We are proud to share that Team Next Step, our student company from the Junior Achievement (JA) Company Programme, has been invited to represent Cyprus at the International Trade Fair in Vienna, taking place from March 12 to 15, 2026.

A standout achievement has already marked the team’s journey. In April 2025, Next Step earned 3rd place at the JA Cyprus Company Programme finale. After competing alongside 78 student companies, they were selected as one of the Top 10 finalists. Their innovative concept, strong pitch, and confident responses to the jury secured them a place among the programme’s top performers.

Next Step is a career exploration website designed for Cypriot high school and university students, bringing career guidance into one accessible platform. Shaped by personal experiences, the website offers insights into a wide range of professions, while also featuring dedicated sections on women in STEM, women in traditionally male-dominated fields, and the impact of AI on job security—helping students explore career paths through a modern, socially aware lens. With creative graphics, interactive videos, and interview flash cards, the team’s mission is to build a platform that supports change, innovation, and empowerment—a space that helps students take their Next Step with clarity and confidence.

We congratulate Team Next Step on this fantastic milestone and wish them every success as they prepare to showcase their work internationally in Vienna.

With thanks to JA Cyprus for the invitation and continued support of student entrepreneurship, and to the staff supporting the programme at the school.

Our Senior Boys Futsal team proudly represented The English School in the Nicosia Schools Senior Boys Futsal Tournament, securing a place among the Top 6 teams. Throughout the competition, the boys demonstrated impressive skill, determination, and excellent sportsmanship.

Match Results

• Match 1: The English School 2–1 Techniki Sxoli C
• Match 2: The English School 3–0 Lykion Paliometochou

Quarterfinal: Pascal School 3–2 The English School

After two strong wins, the team narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals, losing by a single goal in a highly competitive quarter-final. Their performance throughout the tournament was a credit to the school and reflected their commitment and teamwork.

Team Members

• Procopiou Alexandros
• Felekis Stephanos
• Middleton Alexandros
• Makris Kyriakos
• Kyprianou Andreas
• Pashias Athos
• Kallis Anastasios
• Illarionos Marios
• Constantinou Loizos
• Maroudias Nikolas

Coaches
Mr Andy Ioannou,  Mr Yiannos Papaioannou

Congratulations to all players and coaches on a fantastic tournament run—well done for representing the school with pride.

On Friday, 19th December, our Year 1 students marked the end of term with a truly heart-warming final Act of Kindness. With generous support from 2 Red (and special thanks to Ms Olia Antoniadou for her assistance), the children managed to raise an incredible €1,310, alongside a substantial collection of dry food, clothing, and toys.

All donations will be delivered later this morning by Mr George Venizelou to the Multiple Sclerosis organisations.

A huge bravo to Year 1 and 2 Red for this outstanding and compassionate gesture — a beautiful way to close the term and share the spirit of Christmas.

We wish everyone a happy, peaceful, and joyful holiday.

On Wednesday, 17th December, between 3:00–5:00 pm, our Year 1 students enjoyed a wonderfully festive Christmas MasterChef event organised by the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Department.

Pupils had the chance to taste a range of delicious French, Spanish, and German Christmas specialities, while also dancing and celebrating together in a joyful holiday atmosphere. The event brought students together in a fun, lively setting and was a lovely way to mark the season as a year group.

A huge thank you to our sponsor, the Parents’ Association (ESPGA), for their generous support in making this event possible.

Well done to all our Year 1 students for their enthusiasm, positive energy, and festive spirit.

On Friday, 19 December, the Economics Society had the pleasure of welcoming Marios Evripidou, Business Relationship Manager at ACCA. In a highly engaging talk, Mr Evripidou explored one of the most essential (and often underestimated) skills in the world of work: communication.

Speaking to our students about the realities of the modern business environment, Mr Evripidou highlighted how strong communication is not just about speaking confidently, but also about building trust, working effectively with others, and ensuring that ideas are understood clearly. He emphasised that employers consistently value communication because it influences everything—from teamwork and leadership to client relationships and career progression.

Throughout the session, students were encouraged to reflect on how they communicate in various settings, including how they present themselves, how they listen, and how they tailor their message to their audience. Mr Evripidou also stressed that communication is a skill that can be improved with practice, and that students can start developing it now through class discussions, presentations, group projects, and extracurricular involvement.

Key messages from the talk

• Communication is a core workplace skill and a significant factor in professional success.
• It supports effective teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
• Assertive communicators are more effective at building relationships and managing expectations.
• Effective communication improves through practice, constructive feedback, and self-awareness.

The Economics Society would like to thank Mr Marios Evripidou for taking the time to speak with our students and for sharing practical insights into the skills that matter most beyond the classroom. We also thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion.

In their next Nicosia Championship fixture,  on 2nd December 2025, our Senior Boys’ Volleyball team put in a valiant performance against Forum Lyceum but narrowly missed out on victory.

Despite the result, the match highlighted the promising future of the team. With most of the squad made up of Year 4 and Year 5 students, our boys showed great spirit, resilience and strong volleyball fundamentals against an experienced opponent.

Their effort, attitude and willingness to compete until the final point reflect the character of the team and the work being done in training. This game, together with their earlier win against Apostolos Markos Lyceum, underlines that we are building a solid foundation for the coming seasons.

Well done to all the players and to their coaches, Mr Christophoros Mannaris and Mr Yiannos Nearchou, for their continued commitment and hard work.

Our senior girls’ basketball team delivered an outstanding performance in the recent Nicosia basketball competition organised by the Ministry of Education and Youth.

Throughout the tournament, the team showcased excellent basketball skills, combining strong defense with smart decision-making and effective communication on the court. Their ability to read the game, support one another, and stay composed under pressure truly set them apart from the competition.

Beyond their technical ability, the players distinguished themselves through their character. They demonstrated leadership, mutual respect, and true sportsmanship in every game, representing our school with pride both on and off the court.

We are extremely proud of our senior girls’ team for their dedication, determination, and exemplary behaviour. Congratulations to all the players on this fantastic achievement.

Economics Society welcomes alumnus Mr Petros Maroudias

On Friday 7th November, the Economics Society had the pleasure of welcoming back English School alumnus Mr Petros Maroudias for an inspirational session titled “Politics and Economics: Two Sides of the Same Coin.”

Mr Maroudias, a Chartered Accountant working in the Cyprus finance sector based on UK law, spoke to our Year 6 and 7 Economics students about how political decisions and economic realities are deeply interconnected. Drawing on his professional experience, he explained how laws, regulations, and government policy directly shape financial markets, banking stability, and business confidence.

A key part of his talk focused on the banking sector in Cyprus, tracing how it has evolved and how it operates within an international framework. He highlighted the role of international private clients, explaining how Cyprus’ position as a financial and services hub brings both opportunities and responsibilities. Students gained insight into how regulatory frameworks, risk management, and client relationships come together in practice.

Throughout the session, Mr Maroudias returned to his personal motto:
“Work hard, play hard.”
He encouraged students to aim high academically, to develop strong analytical skills, and to remain curious about the world around them, while also maintaining balance and enjoying student life.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A, where students asked detailed questions about careers in finance, the reality of working as a chartered accountant, and the skills needed to succeed in a competitive global market. As the discussion evolved, the conversation naturally shifted towards the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the modern world — particularly its impact on:

• Job opportunities in finance and related fields
• The changing skills employers are looking for
• The importance of regulation, ethics, and human judgement in an AI-driven future

The discussion was so engaging that students did not want to leave, and many stayed behind to continue asking questions and seeking advice about their future paths.

The Economics Society is grateful to Mr Maroudias for returning to his alma mater and offering such an insightful, honest, and motivating talk. Sessions like this help our students connect classroom theory with real-world practice and inspire them to think critically about their place in an evolving global economy.

The Economics Society, which meets every Friday at The English School, was delighted to welcome Ms Christiana Diola, Director, Europe at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), to speak to our Year 6 and 7 Economics students.

ICAEW is one of the world’s leading professional bodies for chartered accountants, supporting members and students in over 140 countries and playing a key role in setting high standards for the accountancy profession.

As Director for Europe, Ms Diola leads ICAEW’s work across the region, including Cyprus and Greece, engaging with firms, regulators and policymakers on issues that shape the financial and business environment.

In her talk, titled “The Role of Chartered Accountants in Today’s Working World – Cyprus as a Trade Centre”, Ms Diola explained how chartered accountants contribute far beyond traditional auditing and bookkeeping. She outlined their role in safeguarding financial integrity, advising businesses on strategy and risk, and supporting sustainable growth in an increasingly complex, data-driven global economy. She also highlighted how professional scepticism and strong ethical standards are essential in combating financial crime and maintaining trust in markets.

Focusing on Cyprus, Ms Diola explored why the island has established itself as a regional hub for professional services and international trade. She discussed the country’s strategic geographic position, its highly qualified workforce and its growing network of financial, shipping and service companies, all of which create diverse career opportunities for young people interested in economics, finance and business. She also touched on the skills and qualifications – including the ACA qualification – that can open doors to international careers for our students.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A, during which students asked about career pathways, university choices, and how global trends such as digitalisation, sustainability and geopolitical change are reshaping the work of chartered accountants. Ms Diola encouraged our students to combine strong technical knowledge with curiosity, integrity and a willingness to keep learning throughout their careers.

We are grateful to Ms Diola and ICAEW for investing time in our students and for offering such a clear, real-world perspective on the connection between their classroom learning and the dynamic world of international trade and finance.