Our community provides a caring, inclusive and engaging environment in a dynamic and forward-thinking school that has successfully educated the children of Colombian and international families since 1961.
We provide a warm and nurturing setting for young people through collaboration and respect, alongside the highest standards of bilingual teaching and learning through our school-wide IB programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme), as well as aligning with Colombian national standards and benchmarks. This is designed to prepare our students for the many opportunities and challenges to come and to become agents of change for Colombia and the world.
We believe in each individual's unique talents, and we work passionately and diligently to maximise the academic and personal potential of each of our students, giving them confidence in their knowledge, skills and understanding across local and global cultures and contexts.
Our work is based on our mission, vision, guiding statements, IB philosophy and our commitment, professionalism, and enthusiasm.
"The English Way, transforming through respect" is our school's purpose; it is our motivation and the basis on which we build a committed community. We believe that respect goes beyond manners. It involves every aspect of life. That is why we firmly believe that respect is the foundation for change, leadership, innovation and learning.
We look forward to meeting you!
| Number of students |
1300 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
10+ |
| Most common nationality |
Colombian |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
88% local : 12% international |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Native English and Spanish-speaking teachers. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
Yes. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Spanish and French from Grade 4 onwards. |
| Max. number of students per class |
25 |
| Average number of students per class |
20 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
There are Teacher Assistants in Early Years and Primary (Pre-Nursery up to Grade 4) |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
We offer ICT classes in all grade levels and approach technology depending on the grade level and age groups. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
We are a non-confessional school. We embrace different cultures and religions in our community. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
MYP e-Assessments, IB Diploma examinations, ISA/ACER tests. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes. |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
We have a homework policy depending on the grade level. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100%. |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Yes. |
| Learning support offered |
We have a team for Academic Support and Socio-emotional Support. Also, we offer after-class tutoring. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
For gifted and talented students, we have a programme called Creative Minds. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Yes, the admissions process has different stages depending on the grade level. We perform academic exams, interviews, and individual observations depending on the grade level. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We have an ongoing admissions process for international students. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes. |
| School start time |
7:30 |
| School finish time |
15:00 |
| Supervised care before/after school |
No. |
| School bus service available |
Yes. |
| School provided lunches |
Yes. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes. |
| Uniform required |
Yes. |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
We offer more than 42 extracurricular activities. |
| Sports activities included |
We offer Physical Education (PE) as part of our curriculum, and activities are designed depending on the grade level. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Primary and high school students have the opportunity to participate in sports festivals and tournaments of different groups of schools to which we belong, such as UNCOLI and AACBI. |
| Facilities at the school |
Library, Science labs, gym, STEAM workshops, art and music classrooms, sports fields. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Athletic track, five multiple courts (for basketball, volleyball, and tennis), a football pitch, and five futsal courts, gym. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
The English School is an international school of British tradition that embraces intercultural learning, inclusion, and differentiation. Our community is committed to providing a safe environment that prioritises the well-being and care of our students since 1961. We maximise the personal and academic potential of each of our students, educating agents of change for Colombia and the world. All of this is under the umbrella of our purpose: The English Way, Transforming Through Respect. We are committed to fulfilling our mission statement “The English Way”, actively upholding as our core values RESPECT, TRUST, INTEGRITY and the principles of the IB learning profile. This is designed to prepare our students for the many opportunities and challenges life will bring, as well as to become agents of change for Colombia and the world. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
We provide the highest standards of teaching and learning through our school-wide IB programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme, Careers-related Programme), as well as aligning with Colombian national standards and benchmarks. Additionally, we follow the high-quality standards of the Council of International Schools. We believe in the unique talents of each individual, and we work passionately and diligently to maximise the academic and personal potential of each of our students, giving them confidence in their knowledge, skills and understanding across local and global cultures and contexts. Our work is focused through our mission, vision, guiding statements and IB philosophy, and through our commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm, we provide high-quality bilingual education, The English Way. |
At The English Nursery, our children develop their skills and learn through play. There are two levels: Pre-nursery for 2-year-old and Nursery for 3-year-old. We offer half-day classes from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or full-day from 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. At The English Nursery, we work on the 5 dimensions of development: socio-emotional, communicative, cognitive, body and aesthetic.
Early Years and Primary consists of Prekinder to grade 4 or for 2 year olds to 11 years old. From the beginning, we offer a bilingual educational model which allows students to progress to a B1 or B2 level by the end of primary. We also introduce French as a third language from 3rd grade. All of our students work in the IB PYP program which allows them to not only develop their academic skills, but also the soft skills which create a strong learning base to be applied for their lives. It also encourages exploration in multiple artistic subject areas, developing a holistic human being and respecting the agency and individual progress of each child.
Our Early Years and Primary programs are designed to foster a love of learning, creativity, curiosity, and to promote student agency in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment.
Students are prepared to be value-driven, caring, open-minded, positive, constructive and proactive young adults as well as global citizens who can face the challenges of the 21st century. Students are educated within the IB philosophy, also guided by the values of The English Way, to develop research, communication, self-management and social skills that will empower them to contribute ideas and solutions toward a better and peaceful world based on intercultural understanding. This is developed during the Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme.
In this section, we strive to make learning meaningful, connecting the learning that takes place in the classroom to the real world so that students enjoy and see the relevance of what they are studying.
The English School is located at Calle 170 # 15 – 68 near the Transmilenio station Portal Norte. The school has a total area of 66.000 m2 and a built area of 26.000 m2 that includes the buildings of Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, Administration, cafeteria, libraries, auxiliary classrooms, and the Coliseum. The Primary and Secondary buildings are equipped with laboratories and systems rooms.
For recreation, we have an athletic track, five multiple courts, (for basketball, volleyball, and tennis), a football pitch, and five futsal courts, plus a food court and parks distributed throughout the school.
Check out the facilities in this interactive virtual tour.