Originally Posted by kimonas

I agree with Veronica in some ways, but do bear in mind that many Cypriot families spend a small fortune on extra tuition in the afternoons and evenings as the state schools do not prepare students for IGCSEs or A levels required for University entrance. State schools have a liberal and broad curriculum which leads to an apolyterion (school leaving certificate) which is NOT equivalent to A levels. Admissions tutors used to accept them (before Cyprus joined the EU) as Cypriot students were classified as overseas students and represented lots of extra cash for UK Unis. Now, however, they are classified as home students and have to compete. At the last UK Higher Education Fair in Nicosia, the majority of UK Unis stated that they would no longer include the aployterion as part of the equivalence to A levels (the problem being that the quality of the certificate is not externally moderated) and required students to have A levels (which state schools do not offer). Many of the intake of international schools are not ex-pats, but local Cypriot students (especially in Nicosia) and the number of locals in English medium private schools is increasing rapidly as Cypriot families catch onto the fact that their children have to compete for University places now that Cyprus has joined the EU.