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Brazil, Rio De Janeiro
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Model United Nations conferences develop debate and public speaking. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered to students aged 14 and over, including expeditions in Brazil and South America for Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Younger students take part in Adventurous Outdoors Activities with day trips and weekend residentials to build teamwork and resilience. IB students may be selected for the IB Leadership Challenge, a Theory of Knowledge and outdoor activities course in the Andes, with opportunities to represent the school at the Latin American Heads Conference.
Expressive Arts Programme includes Art & Design, Drama and Music as both curriculum subjects and co-curricular activities. Art & Design enables students to explore practical and creative work and to contribute to props and scenery for drama productions. Drama productions occur annually across sites with large numbers of participants on stage and behind the scenes. The Music Department runs bands, choirs and percussion groups, offers instrument tuition, and hosts events such as piano recitals and school productions.
The International Festival celebrates global cultures and Festa Junina deepens understanding of local traditions. The CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) component of the IB programme emphasises life beyond the classroom, including Saber que floresce (Teaching English) activities. The school engages in numerous cultural and community activities through CAS and other service projects.
Extracurricular / After School Activities include art, ballet, basketball, capoeira, cartoon, choir, cookery, drawing, football, gymnastics, jazz, judo, music and volleyball, among others, across Botafogo and Barra sites.
The school encourages active involvement in charitable causes and community projects; IB CAS emphasises creativity, activity and service beyond academics. The CAS programme lists numerous projects across Barra and Urca, including Empathy in Action with One by One NGO, Festa Junina campaigns, Casa Arte Vida initiatives, beach clean-ups and many other volunteering activities.
Student Councils exist on all three sites and are elected annually to represent student views; Heads of House lead each House, with Captains and Vice-Captains elected to organise activities and competitions. The school hosts an annual Model United Nations conference and the IB Leadership Challenge for selected IB students, with additional opportunities to participate in leadership activities and regional conferences such as LAHC.
School trips reflect a holistic approach with day and residential trips that complement the curriculum and foster independence. Residential trips start in Year 5 and include a sequence of destinations, plus optional cultural trips to London, California and New York. Adventurous Outdoors Activities and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provide outdoor experiences, physical activity and wellbeing support for students.
Situated in Rio de Janeiro, The British School is a non-profit, independent, co-educational day school serving ages 2 to 18. It is maintained by Associação Britânica de Educação (ABE), the body of British and Commonwealth nationalities. The school delivers a blended IEYC/IPC in Early Years and Primary, the British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and IB Diploma, with a bespoke approach that integrates the Brazilian Curriculum. Students progress from Pre-Nursery through the IB Diploma, with bilingual proficiency in English and Portuguese. Three campuses – Botafogo (Primary), Urca (Secondary) and Barra (Barra Unit) – host over 2,000 students from more than 60 nationalities, with a 7:1 student–teacher ratio. Facilities include ICT labs, Chromebooks, LED displays, and rainwater reuse; refurbishment completed in 2023. The Falcons sport programme, Drama and Music, Model United Nations, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and IB CAS showcase a broad Arts and Sport offering and a commitment to service and leadership.
