This Greek School Merges IB With Multiple Intelligences — And It's Working

Jan de Vries · 2026-11-02

What if a school didn't just teach to the test, but to the whole child? That's the question driving DES Interactive European School, a bilingual English-Greek institution in Varkiza, on the Athenian Riviera. Recently named Best Bilingual IB School 2026 – Attica at the Hellenic Business Awards, DES is rethinking what education can look like. ### A Different Kind of Bilingual School DES serves nursery through secondary students and has built a community of nearly 30 nationalities. But what really sets it apart is how it blends the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In plain terms: they believe every child is smart in their own way, and teaching should reflect that. It's the first bilingual school in Greece to combine these two approaches. Currently authorized for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), with the Diploma Programme on the horizon, DES offers rigorous, inquiry-led learning that's grounded in Greek context but global in outlook. ### More Than Just Classrooms Spread across four complexes in the southern suburbs, DES is home to about 450 students and 150 staff. Since opening its first location in 2004, the school has viewed all subjects as primary – whether it's sports, music, art, literature, languages, or math. The campuses themselves are part of the curriculum: gardens, outdoor spaces, and animal interactions help kids connect knowledge with the natural world. > "At DES, innovation begins with a simple question: does this improve the way a child learns, belongs, or understands the world?" – Dr. Billie Konstantara, Founder & CEO That philosophy extends to technology, robotics, creativity, and social responsibility – all woven into the learning ecology. ### The Values Behind the Method Teaching at DES is guided by five core values: intellectual curiosity, inclusion, responsibility, international-mindedness, and genuine care for the individual child. It's a school that cares about more than results. "Our goal is not merely to prepare students for examinations," Dr. Konstantara explains. "It is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, and emotionally secure young people who can think independently, collaborate across cultures, and contribute meaningfully to society." Staff work to ensure every child is seen, understood, and appropriately challenged. High but achievable expectations are paired with close observation, strong relationships, and differentiated teaching. As an international microschool, DES benefits from a tight-knit community where teachers truly know their students and can respond quickly to their needs. ### Connecting Across Boundaries Strong connections are developed across subjects, age groups, and cultures. Through initiatives that foster global awareness and collaboration, students learn to navigate a diverse world with empathy and confidence. In a time when education often feels like a race to the top, DES stands out by putting the child at the center. And if the recent award is any indication, that approach is paying off – not just in test scores, but in preparing young people for life.