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Costa Rica, San Jose
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Founded in 1981, The British School of Costa Rica is an independent day school offering education from Early Years 1 to Year 12. The school is registered in the Costa Rican Public Registry as Colegio Británico de Costa Rica, S.A., and is led by the founders and Directors General Mr. David Lloyd and Mrs. Liliana Lloyd. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and recognized by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education; it is a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization (Code No. 0608) and a Cambridge assessment centre for IGCSE (Centre CR002) and Cambridge English Assessments (Centre CR001); it is also an IELTS Testing Centre and licensed by the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Scheme and a Charter Member of the International Primary Curriculum. In Primary, ICA programmes IEYC and IPC are incorporated; in Years 9 and 10 the school offers the Cambridge IGCSE examinations, and in Years 11 and 12 the International Baccalaureate. The School is bilingual throughout, with the majority of classes in English and the remainder in Spanish (or French), with the aim that students are bilingual before Year 3.
The House System is a traditional feature of the school, dividing students into four houses named Arenal, Irazú, Barva and Poás, and fostering loyalty and house-based competitions throughout the year. The teaching staff comprises a mix of international, British and Costa Rican educators, with 14% international, 23% British and 63% Costa Rican teachers. The school community engages in events and activities referenced in school communications, including celebrations such as Friendship Day. The school publishes School Bulletins and communicates a range of community news and events to families.
The British School of Costa Rica maintains a Parent Council. The 2024 Parent Council is composed of year-level Parent Representatives, including EY1 Gabriela Santiago; EY2 Carolina Jiménez; EY3 Alexandra Serizier de Cadillo; Year 1 Javier Berrocal; Year 2 Stephanie Hudson; Year 3 Manuel Soto; Year 4 Laura Gómez; Year 5 Indiana Corrales; Year 6 Catalina Bruce; Year 7 Mónica Rojas; Year 8 Gloriana Echandi; Year 9 Rocío Zamora; Year 10 Elena Prado; Year 11 IB Gabriela Llobet; Year 11 NB Priscilla Somarriba; Year 12 Syomara Bremont. The Parent Representatives serve as a communication channel between their allocated year group and the School's Administration. Meetings for the first quarter will take place between February 27 and March 1.
The British School of Costa Rica is an independent day school for students aged 3 to 18, delivering IEYC and IPC in the primary years, a bespoke middle-years curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE in Years 9–10, and the IB Diploma Programme in Years 11–12. The Diploma is a bilingual English/Spanish two-year programme. The school is bilingual throughout, with most classes in English and the remainder in Spanish (or French), and aims for bilingual proficiency before Year 3. Founded in 1981, it is NEASC-accredited, recognized by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education, and authorised as an IB World School and Cambridge assessment centre. The 2.2-hectare campus includes an Early Years block, 46 general classrooms, five senior science labs, two Makerspaces, an Art Salon, and a 300-seat Auditorium/Theatre plus a 1,200 m2 gym and on-site sports fields. Extracurriculars feature Model United Nations and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, alongside broad arts and sports offerings.
