Primary Class Teacher

The English School, property of Compañía Hispano Británica de Cultura S.A. Company since 1975, was founded in the year 1970.

It was started to resolve the necessity of a group of Aragonese families who, looking forward in time, wanted to give their children a Spanish-English bilingual education, strengthening language learning in the education of their children, future European men and women.

Now, in the XXI century, we can refer to an established private school directed by professionals, in which educational success is the key to its continuation.

The English School is a totally private concern, which is situated in attractive grounds, in a pleasant area. The school consists of an Infant, Primary and a Secondary department which are all fully authorised by the Spanish Department of Education.

A large part of the complex is of recent construction. A new Junior/Lower Primary department was added in 1985, followed by a new building dedicated to Secondary Education, Music, Arts, Technical Drawing and Information Technology, and a completely new dining room in 1996. A second, larger gymnasium and a new library were also added to the school in 1997. An all-weather football pitch was added in 1998. In 2001 new changing rooms and extra toilets, for the students, with indoor and outdoor access were added to the large gymnasium. The infants' playground was redesigned and new seating added. Students have always been able to enjoy the use of the school's open-air swimming pool during the warmer months.

Classes are based in large well-lit classrooms, all of which enjoy pleasant views of the surrounding countryside. A private school bus service operates to bring students from all parts of the city and the school dining room service provides fresh food which is cooked, on the premises, on a daily basis.

The school is co-educational and students are encouraged to learn naturally how to relate to each other at a formative period in their lives. Pupils are required to abide by the school rules and to maintain a high degree of consideration and courtesy towards others. School uniform is worn at all times. The school tracksuit/sport outfit may be worn on the days that students have a sports lesson on their timetable.

Full time education is available from 3 + to 16 years of age. From preparatory school through to the end of primary, students benefit from a half-day in English and a half-day in Spanish, throughout.

Once students begin Secondary Education they begin to study an even wider range of subjects which includes other languages. German is added and French, which is begun in 5th Primary, continues. Daily English language classes are still taught and other subjects such as Art, Technical Drawing, Three-dimensional computer design, Physical Education and Social studies are also taught in English. Classes are taught by fully qualified Native English speakers.

Our aim is to ensure that the full potential of each pupil is achieved. The maximum number of students in any class is twenty five. Their academic progress is monitored constantly and parents are kept up-to-date through regular detailed reports and parents meetings.

All pupils are encouraged to broaden their interests. A wide range of extra-curricular classes such as Ballet, Music, Karate, Five-a-side football, table- tennis, Chess and Information Technology are organised, and field trips, theatre/concert outings and exchange trips take place on a regular basis.

Trinity College London examinations are held in the school on an annual basis. An outside examiner is sent by Trinity College London and oral examinations are taken by all students from the age of 7 upwards. The advanced stages of this examination are accepted by many British Universities as proof of a student's ability to be able to follow a course of study in their educational establishment. Students in upper-secondary also have the choice of taking the Cambridge First Certificate examination in 4º ESO.

An active pen friend/exchange programme has been established for the last 10 years with Hillcrest Grammar school in the Manchester area of England and a German exchange with Liebnizschule Offenbach, Frankfort for the last 5 years. After 3 years of exchanging correspondence with Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, students from 4th Secondary spent 2 weeks studying at the school and living with a Crossroads family in April, 2004. A pen friend programme is also established with St Andrew's Episcopal School in Washington D.C. (U.S.A.) and a future exchange programme with The Los Vegas Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences in Nevada. (U.S.A.)

Since September 2003 the Secondary Department have been taking part in what is to be a three year Socrates - Comenius project, (2003 - 2006) collaborating with schools in England, Austria, Italy and Poland.