International enrolment of over 2200 students

More than 60 different nationalities

Brazilian and British Commonweath

About 30% of international students

A great number of them are natives.

It varies according to the child's age.

Portuguese, Spanish and French.

It varies according to age - from 12 students in Early Year to 20 students in Senior years.

It varies according to age - from 12 students in Early Year to 20 students in Senior years.

Yes, all teachers and assistant teachers have to be qualified teachers and fluent in English.

In all areas technology is part of students daily lives and it will vary according to students age and development appropriate. All classrooms have smartboards; and computers, laptops, tablets, 3D printing, virtual reality googles and other items are available to all students.

No

IGCSE, IB Diploma, Local Brazilian ENEM and Vestibular

TBS’ proportion of A* to C grades in the November 2023 examinations is a commendable 87% at Urca and 83% at Barra. Our students’ results exceeded world averages - in some cases by a significant margin. As in every year, there have been some outstanding individual student performances with some attaining A* or A grades in all, or most, of their subjects. The average number of points achieved by our students in their Diploma scores, compared to world averages also gives an indication of how well each cohort is doing. Each year, an encouraging number of students attain a Diploma score in excess of 40 points. The highest score in 2023 was 43 points. 9 students scored 40 or more points, and a total of 18 students across both sites scored 38 or more points.

Yes, at age appropriate level.

It varies according to the child's age.

100%

Yes.

Each case is evaluated individually at need.

Several kinds of supports available, depending on the student's need

Yes.

Yes, depending on the students age level.

Assessment & Evaluation
PRE-NURSERY & NURSERY ASSESSMENT

A child being entered for Pre-Nursery should be at least two years old by March 31st of the year of entry to the Pre-Nursery. Nursery applicants should be at least three years old by March 31st of the year of entry to the Nursery. Parents making an application to Pre-Nursery and Nursery will be interviewed by the Head of Primary before a decision on entry is made.

A play date with the children takes place in small group sessions where the child is observed for evidence of potentials, social skills and the level of development of the child’s native language.

RECEPTION & PRIMARY ASSESSMENT

A child applying for Reception should be at least four years old by March 31st of the year of entry to Reception. Screening for children applying to Reception and Year 1 and Year 2 classes involves a range of tasks and activities and the child is sometimes observed within a group or a class. Screening looks for social and emotional stability, evidence of academic potential, apparent intellectual ability and the level of development of the child’s native and English language. Upper Primary (Years 3 to 6) applicants are given a non-verbal reasoning test, a standardized reading test and written tests in Mathematics and English.

SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT

Screening for the Secondary School takes the form of:

Standardized test in Mathematics
A written test in English, at the appropriate level
An oral assessment by the Head of Secondary School and/or other Senior teachers

If the school feels it to be necessary, the applicant may be asked to take extra tests or agree to specific conditions as described below:

Candidates for Years 7 to 9 will be asked to take an NVR (Non-verbal Reasoning) test in addition to the English, Mathematics and oral assessments.
Candidates for Years 10 and 11 may be asked to take extra tests in Science and/or Humanities subjects.

In some circumstances, students may be admitted to these classes to follow a reduced number of IGCSE courses, provided that this route does not damage their future prospects, that they appear likely to be able to work independently and that the school feels that they will profit from the overall package which this represents.

Entry into Year 12 (or the end of Year 11) will involve more extensive testing in the subjects which the candidate is proposing to study in the IB course. The Head of IB will be involved in the interview process and in recommending suitable courses and combinations. Students may enter Year 12 to take the full Diploma or Certificates.

Entry into Year 13 is not possible unless the candidate is transferring from an IB course and has completed at least as much time in the course as the students at The British School. The results of these assessments must indicate an appropriate level of fluency and understanding in oral and written English if the candidate is to enter The British School. In every case, the candidate must be able, as far as can be gauged, to profit from the programme offered by the school at the level of entry.

Other factors are taken into account, particularly:

The candidate’s written reports from previous schools
Evidence of past good behaviour and positive attitude;
Likely ease of adaptation to The British School programme, at the proposed level of entry;
The family’s plans for the applicant’s future schooling and Higher Education;
The attitude and outlook of students and parents in the interview.

In exceptional circumstances we may consider candidates with little English, provided they will be able to profit from the programme offered. We may also consider candidates who do not meet all the above criteria, provided that they fulfil stated conditions established by The British School.

It varies according to age and entry priority.

Children are welcome to join all year round.

Yes.

07:30h - with staggared entry and departure times for different year groups

15:00h - with staggared entry and departure times for different year groups

There are options of extra curricular activities up to 16:00hs

Transport to school (school buses are available but organized by other companies which deal directly with parents, the school has no control nor responsibility over these companies and the services they provide)

Yes.

Yes.

Yes

Extra-curricular activities (classes after 15:00h such as ballet, judo, capoeira, gymnastics, football, arts & craft, robotics, cookery, Science Creative Lab, etc…). These are organized by the PTA and have individual costs. Classes are usually 2 days a week

Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Gymnastics, dance, swimming (at Barra Unit only) etc.

Yes. The Falcons Sports Programme
The TBS Falcons programme is designed to support our students in their education and growth at The British School. The programme is in line with the TBS Guiding Principles and Core Values, and complements the school’s Physical Education curriculum.

The Falcons teams regularly participate in tournaments involving other international schools in Brazil and South America. These are held for our Senior School students, from 12 to 18 years of age. School teams include boys’ and girls’ basketball, football, futsal, volleyball, as well as dance, represented by our cheerleaders’ programme. Other sporting teams may be available depending on interest from students.

Students in Year 7 upwards have the opportunity to participate and benefit from extra-curricular sporting activities that develop their skills while also learning how to be part of a team. Athletics and team sports give opportunities for students to develop skills and attitudes such as: time management; goal setting; resilience; a strong work ethic; leadership; collaboration; and sportsmanship. Through participation in the Falcons, students mature physically, mentally and emotionally. Involvement in the Falcons may also support students in their pursuit of further education through applications for scholarships in universities abroad.

We believe that athletics and team sports give opportunities for students to develop the skills and attitudes identified in our TBS Learner Profile. Students should develop skills such as time management, goal setting, a strong work ethic, leadership and sportsmanship. Through participation in the Falcons, students will mature physically, mentally and emotionally. Participation in the Falcons can also help students in their pursuit of further education via opportunities for to apply for scholarships abroad.

Students are eligible to participate in the Falcons programme from Year 7 to Year 13. TBS offers a range of sporting teams that students may join. Every year there are opportunities for students who have demonstrated a commitment to participate in practices to represent the school at various competitive tournaments.

Closed and Open Gym spaces, swimming pool at Barra Unit

The school provides a caring and friendly, although demanding, learning environment and makes every effort to ensure that each individual has the opportunity to develop their particular talents to the full. The emphasis on academic achievement is balanced by our concern to meet our students’ physical, emotional and social needs and to ensure that they are prepared for active and well balanced citizenship. Personal development and social responsibility are an integral part of our educational programme. The highest value is placed on good social behaviour and moral standards in which respect for the individual and the environment are paramount. We want our students to be happy in school and we hope that their school experience will be fondly and warmly remembered for life. We believe that this can be achieved through providing high expectations, clear guidelines and limits, offering constant encouragement, attending to individual needs and providing opportunities for our students to participate in a wide variety of enjoyable activities – social, sporting and cultural.

Through our programme and teaching methods we aim to cultivate well-balanced, self-disciplined, open-minded, caring and enquiring young people who possess a breadth of understanding that can be applied to new situations. Our aim is not only to develop diligent and effective learners in the academic sense but to support the overall healthy development and positive outlook of young people. The emphasis on academic achievement is, therefore, balanced by our concern to develop our students’ physical, emotional and social needs and to ensure that they are well prepared to become active and participating citizens.

The curriculum is designed to meet the different needs of our particular student body while maintaining an essentially British education and ethos. We aim to give pupils a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated educational experience with an increasing emphasis on cross-curricular links. International and Brazilian elements are incorporated where appropriate.

From Pre-Nursery to Year 6 the programme broadly follows the IPC – International Primary Curriculum. Years 7, 8 and 9 follow the British National Curriculum. Secondary students are prepared for the University of Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations that are taken at the end of Year 11. The final two years are directed towards the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a demanding course leading to a highly respected and widely recognised university entrance qualification.

Academic standards are very good – results in both IGCSE and the IB have been maintained at a high standard over the years. English is the language of teaching and learning throughout the school and its use, fluency and accuracy are promoted to the fullest extent. Portuguese is taught as either a first language or Portuguese for beginners.