Nord Anglia Education has acquired its first school in Colombia to expand its presence in South America as part of the ongoing consolidation in the continent by international school groups.
The deal is for Rochester School in Bogotá, a K-12 school that has been open since 1959 and has 969 students.
It offers a mix of national, international and bilingual curricula. It is accredited by the Council of International Schools and also has Apple Distinguished School designation.
The move into Colombia means Nord Anglia will now have a presence in 36 countries worldwide.
Andrew Fitzmaurice, chief executive of Nord Anglia Education, said the company was excited to welcome the school into its portfolio.
“Their commitment to academic excellence, sustainability and student wellbeing is inspiring,” he said. “Together we will create even more opportunities for students and educators to thrive locally and globally.”
Juan Pablo Aljure, president of Rochester School, said the move would allow the school to retain its identity while offering even more opportunities to staff and students.
“While Rochester School will always celebrate its local identity and values, joining Nord Anglia Education opens the door to international opportunities unmatched by any other private school in Colombia today,” he added.
International schools in South America
The acquisition follows Nord Anglia’s announcement of a deal to take on its first school in Uruguay in May.
Inspired Education announced in July that it had also entered the Uruguayan market with the acquisition of St Patrick’s College.
In March, International Schools Partnership acquired Colégio Progresso, an organisation formed of six schools in Brazil that educates more than 5,500 students in five cities: Campinas, Indaiatuba, Vinhedo, Itu and Santos.
Sami Yosef, head of global research at ISC Research, said the Nord Anglia deal in Colombia underlined the “selective but notable expansion by school groups” in the region.
However, he added that “the market [in South America] remains relatively small compared to more established regions”, such as Asia and the Middle East, and so “consolidation is still at an early stage”.
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