Quick summary of key school information
School details
| Number of students |
910 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
25 |
| Most common nationality |
The majority (85%) of the students are Costa Rican. |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
85% local : 15% international |
| Native English and Spanish speaking teachers |
The teaching staff is composed mainly of experienced and qualified British and Costa Rican teachers; overall, 8 different nationalities are represented. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English and Spanish |
English as a Second Language
|
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
French |
| Max. number of students per class |
School Policy determines a maximum of 22 students per teaching class (20 in Early Years). |
| Average number of students per class |
18 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| External examinations or assessments available |
IB Diploma, IGCSE |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
A “Student Development Services" Department exists to help students overcome learning problems particularly in Primary School, but the school does not offer a complete remedial programme for students with serious learning difficulties. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Assessment. |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
Early Years: undertake an evaluation of readiness for school. Primary: spend a trial day at school in a class of the intended year level. Achieve satisfactory results in the British School’s maths and reading comprehension assessments (both conducted in English). Have a good level of spoken English (students new to English are not accepted in the Primary school). Have a minimum of a ‘B’ or 80% in conduct from the previous school. Secondary: achieve satisfactory results in the British School’s maths and English assessments. Have a good level of spoken English (students new to English are not accepted in the Secondary school). Undertake an informal interview with a member of our Student Development Services. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
No deadline. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
| School start time |
8:00 |
| School finish time |
Early Years & Primary 1: 14:00 (12.00 Wednesdays)
|
| School bus service available |
Yes |
| School provided lunches |
Yes |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Badminton, basketball, football, conservation club, dance, drama/music, games, guitar, gymnastics, handicrafts, Latin, religion classes, Tae-Kwon-Do, volleyball. |
| Sports activities included |
Physical education. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Gymnasium, dance studio. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
The British School of Costa Rica is dedicated to serving the Costa Rican Community and the International Community resident in Costa Rica by offering an excellent, English/Spanish bilingual education. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
The School is completely bilingual in that, throughout the whole School, the majority of classes are taught in English and the remainder in Spanish (or French). It is one of the principal aims of the School that the students are sufficiently bilingual to work, with equal facility, in both English and Spanish before they enter Year (Grade) 3. In all levels there is a strong emphasis on learning through the experience of practical activities, many of which are realized outside of the classroom. |
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