Press Release
Globeducate announces the acquisition of Education Group OLYMPION School (Εκπαιδευτικός Όμιλος ΟΛΥΜΠΙΟΝ) near Nicosia in Cyprus, a group of Greek private schools with nearly 450 pupils aged 6 to 18 across Gymnasium, Lyceum and, from September 2024, Elementary stages.
This highly respected group of schools joins Globeducate - one of the world's leading K12 education groups with 60+ premium bilingual and international schools, and online programmes, in 11 countries, and strengthens the group´s presence in Cyprus alongside PASCAL International Education group.
Educational Group OLYMPION, established in 2003, is fully recognised by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, and focuses on private mainstream education, preparing students for the national official secondary school qualification, the Cypriot Apolytirion. Students consistently achieve top results in national and international academic competitions including Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics and Biology, and the school has received several Education Leader Awards, including a Gold Award for its facilities and Silver Awards for online education and contributions to arts and culture.
The Educational Group OLYMPION has a pupil population of almost entirely Cypriot nationals and is located in Palaiometocho, with most students coming from Nicosia. A comprehensive educational programme nurtures the intellectual, artistic, and physical development of all students and, since its inception, it has grown to become a recognised exam centre for the University of Cambridge, offering students the opportunity to take international examinations in English and other subjects. The school has a strong reputation for its innovative educational practices and exceptional facilities, including modern classrooms and laboratories for subjects such as robotics and astronomy; art and design studios with 3D printing technology; and extensive sports facilities including fields and courts for football, basketball, volleyball and futsal.
Co-directors George and Maria Kritikos, along with their son and daughter Andreas and Christina, also own Global College, a higher education institute that will not become part of Globeducate. Commenting on the acquisition, the Kritikos family said:
“At OLYMPION we have always prided ourselves on our supportive community and robust guidance services. We stand out in Cyprus for our commitment to fostering a nurturing and stimulating learning environment that prepares our students for success in their academic and personal lives and we are confident that joining Globeducate and developing a close relationship with PASCAL International Education schools on the island, will give us greater opportunities to grow further and to open our students to wider, global opportunities and a large network of peers across the world. We look forward to this next chapter in Olympion´s story.”
Chief Executive Officer of Globeducate Luca Uva said: “We are delighted to welcome The Educational Group OLYMPION to Globeducate, extending our presence in Cyprus. Our conversations with the Kritikos family and team at Olympion quickly highlighted many shared values and goals, and I believe this will be a dynamic and important step in the future growth of both organisations. Schools in Globeducate specialise in a variety of highly respected national curricula for Canada, Cyprus, France, India, Italy, Portugal and Spain, as well as international curricula including the English National Curriculum and International Baccalaureate, and our students achieve high grades and go on to higher education programmes at 25 of the world´s top 50 universities.”
The transaction was led by Globeducate’s lead legal advisors, Pittas + Koullouros LLC led by Panayiotis Koullouros, Operational&Educational: AfayaPartners, Real Estate: CBRE, Finance and Tax: Deloitte, and Commercial: Edacto.
ABOUT OLYMPION, NICOSIA - CYPRUS
The Educational Group OLYMPION consists of Gymnasium, Lyceum, and, from September 2024, Elementary stages serving children aged 6-18.
OLYMPION schools are approved and recognised by the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.
Educational Group OLYMPION commenced operations in September 2003. Since then, its progress has been impressive. Its success is certified by global, pan-European, and national awards, as well as numerous successes in national exams. OLYMPION graduates have options for further studies at universities in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, the USA, and other European countries.
Educational Group OLYMPION leads in modern education. With a contemporary educational philosophy, individualised approach, modern equipment, small class sizes, efficiency, and rich cultural and social activities, it has established itself in the educational scene.
Specifically, the group maintains a competitive strategic position among other competitors by:
● Offering a complete education (Elementary, Gymnasium, Lyceum stages) for ages 6-18.
● Running a six-year secondary programme, instead of a seven-year, leading to the Apolytirion.
● Having a small number of students in each class
● Staffing friendly and well-qualified professionals
● Preparing students for IGCSE, IELTS, LCCI, ECDL, and DELF exams to obtain internationally recognised qualifications.
● Following a human-centric approach.
● Offering modern facilities.
● Achieving global, pan-European, and national distinctions.
● Awarding scholarships based on entrance exam results.
● Admission to Cypriot, Greek, British, European, American, and other universities.
ABOUT GLOBEDUCATE
We prepare each student to be a global citizen who can shape the world. Globeducate is one of the leading international K12 education groups in the world, a network of 60+ premium bilingual and international schools, as well as online programmes, educating 40,000 students in 11 countries.
Our schools specialise in a variety of recognised highly respected international curricula including the English National Curriculum (EYFS to A Level), International Baccalaureate (PYP to IBDP), and the national curricula of Canada, Cyprus, France, India, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Our students achieve high grades and are accepted into higher education programmes at 25 of the world’s top 50 universities.
Being a member of Globeducate brings many benefits for our schools, students and teachers. We are an official partner of WWF (World Wildlife Fund), and work with Eco-Schools in each country, as well as LEGO® Education and, in our ICS schools, Arts International. Every year we host a wide range of global events, online or in person, such as the Globeducate Model United Nations, Academic Olympics, Visual Arts Competition, International Music Festival, Olympic Games and a Student Leadership Summit. For our Globeducate Agenda, students may participate in a WWF global quiz, Outdoor Classroom Days, WWF Wear it Wild Days, and Globeducate Debates.
Our teachers ensure that our students develop skills and abilities beyond the purely academic. Our students learn how to play their part in shaping the future and how to tackle the unprecedented social, economic and environmental challenges that are reshaping our global communities. Our teachers, counsellors and partners prepare this generation for jobs that have not yet been created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, and to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated.
A crucial part of providing an excellent education, Globeducate teachers inspire our students to find their voice in this world. They encourage them to understand world events and to think about their values and what is important to them, and to challenge ignorance and intolerance wherever they find it.
