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Elizabeth Moir School

Sri Lanka, Colombo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees LKR 289,040 - 625,270
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 500
Type Co-educational
Opened 1996
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Taught languages English, French, Mandarin, Sinhala, Tamil
Typical class size 24
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

Elizabeth Moir School is an independent English-medium co-educational day school in Colombo, Sri Lanka, serving children from age 2 to 18. It follows a British-curriculum framework with Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in Forms 4 and 5 and Edexcel A Levels in 6th Form. In the Junior School, Mathematics and English use British textbooks; literacy and numeracy are core, with Art, Music & Movement, Drama and Physical Education, and swimming beginning in KG1. Senior School adapts British syllabuses to Sri Lankan context and supports cross-curricular study, with language options including French, Sinhala and Tamil. The curriculum is augmented by updates on Artificial Intelligence in ICT and Climate Change in Geography, and a high teacher-to-student ratio for individualized attention. Facilities include two properties in Colombo, classrooms, six science laboratories, and libraries; Barn houses four labs for experiments daily. Extracurriculars include Art, Drama, MUN, Design and Media, sports clubs, plus community and service activities.

7 Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka

The Essentials

Elizabeth Moir School has 500 pupils, typical class sizes of 24, instruction in English.

Location
Located in Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. Address: 7 Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 5.

Stages
Junior School and Senior School; ages 2-19.

Type
Independent private English-medium international day school; co-educational.

Pupil Nationality Mix
All nationalities and backgrounds are welcome; it admits children from Sri Lankan and expatriate families.

Additional learning support
Limited resources for Special Educational Needs; not normally able to admit students with Special Needs.

Country affiliation
Sri Lanka

School day structure
Junior School starts at 8:10 am and Senior School starts at 8:20 am.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Senior School students have access to a canteen operated by Tasty Caterers with an attractive covered outdoor seating area. The Junior School has a Cookery Room enabling students to prepare a range of meals and treats.

House System
Students are placed in one of four houses: Armstrong, Columbus, Fleming and Hillary. Houses compete in events across age groups, and house points are accumulated; Founders' Day announces the overall House Champions from both the Junior and Senior Schools.

Governance and Ownership
The school is an independent private school owned and run by British nationals.
Fees

Annual tuition at Elizabeth Moir School ranges from LKR 289,040 to LKR 625,270 for 2026/27.

Academics

Elizabeth Moir School teaches British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The school has a progressive international curriculum that blends modern approaches with a traditional focus on basic skills such as grammar and arithmetic. The Junior School uses British textbooks for Mathematics and English; literacy and numeracy are the main focus, with Art, Music & Movement, Drama and PE as formal parts of the curriculum, and Swimming begins in KG1. The Senior School follows British syllabuses adapted to the Sri Lankan context, with IGCSE in Forms 4 & 5 and Edexcel A Levels in the 6th Form; language options include French, Sinhala and Tamil. The curriculum supports cross-curricular study and independent enquiry, with updates to incorporate current developments such as AI in ICT and Climate Change in Geography.

Student Teacher Ratio
6:1

Exam Results
1st in the World-Best IGCSE Results of any international school, 2016; Best A Level Results, 2015; 7 students placed at Harvard in the last 12 years.

Higher Education Progression
Past students have attended universities worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and other Ivy League colleges; a full-time Universities Co-ordinator provides University Guidance and targeted application support.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Class Teachers are responsible for the welfare of all students and are always available to help students with any issue, whether academic, personal or social. In the Junior School, the What Shall I Do? programme addresses personal, social, moral and health issues and helps children understand the difference between right and wrong. In the Senior School, there is a full Personal and Social Education programme in which a wide range of issues that might affect students is discussed by different teachers. Annual age-appropriate sex education sessions led by a doctor begin in Junior 5 and continue throughout the Senior School. An in-house school counselor is available for consultation for any issues that students may wish to discuss.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Elizabeth Moir School is committed to providing learning support to help all students cope with academic classes and to tailor the curriculum for each student so that everyone can move at their own pace. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes are provided for students whose English is not proficient when they enter school, and students normally become fluent quickly and join mainstream classes. There are Curriculum Support classes in both the Junior and Senior Schools for students who are struggling in a particular subject or who joined the school mid-year, with modified work; the Junior School unit is run by two teachers and led by the head of the unit. In the Senior School, classes are arranged in students' free periods with a team of specialist subject teachers to help students in any area they are struggling with.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Elizabeth Moir School is an independent English medium international school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes are provided for students whose English is not proficient when they enter school. Students normally become fluent in English very quickly and are soon able to join mainstream classes. The English medium instruction supports non-native English speakers across the curriculum.

Mental Wellbeing
Class Teachers are responsible for the welfare of all students and remain available for wellbeing concerns. In the Junior School, the What Shall I Do? programme addresses personal, social, moral and health issues and supports wellbeing. The Senior School offers a Personal and Social Education programme that covers a wide range of wellbeing topics. Annual age-appropriate sex education sessions led by a doctor begin in Junior 5 and continue through the Senior School. An in-house school counselor is available for consultation on wellbeing issues.

Safeguarding
Dinushiya Gunawansa is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Head of Middle School. An in-house counselor is available to support safeguarding-related concerns. The school provides ongoing pastoral care, including What Shall I Do? and Personal and Social Education programmes that address safety, health and wellbeing.
Parent Experience

History
Elizabeth Moir School is an independent English-medium international school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The school is co-educational and admits children from both Sri Lankan and expatriate families resident in Sri Lanka. It is a fully independent private school and the only international school in Sri Lanka to be owned and run by British nationals. Elizabeth Moir, the Head of School, has run international schools in Sri Lanka for thirty-six years and founded Elizabeth Moir School in 1996. It established itself quickly as a leading international school in Colombo, with a focus on small classes, individual attention and an all-round education.

Community
The school is noted for its family atmosphere and a warm, inclusive culture where students and teachers treat each other with mutual respect. The student body has welcomed students from more than 75 countries on every continent since the school opened. Community service is a cornerstone, with fundraising for good causes and links with the Foundation of Goodness and Sarvodaya, plus visits to the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. The Senior School conducts leadership camps, including trips to Kitulgala to develop leadership and teamwork.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Two properties located in the heart of Colombo provide access to the best grounds and facilities. The Senior School has an excellent basketball court among the palm trees, and the Junior School has a mini basketball court. For other sports, international stadiums host athletics meets and cricket matches, and national stadiums and swimming pools host other events and meets.

Sports Facilities
Netball is played as a main sport at the Junior School, with cricket and outdoor games clubs. Cricket is a main sport at the Senior School, and hockey, rugby and handball are also played there. There is an indoor games club. The program uses external venues for events, including international stadiums for athletics meets and national stadiums and swimming pools for other events.

Academic Facilities
Senior School classrooms are subject-specific and contain displays and 6th Form Reference Libraries. All classrooms have computers, internet connections and multimedia facilities, including projectors. The Barn on the ground floor of the main teaching block houses four large science laboratories for Chemistry, Biology, Physics and General Science, fully equipped for A Level practicals (including an oscilloscope, photometer, respirometer, light gates and ripple). Each Senior School student has a locker to store personal belongings.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Art is taught throughout the Junior School and in Forms 1-3 at the Senior School; many students study Art at IGCSE and develop a portfolio for final examinations. Art is a popular club activity in both schools and culminates in an annual Art Exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. Model United Nations is active, with delegations to Colombo Model United Nations and Sri Lanka Model United Nations, and students are often selected to be part of organising committees. The Senior School has a Design and Media Club that produces Vent, the fortnightly school newspaper, and the annual school magazine; the Junior School offers clubs including Computer Club, Cookery, Design and Technology, Bookworms and Needlework.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has a progressive international curriculum that blends traditional basics with modern learning approaches. The curriculum is regularly updated to expose students to cutting-edge developments in each subject, from Artificial Intelligence in ICT to Climate Change in Geography. A high teacher-to-student ratio enables individualized attention and the curriculum is tailored to meet each student's needs. Learning Support and Curriculum Support provide targeted help for students who are struggling or who join mid-year, and English as a Foreign Language supports non-proficient English speakers. University Guidance is supported by a full-time Universities Co-ordinator who assists with university applications.

Arts & Creative
Drama, Music & Dance, and Art are part of the curriculum, with extensive involvement in performing and visual arts. The Senior School produces frequent shows, many of which are organized entirely by students. Dance clubs teach Kandyan, Latin, Ballroom and Contemporary styles, and the annual Art Exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery showcases student work. Art is complemented by Design and Media Club, Bookworms, Cookery, Design and Technology, and Needlework clubs across both schools.

Cultural & Language
Diversity is a hallmark of the school, with students from more than 70 countries across continents. Model United Nations is run regularly, with delegations attending Colombo MUN and Sri Lanka MUN, and students are often selected to be part of organizing committees. A range of clubs and activities—including Bookworms, Design and Technology, Cookery, and Needlework—promote cultural awareness. Theme weeks on topical issues and access to extensive libraries encourage independent reading and exploration of current events.

Social & Hobbies
Inter House life is active through four houses—Armstrong, Columbus, Fleming and Hillary—with inter-house competitions in sports, art, music and drama. A wide range of after-school clubs exists, including Computer Club, Cookery, Design and Technology, Bookworms and Needlework. Sports are central, with football, cricket, basketball, swimming and athletics, and there are dedicated squads and after-school clubs for continued participation. Life Studies include weekly guest speakers and opportunities for public speaking and presentations.

Community & Service
Community Service is integral, with Junior School collecting Christmas gifts for orphanages and proceeds from charity events donated to causes; staff and students also visit the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. Senior School projects involve visiting homes for the mentally and physically handicapped, painting orphanages and taking children to the Dehiwala Zoo, including Paralympics events. The school joined Sri Lanka Unites to foster reconciliation after the Civil War, and Prefects have attended related conferences. Students have donated computers and books to partner schools and helped install solar-powered lighting in under-electrified homes.

Leadership & Professional
The school features a four-house system that fosters teamwork and hosts inter-house competitions in multiple disciplines. Students have held leadership roles such as Football Captain, House Captain and Prefect, and leaders participate across school activities. A full-time Universities Co-ordinator guides students through university applications, supported by experienced staff. Past students have attended universities in the USA, Britain, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, India and Korea, reflecting the school's international pathways.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Pastoral Care provides a supportive atmosphere aimed at ensuring every student enjoys and makes the most of their time at school, with Class Teachers overseeing welfare and modeling self-discipline, fair play and respect. Discipline is emphasized, with clear expectations and supportive guidance from teachers to help students meet standards. Physical education and swimming are core to the program, complemented by after-school sports clubs and opportunities to pursue athletic excellence. Life Studies feature weekly guest speakers to broaden students' personal and social development.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches English as the language of instruction. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is provided for students whose English is not proficient when they enter school. In Forms 1–3, students may begin learning French, Sinhala or Tamil. At IGCSE, Sinhala and Tamil are offered as native languages, and Modern Languages can be studied as either First Language or Second Language, including French.
Admissions

Admissions
Stage 01: For each prospective student, an admissions form must be completed by the parents. The school requires a current photograph of the student, a copy of the student's most recent school report, and the student's passport (photocopy returned immediately). The admissions form should be submitted for consideration of the application.

Stage 02: To help ascertain the standard and suitability of each applicant, all prospective students are required to sit an entrance test. All KG1 upwards sit entrance tests in English and Mathematics; Early Learners and Pre KG have an interview with the class teachers.

Stage 03: In addition to meeting all parents, the Head of School personally interviews all applicants to discuss their interests and answer questions about the school. Parents are informed of the school's decision within two working days.

Scholarships
The school offers scholarships to internal and external students for the IGCSE and A Level courses. The scholarships are awarded to students with an exceptional academic record and demonstrated leadership in the classroom in terms of effort, participation, and achievement. Candidates are expected to possess a natural aptitude for their subjects and to display genuine interest in learning. The scholarship papers are designed to challenge high-calibre students and assess future potential by testing independent and creative thinking in response to new ideas.
School Events
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