainly in English, and Polish-language classes, which follow the Polish curriculum with extended English instruction. Small class sizes allow for individual attention, group work, and the use of active teaching methods and formative assessment. The school fosters a culture of collaboration and respect, which supports the development of social and emotional skills. With modern classrooms and a highly qualified teaching staff, students gain knowledge and competencies essential for the global world. Wawel International School prepares children for future challenges by developing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and reflection, while encouraging creative thinking and cooperation.

Approach:

Focus

Science and technology
Preschool/K Curriculum Play-based

Preschool/K Curriculum approach at WIPS : Play-based
WIPS has a Play-based approach to Preschool/K Curriculum (as opposed to Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Academic approach).
[Show: About Play-based?]
Play-based programs are the most common type of preschool and Kindergarten, and are founded on the belief young children learn best through play. Largely open-ended and minimally structured, play-based programs aim to develop social skills and a love of attending school. "Pre-academic" skills are taught, but in a more indirect way than at, say, an Academic program: through children playing in different "stations" set up around the classroom, which children choose on their own volition. Stations often contain an indirect lesson or developmental goal. Play-based classrooms are highly social and active.
What WIPS says: At Wawel International School, we use the immersion method, where children naturally develop communication skills through daily exposure to English. Our preschool emphasizes the holistic development of children, supporting social, emotional, and intercultural competencies. Through engaging activities, trips, and workshops, children learn through experience and develop problem-solving skills. Collaboration with Polish-speaking teachers also enhances their Polish language skills. Our modern and safe environment fosters learning, play, and exploration of the world.
Academic Culture Supportive

Academic Culture approach at WIPS : Supportive
WIPS has a Supportive approach to Academic Culture (as opposed to Rigorous approach).
[Show: About Supportive?]
A school with a "supportive" academic culture focuses more on process than short-term outcomes: academic performance is a welcomed side-benefit, but not the driving focus. This does not mean the school lacks standards, or has low expectations for its students: a school can have a supportive academic culture and still light the fire of ambition in its students. It does mean, however, that the school provides a less intensive culture than schools with a "rigorous" academic classification, and is focused more simply on instilling a love of learning and life-long curiosity.
What WIPS says: This information is not currently available.
Developmental priorities Balanced

Primary Developmental Priority: Balanced

Equal attention is paid to a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social, and physical.

Secondary Developmental Priority: Intellectual

Academically strong, creative, and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions.

What WIPS says: This information is not currently available.

Focus
Science and technology

Special needs support Not provided

Academic Support:

Subject type	offered
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties

Mild but clinically diagnosed ADHD:

Subject type	offered
Accommodations
Modifications
Extra support

Support for moderate-to-severe special needs:

Special needs	Accomodations Formal adjustments are made to the delivery of lessons to help mitigate the learning difficulty or exceptionality. The underlying content and expectations remain unchanged with accommodations, however. (Example: allowing a student to write tests in a quieter room).	Modifications The underlying content and expectations are modified and/or simplified for the sake of the student. (Examples: allowing student to use a calculator on a test when other students can’t; allowing students to bring word-banks or “cheat sheets” into certain tests, etc)	Remediation Research-based therapeutic measures that target and ameliorate the underlying weakness.
Learning disabilities
ADHD (moderate to severe)
Dyslexia (Language-Based Learning Disability)
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Language Processing Disorder
Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD)
Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
Developmental
Autism
Asperger's Syndrome
Down syndrome
Intellectual disability
Behavioral and Emotional
Troubled behaviour / troubled teens
Clinical Depression
Suicidal thoughts
Drug and alcohol abuse
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Physical
Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)
Blindness
Deafness
Cystic Fibrosis
Multiple physical

Gifted learner support Not provided

Dedicated gifted programs:

Program	offered
Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school)
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class)

Curriculum delivery: This information is not currently available.

In-class adaptations:

Program	offered
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement)
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement)
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement)
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement)
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others)
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement)
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement)
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement)
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement)

What WIPS says: This information is not currently available.

Homework Policy

In grade Gr. 3, WIPS students perform an average of 15 mins of homework per night.

Nightly Homework

PS 0 1 2 3
WIPS 0 mins 0 mins 15 mins 15 mins 15 mins
Site Average 2 mins 8 mins 16 mins 16 mins 23 mins

What WIPS says about their flipped classroom policy: This information is not currently available.

	PS	0	1	2	3
WIPS	0 mins	0 mins	15 mins	15 mins	15 mins
Site Average	2 mins	8 mins	16 mins	16 mins	23 mins

Extracurriculars

What the school says:

Every year, we adjust the range of extra-curricular activities so that every child can find something to his or her liking.

robotics
ceramics
dance
taekwon - do
gymnastics

Sports Offered	CompetitiveComp	RecreationalRec

Clubs Offered
Karate
Robotics club
Art Club

Tuition & Financial Aid

Grade	PS	0	1	2	3
Day	zł19,500	zł22,000	zł27,500

What WIPS says about their tuition: This information is not currently available.

Merit based Scholarships

This information is not currently available.

Enrollment

Enrollment Details:

Grades	Enrollment
PS/Kindergarten to Gr. 3	110

Additional Statistics:

% of foreign students	N/A
# of nationalities attending school	N/A

Student distribution:

	PS	0	1	2	3
Class Size	25	25	20	20	20

Social Feeds

The Our Kids Report:
Wawel International School and Preschool

Contact this school

Academics Summary: [Hide summary]

Merit based Scholarships

CONTACT THIS SCHOOL

The Our Kids Report: Wawel International School and Preschool

Contact this school

Academics Summary: [Hide summary]

Merit based Scholarships

CONTACT THIS SCHOOL

The Our Kids Report:
Wawel International School and Preschool