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The British School

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Portuguese
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2000
Type Co-educational
Opened 1924
Bus Service No
Part of
The British School
Academic offering
Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Portuguese, Spanish, French, English
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Situated in Rio de Janeiro, The British School is a non-profit, independent, co-educational day school serving ages 2 to 18. It is maintained by Associação Britânica de Educação (ABE), the body of British and Commonwealth nationalities. The school delivers a blended IEYC/IPC in Early Years and Primary, the British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and IB Diploma, with a bespoke approach that integrates the Brazilian Curriculum. Students progress from Pre-Nursery through the IB Diploma, with bilingual proficiency in English and Portuguese. Three campuses – Botafogo (Primary), Urca (Secondary) and Barra (Barra Unit) – host over 2,000 students from more than 60 nationalities, with a 7:1 student–teacher ratio. Facilities include ICT labs, Chromebooks, LED displays, and rainwater reuse; refurbishment completed in 2023. The Falcons sport programme, Drama and Music, Model United Nations, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and IB CAS showcase a broad Arts and Sport offering and a commitment to service and leadership.

This campus is part of The British School

Av. Célia Ribeiro da Silva Mendes, 600 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22793-276, Brazil

The Essentials

The British School has 2,000 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English, Portuguese.

Location
The British School, Rio de Janeiro is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are two Schools, with three sites: Zona Sul School in the South Zone (Botafogo and Urca) and Barra School in the Barra da Tijuca area. Botafogo hosts Early Years and Primary; Urca hosts Secondary; Barra hosts Primary and Secondary. Addresses are Botafogo: R. Real Grandeza, 99; Urca: Av. Pasteur, 429; Barra: Av. Celia Ribeiro da Silva Mendes, 600; official address: Rua Mario Autuori, 100.

Stages
Early Years & Primary; Secondary - IGCSE & IB

Type
The school is a non-profit, independent and co-educational day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Over 2,000 students; more than 60 nationalities represented. Brazilian students make up about 73% of the student body, with the remaining 27% international.

Country affiliation
Maintained by Associação Britânica de Educação (ABE), the body of parents of British and Commonwealth nationalities.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform policy. Upper Primary wear the polo T-shirt uniform on non-PE days; the PE uniform is worn on PE days; house T-shirts are worn on Fridays.

Food Options
Nutrition: The school provides daily snacks and lunch. The menu is fresh, seasonal and nutritious, with dietary accommodations for allergies and special needs; the menu is accessible to parents in the Parent Portal.

House System
A very active House System integrates across all year groups from Pre-Nursery to Year 13. Students are allocated to a House on entry, with family members typically in the same House; the system supports social, sporting and cultural events, led by a Head of House with Captains and Vice-Captains elected from the student body.

Governance and Ownership
The school is legally maintained by the Associação Britânica de Educação (ABE). The Board of Governors is composed of elected ABE parents, with co-opted members and ex-officio representatives of the British community; executive authority is delegated to the Director.
Fees
Application fees

- No separate application or annual re‑enrolment fee is listed. Families complete an online application and the school does not show a published, separate application charge.

Donation – Development Fund (one‑time entry fee)

- A one‑time contribution to the school's Development Fund is charged when a child enters the school. Values are revised annually. The Development Fund is used for major development projects and is controlled by the Board of Governors.

Tuition (structure and what is covered) — amounts not published

- Tuition is charged as monthly fees, with 12 monthly instalments per year (January through December). All fee values are expressed in Brazilian Reais (R$).

- The monthly fee covers: regular classes (approximately 8:00–15:00 with the full curriculum), music/arts/drama/ICT/PE, additional language lessons where applicable (French/Spanish), registration fees for external examinations (IGCSE and IB), student programmes (Student Council, House System), guidance and careers support, meals (snacks and lunch), learning materials (books, stationery, many art and music materials), and daytrips.

- Specific numeric tuition amounts by year group, and per‑term or per‑year totals, are not published in the publicly available fee information. The school issues monthly fee schedules in R$; the exact amounts for each year group and any per‑term breakdown are provided by the school rather than listed as public tables.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Billing structure: fees are billed as 12 monthly instalments covering the calendar year (January–December).

- Backdated start months: for children joining in February, fee payments are required from January of the entry year; for children joining in August, fee payments are required from July of the entry year (i.e., backdated).

- There are no sibling discounts and no annual re‑enrolment fees.

- Legal billing requirement: the person responsible for fee payments must hold a Brazilian CPF number. All official receipts (Nota Fiscal Carioca) are issued in that person's name; without a CPF it will not be possible to issue a bank slip (invoice) and the child's start date may be held back.

Boarding fees

- The British School is a non‑profit independent day school; boarding is not provided. No boarding fees apply.

Other costs and fees (explicit exclusions from monthly tuition)

- The following are not included in monthly tuition and must be paid separately by parents:
- Extra‑curricular activity fees (after‑school classes such as ballet, judo, capoeira, gymnastics, football, etc.; charged per activity).
- School uniform costs (uniforms are purchased externally).
- Transport to school (school buses are arranged by third‑party providers and billed separately by those companies).
- Residential and international trips (year‑group trips and other residential trips for programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh, MUN, CAS, etc.).
- Some personal school materials and certain Portuguese books where applicable.
- Optional services contracted directly by parents with third parties (e.g., school photos, professional media).

- Examples of typical residential trips organised in previous years include trips for Year 5 through Year 13; costs for transport and accommodation for these trips are additional to tuition.

Refund and reimbursement information

- Reimbursement of the one‑time Development Fund (Donation): if a parent withdraws a child within two years of the child starting at the school, they may request repayment of the Required Donation as follows:
- 50% refund if departure occurs within the first year after entry.
- 25% refund if departure occurs within the second year after entry.
- No refund is available after two years.

- Returning students who previously left and then return are not charged an additional Donation or return fee.

Fee payment options and invoicing

- Official receipts are issued as Nota Fiscal Carioca in the name of the payer with a CPF. The school makes and issues bank slips (invoices) for payments; issuance of a bank slip requires a CPF number. These points indicate billing via bank slip (boleto) and formal invoicing. No other specific payment methods (credit card or direct bank transfer) are listed in the published fee information.

Practical notes for parents

- Fees are stated in Brazilian Reais (R$) and are revised annually.
- The school follows a southern hemisphere academic calendar (classes from February to December) which is relevant to placement and the billing calendar.


Admissions, payment queries or requests for the current numeric fee schedule (monthly amounts by year group, term totals and any applicable one‑time figures) are handled by the school's Admissions and Finance teams; families are advised to use the school's admissions channel to request the documented fee breakdown and invoice options.
Academics

The British School teaches IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The school has an educational programme from Pre-Nursery through the IB Diploma, integrating the Brazilian Curriculum with international qualifications. In Early Years the IEYC is used; Primary follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) alongside the Brazilian Curriculum; in the Middle Years the UK International Curriculum (Key Stage 3) is used with the Brazilian Curriculum; Cambridge IGCSE is studied in Years 10–11; in Years 12–13 the IB Diploma is studied with the Brazilian Curriculum. The school has an international enrolment of over 2000 students from more than 60 nationalities and a focus on bilingual proficiency in English and Portuguese.

Student Teacher Ratio
7:1

Exam Results
Academic standards are high, with strong results in the IGCSE and IB Diploma examinations, as well as in the Brazilian Curriculum and local University Entrance Exams (ENEM/Vestibular). Students attain bilingual proficiency in English and Portuguese and have placements at universities in the UK, USA, Brazil and elsewhere.

Higher Education Progression
Careers and University Guidance supports university applications across the world. A team of advisers provides guidance from early academic options to final university applications, including practice interviews for British and USA universities (Oxford and Cambridge and Ivy League), Brazilian Vestibular and ENEM examinations, ACT and SAT tests and Essays for USA universities. Students meet visiting representatives and access university prospectuses, with many graduates gaining places at universities in the UK, USA, Brazil and beyond.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Wellbeing fosters socio-emotional behaviours that support learning and personal development. Language and literacy development is accelerated to support learning across the curriculum. The Learner Profile defines attributes such as Communicators who express themselves in more than one language. The Vision describes a caring community, and the Mission aims to cultivate innovative, inclusive, principled and internationally-minded citizens. Learning is a challenging life-long process that develops intellectual potential, emotional maturity and social values.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Learning Support is provided across the school with better diagnosis and accommodations and increased emphasis on teaching for differentiation. The increased use of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), especially through the Secondary School, Teacher Around the Child (TAC) meetings, timetable adjustments to address the needs of SEN students, and boosters in Maths, English and Portuguese, have supported SEN students.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Language development and literacy are accelerated to support learning across the curriculum. Communicators express themselves in more than one language.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a core priority, fostering socio-emotional behaviours that support learning and personal development.

Safeguarding
The MyConcern safeguarding platform is used across the school. Anti-bullying and wellbeing initiatives, safeguarding training and protocols have been strengthened, with resources such as a sensory room added to the Urca unit. Parent workshops on safeguarding services and a Safe Space email for students reinforce this commitment. Mobile phones have been banned at Barra, with the measure planned to extend to Zona Sul in February 2025. Online safety remains a priority.
Parent Experience

History
The British School, Rio de Janeiro was founded on 23 May 1924 by Sir Alexander Mackenzie at Rua Santa Clara 84 – Copacabana, and began as the British Primary School. It moved to the Real Grandeza property in Botafogo in 1949, with funds raised to build the Cashman Building on land leased by the community. The Cashman Building opened in 1951, and the school expanded over the following decades, joining the Incorporated Association of Boys' Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and affiliated to the Association of Headmistresses of Preparatory Schools (AHPS) in 1957, with further expansion including a Brazilian Stream in the 1970s. The Zona Sul site now comprises Botafogo (Primary) and Urca (Secondary) in Rio's South Zone, while Barra da Tijuca hosts the Barra School (Paul Wiseman Campus); the school serves students aged 2 to 18 and offers Brazilian qualifications (Ensino Fundamental/Ensino Médio) as well as international qualifications such as the IGCSE and IB Diploma, with an international enrollment of over 2,000 students from more than 60 nationalities and a 7:1 student–teacher ratio.

Community
The British School encourages the active involvement of students, parents and staff in charitable causes and community projects. The CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) requirement is a fundamental part of the IB programme and emphasises life beyond school. Across Barra, Botafogo and Urca sites, students participate in activities such as Empathy in Action with One by One NGO, donation campaigns, Festa Junina and the International Festival, and other projects that promote intercultural understanding and social responsibility.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) works with the school to organise events and activities for the school community, including Festa Junina celebrations in the first semester and the International Festival later in the year. Its main objective is to promote integration and partnership among the school community and to support the school's services by establishing channels of communication among parents, teachers and the administration. The PTA also promotes fundraising and a range of cultural, social, sports and leisure activities and supports projects for the wider community, with activities such as Children's Day, Tea 4 Teachers, and regular talks; it has sub-committees advising on nutrition and careers guidance and embraces community service projects and charity fundraising such as book and uniform sales.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Three sites comprise The British School in Rio de Janeiro: Botafogo (Zona Sul – Primary), Urca (Zona Sul – Secondary) and Barra (Barra da Tijuca). The Zona Sul sites are Botafogo and Urca, while Barra is the Barra Unit, a recently developed campus. The IB Centre will be formed by Av Pasteur 383, Av Pasteur 377 and Rua Osorio de Almeida, with refurbishment completed in January 2023. In 2022–23 dining areas at Botafogo, Barra and Urca were refurbished and the Patio House Botafogo external area was completed; playground refurbishments were carried out at Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Thompson at Botafogo, and Mackenzie Building Botafogo Court Cover is planned. Infrastructure upgrades include networked buildings, ICT labs, Chromebooks and LED displays across all sites, and sustainable features such as rainwater reuse and LED lighting.

Sports Facilities
The Falcons sports programme includes teams for basketball, football, futsal and volleyball, and also features Dance and Gymnastics; It is available to students from Year 7 upwards and regularly competes in tournaments with other international schools in Brazil and across South America. The programme operates across Botafogo, Urca and Barra sites. The school is actively planning sport facility improvements, including the Mackenzie Building Botafogo Court Cover and expanded facilities for Urca, with ongoing search for suitable venues. Tournaments across the three sites are played on courts and fields.

Academic Facilities
The academic programme runs from Pre-Nursery through the IB Diploma, including IEYC International Early Years & Brazilian Curriculum, IPC, UK International Curriculum (Key Stage 3) and IGCSE with the IB Diploma; Brazilian Curriculum is also included. The school has ICT facilities including two Barra Senior labs, two Barra Primary labs, four labs in Urca and two in Botafogo, with a new Botafogo Lower Primary lab underway. A near 1:1 device ratio is being pursued, with Chromebooks and LED interactive displays increasingly used across classrooms. The IB Centre is formed by Av Pasteur 383 and 377 and Rua Osorio de Almeida to serve IB students, and refurbishment of related spaces began in late 2022 and concluded in early 2023. Refurbishments across sites included the Patio House Botafogo external area and dining areas at Botafogo, Barra and Urca, with ongoing upgrades to playgrounds and arts spaces as part of infrastructure development, and there is a focus on sustainable features such as rainwater reuse and LED lighting.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular activities include art, ballet, basketball, capoeira, cartoon, choir, cookery, drawing, football, gymnastics, jazz, judo, music and volleyball. These activities are based at the Botafogo and Barra sites and are designed to complement the Physical Education curriculum and broader school life.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Model United Nations conferences develop debate and public speaking. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered to students aged 14 and over, including expeditions in Brazil and South America for Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Younger students take part in Adventurous Outdoors Activities with day trips and weekend residentials to build teamwork and resilience. IB students may be selected for the IB Leadership Challenge, a Theory of Knowledge and outdoor activities course in the Andes, with opportunities to represent the school at the Latin American Heads Conference.

Arts & Creative
Expressive Arts Programme includes Art & Design, Drama and Music as both curriculum subjects and co-curricular activities. Art & Design enables students to explore practical and creative work and to contribute to props and scenery for drama productions. Drama productions occur annually across sites with large numbers of participants on stage and behind the scenes. The Music Department runs bands, choirs and percussion groups, offers instrument tuition, and hosts events such as piano recitals and school productions.

Cultural & Language
The International Festival celebrates global cultures and Festa Junina deepens understanding of local traditions. The CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) component of the IB programme emphasises life beyond the classroom, including Saber que floresce (Teaching English) activities. The school engages in numerous cultural and community activities through CAS and other service projects.

Social & Hobbies
Extracurricular / After School Activities include art, ballet, basketball, capoeira, cartoon, choir, cookery, drawing, football, gymnastics, jazz, judo, music and volleyball, among others, across Botafogo and Barra sites.

Community & Service
The school encourages active involvement in charitable causes and community projects; IB CAS emphasises creativity, activity and service beyond academics. The CAS programme lists numerous projects across Barra and Urca, including Empathy in Action with One by One NGO, Festa Junina campaigns, Casa Arte Vida initiatives, beach clean-ups and many other volunteering activities.

Leadership & Professional
Student Councils exist on all three sites and are elected annually to represent student views; Heads of House lead each House, with Captains and Vice-Captains elected to organise activities and competitions. The school hosts an annual Model United Nations conference and the IB Leadership Challenge for selected IB students, with additional opportunities to participate in leadership activities and regional conferences such as LAHC.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
School trips reflect a holistic approach with day and residential trips that complement the curriculum and foster independence. Residential trips start in Year 5 and include a sequence of destinations, plus optional cultural trips to London, California and New York. Adventurous Outdoors Activities and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provide outdoor experiences, physical activity and wellbeing support for students.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Portuguese are the core languages taught across the school. In primary, English is taught through the IPC while Portuguese is taught through the Brazilian curriculum; by around age seven students can speak, read and write in both languages. In secondary, languages include English, Portuguese, French and Spanish; IGCSE and IB offer English and Portuguese as core with French or Spanish as options, and Portuguese as a Second Language is available for non-native speakers with EAL support.

Bilingual Teaching
Students attain a high level of bilingualism in English and Portuguese. In the IB Diploma, English and Portuguese together lead to the bilingual Diploma (with a choice of Literature or Language and Literature). French and Spanish are offered as Language B options. In Key Stage 3, languages taught include English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

Immersion Programs
Portuguese as a Second Language is available for non-native speakers. English as an Additional Language (EAL) is available, with Learning Support for those who require extra help. The school provides language support within IGCSE and IB programmes.
Admissions

Admissions
The school has a dynamic Universities and Careers Programme that supports students in exploring the many academic pathways available. Information Sessions & Fairs provide direct access to admissions professionals and cover university life, course options, and worldwide application procedures. These sessions are open to both students and parents, typically last 30 minutes to an hour, and include Q&A with visiting representatives. After each event, the Universities Counsellor and guest speakers remain available to offer tailored guidance. The programme emphasizes active engagement with universities globally to help students plan their university journeys and make informed decisions about their futures. Between February and May 2025, the Barra School hosted more than 120 university visits from institutions in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, and welcomed summer programs such as NSLC, Columbia Pre-College, and Oxford Royale. In 2024, the school celebrated a substantial number of university offers for the Class of 2024 from prestigious institutions worldwide. Brazilian acceptances included FGV, IBMEC, PUC, ESPM, IDOMED Estácio de Sá, Unigranrio, and Link School of Business. The school's admissions offices collaborate with the University Counselling team to advise students on available options.
School Events
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