Safeguarding international schools in Greece: country guide

The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports licenses and supervises private schools in Greece. Foreign schools set up under Greek private school laws, such as Law 682/1977, may teach British, American, French, German or IB courses.

Whatever the course, every school in Greece must follow Greek criminal, child protection and labour law. Regional education offices check that schools comply.

Many international schools in Athens and Thessaloniki also hold CIS, COBIS, NEASC or MSA approval. Read how KCSIE guidance travels abroad alongside local law.

Yes. Article 23 of Law 3500/2006 on domestic violence sets a legal duty for teachers. It covers public and private primary and secondary schools.

A teacher may learn at work that a pupil faces domestic violence or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. The teacher must then tell the school head without delay.

The head must report the crime at once to the public prosecutor for minors or the nearest police station. The same duty binds school social workers, psychologists and doctors.

The law also protects staff who report in good faith. They do not have to act as witnesses unless they choose to. Law 5023/2023 also asks schools to name a coordinator against bullying and school violence.

In October 2021, Greece passed Law 4837/2021. It aims to prevent child abuse and improve reporting in schools, camps, sports clubs and other places that serve children.

Each of these bodies must name a Child Protection Officer. This officer receives reports of suspected abuse, keeps them private and passes them to the prosecutor or the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA).

In an international school, your designated safeguarding lead (DSL) can hold this role. Or the DSL can work closely with the Greek-speaking head, so concerns move straight into the legal channel.

• One reporting line: staff tell the DSL and the head about any sign of abuse the same day.
• Quick legal notice: the head and the Child Protection Officer tell the prosecutor or police without delay.
• A clear record: note that the report was made under Law 3500/2006 and Law 4837/2021.
• Language support: make sure a fluent Greek speaker on the team can write notices and speak with the prosecutor.

If a child is in danger now, call 112 or the police on 100. Then follow your school steps and tell your DSL and head the same day.

Greece also has a trusted 24-hour child helpline run by the charity The Smile of the Child. It works closely with the prosecutor and the police.

• 100 and 112: police and emergency lines, open all day and night (Hellenic Police).
• 166: the national ambulance service.
• 1056: the SOS helpline for children, run by The Smile of the Child. It is free and staffed by social workers 24 hours a day.
• 116 111: the European helpline for children, also run by The Smile of the Child.
• 197: the social help line run by EKKA.

Law 4837/2021 bars people with certain crimes from work or volunteering in schools. These include sexual crimes, child abuse images, child abduction and domestic violence.

Before hiring, schools get an official criminal record extract through gov.gr. The candidate also signs a formal statement that no sexual crime case against children is open.

A Greek extract only shows Greek records. Collect police checks from every country a candidate lived in, call referees and log it all on your Single Central Record. Read safer recruitment for international schools.

Greece applies the EU GDPR together with Law 4624/2019. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority enforces both.

When your school logs a concern or reports to the prosecutor, it is meeting a legal duty. That is a lawful basis under GDPR, so you do not rely on consent. Keep safeguarding files apart from school records, and limit access to the DSL, the officer and the head.

Greek schools ban physical punishment, and Law 3500/2006 bans violence as discipline for children. Make this clear in your staff code of conduct and training.

This guide gives general information checked on 10 November 2026. It is not legal advice. Complete these steps in your first term with your head and a Greek lawyer.

• Confirm who is the Child Protection Officer and who leads on bullying.
• Draw a clear chart: teachers tell the DSL and head, who tell the prosecutor at once.
• Save the phone numbers and address of your local prosecutor for minors, police and EKKA.
• Check that every adult has a Greek record extract, a signed statement and police checks from abroad on the SCR.
• Post 1056, 116 111, 100 and 112 in Greek and English around the school.