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academic excellence

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Key Facts
THE BEST CURRICULA
We blend the English National Curriculum with the local Brazilian Curriculum, so our students are prepared for the best universities, locally and abroad.
FANTASTIC IGCSE RESULTS
99% of our Secondary students have passed their IGCSEs, with an outstanding A*–A pass rate of 43% and an A*–C pass rate of 89%.
REMARKABLE IBDP RESULTS
100% of our Secondary students have passed their IB Diploma, with an average score of 34 points –notches higher than the global average of 31.38.

NOURISHING A LIFELONG GROWTH MINDSET

At The British College of Brazil, the sky is the limit! From the youngest of our students to our eldest, we build confidence and harness natural curiosity using world-renowned international curricula and a nurturing, personalised approach that values each child’s interests and talents. Every day, we immerse students in their learning and help them draw connections to the world because we know that when they feel engaged, they feel free to take risks and think outside the box.

So our students are prepared with the tools and qualities for success, we also weave invaluable skills throughout every experience such as curiosity, experimentation, research, creativity, and collaboration.
Academic Excellence | British College of Brazil | São Paulo - Secondary Introduction
ONE-OF-A-KIND GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

OUR WORLD-RENOWNED CURRICULA

At BCB, we study from the best curricula in the world. Students learn from the English National Curriculum and then expand their understanding of the world through an integrated, thematic approach of relevant subjects, beginning with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the Primary school. Eventually, our students are ready for the challenfe of IGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the gold standard of global education. 

All our Secondary students learn English, Spanish, and Portuguese. As they learn more about other parts of the world, they also become grounded in Brazilian history, culture, and geography. And while we lead with our international curricula, we also cover all areas of the Brazilian Curriculum, allowing students to graduate with double certification between the IBDP and Brazilian diploma.

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Early years
  • Early years
  • Primary
  • SECONDARY

Early years

The Early Years at BCB are all about play-based learning through hands-on activities and experiences that make school fun. Following the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ of the English National Curriculum, our students make connections at every stage of growth and continually build a range of skills.

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3 to 5 years old
THE ENGLISH NATIONAL CURRICULUM: EYFS
Every day is full of new, exciting topics. Our lessons build around communication, language, and literacy, encouraging each child to build their speaking and listening skills, while enjoying pre-reading and pre-writing activities. They explore their environment, other people, themselves, and features of the world while discovering how to interact with others and collaborate in a group. They can be creative and expressive and through arts and crafts, role-play, and music. Our youngest learners to also begin to build their sense of numeracy and maths through practical activities.
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Primary School

During Primary School at BCB, our students explore a combination of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and English National Curriculum’s Key Stages 1 and 2. They learn through a thematic approach across all subjects, so they can make connections across their lessons, think critically, and build their problem-solving skills early on. Through many activities and experiences, our students also link their study to the world and build a sense of who they are.
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5 to 11 years old
THE INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY CURRICULUM (IPC) AND ENGLISH NATIONAL CURRICULUM: KEY STAGES 1 AND 2
Our two curricula work together to create a strong foundation in English (reading and writing) and mathematics. Students then explore fascinating topics thematically that weave together the many different subjects, like science, geography, history, art and design, music, Portuguese, computing, and physical education. PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic education) gets integrated, too. Our thematic approach through the IPC especially creates a successful combination of hard and soft skills.
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SECONDARY SCHOOL

Secondary School at BCB fuels each student on their personalised journey to success. After completing the English National Curriculum’s Key Stage 3, our students go on to study globally renowned IGCSEs and may then continue to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – the gold standard of global education. 

Throughout it all, they build their confidence, independence, leadership, and discipline. They become empowered as critical thinkers and problem solvers who will thrive in the world.
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11 to 14 years old
THE ENGLISH NATIONAL CURRICULUM: KEY STAGE 3
At Key Stage 3, our students learn from specialist teachers in the subjects of English, mathematics, science, geography, history, drama, art, computing, music, and physical education. They also choose at least one other language to study. Nurturing their growth, our students also have a class tutor who delivers PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic education), which includes focuses on building their global citizenship.
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11 to 16 years old
IGCSEs: KEY STAGE 4
In Years 10 and 11, our students drive their own learning as they choose subjects they want to explore in greater depth from a broad range. They then get ready to take exams of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), provided by the Cambridge University International Examinations Board (CIE) in the UK. Students create combinations of IGCSEs that support their individual passions and preferences. The two-year IGCSE programme is globally recognised as one of the most academically rigorous programmes worldwide, preparing our students for success in the IBDP.
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11 to 16 years old
THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME: KEY STAGE 5
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year international programme that gets students ready to thrive as global citizens at the best universities in the world. Students choose six in-depth courses from languages and literature (English, Portuguese, and Spanish), language acquisition (English and Portuguese), individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and arts. Weaving across their studies, they also study the theory of knowledge, write an extended research essay, and complete community service or other activities through the ‘CAS’ (Creativity, Activity, Service) component. 
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Explore our Secondary Curriculum Map

It's important to note that, as reflective practitioners, we are dedicated to continuous improvement. This commitment means that the curriculum map may undergo refinements throughout the year, reflecting our ongoing efforts to enhance and tailor the educational experience for our students.
CURRICULUM MAP
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  • Early Years
  • Primary
  • Secondary

EARLY YEARS

The Early Years at BCB are full of explosions of growth. Each child begins their unique journey by building their love for learning.
Languages taught
English and Portuguese
Nationalities
17+
Average class size
16
Student-teacher ratio
10:1

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary School at BCB encourages our students to make connections that bring their learning to life in the world.
Languages taught
English and Portuguese
Nationalities
14+
Average class size
18
Student-teacher ratio
10:1

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Secondary School at BCB sees our students become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and global citizens ready to make a difference.
Languages taught
English, Portuguese, and Spanish
Nationalities
23+
Average class size
18
Student-teacher ratio
10:1
primary
  • Early years
  • Primary School
  • Secondary School

A TYPICAL DAY AT THE BRITISH COLLEGE OF BRAZIL

What’s it feel like in our day-to-day at BCB? Our Early Years days are filled with play, discovery, and plenty of socialising, as we explore new ideas and connect with ourselves and each other.
EXPLORE OUR DAILY SCHEDULE
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MORNING GREETINGS
Our energetic teachers and school leaders greet us and our families as we enter school. We’ll gather around a circle with peers, where we’re welcome to talk, sing, and share whatever’s on our minds as we start the day!
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GETTING READY
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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Our activities are always linked to themes, as we begin to explore our huge world. Our teachers will even take us outside or show us a new place, where we might get to munch on snacks or jump into swimming lessons with friends.
EXPLORING THE WORLD
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TALKING AND LISTENING
We come together at midday to eat our nutritious lunches while having meaningful conversations with our teachers, TAs, and peers. We listen to different stories, use our vocabulary, and have lots of laughs that make our bonds stronger.
LUNCHTIME CONVERSATION
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CONNECTING WITH OUR BODIES
Just like a battery-recharge, nap time allows us to connect with our bodies after refuelling, as we relax in our comfortable classroom. Our teachers and Tas know how to make the lighting and breezy airflow just right for a snooze. 
RELAXING AND RECHARGING
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STORYTELLING
We practice our listening and speaking skills when it comes time for stories! We get immersed in books and movies, and we also get excited to start reading and writing soon, too. Sometimes, we even get to sing and dance.
BUILDING LITERACY
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STAY AND PLAY
After school, we continue to grow our curiosity, imagination, and creativity. During ‘Stay and Play’, we’ll jump into fun activities like Lego building, puppet shows, art making, or Juilliard dance lessons.
EXPLORING NEW THINGS

A TYPICAL DAY AT THE BRITISH COLLEGE OF BRAZIL

What’s it feel like in our day-to-day at BCB? Our Primary days are filled with fascinating activities around the topics we’re discussing, as we explore many new facts and collaborate with our peers.
EXPLORE OUR DAILY SCHEDULE
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MORNING WELCOME
Our energetic school leaders greet us as we enter school, catch up with our friends, and share information across families. We might tell our teachers more about what’s happening at home, or we might pass a football and play some music before heading to our first class.
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GETTING READY
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MUSICAL TUNES
We discover the world through curricula that take us on adventures about many different topics – and we build several kinds of skills, as a result. In music class, for example, we learn harmony and tempo with different tunes, and assemble to play for our parents and the extended community.
LEARNING AND PERFORMING
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LUNCHTIME AND PLAY
We come together at midday to eat our nutritious lunches while discussing our thoughts and swapping stories with our teachers, TAs, or peers. In between lots of laughs, we may then shift to an active recess that can include life-size chess, football, basketball, or jump rope.
CONNECTING WITH PEERS
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TELLING STORIES
We get engrossed in a book of our choice every day, and we practice using our own words – from summarising what we’ve read to inventing our own imaginative story. We can enrich our expression through Spanish or Portuguese lessons and arts and crafts activities, too.
NURTURING LITERACY
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SPORTS TOURNAMENTS
During different sports and athletics, we strengthen our physical skills and nurture our well-being by boosting our resilience and collaborating with teammates on our common goals. During tournaments with competitors, we’ll show our sportsmanship while striving for our best.
GETTING ACTIVE
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AFTER-SCHOOL FUN
After school, the learning doesn’t end! During extracurricular activities, we can continue to explore different things, and see what we do or don’t like. We might discover talents in rock band, hand-sewing, arts, reading, or sports – to name just a few favourites.
EXPLORING NEW INTERESTS

A TYPICAL DAY AT THE BRITISH COLLEGE OF BRAZIL

What’s it feel like in our day-to-day at BCB? Our Secondary days are challenging and encouraging, as we increase our independence, follow our passions, and sharpen our talents among peers from around the world.
EXPLORE OUR DAILY SCHEDULE
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READY TO SHINE
Our teachers and energetic Head of Secondary greet us as we enter school and feel comfortable telling them how we’re doing, what we’re struggling with, or what we’re excited about. Their tailored recommendations help us feel at ease and boost our overall happiness. We might even have a special breakfast during Mock Exams for IGCSEs or the IBDP.
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STARTING THE DAY
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IGCSE AND IBDP PREP
We’re always exploring what fascinates us and can unlock our passions through a variety of subjects and activities at BCB – like music, drama, and dance through our Juilliard curriculum. Every class presents us with ways to excel on IGCSEs and the IBDP, so we can attend our first-choice university and do or be whatever we want in the future.
EXPLORING OUR INTERESTS
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LUNCHTIME PLAY
We pause at midday to come together with friends over a nutritious lunch, catching up with each other and strengthening our bonds. We can make our own choices, like going for a walk outside, relaxing in the IB lounges, spending time in the library, or playing a sport with friends. Taking a break always nourishes our minds and well-being.
MAKING CHOICES
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STEAM LAB
In our Maker Lab and STEAM laboratories, we can learn beyond the typical science and math curricula, getting our hands into projects and challenges that encourage us to think outside the box! We apply what we’ve been learning through demonstrations or by building models, while increasing our skills with the newest technology and tools.
BECOMING INNOVATIVE
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CREATING OUR FUTURE
We meet one-on-one with our university counsellor, who helps us figure out what we might do with our interests. We’ll consider different options and get ready to apply to university. We also might shadow someone in their job, attend career fairs, or participate in workshops with BCB parents who can share insights into their professions.
BECOMING PREPARED
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NURTURING OUR PASSIONS
After classes, we can relax into our favourite activities alongside our classmates – nurturing our own collaborative bonds and friendships. We might get ready for a stage performance in our Juilliard-inspired music rehearsals or to win the championship with our sports team. By following what we enjoy, we feel happy and fulfilled in our BCB community.
CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER
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committed to excellence

HOW WE TEACH

With the largest international faculty in São Paulo – and a majority of native English speakers – we have the world’s best teachers at The British College of Brazil. 

Our teachers are all experts in the British style of differentiating classroom learning, so each child can receive individual attention around their needs, strengths, or learning approach. Our small class sizes and close-knit teacher-to-student ratio empower your child to have a strong rapport with their teacher.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE

LEARNING FROM THE BEST

We meet the best educational standards in the world at BCB. Our academics haven't only been shaped by word-renowned curricula like the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme; they've also been strengthened by Nord Anglia, which ensures high-quality standards and gives our teachers world-class trainings and opportunities. 

Fully recognised by the Ministry of Education, we're also proud to offer double certification between our international academics and Brazilian National Education guidelines.
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icon quote
BCB is a friendly, diverse school with a lot of different options both inside and outside of class. The teachers really know their subjects, and they really helped me learn. BCB also offers many fun and exciting extracurricular activities to meet our varied interests. It’s a family-oriented school.
 
Thomas
Year 7 Student

OUR STATS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Our expertise at BCB gives our students fantastic opportunities to achieve outstanding results and to attend the best universities in the world.
100%
of our students have passed their IB Diploma
34
Our average IBDP score is higher than the global average of 31.38 
70%
of our students have been thrilled to attend their first-choice university
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SUCCEEDING IN THE WORLD

UNIVERSITY PREPARATION

From Year 7, our Secondary students get ready for their futures at the world's best colleges and universities. To support them in their journey, our career guidance counsellor and experienced team of teachers assist every student in discovering their best-fit university, based on their personal interests and academic performance. They help each student set goals that will strategically prepare them, and 70% of our students ultimately attend their first choice. 

We also support our students through test-taking, so they can have everything they need to attend the university of their choice. Besides IGCSEs and the IBDP, we offer support for alternatives like SATs for US colleges and universities, IB Certificates, and the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM) for Brazilian universities.
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MEET OUR ALUMNI

The British College of Brazil has graduated many classes, each with talented graduates who are making our world a better place. We celebrate their experiences and achievements, as they’ll always be part of our family and inspire us.

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Victor Correa
"I love BCB because of its environment. BCB is unique because bullying doesn't occur here, which is common in the other schools. It was the right choice for me, and I like that we have laptops. BCB has given me the chance to have a good education.”
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Lucas Chaia
"BCB has given me the opportunity to meet new people from many countries with different cultures."
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Maria Paola Guala
"I love BCB because it’s a small school. One of my happiest memories was when I arrived, because it was a new beginning for me, in a different country. BCB is unique because there are students from various countries and cultures. It was right for me because it helped me improve my English and abilities in various other subjects.”
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Gabriela Montandon Lopes
"BCB is unique because it has very different approaches to educating pupils that aren't easily found in Brazil. Here, they take pupils out of their comfort zones and encourage them to try their best!”
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Leonardo Valente
"Of all the schools I’ve ever visited, only The British College of Brazil gave me the opportunity to live new experiences. Thanks to BCB, I was able to try new sports and visit places like Pantanal. Thanks to BCB for all these beautiful years!"
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Youngyun Kim
"There's a small group of teachers and students who are all very nice, friendly, and open minded at BCB. Everyone welcomes new students, helps them to settle into the new environment, and becomes friends with them easily. This warm, welcoming experience will always stay with me."
ONE-OF-A-KIND GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Whether your child is developing their passions with Juilliard, MIT, and UNICEF or going on eye-opening expeditions, our international experiences and diverse community at The British College of Brazil will shape them as a global citizen ready to succeed anywhere.

OUR OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCES
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