1. How many hours of English do students have?
A: In Early Years, students have on average almost 70% of their instruction in English, while in Junior the number is around 50%. In the Middle Years just under 40% of the total, while in IB Diploma the totals range according to the subjects chosen.
2. Which are the subjects taught in English?
A: In Junior School, the subjects taught in English are English, Science, Religious Studies and Social Studies, and Geography, as part of the subject Enquiry in the International Primary Programme. In Early Years, all the subjects taught in English are integrated. Such integration increases students´ interests with content themes, and therefore, it provides a meaningful basis for understanding and acquiring new language structures and patterns.
In Senior School, the subjects taught in English are: World History, World Geography, Biology, Environmental Systems, Business, Science and English itself, which means that a total of 40% of subjects are taught in English.
3. What kind of methodology is used by the school?
A: The school uses a variety of methodologies, being Inquiry Based Learning the most significant part of our articulated suite of courses, offered by Fieldwork that spans Nursery to Pre–university. This methodology encourages students to research the quality and relationship of things, making sense of their learning and putting them in control of their learning. The three Fieldwork programmes have a similar format for their learning processes, which capture children’s attention concerning a certain idea or phenomenon, based on previous knowledge and understanding, drawing together the ideas to produce a big picture. Investigating the idea or phenomenon across the subjects, presenting data and findings, and concluding with individual feedback sessions made by the students for the students.
The Diploma Programme from the International Baccalaureate Organisation is a highly demanding Academic programme that includes six subject areas, community service, creative action, the study of how we ‘know’ things and the production of a 4,000 word novel investigation.
4. What kind of English does the school teach? British or American? Why?
A: As our school is British and belongs to the British Schools of Peru (BSP) and the Latin American Heads Conference, we teach British English. However, that does not mean that we do not have teachers from other English speaking countries. It is important for our students to listen to the different accents that our native teachers provide us.
5. What additional activities do students have?
A: Depending on the grade, we have a wide range of Co-curricular activities, which in the case of the youngest students, are chosen by the parents. There are sports, art, science, music and cooking activities. In some cases, it is recommended that students from Junior receive academic support classes.
6. Is there much homework?
A: Homework is assigned from Monday to Thursday, with a maximum of two pieces of homework a day. In the case of Early Years, they do not have homework but do receive review worksheets from Monday to Thursday. These are optional as they help students review what has been learnt during the week and stimulates their responsibility and study habits. They also take books home that can be from the library or a reader they are reading that week. This is usually alternated so that one week they can take home an English book and the other week a Spanish book.
In Lower School, homework is assigned from Monday to Thursday with a maximum of two pieces of homework a day, with 10 exercises of Maths three times a week. In Senior, there is always a maximum of three pieces of homework a day. However, homework for students doing the IB Diploma Programme will depend entirely on their progress.
7. How many breaks are there and at what time?
A: Nursery and Pre Kinder have one mid-morning break of 40 minutes as they go home for lunch, Kinder has 2 daily breaks: the first of 20 minutes and the other of 40 minutes. The students do not share the same playgrounds. Each class has its own playground to play in. Lower School students have two daily breaks: one is 20 minutes long and the other is 40 minutes long. Senior School students have two breaks: one is 20 minutes long and the second one is 40 minutes long for lunch. Fifth and sixth grade have their breaks staggered with the breaks for the rest of the school.
8. Are there any agreements for direct entry to university?
A: We are in constant communication with the best universities in Lima. Students receive orientation talks, mock exams and assessment each year. When students finish school, they are ready to enter the best universities.
It is worth noting that our students benefit from agreements that the International Baccalaureate holds with private, public and international universities. Within the list of Peruvian universities, we can mention, amongst others, UPC, UNIFÉ, PUCP, Universidad de Lima, Universidad de Piura, San Ignacio de Loyola, Universidad del Pacífico, Universidad Ricardo Palma. Amongst international universities: Oxford, Harvard, University of British Columbia, etc.
9. Does the school offer the International Baccalaureate?
A: Yes, we became an IB school in 2011, and we offer IB Diploma in grades 10 and 11. Grades from Kinder to Grade 9 follow subjects from Fieldwork providing an international preparation towards the IB Diploma.
10 . Do you offer any exchange programmes?
A: Not yet, though shortly we are to be visited by the Round Square Organisation, which will be able to provide them. For the last two years, our school has had the opportunity to travel to London, while this year we sent a group to Silicon Valley. There are regular visits to South American countries as part of the IB InterToK or InterCAS programmes. We also have a volunteers programme. These volunteers come from different European or English-speaking countries and stay with us throughout the year for different periods.
We are contemplating the possibility of starting cultural and sports exchanges with other countries through the Round Square organisation.
11. What international exams in English do the students at St George´s College take?
A: Our Lower School students take the Starters (grade 2), Movers (grade 3), Flyers (grade 4) and KET (grade 5). Grade 6 students take the Preliminary English Test (PET).
Students from Kinder to grade 5 follow the IEYC and IPC, grades 6, 7 and 8 the IMYC, and grade9 is a preparatory year for the Diploma Programme.
12. Do students finish school with a good level of English?
A: When they finish school, all our students are able to read, write and speak in English and according to their individual capabilities; they have the opportunity to work in international companies and taking their own place in this global society.
13. Are there any other languages taught?
R. At present grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have French as part of their curriculum. The Alliance Française supervises French classes. When students reach grade 10, they can choose this subject as part of the IB Diploma.
14. What percentage of students enter university?
A: At the moment over 90% of students from our promotions are studying at Peruvian universities such as: Universidad de Lima, Pacífico, UPC, Universidad Científica del Sur, San Martín, Cayetano Heredia, Católica and Le Cordon Bleu. Regularly they go abroad studying at universities such as Universidad de Navarra in Argentina, Glasgow University in UK, Toronto University in Canada, the City University of London and Columbia College in Chicago to name but a few.
15. What are the teacher’s professional experience and qualifications like? How do you select them?
A: Our teaching staff have a solid professional background in their specialist areas in addition to Education; they are committed to their teaching vocation and identify themselves with the vision and mission of our school. National and International consultants train them constantly. They are always at the forefront of the latest educational and technological advances. Several of our teaching staff in Senior School are foreigners.
16. Are the teachers of English native speakers?
A: We have some native English speaking teachers, but most of them are Peruvian and thoroughly bilingual. For example, our Headmaster is English, some teachers are British and others are American. We have a programme of volunteer teachers and most of them come from the United Kingdom.
17. What do they learn in the subject of IT? Do they get a certificate from an official institution?
A: In Miraflores site, our students have one laboratory of Chromebooks, 32 Chromebooks in Portable cars, 82 IPad, 42 Smartboards, one Bee–bot kit (robot) and 8 Lego robotic kits. In Villa site, there are two computer laboratories with 33 computers each and there are 47 laptops, 104 Chromebooks, 12 IPad, 20 Arduino kits, 28 smart boards and 9 Smart TVs. Villa also have two top of the line Maker–bot 3d Printers. The students can use all these resources working alone or in groups. There are also ten Computers in Villa Library that can be used to do personal research.
Since 2015, St. Georges has joined Google Corp. as a part of our learning environment using Google Suite and Google Classroom as a LMS (Learning management system) for the school Community.
IT department helps students explore information, be creative and design solutions. The main objective of this area is to teach students how to use a computer as a learning tool and as a tool for life. That is why IT classes are primarily orientated towards practical and creative tasks, so that students can learn about the main principles of a computer. A programme is used in order to reinforce topics taught during the class and generate enthusiasm during the learning process.
In this way, the students are motivated and rise to the challenge to improve their skills. Thus they learn from their own experience. In the case of Senior School, students follow the ITGS (Information Technology in a Global Society) from the IB Diploma programme. ITGS is a very popular subject among students. Students do not receive a certificate due to the fact that the school’s curriculum is too innovative. For example we are introducing STEAM and robotics in both sites, and no institution is able to certify it yet. However, in line with the International Baccalaureate, we are analyzing the possibility of implementing the “G Suite certification for Students,“ where students can demonstrate mastery of G Suite applications such as Documents, Sheets, and Slides. Students who successfully pass the certification will receive a digital badge they can add to their résumé or LinkedIn profile. The G Suite certified status indicates to prospective employers fluency in digital collaboration tools and workplace readiness.
18 . What are the main celebrations during the school year?
A: Our main celebrations are, the Get together Day (in Early Years only) Mother´s and Father’s Day, Sports Day, the Marathon, Family Day, and Closing Ceremony (includes end of the year closing and show) are celebrated throughout the school. We also have CAS activities such as Solidarity Week and many cultural, academic and sports activities organized by the BSP and LAHC.
19. Does the school have any sports teams? In what competitions do they participate? Do they participate in ADECOPA or any similar competitions?
A: We are locally members of ADECOPA (Asociación de Colegios Particulares Amigos), an association of private schools where we participate in several activities and sports, cultural and academic competitions.
Students with sports skills are selected by coaches and are trained to participate in competitions between schools. This training takes place when classes finish (3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. in Junior and 3.00 p.m. to 4.20 p.m. in Senior).
We also take part in sports tournaments organized by other schools such as Newton, Markham, and Peruano Británico.
20. What kind of sports does the school promote and the students play?
In Early Years, there is the subject of psychomotor skills, taught by experienced and professional teachers. Nursery, Pre-Kinder and Kinder students have three periods of psychomotor skills a week. In Lower School, students, from first to 4th grade, have four periods of Physical Education during the week. They develop their skills and sports according to their age.
In Senior School students choose five sports to be performed during Physical Education, having classes four times a week for (G5 and G6) and three times a week for (G7 to G11). Sports may vary every term according to the students preferences. We have mixed volleyball, mixed basketball, mixed football, mixed athletics and mixed gymnastics.
JUNIOR SCHOOL WORKSHOPS– Workshops are offered only to students from Nursery to 5th grade as part of the curriculum and during their daily timetable. Workshops vary from year to year; the school decides which ones to offer according to the students’ age and needs. For instance, in Early Years the workshops include clown, ballet, Taekwondo, football, dance, storytelling, art crafts, etc. Workshops offered in Junior School are clown, art, guitar, violin, cello, dance, volleyball, basketball, football, taekwondo, bijouterie, trupan (crafts in wood and painting), chess, and percussion. In Senior School they don’t have such workshops.
SPORTS ACTIVITIES AMONG HOUSES
In Early Years: There is a recreational and integrating activity with parents and students from the different houses, which is called “Get Together Day”.
In Lower and Senior School: There are sports competitions among our Houses by categories: The “Sports Week”. Each level has one sports week during the year.
The Mini Marathon 3km: This is an activity among houses where parents and students from all the three school levels can participate. The marathon is carried out near our Miraflores site. This is an event supported by the national police and the Miraflores district patrol.
21. Why does my child need to do Kinder again if he or she has already done it somewhere else and with a very good performance?
A: The children must be 3, 4, 5 or 6 years old by March 31st of the year, they can apply for Nursery, Pre-Kinder, Kinder or First Grade respectively.
Your child will not be doing Kinder again; he or she is entering to a school with a very intensive teaching of English. Our curriculum has being adjusted to the evolving capacities proposed in each grade, as we expect our students to be mature enough to follow the IB programme in grades 10 and 11.
22. How many students are there per class?
A: In Nursery there is a maximum of 16 students, in Pre-Kinder there is a maximum of 18, in Kinder there can be up to 26 students. From grade 1 to grade 5 there are 30 students on average per class. In Senior (grades 6-11), 30 students on average per class, though further up the school there exist more groups with several subjects, greatly reducing class sizes.
23. Where do children have lunch?
A: Early Years and Lower School students up to grade 3, eat their lunch in their own classroom. Grades 4 and 5 students have lunch in the dining room or their classroom. There is also a cafeteria in Senior School and students can eat where they choose to outside of the classrooms.
24. Which are the main values supported by the school and why? How are they encouraged?
A: We teach students learn values based in Respect and Responsibility. Each student is motivated to develop his or her self-esteem and to show respect.
The community values and attitudes we consider fundamental are Respect, Responsibility, Solidarity, Honesty and Reflexivity. We also esteem Fair play, Teamwork, Punctuality, Moral Fibre, Loyalty, and Generosity.
Within the IB programme, there is CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) whose main objective is to strengthen students’ self-esteem by making them feel useful to others, as well as helping them organize and carry out projects to make them aware of other realities either related to health, social, economic or cultural issues.
Examples of support given to institutions:
- C.E.B.E. MARIA AUXILIADORA: (public school for children with special abilities)
– Development of psychomotor, arts and craft and music skills.
– Outings
– Painting of the school
- HOGAR LUISA DE MARILLAC: (ladies’ retirement home)
– Space for company and conversation
– Board games
– Birthdays celebrations and lunches
– Donation of personal toiletries
- HOGAR NIÑO JESUS DE PRAGA: (home for girls in moral danger)
– Remedial classes
– Development of social skills
– Renovation of home’s orchard
– Donation of clothes and school library• C.E. 7036 ANGÉLICA RECHARTE: (school for low income families)
– Donation of school furniture (desks, cupboards, whiteboards and computers).• HOGAR VIRGEN DEL CARMEN: (low income children)
– Development of music, sports and arts and crafts workshops
– Donation of school furniture (desks, cupboards, whiteboards and computers)
– Building of the roof of the bedroom for 20 children
– Implementation of computer room
– Cooperation programme with the National Police in Pamplona Alta: development of a programme for low income children which offers them English classes and formative recreation.
25. When do children start to read?
A: Spontaneous and significant reading starts at home, continues during pre-school, and it is complemented with formal reading and writing classes in grade 1. By grade 3, students should be able to analyse, interpret and infer.
By the end of grade 2, students are able to read and write in both languages, with a language suitable for their age. The school gives reading its due importance, and that is why there is a Spanish and English Reading Plan. Our libraries update their book collections on a regular basis.
26. Is there a permanent Psychology Department?
A: Yes, there are six full-time psychologists in Miraflores and another six in Villa and several practicing psychologist. Further, some of our teachers have specializations dealing with learning problems.
27. How does the Psychology Department support students?
A: Our school offers a differentiated instruction, which allows us to help children with different learning styles. There is a Pastoral Care team devoted to that task.
In the Junior School, the team comprises the Pastoral Care Deputy Head, the Student Welfare Coordinator, the Student Educational Services Coordinator and the Psychology Department with three psychologists.
We have a permanent monitoring system whereby we observe students in class; we carry out-group and individual assessment, and hold interviews with teachers and parents. This allows an early detection of any difficulties presented by students, so that parents are aware of this at an early stage. If it is necessary, support programmes are implemented to help them. A proper vocational orientation programme is also in place in Villa.
28. Do you offer personalized education?
A: Yes, in the sense that the student is the starting point of his or her own personal learning. We centre our methodology in exploiting our students’ significant potential in relation to their own capabilities and those of the society that are on him (that is precisely the concept of personalised learning).
29. Do you offer therapy to those children who need it?
A: No, we do not, although our detection of specific cases is almost immediate. We maintain direct contact through the mail, personal interviews with parents and specialized therapists. We monitor students, referring them to private therapists if the need arises. This allows us to receive direct feedback and offer the student appropriate support to overcome any difficulties.
30. How do you handle discipline?
A: Our objective is self-reflection and self-discipline. In order to achieve this, communication is of utmost importance. Our students come to understand the significance of limits both at home and at school, and they learn how to discipline themselves without having someone putting pressure on them. There is a Student’s Welfare Coordinator to help them in both levels: Junior and Senior.
“The Student Welfare Coordinator is responsible for monitoring student progress and possible difficulties or challenges related to academic progress, emotional wellbeing, and social integration into the school community. Additionally, the Coordinator is responsible for liaison between the school and parents as well as between the student, school, and family”.
31. What kind of study visits do the children do and what are their objectives?
A: We programme Study visits according to the syllabus developed by each grade. In Senior, there are field trips according to each grade that take the whole day as well as study trips to other regions of Peru over a three-day period.
The main objective is to promote fieldwork and research across all the subjects and they are programmed starting with the Early Years level.
32. Which is your greatest strength as a school?
A: To prepare your children for the 21st century, guiding them towards the future but keeping the best from the past. The pillars of our educational system are:
• Bilingualism.
• International programmes
• Personal formation and development of values
• Use of technology throughout the educational process, particularly in the area of STEAM whereby the students employ skills learnt during Entrepreneurship classes (Project Management) designing their own inventions and making them a reality with our two 3D printers.
Our attitude towards education and the way we apply our strengths are through,
• Innovation.
• Family environment.
• Comprehensive education.
• Differentiated instruction. Take care and pay attention to the progress of each Student.
33. Are you a secular or a Catholic school?
A: Our school is secular. We have students from a variety of religions, but most of our students are Catholic. Religion classes are in English in the Junior School and they intend to internalize the practice of values in students’ daily lives. Furthermore, international programmes expect students to know about other religions.
34. If I belong to a different religion, how can my child could be exonerated from the Religion subject?
All you have to do is present at the beginning of the school year a requestfor exoneration to the School Secretary, with a letter from your church. This has changed considerably. Ask Mrs. Susana Arteaga.
35. Do you have any teacher assistants in Early Years?
A: There is a teacher assistant in each classroom up to grade 2.
36. How many classrooms are there per grade?
A: At present there are four classrooms in Nursery, eight in Pre-Kinder, six in Kinder, six in grades 1 to 5. In Senior School, there are five classrooms in grades 6, 7 and 8 and three classrooms in grades 9 to 11.
37. Do children in grade 4 take First Communion? Do children in grade 11 get confirmed?
A: Parents of Catholic students get together to plan the First Communion ceremony so that children can take it together in a church of their choice. This is also the case with confirmation.
38. Do you have a medical department?
A: No, we don´t, but we have a well-equipped infirmary and two full-time professional nurse available on each site to assist students in case of an emergency.
39. Do you have music workshops? What musical instruments do you teach?
A: Yes. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, “Cajon” (Peruvian instrument), violin, cellos and during the week selected students attend a workshop for the instrumental ensemble. Our school has a choir with the participation of Junior School students. The school has won many musical contests, such as Nueva Acropolis and Colegio San Agustín. There are four specialities in the Creative Arts Department: Music, Drama, Dance and Art. Several of our highly professional teachers come from different parts of the world and Peru.
Early Years: Students take music and drama lessons once a week each; they use percussion instruments and develop a sense for the music through songs and musical auditions. Lower School: Students from grades 1 to 5 take music, arts and drama lessons for 40 minutes every week. For many years now, our students take violin lessons as part of their school curriculum. Senior: Students from grades 6 to 9 take arts, music, dance and drama lessons twice a week for 80 minutes for the first ones, and 40 minutes for the last two. In eighth grade, they specialize. Students who choose music can opt to learn musical instruments such as violin, percussion, guitar or bass. Our school has a string orchestra, an instrumental ensemble and a choir. Every year our students enter the Nueva Acropolis contest, and in each of their presentations, they have obtained very good results, often first place. The school has an agreement with the National Conservatorium, to offer scholarships to students from that institution. We have extracurricular workshops for piano, cello, drums, electric bass and acoustic guitar without an extra cost.
40. What are the areas that make up your curriculum?
A: In line with the IB programme, we have seven main areas: 1. Native language, 2. Second language, 3.Humanities (History, Geography, Psychology, ITGS, Business, and Entrepreneurship), 4. Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Systems), 5. Maths, STEAM and Technology, 6. Arts (Music, Drama, Art), 7. Formative subjects (Religion, Sports). The curriculum model of St. George´s College, considers the student as the centre of the learning process.
41. According to the grade, what time do classes start and end?
A: Nursery Start of day 7:45 a.m. End of day 1:00 p.m.
Pre-Kinder Start of day 7:45 a.m. End of day 1:00 p.m.
Kinder Start of day 7:45 a.m. End of day 2:00 p.m.
Grade 1 and Grade 2 Start of day 7:45 a.m. End of day 3:00 p.m.
Grade 3 and Grade 4 Start of day 7:45 a.m. End of day 3:30 p.m.
Grade 5 to Grade 11 Start of day 7:50 a.m. End of day Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:20 p.m.
42. What is LAHC and what are the benefits to belong to this institution?
A: Latin American Heads Conference is an association of schools originally of British inspiration, but now centred on the sharing of good practice, throughout Latin America. It ensures the coherence of curricular structures in the development of academic processes, the schools organization, the excellence in education and the promotion of leadership and citizenship in the 21st century. It advocates peace and tolerance among the peoples of the world, promoting students’ and teachers’ exchange activities and the search for positive leaders in Latin America.
The Heads meet once a year to discuss a variety of issues. They are also in permanent contact throughout the year in order to plan integration activities among its members, such as debates, concerts and contests (www.lahc.net).