Private schools already operating in Nová Zbrojovka
The first stage of primary school has been operated by PORG Brno in the ZET.Office building since September 2023. This branch of the prestigious educational network combines bilingual teaching in Czech and English with a friendly and modern environment. PORG has a strong history. The school was founded in 1990 as the first non-state school after the Velvet Revolution and is now one of the most respected educational institutions in Czechia. Its graduates regularly go on to study at prestigious universities around the world, such as the University of Cambridge and Harvard University.
In September 2024, the first Czech branch of the global Maple Bear educational network joined the school. The presence of such prestigious private schools is an important step towards making Nová Zbrojovka a neighborhood where families have access to quality education literally a few minutes from home.
Maple Bear: a Czech school with a Canadian approach
Maple Bear is a bilingual Czech-Canadian elementary school that offers a unique educational model. Formally, it is a Czech elementary school that meets all the requirements of the Czech educational system. Beyond that, it uses Canadian teaching methods and international educational know-how. There are always two teachers in the classroom, one Czech and one foreign, and the children naturally work in both Czech and English every day across all subjects.
Teaching emphasizes an individual approach to students and the active involvement of children. The school's philosophy is well captured by a rule that its coaches from Vancouver, who check the quality of teaching every year, remind us of: "If only the teacher talks for a long time and not the children, something is wrong." Children do not just work with abstract examples on paper, but use specific aids and model situations. A typical example is mathematics – graphs are not only created in notebooks, children build them from blocks, model them, and explore them through practical tasks.
The Maple Bear concept was created in 2005 and is the world's largest and fastest-growing network of Canadian schools, with 498 schools in 37 countries and over 70,000 students today. It has a particularly strong presence in Asia and South America, while Europe is a relatively new market for the network. Nová Zbrojovka was its first stop in the Czech Republic, and today it also operates in Prague and Olomouc.
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| Maple Bear - a private bilingual Czechia-Canadian elementary school located in ZET.Office since September 2024 | It offers a modern and warm environment where children grow up confident, curious, and fluent in both Czech and English |
Who is Maple Bear the ideal school for?
The school's community of families is diverse:
- approximately 75% are Czech families who want to give their children a bilingual education and a strong academic foundation,
- about 20% are families from multilingual environments where children use two or three languages,
- a smaller proportion are foreign parents who plan to live in the Czech Republic for a long time and want their children to be well integrated into the Czech environment.
Children from Maple Bear can easily continue in the Czech education system – for example, take entrance exams for high schools and continue their studies in Czechia.
Maple Bear is gradually developing in Nová Zbrojovka. In September 2024, the school opened a preparatory zero grade. This year, there are already two classes – zero and first grade. From September, the school will expand further: a second first grade and a second grade will be added. In the coming years, it plans to open a kindergarten and expand further.
"Our long-term vision is to create a full-fledged educational campus in Nová Zbrojovka, where children will be able to go through the entire educational cycle – from kindergarten to high school. Everything will depend on the interest of parents," says school Director Martin Drnek.
Why did Maple Bear choose Nová Zbrojovka?
The school was looking for a place that matched its philosophy — modern buildings, high-quality public space, and an environment where a community can naturally form. A place where people meet, spend time outdoors, and enjoy a vibrant social life. Because when people have a connection to their surroundings, they simply live better there. And Nová Zbrojovka fulfills these ambitions.
"Safe streets are also a priority for us. So that parents can let their children walk to school from the other end of the neighborhood without worry. In Nová Zbrojovka, the streets will be calmer, with speed zones, so parents can be sure that their children are moving around in a safe environment. Greenery is also important to us—so that children can grow up in a healthy environment and have places to play," says Iveta Navas, Real Estate Development Manager at Maple Bear.
You can hear more in the podcast V ODZBROJENÍ, in which we thoroughly interviewed the school's management a year ago.
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A modern, attractive, and multifunctional elementary school for life in the 21st century | The new school represents the culmination of an approach to building a modern city of short distances |
Public school for 810 children right in Nová Zbrojovka
We are preparing the construction of a large elementary school and two kindergartens in coordination with the city of Brno, which will take over the schools after completion. The project documentation is complete and the process of obtaining a building permit is currently underway.
The new elementary school near the Brno-Židenice train station will offer capacity for 810 students in 27 classrooms and facilities for 110 employees. From the outset, we have designed the four-story building as a modern school for the 21st century – flexible, open, and ready for a variety of teaching methods.
"We expect that education in the future will be based on an individual approach, project work, and teamwork. The design of the building reflects this. We have designed the classrooms to be flexible so that they can accommodate various forms of teaching – from individual work to presentations and group projects," says architect Štefan Šulek, a partner at SOA architekti, which is preparing the Nová Zbrojovka Primary and Nursery School project.
You will find there, for example:
- 15 regular classrooms for the first grade
- 12 universal classrooms for the second grade
- specialized classrooms – e.g., for IT, biology, chemistry, or physics, which will also be available to the public
- a large study room with a school library
- an after-school club
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| The elementary school hall, like its corridors, offers refined nooks and spaces for relaxation, discussion, and study | Classrooms are designed for various forms of teaching, supporting both an individual approach to students and teamwork |
Don't expect classic corridors like you remember from traditional elementary schools. Instead, imagine multifunctional social spaces with desks, nooks, and places for individual and group work. In the relaxation areas, students can relax and study during the day. And we haven't forgotten about facilities for teachers. The school will have shared meeting rooms, lounges, offices, and quiet areas where they can prepare for classes.
An interesting feature will be the school cafeteria, which will also serve as a multifunctional auditorium. An acoustic partition will allow it to be divided and used for school performances or community events. It will include a modern school kitchen with a capacity of up to 1,500 meals per day. The cafeteria will be self-service — older children will serve themselves and carry their own food.
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The school will also offer several specialized classrooms for teaching technical subjects | A multifunctional auditorium instead of a traditional cafeteria. Thanks to an acoustic partition, it can be divided and used for school performances and community events |
Unique sports facilities for the school and community
For Nová Zbrojovka, sport, like education, is fundamental, not just an add-on. That is why the new school will offer above-standard sports infrastructure. We are planning two sports halls – one smaller and one larger. The large hall with seating for approximately 180 spectators will offer attractive facilities for local sports matches and competitions.
An unusual feature will be a sports field on the school roof with an EPDM surface, ideal for ball and movement games. The field will be partially shaded by solar panels and will also include an area for growing vegetables and fruit. Children can also look forward to:
- a mirrored hall for dance, yoga, and physical activities,
- a safe school garden for free play and outdoor lessons,
- a smaller outdoor sports field,
- relaxation and gathering areas,
- a small skate park.
In the afternoons, the school building, sports halls, and other sports facilities will also serve as a center for community life in the neighborhood — for clubs, educational programs, and cultural events.
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According to the architects, the school building and separate gym form a sophisticated system of outdoor and indoor spaces with a sensitively designed hierarchy and functional layout | The playground on the school roof is simply unique. Both the outdoor and indoor sports facilities will also be used for afternoon clubs for the public |
Two kindergartens and a children's group
If you live or work in Nová Zbrojovka and have or are planning to have a family, we have more great news for you. There will be two kindergartens within walking distance. The first, located by the Svitava River next to the Morizz residence, will offer space for approximately 50 children in two classes. The second nursery school will be part of the elementary school and will also have two classes. Both nursery schools will have a garden for play, relaxation, and outdoor activities. We are also planning a children's group in Montowna, where we are currently building modern offices and 115 rental apartments.
The primary school and kindergarten buildings are being constructed on the basis of an architectural and urban planning competition organized by the Brno City Architect's Office. We emphasize a high-quality environment for children and sustainability – the buildings will be low-energy, environmentally friendly, and prepared for climate change. For example, we are planning to use photovoltaics and blue-green infrastructure, which will bring more greenery and a pleasant microclimate.
Schools in the neighborhood are already available today
Within walking or short driving distance of Nová Zbrojovka, there are a number of kindergartens, elementary schools, and high schools in the surrounding neighborhoods – the educational infrastructure in this part of Brno is quite diverse. Living in Nová Zbrojovka is therefore already practical for families, without having to wait for the new school to be completed. At the same time, Nová Zbrojovka is gradually growing into a fully-fledged urban district where families have everything they need within easy reach.
