Το St. Lawrence College είναι ένα Βρετανικό, διεθνές σχολείο, που ιδρύθηκε το 1980 και βρίσκεται στο Κορωπί, κοντά στα νότια προάστια της Αθήνας. Διαθέτει υπερσύγχρονες εγκαταστάσεις που εκτείνονται σε 80 στρέμματα γης, εκτός αστικού τοπίου.

Προσφέρει υπηρεσίες εκπαίδευσης για όλες τις βαθμίδες, από τον παιδικό σταθμό μέχρι τα Βρετανικά GCE A-Levels, καθώς και προγράμματα πρόσβασης σε πανεπιστήμια διεθνώς. Το St. Lawrence College ακολουθεί ένα μοντέλο εκπαίδευσης βασισμένο αποκλειστικά στο Βρετανικό σύστημα, με πρόγραμμα σπουδών που ακολουθεί το Εθνικό Πρόγραμμα Σπουδών του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου. Οι εξαιρετικές ακαδημαϊκές παροχές του χαρακτηρίζονται από το επίπεδο υποστήριξης, ποιμαντικής φροντίδας και ήθους που ανταποκρίνεται στα υψηλότερα στάνταρντς της Βρετανικής εκπαίδευσης.

Στο σχολείο μας φοιτούν παιδιά από περισσότερες από 50 εθνικότητες, τα οποία επωφελούνται καθημερινά από το επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης που προσφέρει το St. Lawrence College.

Η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των αποφοίτων μας, μετά από εξετάσεις στα A-Levels, επιλέγουν προγράμματα σπουδών που καλύπτουν σε ένα ευρύ φάσμα γνωστικών πεδίων, και συνεχίζουν τη φοίτησή τους σε πανεπιστήμια του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου όπως Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL, Bath, Warwick κ.ά ή σε άλλα ανώτατα εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα της Ελλάδας και του εξωτερικού.

Η Βρετανική Εκπαίδευση

Το βρετανικό σύστημα χαίρει σεβασμού παγκοσμίως για την αυστηρότητα, τα ακαδημαϊκά προσόντα και το συνολικό επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης που παρέχει στα παιδιά, σε συνδυασμό με την ποιμαντική φροντίδα και υποστήριξη που λαμβάνουν καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της πορείας τους.

Η Βρετανική εκπαίδευση ξεκινά σε προσχολικό επίπεδο, για παιδιά ηλικίας 2,5-5 ετών, στα “Early Years and Foundation Stage”.

Κατά τη σχολική ηλικία, τα παιδιά περνούν από πέντε επίπεδα εκπαίδευσης, που ονομάζονται “Key Stages”. Ξεκινούν από το Key Stage 1 όταν είναι 5 ετών και συμπληρώνουν το έκτο έτος της ηλικίας τους στη διάρκεια του σχολικού έτους.

Το δημοτικό σχολείο αποτελείται από τα Key Stages 1 και 2. Τα Key Stages 3, 4 και 5 αποτελούν το Γυμνάσιο και Λύκειο του Βρετανικού εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος. Οι μαθητές έχουν στη διάθεσή τους ένα ευρύ φάσμα επιλογών, με ακόμα περισσότερες δυνατότητες όσο προχωρούν σε μεγαλύτερα Key Stages.

Οι μαθητές του St. Lawrence College περνούν από δημόσιες εξετάσεις: από τα IGCSEs στο τέλος του 11^ου έτους σπουδών (Key Stage 4) και A-Levels στο τέλος του 13^ου έτους (Key Stage 5).

Μέχρι στιγμής, η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία των μαθητών οποιουδήποτε Βρετανικού σχολείου, στις ηλικίες 16-18, ακολουθεί το διετές πρόγραμμα A-Levels, το οποίο παρέχει ουσιαστική και ολοκληρωμένη εκπαίδευση σε τρία, τουλάχιστον, μαθήματα επιλογής, πριν από την είσοδο του παιδιού στο πανεπιστήμιο. Η πρόσβαση στα πανεπιστήμια εξαρτάται από τα αποτελέσματα των A-Levels.

Οι μαθητές προετοιμάζουν τις αιτήσεις τους στα πανεπιστήμια, υπό την καθοδήγηση και την υποστήριξη του σχολείου, στην αρχή του δεύτερου (και τελευταίου) έτους τους στα A-Levels. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι η πλειονότητα των μαθητών από όλο τον κόσμο που σπουδάζουν σε Βρετανικά πανεπιστήμια το επιτυγχάνει μέσω των A-Levels.

Η Βρετανική παιδεία αποτελεί ιδανικό ξεκίνημα για ένα παιδί, καθώς του δίνει τη δυνατότητα να εισέλθει και να διεκδικήσει τη θέση του σε μια πραγματικά παγκόσμια κοινωνία και οικονομία.

Η Βρετανική παιδεία σήμερα δίνει ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στην ανάπτυξη μαθησιακών δεξιοτήτων και καθοδηγεί τα παιδιά έτσι ώστε να εξελιχθούν σε υπεύθυνους πολίτες, που θα μπορούν να συνεισφέρουν ουσιαστικά μέσα σε μια διαρκώς μεταβαλλόμενη πολιτιστικά πολύμορφη κοινωνία. Δίνει, δε, ιδιαίτερη σημασία στη προσαρμοστικότητα, καθώς και στη φροντίδα για τους άλλους και για το περιβάλλον.

Η Ελληνική γλώσσα στο St. Lawrence College
Στο St. Lawrence College όλοι οι μαθητές διδάσκονται ελληνικά, από Έλληνες εκπαιδευτικούς, με σπουδές στην Ελλάδα και με πτυχία ελληνικών πανεπιστημίων.

Τα μαθήματα της ελληνικής γλώσσας χωρίζονται κατά επίπεδο (προχωρημένο, για όσους μαθητές έχουν τα Ελληνικά ως μητρική γλώσσα, μεσαίο και αρχάριο). Στη συνέχεια, γίνεται εντός των τάξεων και περαιτέρω διαίρεση της εργασίας, ανάλογα με τις ανάγκες των παιδιών, έτσι ώστε να λαμβάνονται υπ’ όψιν οι ιδιαίτερες απαιτήσεις του κάθε μαθητή. Αυτό στη Βρετανική εκπαίδευση καλείται “differentiation”, δηλαδή διαφοροποίηση.

Το ακαδημαϊκό πρόγραμμα των Ελληνικών, ωστόσο, επεκτείνεται και πέραν των γλωσσικών δεξιοτήτων. Οι μαθητές του Junior School, από τον τέταρτο χρόνο (Year 4) και μετά, έχουν την δυνατότητα, αν οι γονείς τους το επιλέξουν, να κάνουν επιπλέον μαθήματα στην ελληνική Ιστορία, τα οποία παραδίδονται και εξετάζονται στα ελληνικά. Στόχος των μαθημάτων είναι να εμβαθύνουν τα παιδιά στη κατανόηση και την εκτίμησή τους γύρω από την ελληνική ιστορία και τον πολιτισμό.

Στο Senior School, οι μαθητές δίνουν εξετάσεις στην ελληνική γλώσσα, αφού τα Ελληνικά προσφέρονται τόσο σε επίπεδο IGCSE όσο και σε A-Level. Συμπληρωματικά, οι μαθητές μπορούν να εξεταστούν για την πιστοποίηση της ελληνομάθειάς τους, μια πιστοποίηση η οποία αναγνωρίζεται από την ελληνική πολιτεία.

Σε όλο το σχολείο, οι σημαντικότερες επέτειοι και γεγονότα της ελληνικής Ιστορίας (28^η Οκτωβρίου, 25^η Μαρτίου, 17^η Νοεμβρίου) τιμώνται και εορτάζονται με σχολικές εκδηλώσεις, ομιλίες, θεατρικές παραστάσεις, χορευτικά και εκθέσεις της σχετικής δουλειάς των μαθητών.

At the start of the school year, St Lawrence College was delighted to welcome parents and pupils to an important and informative presentation focusing on self-harm in children and young people.

During the morning session, parents heard from a professional child psychologist, Dr Katingo Hatzipateras, who explained the symptoms of self-harm, factors that contribute to it, and practical strategies that families can use to support children who may be struggling. The event provided valuable guidance on recognising concerns early and promoting emotional wellbeing.

Attendees also listened to a powerful and inspiring account from a former sufferer about her experiences and recovery journey. Her message of hope, resilience and seeking support had a profound impact on everyone present.

Following the parents' session, pupils from Years 7 to 9 joined the event for an age-appropriate talk tailored to young people. The presentation offered advice on managing difficult emotions, supporting friends responsibly and understanding where to seek help when needed.

At St Lawrence College, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our school community, and we are grateful to our speakers for helping to raise awareness of this important issue.

We are delighted to congratulate this year’s International Award Bronze group on the successful completion of their final adventurous journey on the beautiful island of Kea during the weekend of 23rd –24th May.

Over the course of the two-day expedition, pupils carried all of their own equipment and prepared meals independently using portable cookers. The experience challenged not only their physical endurance, but also their resilience, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.

After completing two hikes through Kea’s stunning yet rugged landscape, pupils enjoyed a refreshing swim — a well-earned reward that lifted spirits and celebrated their achievements. The evening was spent cooking together, sharing stories, and enjoying the traditional camp favourite of making smores under the stars.

This final expedition was the result of months of preparation, dedication, and perseverance, and demonstrated the various skills the pupils have developed over the course of the year: navigation, map reading, teamwork, self-reliance, outdoor safety and many more. Each pupil should feel extremely proud of what they have accomplished — not only for completing the challenge, but for the personal growth they have shown along the way as they stretched their comfort zone.

Congratulations to all of our participants on this fantastic achievement!

In what is becoming a yearly tradition, we were very pleased to welcome five Scottish universities to our campus yesterday to talk to our Year 12 pupils. Representatives from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Strathclyde and Heriot – Watt talked about the benefits of studying in Scotland in general as well as giving lots of really interesting information about each specific university. They were then on hand to answer individual questions, giving the pupils who attended lots of food for thought about their options moving forward.

On Wednesday, December 17, our school proudly hosted the annual Teachers vs Pupils football and volleyball games which is a long-standing tradition that brings the entire school community together for a day of excitement, cheer, and fun.

Pupils look forward to this event every year, not only for the chance to challenge their teachers but also for the opportunity to celebrate school spirit in a lively and friendly atmosphere.

This year’s football match was historic! For the first time ever, the teachers’ team broke tradition and claimed victory over the pupils with an impressive 6–3 score. The crowd was thrilled by this unexpected twist, making the game even more memorable.

Volleyball, on the other hand, held no surprises. The teachers maintained their undefeated streak, though the match was intense and went down to the wire in a tie-break. In the end, the teachers triumphed once again, proving their dominance on the court.

The weather was on our side, allowing the entire school to gather at the football field and enjoy the match under clear skies. Later, the indoor gym was packed providing an electrifying atmosphere, during the volleyball showdown.

It was a day filled with laughter, energy, and school spirit, truly a perfect way to bring everyone together before the holiday season!

From 26th–29th November, twenty-five Year 10 and Year 11 pupils studying Spanish had the opportunity to visit the capital of Spain and immerse themselves in Spanish culture and daily life. This marked the first-ever trip to Spain organised by the MFL department, and all participants had been eagerly looking forward to this exciting experience.

Despite the cooler weather compared to Athens, the sun accompanied the group throughout the trip, allowing them to fully enjoy exploring the city centre on foot. They wandered through the historic heart of the city, discovering beautiful and fascinating locations such as Plaza Mayor, the old Moorish quarter and the Palacio Real, all while learning about Madrid’s rich past. This wonderful experience was enhanced by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide, Javi, who made the city tour even more enjoyable.

Throughout the trip, pupils were also given a daily “mission” consisting of fun and practical tasks designed to encourage them to practise their Spanish in real-life situations. Working in teams, they enthusiastically completed the challenges by interacting with locals and observing their surroundings, with the winning team receiving a small treat at the end of each day.

The second day of the trip was dedicated to visiting two of Spain’s most important museums: the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum of Contemporary Art. There, pupils had the opportunity to admire masterpieces from the Spanish Golden Age (16th–17th centuries) by renowned artists such as El Greco, Velázquez and Goya, as well as some of the world’s most significant Flemish paintings dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries.

In the afternoon, the group headed to the nearby Retiro Park to enjoy some free time before returning to the hotel.

Day three was one of the pupils’ favourites, as they went on a day trip to the picturesque medieval city of Toledo. There, they visited one of Spain’s most important and impressive cathedrals, marvelling at its vast size and remarkable architecture. Exploring Toledo’s narrow, cobbled streets was a truly memorable experience.

That same evening, another unique experience awaited them: a captivating traditional flamenco show in the heart of the city, which impressed pupils with its passion, rhythm and unmistakable charm.

It has been several years since the St. Lawrence Times shut down its printing press but now we are very excited to present to you a new vehicle for school news: the St. Lawrence Edition.

The St. Lawrence Edition is the brainchild of three Year 12 pupils, Melina Anastasopoulou, Penelope Androna and Silia Konti, who were determined to bring the format up to date whilst also retaining the features that make a school newspaper interesting and informative. With a little guidance from Ms Michaelides, Ms Kladidis and Ms Meritt, the girls invested a huge amount of their time into creating a beautiful digital format of the newspaper, which has already been shared with pupils to huge acclaim.

Our editors are currently working away on the next edition, due to come out just before Christmas, but before that, we want to share with you the first edition and we hope you will agree with us that it is impressive work. Well done to all involved!

Read it here: St. Lawrence Edition

On the evening of Friday, 20th June, St Lawrence College proudly hosted its 45th Annual Awards Ceremony. The event was a heartfelt celebration of learning, achievement, and the unwavering academic effort shown by our pupils throughout the year. Families, staff, and pupils gathered to honour excellence across all areas of school life. We were privileged to welcome Mr Panagiotis Ladakakos, President of the Hellenic Wind Energy Association, as our esteemed Guest of Honour. His inspiring words highlighted the importance of perseverance, innovation, and sustainability in today’s world. Our graduating class of year 13 pupils were a symbol of our hopes for the future generation of leaders. The evening was a memorable tribute to the dedication and accomplishments of our school community.

In the last week of May, Year 6 pupils headed off for their annual residential trip to Milias camp. Cabins full of excited children and excursions to hike in the mountains of central Greece made this a trip to remember and a wonderful way to end their time in Year 6. What a blast they had!

Following our very successful Charity Ninjas Fun-n-Games Festival on the 22nd and 23rd May, the children had the opportunity to continue their journey of giving by visiting ESTIA – Association for the Care of People with Intellectual Disabilities, one of Greece’s most respected organisations supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities.

On Wednesday 21st May, ahead of the festival, we were honoured to welcome Ms. Gallis, ESTIA’s Head of Marketing & Fundraising, to St Lawrence. She spoke to the Charity Ninjas about ESTIA’s mission and helped the children understand more about intellectual disability and the inspiring individuals ESTIA supports.

Our Year 5 group visited ESTIA on Wednesday 28th May, followed by the Year 4 group on Tuesday 3rd June. During their visits, the children were warmly welcomed and took part in a range of inclusive activities. One group joined a fun-filled Bocce mini-championship in the playground, while the other got creative in the Arts Workshop, working alongside ESTIA participants, crafting small items to take home.

This partnership has been a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved. It has deepened the children’s understanding of empathy, inclusion, and community—and we couldn’t be prouder of our Charity Ninjas for their compassion, enthusiasm, and commitment to making a difference.

Combined with the Easter Bonnet Competition & Fundraiser held on the last day of the spring term, we have raised the incredible amount of €5,000 for ESTIA.

We are truly grateful to ESTIA for opening their doors to us and look forward to continuing this special relationship.

On Thursday 8th May and Friday 9th May, years 4 and 5 from the Junior School and Year 9 from the Senior School attended the annual event, ‘No Finish Line’, the longest and biggest charity race worldwide at the ‘Calatrava Agora’ of the Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens (OAKA).

Those taking part are encouraged to walk or run the longest distance that they can, regardless of their technique, style or rhythm. The event which is organised and dedicated to support the association ‘Together for Children’, raises funds and contributes, on an annual basis, to the implementation of programmes for the benefit of 30,000 children in need. For every kilometre covered by each participant, the sponsors donate €1 to charity.

Our pupils did us proud, managing to clock up a total of 2,180 laps, covering a total of 2,098 km altogether! All for a noble cause supporting children in need.  The school’s exceptional effort earned 2nd place among participating schools and 8th place overall in the combined schools and companies' category. 

Well done, St. Lawrence walkers, for another inspiring effort!

The Junior School loved taking part in World Maths Day activities. The Year 6 Maths Ambassadors helped create a fun, interactive carousel of activities for all ages. From basketball to bottle flipping, children from Reception to Year 6 showed off their real-life mathematical skills in our outdoor spaces! All the children had a wonderful time putting their maths skills to use

Over the past week, the athletics track was alive with energy, excitement, and the sound of cheering as our annual running events took place for the junior school.

Pupils from Years 1, 2, and 3 sprinted their hearts out in the 60m flat race. The top three fastest runners from each house (Attica, Epirus, and Macedonia) advanced to the finals. A huge congratulations goes to the three fastest runners in the final, who earned medals for their incredible display of speed and determination!

Meanwhile, pupils in Years 4, 5, and 6 took part in trials during their PE lessons to qualify for the 80m and 150m races. The finals were held in front of their parents, giving them a chance to show the results of their hard work. Medals were awarded for their great effort and impressive performances.

Adding to the excitement, our enthusiastic parents got in on the action in the Mommy’s and Daddy’s races! Medals were awarded to our fastest grown-up participants, and we thank them for bringing such great energy to the event.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the pupils who competed and cheered each other on, as well as to the families and staff who supported them throughout.

On Saturday 8th of March, Ms Kladouchou, Ms Galata and some of the pupils of our school’s Services Society visited «Εταιρία Προστασίας ανηλίκων Πειραιά-Καλός Ποιμήν» a children’s orphanage, in order to deliver some of the gift boxes assembled earlier this year. We must thank everyone who had donated towards this important cause as we all saw in person that it meant so much to the children who received the presents! We stayed for about 5 hours with them and had plenty of time to eat souvlaki and play all together. It was a heartwarming and moving experience, as we learnt about the many hardships these children faced from their early years to young adulthood. An eye-opening experience too for the pupils as, in their words, “it showed us different ways of how people live and made us realise how fortunate we are, it definitely gave us a new perspective of life”.

As for the teachers, it was an honour for both of us to escort such loving and caring pupils there. Having observed the dedication, the love, and the care with which they worked before Christmas to prepare the presents given, we knew they were good kids. But they were not just good, they were brilliant, so warm, so loving towards the kids there! It was really emotional and encouraging for the future to see how young people can engage with each other immediately. We thank them deeply for that.
 

On Tuesday 4th  and Thursday 6th February, our school proudly hosted annual mini-basketball tournaments for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. These two action-packed days brought together more than 150 enthusiastic players, all eager to display their basketball skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. A total of seven schools participated in these thrilling events, making for an atmosphere filled with energy, competition, and cheers from supporters. The level of play was truly commendable, with players showing remarkable determination, quick passes, and impressive shots. The courts were alive with excitement as young athletes dribbled, defended, and aimed for baskets, embodying the spirit of the game. Teachers, coaches, and supporters were all delighted with the high standard of play and the enthusiasm displayed by every participant.

A heartfelt congratulations to all our young basketball players who proudly represented St Lawrence College. Your dedication and effort were truly inspiring!