Colegio Gran Bretaña

Located in the northern outskirts of Bogotá, the school is housed in purpose-built facilities. The address is Cra 51 No. 215-20, Bogotá, Colombia, and the campus is surrounded by other schools and country sports clubs, offering a quieter environment.

Foundation Stage (Nursery to Reception), Key Stage 1 (Year 1-2), Key Stage 2 (Year 3-6), Secondary (Year 7-11), IB Diploma Programme (Year 12-13).

Private, co-educational, international school.

50 nationalities represented; majority international students.

Arrival to school: 7:50–8:15. Classes begin: 8:10 for Key Stage 2 and Secondary; 8:25 for Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Classes finish: 14:55. Students depart: 15:05. Classes finish: 15:20. Students depart: 15:30. Co-curricular activities are scheduled during the school day and vary by term.

The school contracts a bus company to run the school bus service. Vehicles are inspected to meet health and performance standards, each seat is equipped with a belt, and parents receive direct contact details for their child's bus routes. Bus rules are published in the Community Handbook.

Bilingual education (Spanish and IB English as language A). The school offers an international curriculum comprising VESS (Meaningful Life with Balance and Wisdom Model), International Primary Curriculum (IPC), International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

IB Diploma Programme: Graduating class pass rates by year were 2019 89.3%, 2020 91%, 2021 89%, 2022 90%, 2023 70%; Highest point scores for those classes were 38 (2019), 40 (2020), 42 (2021), 39 (2022), 35 (2023).

Graduates have progressed to universities worldwide, including Carleton University; University of British Columbia; University of Manitoba; University of Toronto; University of Victoria; University of Waterloo; University of Alberta; Toronto Metropolitan University; Queen's University; Universidad Católica de Chile; Universidad de La Sabana; Universidad de Los Andes; Universidad del Rosario; Universidad El Bosque; Universidad Javeriana; Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; Universidad Nacional de Colombia; The American University of Paris; Jacobs University; University of Milan; NABA; Tecnológico de Monterrey; Carlos III University; The University of Oxford; University of Manchester; University of Reading; University of Sussex; University of the Arts London; Lancaster University; Boston University; Brandeis University; Carnegie Mellon University; William & Mary; Fordham University; Embry Riddle University; Florida International University; Georgetown University; Georgia Tech; James Madison University; Lehigh University; Northwestern University; Northeastern University; DePaul University; New York Film Academy; Nova Southeastern University; Penn State University; Pace University; Pratt Institute; Purdue University; Ringling College of Art and Design; San Diego State University; Savannah College of Art and Design; School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Suffolk University; Texas A&M; Tufts University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Miami; University of Notre Dame; University of Pennsylvania; University of South Florida; University of Tampa; University of Texas; University of Tulsa; Vanderbilt University.

CGB embodies a caring community with a No Bully Zone and a zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy. The environment is warm, welcoming, and inclusive, with emphasis on respect for self, others, and the wider environment. Students participate in projects promoting sustainability, service, empathy, and global citizenship beyond school. The school engages with international networks such as UNCOLI and Round Square and supports parent involvement through committees and the IB Diploma's Creativity, Action and Service ethos. Social and emotional development is a central part of daily life at CGB.

Educational Achievement Department (EAD) provides support for a range of abilities. Students with diagnosed Specific Learning Differences and those with an Individualised Education Plan (IEP) are supported by a dedicated team led by the Head of EAD. Services include co-taught classrooms or small-group sessions, academic enrichment, teacher consultation for accommodations, and coordination of speech and occupational therapy goals. An IEP can be designed and implemented as needed, with integrated support across services.

ALD consists of eight bilingual teachers who teach English and Spanish as additional languages. All ALD teachers are ICELT-qualified or specialised in bilingual education and work with classroom and subject teachers to ensure language proficiency that enables full access to the curriculum. Staff coaching supports English-language teaching and strategies for language learners. Spanish as a Second Language is offered (4 hours per week) plus 3 hours of Colombian Culture to promote language development, cultural connections, and access to content in both languages.

The Counselling and Emotional Guidance Department (CEG) ensures the well-being of the entire community, with on-site psychologists available five days a week. Services include group and individual counseling, crisis intervention, adaptation guidance, and university/career planning, with ongoing follow-up and clear communication among involved parties. CEG reinforces that differences are acknowledged and respected by providing strategies to cope with challenges in a changing world.

Child Protection and Saf safeguarding are central to all that CGB does. All teachers complete yearly training in Child Protection and Saf safeguarding, and every person who works with children receives face-to-face training in English or Spanish. The safeguarding policy is robust and updated annually, with Safer Recruitment policies in place. CGB is accredited by CIS and NEASC and participates in LAHC Taskforce on child protection to ensure safeguarding of all students.

1. Submit the application: Complete the online Application Form and upload the requested documents, providing English translations where applicable. Include the email addresses of current teachers, counselors, or coordinators as references; the system will send Confidential Student Reference Forms to those addresses. A minimum of two references is required per student, with three preferred. 2. Pay the application fee and schedule the admissions appointment: Pay COP 300,000 for the application, and the school will contact the family to schedule the admissions appointment, usually held on Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 midday (Colombian time). 3. Admissions appointment: The appointment can be online or on site. In Colombia, students attend the admissions appointment in person between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 midday; applicants abroad may complete it online. The process includes student interviews (three interviews of about 30 minutes each), a 30-minute parent interview (both parents/guardians must attend), and observations for preschool applicants to assess motor, language, and independence. Year 3 to Year 13 applicants must complete two tests during the appointment: the iDAT assessment and a writing test. 4. Additional online instructions: For online applications, tests and interviews can be taken from home. A parent may serve as the proctor, and the Proctor Agreement and a Commitment Letter must be completed by the proctor and parents, respectively. The day before the admissions appointment, the proctor will receive test instructions and the Google Hangout link. 5. The tests: Year 3 to Year 13 applicants must complete two tests (the iDAT and a writing test). The iDAT test lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes and requires a quiet space, an additional device to record the student, and standard testing materials. Preschool applicants will complete observation tasks and an activity booklet as part of the assessment. 6. Admissions review and decision: The Admissions Committee meets every Wednesday to review applications; if the paperwork is incomplete, the committee will review it the following week. 7. After acceptance: Acceptance is followed by email instructions for matriculation; enrollment must be completed within two weeks. Start date is three days after matriculation, once payments are made and contracts are signed and submitted to the school.

Applications are accepted year-round. If a class is full at the time of application, the family will be placed on a wait list. Space availability is affected by transfers; on average about 20% of families transfer each year, and spaces typically become available toward the end of the year. Spaces are held only after the Admission Process has been completed and matriculation has taken place.