There’s a phrase that only parents of large families truly understand: “every child is a separate universe.” And when you have not just one universe but four, choosing a school turns into a strategy on the scale of an IPO, rather than simply “wherever’s closest to home.”

Marina is a successful mother of four, living in the elite suburbs west of Moscow. Calm, confident, with that gentle wisdom possessed by women who manage everything: home, family, work, and themselves. Today, she’s raising children who independently choose universities in Europe and the US, speak English fluently, and make their own plans—without constant parental time-management.

And all this thanks to a decision made years ago: to transfer the children to Cambridge International School (CIS).

From a Moscow state school to international education: “I was astonished by how important the environment is”

“When the older ones moved to secondary school, it all turned into chaos,” Marina recalls. “Teachers changed constantly, approaches varied, there was no stability. I realised: either we stay in this system and put up with it, or I take responsibility and find a new solution.”

The decision proved life-changing. Marina began researching private schools and quickly understood that the standard education model no longer met her family’s needs. That’s how CIS entered their lives—first the Skolkovo campus, then St Petersburg and Gorki.

“I didn’t have a moment’s doubt about sending the younger ones there too. It felt like coming home: stability, development, inspiration,” she says.

When the school sees what even parents sometimes miss

Every mother knows: a child can reveal talents unexpectedly. That’s what happened with Marina’s middle son. “He’d played ice hockey his whole life. And suddenly—‘Mum, I want to draw.’ It was a shock! He’d never shown any interest in pencils.” A couple of days later, a call from the art teacher:

“Your son is incredibly talented. We’d like to work with him.”

Now he’s completing his Art subject in the upper years at CIS and is applying to study architecture. “It’s all down to the school. They saw in him what I hadn’t. And they helped him flourish.”

The eldest son’s story: MGIMO, an international programme, and confidence in his future

Ivan, the eldest, is now studying at MGIMO, one of the country’s most prestigious universities. And—what matters to a mother—he got in on his own, without tutors, extra courses, or “boosters.”

“He just shut himself in his room, chose his direction, and passed the exams. He’s now in his final year and looking at master’s programmes in San Francisco and Barcelona.”

His English is perfect; studying fully in English comes easily. “They love him at MGIMO. And that’s of course thanks to the school,” says Marina.

Independence—the superpower that CIS gives every child

“From Year 7 onwards, I hardly supervised them at all. They do it themselves: choose subjects, complete homework, manage their time.” Even the younger ones are already “little adults.” “They say, ‘Mum, we’ll handle it ourselves!’ And it’s true. Within two months, the children become completely independent.”

“The children make friends easily—at school, on trips, anywhere. The world has been opened to them. They discuss politics, the global economy, international issues. They speak English as fluently as they do at home.”

Life without endless after-school clubs and traffic jams

Every mother in the elite Moscow suburbs knows well: ferrying children to activities is only possible with a personal driver and the hope of not spending the rest of the day in traffic. At CIS, this problem vanishes.

“For the younger ones—basketball, French, robotics, dance, programming—all in one place. I simply drop them off in the morning and collect them in the evening: happy, fed, and pleasantly tired.”

When the school becomes a family

“Over all these years, my children have never experienced even a hint of bullying. The teachers have truly created an atmosphere of trust and support—everyone has their place here. And what you notice straight away: teachers don’t hunt for mistakes—they help children move forward. At CIS, children are taught the most important thing: a mistake isn’t a verdict or cause for tears, but a personal insight. No one dramatises or frightens them with ‘bad marks.’ If something doesn’t work out, the children don’t say ‘I’ll fix it,’ but ‘I’ve learned a lesson and now know how to improve.’ And that maturity, that calm self-acceptance—I learn from them myself.”

Advice to mothers in the elite Moscow suburbs choosing a school

Marina smiles: “My only advice—come and visit. Book a trial day. See for yourselves what sets an ordinary system apart from an international one. If you want the whole world to be open to your child—you’ll know straight away that this is your place.”