Inside the Bilingual IB School Winning Top Honors in Attica

Jan de Vries · 2026-11-02

### A School Where Learning Feels Like Serious Fun What if school could be rigorous and joyful at the same time? That's the question DES Interactive European School has been answering since 2004. Based in Varkiza, on the Athenian Riviera, this bilingual English-Greek school serves children from nursery through secondary education. It's home to nearly 30 nationalities, and it recently earned the title of Best Bilingual IB School 2026 – Attica at the Hellenic Business Awards. We sat down with Dr. Billie Konstantara, the school's founder and CEO, to learn what makes DES tick. ### The First of Its Kind in Greece DES is the first bilingual school in Greece to blend the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. That's a mouthful, but here's the gist: the IB framework provides inquiry-led, student-centered learning, while Gardner's theory recognizes that intelligence isn't one-size-fits-all. People have different kinds of smarts—linguistic, logical, musical, and so on—and they interact in unique ways. By mixing these approaches, DES creates an environment where every student is seen as distinct. The school currently offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), with the Diploma Programme coming soon. > "At DES, innovation begins with a simple question: does this improve the way a child learns, belongs, or understands the world?" — Dr. Billie Konstantara That question guides everything from curriculum design to campus layout. ### Four Campuses, One Mission Today, DES operates four separate complexes in Athens' southern suburbs. Across its nursery, kindergarten, primary, and middle school programs, it serves about 450 students with a staff of 150. Since the first campus opened in 2004, the mission has remained constant: inspire young minds through a curriculum built around them and their growth. That's why DES treats all subjects as primary subjects—whether it's sport, music, art, literature, languages, or math. No hierarchy here. Every discipline matters because every child's strengths are different. ### Learning Beyond the Classroom The campuses are more than just places where teaching happens. They're an integral part of the curriculum. Children learn across classrooms, gardens, and outdoor spaces. They interact with animals and engage in experiences that connect knowledge with the natural world. The school also weaves technology, robotics, creativity, and social responsibility into its learning ecology. This approach acknowledges that future careers will be diverse and unpredictable. By fostering adaptability and a broad skill set, DES prepares students for whatever comes next. ### Values That Go Beyond Results Teaching at DES is guided by five core values: - Intellectual curiosity - Inclusion - Responsibility - International-mindedness - Genuine care for the individual child These values signal a school that cares about more than test scores. As Dr. Konstantara puts it: "Our goal is not merely to prepare students for examinations. It is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, and emotionally secure young people who can think independently, collaborate across cultures, and contribute meaningfully to society." ### A Small Community with Big Impact Every staff member works to ensure each child is seen, understood, and appropriately challenged. They set high but achievable expectations, paired with close observation, strong relationships, and differentiated teaching. Because DES is also an international microschool, students benefit from a tight-knit community. Teachers truly know their students and can respond quickly to their needs. Strong connections are also built across subjects, age groups, and cultures. It's not unusual to see older students mentoring younger ones or collaborating on projects that span multiple disciplines. ### The Takeaway DES Interactive European School proves that serious learning and genuine fun can coexist. By combining the rigor of the IB with a deep understanding of individual intelligences, it creates an environment where students don't just learn—they thrive. And in a world that's increasingly complex, that's exactly the kind of education we need.