REAL School Budapest

Located in Graphisoft Park, Óbuda, Budapest, next to the Danube River. Housed in a historic factory building repurposed for learning, it features large, multi-purpose spaces and upcycled furniture. The address is 1031 Budapest, Hungary.

Primary and middle school for ages 5-14.

Not-for-profit, British international school.

The school does not have staffing provision to accommodate children with special needs, severe learning differences or serious behavioural issues.

British international school (follows the English National Curriculum).

REAL School follows the National Curriculum in England and is COBIS Accredited. It serves children from kindergarten to grade 8 (ages 5-14) and is licensed in Hungary as a primary and middle school. In the lower school (ages 5-9), literacy and numeracy foundations are built with Read Write Inc and Oxford Reading Tree, while science and humanities are woven into projects. In the upper school (ages 10-14), maths is taught as core skills, problem solving, and applied maths; literacy is integrated with Dream to Reality projects when possible, and science is taught both as a project-based and standalone subject. The learning emphasizes project-based experiences across Academics, Nature, Smart tech, Wellbeing, Entrepreneurship, and Regeneration, with weekly excursions and outdoor learning. End-of-term reports track progress against the English National Curriculum and REAL School's learning competencies, and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is available.

REAL School places wellbeing at the heart of its approach, focusing on nurturing social, emotional, and physical health. Wellbeing is a cornerstone of the school's philosophy. The curriculum balances core academics with nature, smart tech, wellbeing, entrepreneurship, and regeneration. Authentic project-based learning connects knowledge to action, developing 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. In a small, international community, children are known and their voices are heard.

The school currently does not have staffing provision to accommodate children with special needs, severe learning differences or serious behavioural issues.

The primary language of teaching at the REAL School is English. The school welcomes students with all English abilities, but preference is given to those with strong English skills so they can access learning opportunities. For students older than 8, conversational English is required to engage in projects and activities. For pupils aged 11 or above, reasonable fluency in spoken and written English is required. English proficiency is assessed as part of the application process.

Wellbeing is a cornerstone of REAL School's philosophy, with a focus on nurturing the social, emotional, and physical health of its students to develop balanced and resilient learners. The learning approach supports mental wellbeing through project-based learning, peer collaboration, and a supportive community that values each student's wellbeing.

Safeguarding is a top priority for REAL School. Concerns should be reported to besafe@realschool.hu.

Step 1 Research: Get to know the school by reading the website, downloading the brochure, contacting the admissions team, watching the YouTube channel, and following the school's social channels. Review the School Calendar and Fees Schedule to understand term dates and costs. REAL School offers rolling enrolment, accepting families to start throughout the year, with a minimum one-year commitment. The primary language of teaching is English; for students older than 8, conversational English is required to engage in projects, and 11+ applicants must have fluent spoken and written English, with proficiency assessed as part of the application process.

Step 2 Register your interest: Indicate your interest for enrolment by providing the name and age of your children and your contact details. Expect to receive a welcome email from the Family Ambassador. This initiates the application flow and helps the school provide the right information for your family. The link to indicate interest for enrolment is available on the admissions page.

Step 3 Meet Us!: Join an online call to learn more about the school and answer questions. The Family Ambassador, the Principal, an educator, or the Founders will be happy to meet you. Open Tour sessions are held every Tuesday, and there are other ways to get in touch if you prefer.

Step 4 Apply Online: Apply through the online application system and submit supporting documentation. This includes basic data, schooling history to date, any special needs or issues to be aware of, and questions about motivation for wishing to join the school. For applicants aged 11+, a short video introduction and a personal statement are requested. The application fee will be invoiced following submission.

Step 5 Meet the Founders: Following the review of the application, families are invited to meet the Founders through an online call to help establish whether the values and intentions of the School meet the expectations and values of the family. This is an important step in the process because the community plays an essential part in the School's ethos and education process.

Step 6 Trial Days: After the family meeting, your child would normally be invited for 3 trial days at the school to get a feel for the learning experience and the community, as well as to assess their readiness to join REAL School.

Step 7 Contract & payment: Once a formal offer of a place has been made, parents are asked to agree to the contract, and pay the Seat reservation fee to secure a place at the school. REAL School Budapest welcomes families from diverse backgrounds and does not discriminate on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or family structure. The school also provides a Privacy Policy for applicant data.

Note: REAL School offers rolling enrolment and is currently accepting international students aged 5-14.

Scholarship programme: A limited number of tuition assistance opportunities are offered for displaced families seeking full-time education at REAL School. Priority will be given to students who have been enrolled at REAL School since March 2022. Sustainable Entrepreneurship: The Ukraine offerings incorporate the Dream to Reality process to build a sustainable entrepreneurial mindset and address environmental and social issues. Saturday School: Every Saturday REAL School becomes a Ukrainian school, organized by the Ukrainian Association Unity. Children have fun, interactive activities; adults can join a Hungarian lesson and Q&A about Budapest; programs are in development for sustainability and entrepreneurship. Summer camps: Financial support is provided to displaced children to join summer camps, cultivating creativity, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, sustainability mindset and skills. Contact: Reach out to Ukrainian support catalyst Olesia at olesia.kuzo@realschool.hu and +36702828087. How you can help: Contributions are managed by the non-profit Dream to Reality Foundation for Sustainability, set up to provide scholarships and fund sustainability initiatives related to REAL School.