Views of Some of our Parents
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We had a wonderful experience here in Bogotá and in particular at Colegio Gran Bretaña. We will take with us both memories and friendships. I would like to thank the entire staff at CGB for embracing and nurturing my children. The small, family atmosphere at CGB has been the perfect setting for the boys first school experience.
James and Kristin Laverty - Parents
"No fue fácil la decisión pero creemos que la experiencia que vivimos los dos meses anteriores en otro colegio nos mostraron cuan felices han sido nuestros hijos en el CGB y que cuando se es feliz se rinde académica familiarmente. Como lo he expresado anteriormente, la felicidad de nuestros hijos está por encima de todo..."
Alvaro, a Colombian father.
“My son started school in the Scottish system and when I came to Bogota, I felt that CGB was the best fit for his curriculum. We have been very happy here and what has been better is the school size and the small class groups. It is like a family. It has just been a great experience”.
Diane, a Canadian mother.
Hi, my name is Nicky Doig I love different places but my favourite place of all is school. The name of my school is Colegio Gran Bretaña in Bogotá Colombia. This place is great because it really nice and has interesting things to do. I obviously like my house (neighbourhood) because I’ve got my friends and family here. Definitely I will always prefer my school because I learn millions of things. I play sports and best of all I have excellent friends which I have lots of fun with.
Sometimes the teachers might be a little strict but they can also be really, really fun and funny. My home room teacher is called Michael Lawless and my Spanish teacher is called Beatriz Vergara. These two are my favourite teachers in the whole world. My PE teacher and the school head master are also really cool.
Well this is my favourite place, I hope you think it is really interesting and nice so you come and visit. I recommend it, it’s great!!
Nicky Doig – Year 7L Student
I chose Colegio Gran Bretaña because it is a small school. I have two children: Mateo who is 9 years old and María Andrea who is 6. At the CGB Mateo was one of the 220 students of the WHOLE school. There were 16 students with Mateo in Year 3 (Year 1 in the Colombian primary school system); 15 students in Year 4 and now there are 13 students in his classroom; although at the beginning of the school year they were 21 but when the class reached 24 students, it was divided into two groups. In the meantime, there was an assistant to help the teacher.
I love the family atmosphere of the CGB where everybody knows my children, where they come and where they go, their needs and their habits, and parents are always welcomed. For example, at the beginning Mateo didn’t like his lunch and used to tell his supervisory teachers that his food at home was different. Teachers then motivated him to try new food but never forced him finish his meal. Nowadays, he doesn’t complain about the food. Teachers know that he loves reading and, to make him to finish his written duties, they offer him to let him read while his mates finish their writing. My children play not only with their classmates but with children of other years. My daughter, who was 4 when she arrived in Colombia, used to play with children of Year 4; outside the school, children say hello to each other, and even secondary students greet the little.
The school was founded almost 10 years ago to offer excellent education to students of international companies and embassies that couldn’t find the appropriate offer for their children. Therefore, the school population is transitory and administration staff, students and teachers are used to see us as nomads. The school community is very warm and welcome not only the students but their parents too. The PTA has parents representing each class to help teachers and to facilitate teacher-parent communication. Besides, parents (representatives of a class) organize coffee-meetings or lunch-meetings to meet each other or the PTA offers pancake-breakfasts to welcome new parents.
The school policies specify that there can’t be more than 49% of students of the same nationality in a class. Therefore, Colombian population will never surpass this proportion.
English is the first language at Colegio Gran Bretaña and there is one daily hour of Spanish.
Patricia Murer – Mother
We consider that the admission process to the school was excellent; it was really easy to communicate with Mrs. Rocha and to enjoy her kindness regarding all our queries. The adaptation process of my son has been very good. We congratulate you for the idea of having a more spacious campus with better buildings and modern equipment for the students; the environment is key to motivate the students learning. We feel happy an lucky to belong to the great CGB family.
Khayan Rojas family
The experience of becoming members of the CGB has been very positive for us, since the first time we visited the school.
We were very pleased with the welcome, with the Power Point presentation, with everybody’s attitude, with the possibility of making the admission tests abroad, etc., etc.
Izurieta family
My name is Anaida, I come from Venezuela (Caracas), and my husband is British; we have two children, Alejandro is 7 years old and Fiona is 4. We haven’t lived in Venezuela during the last 7 years.
We liked the CBG very much for several reasons.
- It is a “family” school where everybody knows my children, teachers and students, and everybody is very kind … I am always very surprised every time I come to school in the morning because the Secondary students congratulate Ale for his football goals and things like that.
- The teachers’ commitment is excellent … and because classes are small it is better.
- Since my husband is British, this education is the most similar we can have if we eventually have to return.
When we arrived in 2006, their school mates welcomed them very warmly and they felt perfectly adjusted … 2 months later, Alejandro and Fiona seemed as they would have been at the CGB for years, it is to say, they felt comfortable and happy. All this in spite of the fact that we had lived in Argentina for 5 years where they were very happy and my experience has been also similar because I have established a good friendship with several mothers of my years as well as with others of other years. The environment is very friendly and spontaneous.
There are many nationalities and cultures, of students and teachers, and the “Día de la Raza” constitutes a very special occasion.
I’m delighted with Bogotá and its people, and even more with the school and with everybody at school, students, children, mothers, teacher, administration staff, transportation and maintenance staff.
My husband visited other renowned schools where he felt as another one. Therefore we didn’t doubt that the CGB was our school.
Anaida Diaz – Mother
“I came a year in advance to check out the school system because that was very important to my children and me. My two children have always been in private schools in the U.S. system, which I love of course; so I was thinking it would not stand up to USA standards, but it has way passed it. It is fabulous. I checked out other schools and I was not happy because there was a language barrier, the schools were huge, and my children did not know the language, so coming in here was like a family. The compound is beautiful, the teachers are fabulous, you know they are loving, warm, and inviting, and my children love the school. I am here volunteering all the time”.
Sherrie, an American mother.
“I chose CGB because people are very nice, very friendly and it is a small size school. I just like it, and my son enjoys it”.
Sandra, a German mother.
“We chose the school for its British currículum, and because of its small size classes which allow education to be addressed to each child individually, instead of large groups. We are very happy with the results achieved by our child through his education, here at this school”.
Juan, a Colombian father.
“I came a year in advance to check out the school system because that was very important to my children and me. My two children have always been in private schools in the U.S. system, which I love of course; so I was thinking it would not stand up to USA standards, but it has way passed it. It is fabulous. I checked out other schools and I was not happy because there was a language barrier, the schools were huge, and my children did not know the language, so coming in here was like a family. The compound is beautiful, the teachers are fabulous, you know they are loving, warm, and inviting, and my children love the school. I am here volunteering all the time”.
Sherrie, an American mother.
“I chose CGB because people are very nice, very friendly and it is a small size school. I just like it, and my son enjoys it”.
Sandra, a German mother.
“We chose the school for its British currículum, and because of its small size classes which allow education to be addressed to each child individually, instead of large groups. We are very happy with the results achieved by our child through his education, here at this school”.
Juan, a Colombian father.
We are very happy because our children have been admitted in the school and most of all because they have settled down very quickly. They feel very happy with their classmates and especially with their teachers.
Valdez family
“We have now got two children at school with a 3rd waiting should we be here long enough. We have found the school one of the best things about being in Colombia. We have made friends here; we have always felt welcome. The school has always listened and acted on anything we have suggested or been concerned about. I think for an expatriate family to come and find somewhere that is like a family set-up with people who are from the same country or who are going through the same sorts of settling in and living problems is wonderful. We will be very sorry when it is time to go.
Liz, a british mother.
“We have now got two children at school with a 3rd waiting should we be here long enough. We have found the school one of the best things about being in Colombia. We have made friends here; we have always felt welcome. The school has always listened and acted on anything we have suggested or been concerned about. I think for an expatriate family to come and find somewhere that is like a family set-up with people who are from the same country or who are going through the same sorts of settling in and living problems is wonderful. We will be very sorry when it is time to go.
Liz, a british mother.
It is a great pleasure for us to be members of this friendly community that welcomed us so warmly.
It is important to underline the wise work of the Admissions Department which represents the school’s most transparent window. Thanks to its work, we feel proud and engaged to fulfil any requirement that could be important for Juan Alejandro’s best performance.
We feel like active parents because the school gives us the opportunity to join and participate in interesting and wise activities.
Aguirre Santa family
We are very happy with the school. Our children have had a very good settle down process.
Thank you very much for your help.
Echeverri Valle family
Echeverri Valle family
We are very happy with the CGB; Sofía has made an easy transition and feels comfortable in her class and with her classmates.
Everybody, teachers, administration staff and even the nurse. We feel as a part of a big family.
We feel relaxed and comfortable at the CGB.
Silberwasser family
Silberwasser family
The admission process was good in general; attention and support when we arrived was warm and kind.
Our children have settled down quickly and feel happy.
Trujillo family
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