Globeducate, one of the world’s leading K12 education groups, this week announced the acquisition of Cypriot educational group Olympion.
This notable group of private Greek schools, situated near Nicosia, educates nearly 450 pupils aged 6 to 18 across Gymnasium, Lyceum, and, starting in September 2024, elementary stages.
The acquisition strengthens Globeducate’s presence in Cyprus and brings Olympion into closer alignment with PASCAL International Education, another respected name in Cypriot education, also under the Globeducate umbrella.
Established in 2003, Educational Group Olympion has built a strong reputation in Cyprus, particularly for its focus on private mainstream education.
Fully recognised by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, Olympion prepares its students for the national secondary school qualification, the Cypriot Apolytirion.
“Over the years, the school has consistently achieved top results in both national and international academic competitions, including Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, and Biology,” the Olympion management said.
Furthermore, it said that “the school’s excellence has been acknowledged with several Education Leader Awards, including a Gold Award for its facilities and Silver Awards for online education and contributions to arts and culture.”
Located in Palaiometocho, a suburb of Nicosia, Olympion serves a student body that is almost entirely composed of Cypriot nationals, with the majority of students hailing from the Nicosia area. The school’s comprehensive educational programme is designed to nurture the intellectual, artistic, and physical development of all its students.
Since its inception, Olympion has also established itself as a recognized exam centre for the University of Cambridge, offering students the opportunity to take international examinations in English and other subjects.
Known for its innovative educational practices and exceptional facilities, the school boasts modern classrooms and laboratories for subjects such as robotics and astronomy, art and design studios equipped with 3D printing technology, and extensive sports facilities, including fields and courts for football, basketball, volleyball, and futsal.
The acquisition of Olympion is a strategic move for Globeducate, which already operates more than 60 premium bilingual and international schools, as well as online programmes, across 11 countries.
Commenting on the acquisition, Luca Uva, Chief Executive Officer of Globeducate, 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,” Uva addded.
He also said that “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.”
Olympion has become a leader in modern education in Cyprus, characterized by a contemporary educational philosophy, an individualized approach, modern equipment, small class sizes, and a focus on efficiency, as well as rich cultural and social activities.
The school maintains a competitive strategic position among other educational institutions by offering a complete education for ages 6 to 18, running a six-year secondary program instead of a seven-year one, and preparing students for internationally recognized exams such as IGCSE, IELTS, LCCI, ECDL, and DELF.
Moreover, Olympion is known for its human-centric approach, which is reflected in its friendly and well-qualified staff, as well as its modern facilities.
Olympion’s students consistently achieve distinctions on a global, pan-European, and national level, and the school offers scholarships based on entrance exam results. Graduates from Olympion have a wide range of options for further studies, including universities in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, the USA, and other European countries.
The transaction, which underscores the strategic value of Olympion to Globeducate, was expertly managed by a team of advisors, including lead legal advisors Pittas + Koullouros LLC, led by Panayiotis Koullouros, alongside AfayaPartners (Operational & Educational), CBRE (Real Estate), Deloitte (Finance and Tax), and Edacto (Commercial).
This acquisition represents a business expansion and a shared vision of educational excellence between Olympion and 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 more than 60 premium bilingual and international schools, as well as online programmes, educating 40,000 students in 11 countries,” the management of Globeducate said,
Moreover, it mentioned that “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 part of Globeducate opens new avenues for Olympion’s students and teachers, who will now have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of global events and initiatives. Notably, Globeducate is an official partner of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and works with Eco-Schools in each country, as well as LEGO® Education.
The group also hosts various global events, such as the Globeducate Model United Nations, Academic Olympics, Visual Arts Competition, International Music Festival, Olympic Games, and a Student Leadership Summit. Through these initiatives, Olympion’s students will have the chance to engage with a global network of peers, broadening their horizons and gaining valuable experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.
Since its founding, Olympion has been guided by George and Maria Kritikos, co-directors, along with their son and daughter, Andreas and Christina.
Although the family also owns Global College, a higher education institute that will not be part of the Globeducate acquisition, they remain deeply committed to the future of Olympion.
Reflecting on this new phase, the Kritikos family said, “At Olympion we have always prided ourselves on our supportive community and robust guidance services.”
They further commented, “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”.
“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,” they concluded.
