The British Schools

The Mission of The British School’s community is to: •

form self-confident, creative, inquiring, discerning, fully bilingual students who will strive to develop their talents to the best of their abilities.

•

strive for the highest standards, providing the educational environment and infrastructure to help students to achieve excellence according to their potential in academics, arts and sports, while recognising individual differences and needs.

•

instil the importance of all human values (including moral, aesthetic, spiritual and social) in all aspects of personal growth and physical development.

•

encourage and promote a sense of belonging, a deep rooted pride and affection for the School as an Institution, its traditions, School Spirit and institutional memory.

•

instil in students the finest aspects of Uruguayan and British values and culture, such as a sense of justice, self-discipline, tolerance and civility, while also offering them the best possible preparation for life in an intercultural setting within a global community.

•

develop in students a sense of profound empathy and an awareness of their responsibility to their community and the need to use their gifts and experience for the good of the world.

PERFICE - Be thorough

Introduction “Instil the importance of all human values (including moral, aesthetic, spiritual and social) in all aspects of personal growth and physical development.”

Extract from the Mission Statement

The British Schools, Montevideo, was founded in 1908 and celebrates its founders’ day on the 8th of October each year.

It was born of a joint initiative between The British Cemetery Society and The Anglican Church to establish an English school in Montevideo with “the object of giving children a complete education, both intellectual and moral, based upon the ideas and principles of the best schools in The British Isles”.

The School is organised as a private, non-profit, coeducational, secular day school, which aims to provide an excellent bilingual education combining the Uruguayan national curriculum with a very extensive English Language and Literature component.

The School is governed by a Board of Governors elected by The British Schools Society; the Honorary President is Her Majesty’s British Ambassador to Uruguay.

Located in the suburbs of Montevideo, in the residential area of Carrasco, the School site encompasses the Early Years Centre (EYC), Junior School, Senior School, Auditorium (seating capacity 400), Cafeteria, Sports House, Pavilion, Playing Fields, Hockey, Rugby, Football pitches, a synthetic Hockey pitch, outdoor Tennis Courts, Basketball Court, Gymnasium (1654m2) and Open Air Swimming Pool.

Parents are drawn to the School by its challenging bilingual programme, strong traditions, and solid set of values. The School programme is academically rigorous and continues to achieve high success rates both in the national and international examinations with over 90% of the students

achieving a Bilingual IB Diploma. The implementation of a

Over the years, through their achievements and contributions to society,

dual curriculum in Senior combines the benefits of an

graduates from The British Schools have become renowned leaders in

International Programme together with the content

the community. At every level of society they have exercised influence by

and experience of the Uruguayan National

applying the knowledge, skills and values acquired during their formative

Programme. The unique positioning of

years at the School.

the School - in providing students with the dual curriculum experience -

The School is well supported by its community, who are organised in

has enriched the process of

various groups through the auspices of the Parent’s Committee and Form

curriculum development for

Parents. There are many opportunities for parents to become involved in

teachers, students and

the activities of the School. The School also has very close links with and

the community.

strong support from its alumni, including The British Schools Foundation and The Old Boys and Old Girls Club.

“Form self-confident, creative, inquiring, discerning, fully bilingual students who will strive to develop their talents to the best of their abilities.”

Extract from the Mission Statement

Boys School, Juan Blanes Street 1909

A brief “Encourage and promote a sense of belonging, a deep rooted pride and affection for the School as an Institution, its traditions, School Spirit and institutional memory.”

Extract from the Mission Statement

Inauguration Ceremony, 5th February, 1909

history

Although formally founded in 1908, classes began on the 5th

February, 1909, in a building located in Juan Blanes Street, in downtown Montevideo. As was customary at the time, there were two separate schools: one for boys and one for girls, and only the Kindergarten section, situated in a different part of the city, was mixed. This led to the nomenclature “British Schools” – where the “s” takes us back to the origins as separate schools.

In its inaugural year the School roll was 82 pupils (44 boys and 38 girls/Kindergarten). By 1917 all three sections of the School had moved to new premises and in August 1925 H.R.H. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone for a new building in the Pocitos area of the city, which had been “specially designed and built to meet all of the requirements of a modern British school”.

Pocitos, Circa 1950

Dedicated by President JosĂŠ Serrato, in March 1926, the School had separate entrances, stairs and playgrounds for boys and girls who were taught in separate classrooms. 1936 marked a watershed for The British Schools: in that year it became co-educational, and the official Uruguayan Liceo section was incorporated. Ten years later, the Board of Governors, with inspired vision of the future, bought 10 hectares of land in the outlying area of Carrasco; where a new campus was to be built. In 1958, the Senior School moved to Carrasco and finally, in 1965, the Junior also moved from Pocitos to its present site.

The 70’s brought further major changes: The British Schools was amongst the first cohort H. R. H. Edward, Prince of Wales, laying the foundation stone of Pocitos building, 1925

of international schools to introduce the International Baccalaureate Diploma. In 1977 the administrative structure of the school was overhauled to now include two independent Heads, one for the Senior and one for the Junior School in lieu of an overall School Headmaster. This structure was only revised in 2007, with the introduction of the position of Principal who acts as the overall Head of the Schools. A pre-school class for 4 year-olds was opened in 1990, and early years classes were given their own custom designed building, in a now unified campus, in 2011.

In November 1998, a very large gymnasium was built which hosts a wide variety of sports and other activities. In 2002 a new 400 seat Auditorium was built in Senior. This is used for

Senior School under construction, 1957

Sports Day, 1960

In November 1998, a sizeable gymnasium (1654m2) was built which hosts a wide variety of sports and other activities. In 2002 a new 400 seat Auditorium was built in Senior. This is used for concerts, conferences, assemblies, international examinations and School plays. In 2005, to honour the memory of Mr. P.S. Schor, Headmaster of the School from 1929 to 1961, the Auditorium was named after him.

In 2014, additional learning areas were created for Science, ICT, Art and Music. The final phase of this ambitious building programme included the provision of a practical but also hugely symbolic bridge linking the once separate Junior and Senior Schools.

“Strive for the highest standards, providing the educational environment and infrastructure to help students to achieve excellence according to their potential in academics, arts and sports, while recognising individual differences and needs.�

Extract from the Mission Statement

Early Years The Early Years Centre provides facilities for students in Kinder (4 to 5 year-olds) and Prep (5 to 6 year-olds). Designed with the future needs of the youngest students in mind, the facilities include classrooms with differentiated learning centres, an age-appropriate Multimedia Projection Centre, Hall and Mini-Theatre with ample space for collaborative work, Psychomotricity Area, Library, Art Studio and many other child-friendly “nooks� to arouse curiosity, creativity and encourage positive interaction, through play.

Junior The Junior School provides facilities for students from Form 1 (6 to 7 year-olds) to Form 6 (11 to 12 year-olds). In addition to classrooms, the facilities include a Library Resource Centre with its own ICT suite and a fully-equipped ICT Department/Suite. The Music Department has sound proofed facilities with rooms that convert into one space for larger gatherings. The Junior Hall situated on the ground floor can accommodate over 400 students. It is used for a wide variety of activities, including weekly assemblies and School plays. Central Administration offices and Staffroom are also in the Junior School building.

Learning Programmes The Junior Learning Programmes blend together key aspects of an adapted British and Uruguayan curriculum, delivered within the innovative and inquiry based framework of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). There are parallel mixed-ability classes in each year level. At all year levels, in addition to the Form Teacher and the Spanish Teacher, full-time specialist teachers instruct and guide students in the areas of Music, Art, Drama, Dance, ICT, Library Skills, Values and Physical Education.

Field trips and School assemblies serve to broaden students’ horizons as well as to provide opportunities to the

emphasise School’s

Programme.

aspects Pastoral

of

The Junior curriculum promotes an awareness of different learning styles in order to cater for the individual needs and talents of each student. The School expects all students to become fully bilingual in English and Spanish. All curricular subjects are taught in English, with the exception of Spanish classes, and Physical Education classes.

In Form 6, in preparation for the State administered Primary Exit examinations (“Prueba de Egreso�), a higher percentage of classes are taught in Spanish. Fluent and effective communication skills, through both the spoken and the written word, are at the core of our academic programme. The Maths and Science courses not only impart a solid understanding of subject matter, but also work to encourage logical thinking and develop problem-solving skills and strategies.

The Senior School provides facilities for students from 1st Year (12 to 13 year-olds) to 6th Year (17 to 18 year-olds) Liceo. In addition to classrooms, these facilities include a Library Resource Centre, ICT Labs, Mobile Device Labs, Science Labs, Music Rooms, Technical Drawing Room, Visual Arts Room as well as a Multi-Purpose Room. There is also additional student break-out spaces, Staff Room and Administration offices.

Senior The Senior School provides facilities for students from 1st Year Liceo (12 to 13 year-olds) to 6th Year Liceo (17 to 18 year-olds). In addition to classrooms, these facilities include a Library Resource Centre, ICT Labs, Mobile Device Labs, Science Labs, Music Rooms, Technical Drawing Room, Visual Arts Room as well as a Multi-Purpose Room. There are also student break-out spaces, a Staffroom and Administration offices.

The British Schools is committed to providing the educational environment and infrastructure to help students achieve excellence according to their potential in academics, arts, and sports, while recognising individual differences and needs.

The purpose of the taught curriculum is to encourage students to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens – as elaborated in the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

Senior Learning Programmes All courses within the Senior curriculum ultimately lead to both the National and the International Baccalaureate. The Liceo Programme is in itself an exacting course of studies, while the School´s international dimension is addressed through the International Baccalaureate. The British Schools has the honour of being one of the original founding schools in the 1970s to offer the IB Diploma.

In preparation for the IB Programme, students follow the IGCSE programmes produced by The Cambridge Universities Syndicate. Together, our graduates receive the best Uruguayan education possible and the IB Diploma also offers the option of studying abroad. All students at The British Schools take both the National and International Baccalaureates. The IGCSE and IB Diploma results are carefully analysed to look for internal trends and to compare our own standing with International Benchmarks, the results of which are presented to the Board as a formal Report. This type of analysis assists in identifying individual student learning styles and needs which are then discussed with the Pastoral Team who subsequently plan and implement appropriate strategies.

“Instil in students the finest aspects of Uruguayan and British values and culture, such as a sense of justice, self-discipline, tolerance and civility, while also offering them the best possible preparation for life in an intercultural setting within a global community.”

Extract from the Mission Statement

Physical Education The Physical Education curriculum at The British Schools begins in Kindergarten and extends through to 4th Year Liceo. The programme of activities is age appropriate, with an additional focus on values formation. Sporting tours are also organised during the year to enrich the curriculum.

The P.E. Department works closely with the School’s Pastoral Team.

Good habits are

encouraged to promote the student’s holistic formation. Physical activities support the development of values such as teamwork, commitment, fair play and respect; considered essential attributes to the development of character.

After-School Sports Practices and Activities are also offered for all students.

Sports such as Basketball, Football, Karate, Swimming, Volleyball and Handball have been introduced over the years and all enjoy their space in the students’ sports universe.

Extra-Curricular

The School encourages all students to participate in its wide range of extra-curricular activities. The programme encompasses academics, the arts and sports. Examples include; Choirs, Maths, Physics & Chemistry Olympics, Worklinks and Workviews, Robotics, Senior Musicals, Chess, Karate, Sports Practices, Artistic Gymnastics, Model United Nations, Scottish Dancing, Needlepoint, Tennis. To enhance this offering, the School is constantly seeking ways to further develop and increase the programme in order to appeal to all students.

The annual Senior Musical is an extra-curricular activity that brings together the whole School community.

Participation in this programme is voluntary but students are held to very high standards of performance, dancing and singing. Students, Alumni, Parents and Teachers also participate in non-performing aspects such as lighting and sound, scenery, backstage management, props and costume design.

Consequently, the Senior Musical has been delighting audiences, of all ages, with some truly spectacular productions and has built up quite a remarkable repertoire over many years.

Staff The British Schools is committed to ensuring that the educational experience is amongst the very best available anywhere in the world. As a learning community we seek to create and maintain a positive caring environment throughout the School in which students both thrive and develop.

While striving for academic excellence, it is equally important to bring out what is best in each individual student. A competent, experienced and caring team of staff guide students to develop their full intellectual, creative and physical potential while also aiming to foster self-esteem, independence, intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence and moral character.

Key to this success is the continued professional development of the School’s staff.

Professional development takes on many guises, from external courses, workshops, online courses, and in-house workshops, talks, peer-mentoring and the sharing of best practice.

Tel.: (598) 2600 3421 - Mรกximo Tajes 6421 MONTEVIDEO - URUGUAY - Email: adm@british.edu.uy - www.british.edu.uy