Back in 2012–13, Park Lane International School was a thriving primary and kindergarten community spread across two sites, with our oldest pupils just approaching the age of 11. During that time, I met with a small but visionary group of Park Lane’s pioneer parents to discuss something that, at the time, existed only as an idea and a plan: our future senior school for students aged 11 to 18.
I had recently moved to Prague from Amman, Jordan, where I had led a school of 1,400 students—first as Head of Secondary and later as Whole School Principal. At our after-school meeting in September 2012, held in the assembly hall of our lovely Norbertov site, the parents’ questions were many and varied. Most were straightforward to answer. But one parent’s thoughtful challenges have stayed with me ever since.
Mr. K., a Czech parent with three children at Park Lane—including his eldest, who was due to finish Year 6 the following June—looked me in the eye and asked the question that truly cut to the heart of the matter:
“Why should we place our trust in a brand-new secondary school that doesn’t yet exist? A school with no confirmed premises, no academic record, no graduates, and no reputation among universities?”
Then came his follow-up—two questions that have echoed in my mind ever since: “Mr. Ingarfield, can you assure us that Park Lane graduates will have no limitations? That they will be accepted into the world’s most prestigious universities?”
My answer, without hesitation, was: Yes—and yes!
As I walked home that evening, I replayed that conversation in my mind. Mr. K’s questions were tough but entirely fair—and they became a personal challenge I was determined to meet – along with the Park Lane staff team, of course!
Fast Forward 13 Years
Today, I’m delighted to say that my emphatic answer from 2012 has proven to be completely justified.
Thanks to the vision of our school governors, the commitment of our senior and middle leaders, and the extraordinary dedication of our teachers, teaching partners, administrators, and support staff—including our outstanding University and Careers Department—Park Lane has flourished beyond anything we could have imagined.
Over 240 students have now completed their studies at Park Lane International School, which has grown to operate across seven sites in and around central Prague. By June 2027, that number will rise to around 350 alumni.
While exam results represent only one dimension of a well-rounded education, our students’ achievements in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) are particularly impressive. So far, 55 graduates (23%) have earned 40 or more points, and 68 (28%) have achieved 39 or higher—a benchmark that opens doors to the world’s most selective universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
And yes—Park Lane graduates have indeed gone on to study at Oxford and Cambridge.
They have also gained places at leading Ivy League universities such as Yale, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as at top UK institutions including Imperial College London, University College London, the London School of Economics, the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, the University of St Andrews, and Durham University.
Further afield, our alumni have joined prestigious institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, Bocconi University in Milan, the University of Toronto and several top universities in the Netherlands, including Erasmus and Delft.
Had Brexit not taken place, I am confident that even more Czech and EU nationals would now be studying in the UK. But as with so many things in life—stuff happens! After all, in 2012, our own secondary school was a little like Brexit itself: something not yet invented!
Looking Back—and Ahead
I want to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played a part in the continuing evolution of our very special school—and to our hardworking students, who truly understand the value of the education they receive at Park Lane.
Finally, I owe particular gratitude to those early parents, like Mr. K., who placed their trust in an idea and believed that we would build—and continue to build—a world-class school for students aged 2 to 18, right here in the inspirational heart of Prague.