Secondary Schools in Athens for Expat Families: A Complete Guide (2026)
Secondary school in Athens spans two critical phases: the IGCSE/MYP years (approximately ages 11–16) leading to internationally recognised examinations, and the post-16 years (ages 16–18) when students prepare for university entrance. The choice made at the start of secondary school sets the examination track and, in many cases, the university pathway. Getting this right is the central decision of the Athens education landscape for expat families.
The Athens Secondary School Landscape
Athens has five institutions that can be recommended to expat families at secondary level:
- Campion School — British national curriculum, IGCSE (Years 10–11), IB Diploma (Years 12–13), Pallini
- St. Catherine's British School — British national curriculum, IGCSE (Years 10–11), IB Diploma (Years 12–13), Lykovrissi
- International School of Athens (ISA) — IB Middle Years Programme (MYP, Grades 6–10), IB Diploma (Grades 11–12), Kifisia
- Athens College / Psychico College (HAEF) — Greek-English bilingual, IB Diploma available, Psychico
- Doukas School — Greek-English, IB Diploma in English, Marousi
For families with children also in primary, Campion and St. Catherine's offer through-school continuity from Year 1/Nursery to Year 13. ISA offers the full IB PYP-MYP-DP continuum. HAEF and Doukas are essentially secondary institutions in their most internationally-recognised forms.
Years 7–9: Lower Secondary
Under the British curriculum, Years 7–9 represent three years of broad, balanced study before students choose IGCSE subjects. In this phase, children study English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, modern foreign languages (including Greek at most Athens schools), arts, and physical education.
At ISA, the equivalent phase is MYP Years 1–3. The MYP is interdisciplinary and structured around areas of interaction — a conceptual framework that differs from the British curriculum's subject-based approach. Students from British curriculum backgrounds transitioning into the MYP mid-phase typically require one to two terms to adjust to the different approach.
Year 7 entry pressure: Year 7 is the most competitive entry point at most Athens international schools. Families should apply well in advance — see applying to international schools in Athens and waiting lists.
2025–2026 secondary fees (Years 7–9):
| School | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Campion School | €13,650 |
| St. Catherine's | €14,660 |
| ISA (approx.) | €13,000–€14,000 |
Years 10–11: IGCSE or MYP Final Years
IGCSE at Campion and St. Catherine's: The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is sat at the end of Year 11 (age 15–16). Students typically sit eight to eleven subjects. IGCSE grades (A*–G, or equivalent on the 9–1 scale for some syllabuses) are reported on the UCAS application for UK universities and are accepted as evidence of secondary attainment by universities worldwide.
Campion offers the Cambridge IGCSE from Year 10. St. Catherine's offers both IGCSE and GCSE. The difference between IGCSE and GCSE is modest for university purposes; both are accepted equally by UK and international universities.
MYP at ISA: The IB Middle Years Programme culminates in MYP Year 5 (Grade 10, age 15–16). Students can sit the MYP eAssessment — the optional external assessment that produces a certificate — in a range of subjects, though not all ISA students pursue the formal MYP certificate. The MYP portfolio and records transition naturally into the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12.
Years 12–13: Post-16 Qualifications
A notable feature of the Athens international school landscape is that all five recommended schools converge on the IB Diploma at post-16. Families seeking Cambridge A-Levels specifically will need to look to other British schools in the wider Athens area (such as St. Lawrence College or Byron College); among the schools profiled here, the post-16 qualification is the IB Diploma in every case.
The IB Diploma at Campion, St. Catherine's, ISA, Athens College, and Doukas
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year qualification taken in Years 12–13 (Grades 11–12). Students study six subjects (three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level) plus the core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). The maximum score is 45 points; most competitive UK universities require 35–38 points for selective courses.
Campion: Replaced its A-Level programme with the IB Diploma in 2002 and has run the IB Diploma post-16 ever since. Students progress from IGCSE at Years 10–11 into the IB Diploma at Years 12–13.
St. Catherine's: Offers the IB Diploma as its post-16 qualification, following the British curriculum through to IGCSE first. Well-suited to students who want the breadth of the IB structure.
ISA: The IB Diploma at ISA is the natural conclusion of the PYP-MYP-DP continuum. ISA is the only school in Athens offering all three IB programmes, making it the most coherent IB pathway available in the city.
Athens College/Psychico College (HAEF): The IB Diploma is available at the Psychico campus. It sits within a Greek-English bilingual educational environment; students who have progressed through the HAEF system arrive at the Diploma having been educated bilingually across their secondary years.
Doukas School: Offers the IB Diploma in English. Doukas is a well-regarded institution in the Marousi area, popular with Greek-international families who want the IB qualification within a school with strong Greek identity.
See IB schools in Athens for a dedicated comparison of the IB Diploma options.
Choosing Between the Schools at Post-16
Because the schools profiled here all use the IB Diploma post-16, the choice is less about qualification type and more about location, fees, community, and curriculum continuity from earlier years. The IB Diploma itself has well-understood strengths:
| Factor | IB Diploma (all profiled Athens schools) |
|---|---|
| UK university applications | Fully accepted via UCAS; increasingly favoured by top universities |
| US university applications | Strong fit; US universities favour IB breadth |
| Subject structure | Six subjects, three at Higher Level, plus the core |
| Academic breadth | High (core components compulsory) |
| Curriculum continuity from British primary | Continuous through IGCSE; some adjustment to the IB approach at sixth form |
| Stress and workload | High, spread across six subjects plus the core |
For families set specifically on A-Levels — for example, because a child is targeting a UK course that specifies particular A-Level subjects and grades — the schools profiled here are not the right fit, and a British school offering Cambridge A-Levels in the wider Athens area should be considered instead. For most internationally mobile families, the IB Diploma's breadth and global recognition suit a wide range of university destinations.
See GCSE and A-Levels in Athens, IB schools in Athens, and university admissions from Athens international schools for further detail.
Greece Outside Athens: No Comparable Options
It is worth reiterating that the secondary school landscape described above is an Athens-specific one. Outside Athens, families with secondary-age children who need English-medium or international-curriculum education will not find comparable provision. The islands, Thessaloniki, and the Greek mainland outside Athens do not have secondary-level international schools with IGCSE, A-Level, or IB programmes. This is a critical consideration for families choosing where in Greece to base themselves. See international schools in Athens for more on this distinction.
How Global Investments Can Help
If you are planning a move to Athens with secondary-age children, the decision about which school — and therefore which neighbourhood — is foundational to your property search. Global Investments can help you align your Athens property choice with the right school catchment, and advise on the Golden Visa residency pathway if relevant to your circumstances. Browse listings or contact our team.
This guide is for information purposes only. Curriculum and qualification information is accurate as of 2026 but is subject to change. Always verify directly with schools and universities. Property investment values can fall as well as rise.
Frequently asked questions
Which Athens secondary schools offer internationally recognised qualifications?
Campion School offers IGCSE at Year 10–11 and the IB Diploma at Year 12–13. St. Catherine's British School offers IGCSE/GCSE at Year 10–11 and also the IB Diploma at Year 12–13. The International School of Athens (ISA) offers the full IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (DP). Athens College/Psychico College offers the IB Diploma. Doukas School also offers the IB Diploma. All of these are recognised by universities in the UK, EU, USA, Australia, and beyond.
At what age does secondary school start in Athens international schools?
Under the British curriculum (Campion, St. Catherine's), secondary begins at Year 7 (age 11–12). Under the IB system at ISA, the Middle Years Programme begins at Grade 6 (age 11–12). At Athens College/Psychico College (HAEF), the Junior High School begins at Grade 7 (age 12–13 under the Greek system).
My child is 14 and we are moving to Athens. Which school is most suitable?
At age 14, your child is entering Year 9 or Year 10 under the British curriculum — the beginning of IGCSE preparation. The priority is curriculum continuity: if they have been studying a British curriculum, Campion or St. Catherine's is the most natural fit. If they have been in an IB school, ISA's MYP is the best match. Mid-cycle entry (i.e. entering Year 10 or MYP Year 4) is accepted by all three schools subject to place availability, but curriculum gaps may need bridging.
Is the Greek state secondary system an option for non-Greek-speaking expat children?
The Greek state gymnasio (junior secondary, ages 12–15) and lykeio (senior secondary, ages 15–18) teach entirely in Greek and lead to Greek national qualifications. For non-Greek-speaking expat children, particularly at secondary level, the Greek state system is very challenging without substantial prior Greek language education. Most English-speaking expat families use international or private schools at secondary level.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.