The school has a complete Pre-Nursery to Class 11 unit in the South Zone (Zona Sul) of Rio de Janeiro and has been developing a second unit in the suburban region of Barra. The new Barra Unit opened on February 2006, initially with pupils from Pre-Nursery to Class 3 (ages 2 to 9). The Unit has been growing gradually, by one year group per year. It is expected that the full school will be established by 2014/2015.
On all school premises, safety and security have been a major
focus of recent refurbishment. All school buildings have clearly
marked fire exits and stairs. Closed-circuit video cameras and
monitors are installed on all sites for the constant surveillance
of entry and exit points and other internal areas.
The South Zone unit is housed on two sites. The Primary School
and the first year of Secondary School are based in Botafogo,
a traditional commercial and residential neighbourhood. Although
a busy area, Botafogo is easily reached from the surrounding
neighbourhoods of the South Zone where most of the pupils live.
Secondary Classes 6 to 11, also known as the Senior School,
are based in a campus in Urca, just a five minute walk
from the famous Rio de Janeiro Sugar Loaf. The two sites are
a fifteen minute drive from each other and a shuttle service
runs between them throughout the school day.
The main Botafogo campus shares an area with the Anglican Church
and other British community institutions. Classrooms are in
five different buildings, each unit catering for particular
age groups. All buildings have been recently renovated and all
classrooms are air-conditioned.
The Botafogo site has four libraries, one for Pre-Nursery and one for Nursery classes, one for the Lower Primary
located in the Thompson Building and one for the Upper Primary/Lower
Seniors in the Mackenzie Building. Other facilities include a
science laboratory, 3 ICT labs, an art room, drama stage and classrooms, 3 music rooms and a dining area. All classrooms have a PC computer with Internet access and several classrooms have a Smart board. Pupils receive lessons in an ICT lab from Reception upwards. Smart boards in all Primary year groups help enhance curriculum delivery within classrooms by promoting interactivity between the students, teachers and learning materials. Classes 1 – 5 use two fully equipped ICT labs, which have one PC per student and an interactive whiteboard.
The school has full use of the community’s Jubilee Hall
during the week for assemblies, drama and theatrical productions.
The main playground has two open air multi-purpose sports court
and different play areas with painted floor games. The Mackenzie building has a covered and air-conditioned multi-purpose sports court and drama area.
The Pre-Nursery house and the Nursery house are located on Rua da Matriz, just across the road from the main campus. Being self-contained units they offer both a friendly and secure learning environment. The Pre-Nursery Unit comprises four spacious and well-lit classrooms, a library, music, drama, and ICT room, dining facilities and a playground with a covered area. The Nursery Unit comprises six spacious and well-lit classrooms, a library, music, drama and ICT room, dining facilities and a playground with a covered area. Pre-Nursery and Nursery pupils have PC computers in their classrooms with internet access. There are also interactive whiteboards which are shared by all classes and used across the curriculum.
Urca is one of the safest and most tranquil neighbourhoods in
Rio de Janeiro. Avenida Pasteur, on which the school is located,
is considered a cultural corridor of Rio as it is also the address
of two universities, a library and a number of research and
military institutions. The main building has seven storeys and
commands breathtaking views of the Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf
and the Corcovado. Two adjacent houses have been specifically
developed for music and art. The ´Language House’ develops studies in different languages and promotes intercultural activities. The ‘History House’ accommodates classrooms, offices, a staff room and has quite a playground. A fifth house is used for offices and staff room and has a quite playground area where pupils enjoy their breaks in a more relaxed environment.
The Urca site has a modern and attractive library. Computer
and internet facilities are provided, and a wide range of books,
magazines and periodicals allow students to research schoolwork
individually, as well as serving them for leisure reading. IB
students may use the library in their study periods. Others
are taken there by their teachers during lessons, and have access
during breaks and after school. A study room with computer and
internet access is used by staff and IB students only.
Several expansions of ICT facilities, have greatly enrichened
the opportunities for using ICT as a tool for learning. These
include specialised computer suites for the Art and Music students
in addition to the three teaching labs in the Senior School. Other
facilities at Urca include five science laboratories, an auditorium,
specialised teaching spaces and a dining area. There are four
recreational spaces, two of which are covered.
Sports facilities on campus are limited and the school may use
off campus sites to deliver a full Physical Education programme.
Facilities used are of a high quality and include track and
field, gymnasiums, swimming pools and outdoor sports courts.
The British School has been developing a new school for pupils aged 2 to 18 in the Barra region. This project was initiated in February 2003 with the opening of The Lower Primary Unit in Recreio. While the Lower Primary Unit became established, a green-field campus in Barra was being developed, which will now gradually grow into the full-sized school.
The new site opened in February 2006 with almost 250 pupils, housed in an area owned by the school. Refurbishments were made to all buildings during 2005; and classrooms, play areas and all other facilities were furnished and equipped to the same high standards of the Botafogo site.
A new building was built during 2008 and in February 2009 children could already enjoy new classrooms and new areas for recreational activities and academic development.
The new unit is planned for gradual development, enabling the formation of a foundation group of pupils prepared for a bilingual education. The construction of new buildings and facilities will follow the school’s steady, planned growth. The Barra Unit is located at Rua Mário Autuori, 100, Barra da Tijuca (Condomínio Santa Mônica) (map). It offers easy access from both Barra and Recreio and is a five-minute drive from Barra Shopping.
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