Who We Are?
British International School of Cracow
The British International School of Cracow (BISC Kraków) has been delivering outstanding international education since 1995. For nearly 30 years, the school has provided the highest academic standards within the British curriculum, primarily serving the expatriate and internationally minded community.
The school was founded by Wendy Murphy, Andy Harris, Paweł Zalewski, and Wiesław Ogiński. In 2024, Ms Monika Wnęk joined the group of co-owners and assumed the role of President of the School’s Management Board, strengthening the school’s leadership and long-term vision.
BISC Kraków offers a complete educational pathway from Preschool (age 3) to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (age 19). In the current academic year, the school educates 220 students from over 35 countries, representing all continents, cultures, and religions. Tolerance and openness to different cultures and customs are a hallmark of our school community.
We celebrate cultural and religious traditions, including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Día de los Muertos, fostering global awareness and mutual respect among our students.
We are proud to offer small class sizes, allowing every student to receive individual attention and support. English is the language of instruction, and our passionate teaching staff come from around the world.
We take an educational approach that develops creative, independent learners. Since 2006, BISC Kraków has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and holds the status of a Cambridge International School.
The school operates under the supervision of the Polish Ministry of Education and the Małopolska Board of Education (Kuratorium Oświaty), ensuring compliance with national educational regulations.
As a result, our students receive British and international qualifications and may participate in international, national, and local academic competitions. In addition, students receive detailed internal school reports as well as the official Polish school certificate (świadectwo).
We prepare confident, independent students who are ready to pursue higher education both in Poland and abroad.
Why BISC?
Head of the School
Dr Stanisław Kwieciński
Welcome to our school website – I hope you enjoy finding out more about our school. This is a great school! It is a pleasure to work here with a team of dedicated teachers and administrators and all their efforts are reflected in dynamic classrooms where excited and interested learners are encouraged to achieve the best they can. Our small class sizes mean all pupils are supported and challenged in their learning and our student body is active, high achieving and, also, a pleasure to work with!
If you are interested in applying for your children to attend our school please use the application form you will find elsewhere on this site and make an appointment to call in and see us sometime – you will always be welcome. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me at head@bisc.krakow.pl .
All best wishes,
Stanislaw Kwieciński
Founders
The British International School of Cracow (BISC Kraków) is an independent school which was founded in order to provide a top quality education for the growing international community, based upon the English National Curriculum.
BISC Kraków opened on the 1st of September 1995, and now educates approximately 200 pupils from over thirty different countries. BISC Kraków is a member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) and is fully accredited to offer external examinations from Cambridge International (CIE) and the Assessments & Qualifications Alliance (AQA).
Meet our Team!
dr Stanisław Kwieciński
Head of the school
I graduated from Vienna International School, receiving my IB Diploma in July 1984. I studied Physics at the Jagiellonian University, finishing with an MSc degree in 1989 along with full teaching qualifications. I have worked in the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, for more than 20 years, conducting research in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. I received my PhD in Medical Physics in 2000 and I completed a Post- doctorate fellowship at the University Hospital of Zurich in 2002-2004. I supervised five Master Theses of University students and I also lectured at the European School of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology from 2004-2012. Parallel to scientific research, I have also worked in educational areas due to my passion for the teaching profession and the popularisation of science. I was employed as a full-time Physics and Mathematics Secondary teacher at Danube International School in Vienna from 1993-1994 and 1998- 2000. I started working at BISC in 2000 as a part-time Physics and Science teacher. After a few years I managed to convince the BISC owners to move away from AS and A level and change to the International Baccalaureate Programme. We received our accreditation on 7th April 2006, and my position as IB coordinator broadened my perspective of International education. However, I still enjoyed teaching physics, conducting experiments, and being a ski instructor on BISC Ski Camps. In 2011 I was offered the post of Head of School. Thanks to the BISC Owners, I enrolled all four of my children (Ania, Ewa, Stas and Zosia) at BISC and naturally it became a strong binding factor for me. BISC – a place where they can learn respect for others, discover new cultures, and study in English in a safe and friendly environment! In free time I enjoy taking photographs, listen to jazz music and playing guitar. In winter you can find me on the ski slopes and every summer I try to keep up my passion for windsurfing and sailing.
Sylwia Marszalska
Deputy Head
I am the Deputy Head and Chemistry Teacher at British International School of Cracow, where I combine my passion for science with a strong commitment to leadership, school development, and student success. I hold a Master’s degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from Politechnika Krakowska, and I am dedicated to making chemistry engaging, relevant, and accessible. I believe that building trust, encouraging curiosity, and maintaining high expectations are key to helping students reach their full potential. In my leadership role, I focus on supporting staff, strengthening academic standards, and contributing to the strategic development of the school. I value collaboration, clear communication, and creating an environment where both students and teachers feel motivated, supported, and empowered. Alongside my work in education, I am also an entrepreneur and run a real ale brewery which I founded in 2014. Establishing and managing my own business has developed my skills in strategic planning, decision-making, and team leadership, which I bring into my role at school. I am also actively involved in charitable work as the leader of HCPT Polska, where young volunteers support children with disabilities, helping to create meaningful and life-changing experiences. This work reflects my belief that leadership and education should be grounded in empathy, service, and a genuine commitment to helping young people grow into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals.
Dr Michael Sandall
Head of Primary
Before becoming a classroom teacher, I studied Psychology at Canterbury University in the UK. This led to me becoming a Senior Therapist delivering intense specialised educational therapy to young children who could not attend mainstream schooling. I also worked as a classroom assistant from Foundation to Year 6 at a school for refugee children from around the world, leading to an interest in international teaching. After this, I undertook my Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at Warwick University in the UK and spent most of my teaching time specialising in Key Stage 1.
2025 will be my 5th year teaching Key Stage 1 at BISC, having taught both Year 1 and Year 2 during this time. In addition to teaching my class, I am also the Head of Primary. In this role, I have overseen many positive changes and developments in our curriculum and school life, and I greatly enjoy engaging with children and families across all age phases.
dr Marcos Nunes de Vilhena
Head of Secondary
Experienced educator with nearly 25 years of teaching in the field of Human Sciences, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. Holds a PhD in Modern and Contemporary History, with research focused on the perception of Russia and the Soviet Union in the West, and has published in Linguistics, History, and Politics. In his free time, enjoys being with his family and friends,playing and listening to music, reading, and sailing.
Dr David Twigg
Head Of IB
I studied mathematics at Trinity College Cambridge where I got a first before completing a PhD in theoretical physics, also at Cambridge. Whilst there, I developed a love for teaching and also helped to organize entrance tests for incoming students. I initially moved to Krakow to start a craft brewery and pub, which later closed due to the pandemic. The silver lining was the opportunity to return to teaching. This is my third-year teaching in BISC and I am greatly looking forward to the challenge of fulfilling my role as head of IB in addition to conducting physics experiments and proving mathematical theorems. In my spare time, I enjoy athletics, hiking and cooking.
Partnership with Parents
As a small and close-knit school community, BISC Kraków places great importance on strong partnerships between parents, teachers, and school leadership. Open communication and collaboration are at the heart of our approach, ensuring that parents feel informed, involved, and supported throughout their child’s educational journey.
We hold regular parent–teacher meetings, and parents are always welcome to arrange additional meetings to discuss their child’s learning, progress, or well-being. The school leadership and management team maintain an open-door policy, encouraging dialogue and constructive feedback from families.
Parents are also actively involved in school life through the Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) and the Advisory Board, which includes representatives of parents, teachers, and school owners. These bodies are consulted on key school matters, and their suggestions help guide the school’s ongoing development.
To ensure clear and consistent communication, parents receive four detailed school reports each year, providing regular insight into academic progress, personal development, and next steps in learning. Through this close partnership, we work together to support every student’s success and well-being.
