Markham College

A Curriculum Built for Global Citizens

Markham College's academic programme is one of the most comprehensive bilingual offerings in Latin America, blending British Early Years (EYFS), IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Cambridge IGCSE, and the IB Diploma Programme into a seamless English-Spanish journey from age 3 to 18.

The Bilingual Foundation

Instruction is delivered in equal measures of English and Spanish throughout the school. Native English and Spanish teachers deliver their respective subjects, with French introduced from Primary Year 6 (becoming optional from Secondary Year 2). This trilingual exposure — English, Spanish, French — is a hallmark of the Markham experience and prepares students for universities and careers across multiple linguistic environments.

Secondary: From Cambridge to IB

The Secondary School is structured in two phases:

• Secondary Years 1–4 (approximately ages 11–15): Students follow a broad, balanced curriculum, culminating in Cambridge IGCSE examinations in Years 3–4. Historical IGCSE data (circa 2009) indicates students sat approximately 10 subjects on average, achieving a 97% pass rate (grades A*–C), with roughly 40% of all grades at A or A*.
• Secondary Years 5–6 / Sixth Form (ages 16–18): Students pursue the full IB Diploma Programme, choosing subjects across six IB groups plus the core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS). Available subjects span sciences, humanities, languages, mathematics, arts, and technology at both Higher and Standard Level.

IB Diploma Results

Over the last decade, Markham's IB results have been consistently strong:

• Approximately 520 candidates sat the IB Diploma
• ~99% pass rate
• Average score of ~33.5 (global average is approximately 29–30)
• ~12% of candidates scored 40 points or more (maximum 45)

These results place Markham well above the global IB average and reflect the effectiveness of its bilingual academic model.

Teaching Philosophy

The school employs an inquiry-based, student-centred pedagogy from the earliest years. In Early Years, the EYFS play-centred framework emphasises curiosity and exploration. In Primary, the IB PYP encourages interdisciplinary, concept-driven learning. In Secondary, teachers are expected to foster independent thinking, research skills, and global-minded inquiry — all aligned with the holistic IB learner profile.

Markham recruits highly qualified teachers from both Peru and overseas, and the school places significant emphasis on ongoing professional development to maintain teaching quality across both languages.

Core Values as a Foundation

Markham College's pastoral framework is underpinned by four institutional core values: Belonging, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Trust. These values are not merely aspirational — they are woven into daily school life, from classroom interactions to community events and service projects.

The House System

The school operates a traditional house system with four houses:

• Rowcroft
• Guise
• Miller
• Cochrane

All students are assigned to a house upon enrolment, and houses compete throughout the year in academic, sporting, and cultural competitions. The annual inter-house competition to earn the Founder's Shield is a highlight of the school calendar, fostering school spirit and cross-year-group friendships.

Restorative Approach to Conflict

Markham's primary school guidance explicitly emphasises a restorative approach to conflict resolution, prioritising dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation over punitive measures. This is embedded in a broader 'culture of care' that the school describes as central to the Primary experience, with an emphasis on:

• Respect for self, others, and the environment
• Safeguarding the shared school community
• Developing emotional literacy and social skills alongside academic achievement

Student Leadership Opportunities

Markham provides structured pathways for student leadership development:

• School Captains and Deputy Captains
• Prefect system across Secondary
• House Captains elected from the student body
• Round Square Student Council — Markham is affiliated with Round Square, an international network of schools that emphasises character development, service, and global citizenship
• Duke of Edinburgh International Award — available to Secondary students

Community Service and Global Citizenship

Service learning is integral to life at Markham. Students undertake community service projects within Lima and beyond, including environmental initiatives and social outreach. The school's vision — 'to empower everyone to be agents of positive change in Peru and beyond' — is operationalised through these service commitments, giving students a tangible sense of purpose and social responsibility from an early age.

A British Institution Takes Root in Lima

Markham College was established in 1946 by a group of British businessmen living in Lima who sought a British-style education for their children. The school's Latin motto — Studiis et Rebus Honestis ('For Honourable Studies and Endeavours') — has guided its ethos from the very beginning. It opened with just 72 boys and 7 teachers, a modest founding that belied its eventual significance in Peruvian education.

Growth and Campus Expansion

Through the 1950s and 1960s, enrolment grew steadily as Lima's expatriate community expanded and local Peruvian families sought the school's rigorous bilingual education. By the late 1970s, student numbers had swelled to approximately 1,200, far exceeding the capacity of the original premises. This growth necessitated a major expansion: the Lower School relocated in 1979 to a purpose-built campus in Monterrico (Surco district), which remains the Early Years and Primary campus today.

Co-Education and Modernisation

A landmark transformation came in 1992 when Markham became fully co-educational, admitting girls across all year groups. This shift aligned with broader changes in Peruvian society and international school norms. That same decade saw the school deepen its international academic credentials: it was authorised as an IB World School in September 1991, first offering the IB Diploma Programme, and later expanded IB authorisation to include the Primary Years Programme (PYP).

Today: A Dual-Campus Bilingual Powerhouse

More than 75 years after its founding, Markham College operates across two campuses in Lima:

• Monterrico Campus (Surco): A state-of-the-art 24,000 m² facility serving Early Years and Primary students (ages 3–11), opened in recent years with cutting-edge science labs, a black-box theatre, music studios, robotics labs, and two swimming pools.
• San Antonio Campus (Miraflores): The historic Secondary campus serving students aged 11–18, with specialised science laboratories, a gymnasium, a 25-metre swimming pool, and multiple sports fields.

The school now educates over 2,000 students representing approximately 27 nationalities, though the student body remains predominantly Peruvian (~92% local). Markham has evolved from a colonial-era expatriate school into a proudly Peruvian institution with world-class international credentials, described by its leadership as preparing students to be 'agents of positive change in Peru and beyond.'

Dual-Campus Design

Markham College divides its educational provision across two distinct campuses in Lima's residential districts, each purpose-built for its age group:

Monterrico Campus (Early Years & Primary, Ages 3–11)

Located in Av. La República 111, Urb. El Derby, Surco, the Monterrico campus spans an impressive 24,000 square metres and was recently redeveloped to world-class standards. Facilities include:

• Science and MakerSpace laboratories for hands-on STEM learning
• Drama rehearsal rooms and a black-box theatre for performing arts
• Music practice rooms for individual and ensemble rehearsal
• Robotics laboratories with cutting-edge equipment
• Two dedicated art studios, an outdoor art terrace, and a ceramic kiln
• Media production green room and sound recording studio
• Sports facilities: Two indoor sports arenas, a grass sports field, two swimming pools, and a gymnastics area
• Outdoor playgrounds scaled for younger children

The campus is described by the school as a 'state-of-the-art' environment specifically designed to 'further enhance creative learning opportunities' for Primary-age children.

San Antonio Campus (Secondary, Ages 11–18)

Located at Calle Augusto Angulo 291, San Antonio, Miraflores, the Secondary campus offers a rich environment for older students:

• Specialised science laboratories equipped for IGCSE and IB Diploma sciences
• Extensive library with multilingual collections
• Black-box theatre for drama productions in English and Spanish
• Gymnasium (coliseo) — a large indoor sports stadium
• 25-metre, 8-lane swimming pool
• Multiple sports pitches including two 8-a-side football fields
• Cafeteria serving students throughout the day

Campus Atmosphere

Both campuses project a strong sense of community and pride. The house system — with four houses named Rowcroft, Guise, Miller, and Cochrane after significant figures in the school's British heritage — creates healthy inter-house competition and fosters belonging across year groups. The school's emphasis on a 'culture of care' and restorative approaches to conflict resolution contributes to a supportive, respectful atmosphere across both sites.

A Genuinely Bilingual British-Peruvian School

Unlike many international schools that offer token bilingualism, Markham College delivers genuine dual-language instruction — English and Spanish carry equal weight throughout the curriculum. Native teachers of each language deliver subjects in their mother tongue, meaning students genuinely develop academic fluency in both languages from age 3. French is added as a compulsory subject from Primary Year 6, making most Markham graduates effectively trilingual.

Round Square Membership

Markham is a Round Square member school — part of a global network of schools sharing a commitment to character education, international understanding, democracy, environmental stewardship, leadership, and service (the IDEALS framework). Membership gives students access to:

• International Round Square conferences hosted at member schools worldwide
• Student exchange programmes with partner schools across six continents
• The Round Square Student Council, a platform for student voice and governance

This international network dimension is a significant differentiator, exposing students to diverse perspectives well beyond the Lima context.

Duke of Edinburgh International Award

Markham offers the Duke of Edinburgh International Award — a globally recognised youth achievement programme requiring students to complete challenges across physical activity, skill development, voluntary service, and an adventurous journey. In a country as geographically diverse as Peru, this programme takes on special character, with students undertaking expeditions into Andean highlands and the Amazon basin.

Outdoor and Experiential Education

Peru's extraordinary natural environment becomes a classroom at Markham. The school organises outdoor education camps in the Andes and Amazon, providing experiences unavailable to most international school students. Activities such as surfing, mountain biking, and cricket complement the more conventional sports programme.

Fees and Accessibility

Markham's annual tuition (US$13,400–US$16,750 for 2025/26) is competitive for a school of its calibre in Latin America and significantly more accessible than comparable IB schools in Europe or Asia. The school also offers need-based financial aid for enrolled students from Secondary Year 1 upwards, making it somewhat more accessible than its fee level might suggest. Special payment arrangements are available for expatriate families on fixed-term assignments.