The British School of Quito

Campus Life at British School Quito

The British School Quito is located on a single, self-contained campus in the Tumbaco valley, approximately 30 minutes east of central Quito along the Ruta Viva motorway and about 20 minutes from Quito's international airport. The setting combines the convenience of suburban Quito with the scenic beauty of Ecuador's highland landscape.

Location and Access

• Address: 2 de Agosto S9-245 y Andrés Herrera, Vía Intervalles Km 2.5, Tumbaco, Quito, Ecuador
• By car: ~30 minutes from central Quito via Ruta Viva
• By air: ~20 minutes from Quito International Airport (Mariscal Sucre)
• School bus: BSQ operates a private school bus service through contracted transport companies, with student safety as the stated priority. Routes and coverage areas are managed through the school's parent zone.

There are no direct public rail connections; the school is a car- or bus-dependent campus.

Sports and Outdoor Facilities

Despite its relatively small student population (~313 students), BSQ boasts impressive sports infrastructure:

• Semi-Olympic Swimming Pool (25m): Used for weekly swimming lessons and staff recreational swim time
• Football Field: Natural grass pitch for football and rugby
• Volleyball Courts: Outdoor courts adjacent to the playing fields
• Playgrounds: Age-appropriate outdoor play areas for Early Years and Primary students

Basketball facilities are reportedly under development, with a gymnasium planned.

Academic and Specialist Facilities

• Technology / Computer Laboratory: ICT facility for digital skills and computing
• Science Laboratories: Multiple labs for biology, chemistry, and physics (supporting IGCSE and IB sciences)
• Art Studio: Dedicated space for visual arts
• Music Room: Practice space with instruments
• Library and Auditorium: A combined space used for reading, assemblies, productions, and whole-school events

Community Atmosphere

The Early Years, Primary, and Secondary sections all share the same campus, creating a vertically integrated school community where older students interact with younger ones daily. This single-campus model fosters a strong sense of school identity and makes sibling logistics straightforward for families. The relatively small school size means staff and students know each other well, contributing to the pastoral care culture the school emphasises.

Academic Excellence at British School Quito

The British School Quito has consistently demonstrated academic outcomes that place it well above global benchmarks for international schools offering the IB Diploma Programme.

IB Diploma Results 2025

In July 2025, BSQ's IB cohort of 14 students achieved a 100% pass rate, with an average Diploma score of 35.0 points—a remarkable 4.4 points above the world average of 30.6. Three students scored 40 points or above, placing them among the very best candidates internationally. The highest individual score in the cohort was 41 points.

Perhaps most impressively, every single graduating student received an offer from their first-choice university, with destinations including Princeton University (USA), Penn State University (USA), ESADE (Spain), Universidad de Navarra (Spain), and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador).

IB Diploma Results 2024

The year prior also demonstrated strong performance, with a 90.9% pass rate for the IB Diploma—roughly 10 out of 11 candidates passing. While detailed score breakdowns for 2024 were not publicly released, the school continued to outperform global averages.

IGCSE Results 2023

At the IGCSE level (Years 10–11), the school's 2023 results were equally impressive:

• A* to A grades: 54% of all results
• A* to C grades: 90% of all results
• A* to E grades: 99% of all results

These results reflect a broad distribution of high achievement, with the vast majority of students performing at or above the expected standard.

Curriculum Structure

BSQ follows the UK National Curriculum through to Year 9, transitions students into Cambridge IGCSE (Years 10–11), and concludes with the IB Diploma Programme (Years 12–13). This three-stage pathway creates a coherent academic journey from early years through to university entry. The school does not offer A-Levels, SAT, or ACT programmes.

A Small Cohort, Large Ambition

With only around 313 students across the full school and small IB cohorts of 10–14 students, BSQ delivers highly personalised instruction. The student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 6:1 allows teachers to monitor each student's progress closely. This intimate academic environment, combined with rigorous external examinations, creates a culture of focused ambition and individual accountability that clearly delivers results.

A School Born of Diplomatic Vision

The British School Quito has an origin story that is genuinely unique among international schools: it was conceived not by an education company or a parent community, but by a diplomat who saw a gap.

The Ambassador's Idea (1994)

In 1994, British Ambassador Richard Lavers observed that Ecuador was one of the few countries in Latin America without a British school. He began working to remedy this, engaging both the British and Ecuadorian governments to create a framework for a new bilingual international school in Quito.

Bilateral Agreement and Opening (1995)

On 9 June 1995, the two governments signed a bilateral agreement formally establishing The British School Quito. The school opened its doors just three months later, in September 1995, with a founding cohort of only 26 pupils. This small beginning belied the ambition of the project: to create an institution that would combine the rigour of the UK National Curriculum with deep respect for Ecuadorian language, culture, and identity.

Growth and Milestones

Over the following decades, BSQ grew steadily in student numbers and international recognition:

• 2002: Authorised as an IB World School for the Diploma Programme by the International Baccalaureate Organization, enabling students to sit the globally recognised IB Diploma.
• 2014: BSQ joined the Orbital Education family of schools, connecting it to a wider network of international schools and educational resources.
• 2020: BSQ hosted its inaugural TEDx Youth@BSQ event in February 2020—a first for the school and a milestone in student-led intellectual programming.

Today

The school now serves approximately 313 students from over 30 nationalities, with 75% of the student body being Ecuadorian and the remaining 25% from the international expatriate community. It remains Ecuador's only fully British international school, maintaining its founding mission of offering a transformative British education grounded in local culture.

A Philosophy Built on Two Cultures

The British School Quito occupies a distinctive niche in international education: it is simultaneously a British school and a deeply Ecuadorian one. This dual identity is not a marketing statement—it is embedded in the school's founding agreement, curriculum design, and daily life.

The Bilingual Ethos

While instruction is primarily in English (following the UK National Curriculum), Spanish is not treated as a foreign language. It is integral to the school's identity. Approximately 75% of students are Ecuadorian nationals, meaning Spanish is the home language for the majority of the community. The school is accredited by the Bell Foundation's ALFRI (Accreditation by Language for Results, Internationally) programme, which independently verifies the quality of its English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision—ensuring that students who join without strong English are supported to access the full curriculum.

The Mission

BSQ's official mission states:

"Our purpose is to provide a transformative British education, internationally recognized. We foster an inclusive, diverse community that enhances each student's unique talents, critical thinking, and global awareness. By nurturing personal growth, building solid foundations for lifelong learning, and empowering students with confidence, ability, and compassion, we prepare them to thrive as successful, responsible global citizens in a constantly changing world."

This mission is notable for what it prioritises: the word "transformative" signals an ambition beyond mere academic delivery, while "inclusive" and "diverse" reflect the reality of a school that draws students from 30+ nationalities.

Core Values

Five core values anchor the community:

1. Compassion — empathy and care for others
2. Respect — dignity for all members of the community
3. Integrity — honesty and ethical behaviour
4. Excellence — ambition and the pursuit of high standards
5. Responsibility — accountability to self, community, and environment

Student-Centred Learning

BSQ describes itself as a "student-centered" school, meaning curriculum delivery is designed to respond to each individual's learning profile rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This philosophy is supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 6:1, enabling close monitoring and personalised feedback.

Global Citizenship

The school places significant emphasis on preparing students to be "responsible global citizens." This is reflected in participation in programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, TEDx Youth@BSQ, and a curriculum that culminates in the IB Diploma Programme—one of the world's most internationally recognised pre-university qualifications.

How BSQ Selects Its Students

British School Quito's admissions process reflects its identity as a school that is selective but not exclusionary—it seeks students who can thrive in a British curriculum environment, while offering EAL support to those who are still developing their English.

The Application Journey

The process begins with an initial enquiry followed by a school tour, giving families a chance to see the campus and meet staff before committing to a formal application. Once families decide to proceed, they submit:

• Completed application form
• Student and parent/guardian passports or local Ecuadorian ID
• Last two years of academic reports
• Financial statement (proof of ability to pay fees)

Assessment and Interview

For most applicants, the next step is an age-appropriate assessment conducted on campus:

• Early Years and lower Primary: Assessment is informal and observational, conducted with the Head of Section
• Year 3 and above: Students complete the CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test, 4th Edition), a standardised reasoning assessment used widely in British schools to measure verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning
• All ages: Both the student and parents are interviewed separately, allowing the school to understand the child's needs, learning style, and family expectations

English Proficiency

Notably, BSQ does not publish a minimum English proficiency requirement. Given that 75% of its students are Ecuadorian and many join with Spanish as their dominant language, the school's ALFRI-accredited EAL programme exists precisely to support students at various stages of English acquisition. Families should not be deterred from applying if their child's English is still developing.

Selectivity and Outcomes

While formal acceptance rate data is not published, the school is described as "selective" in the sense that it uses professional assessment tools (CAT4) to ensure the curriculum is a good fit for each applicant. In practice, the 2025 cohort saw all 14 IB candidates pass—suggesting that students who are admitted are well-matched to the school's expectations.

Timing

The school year begins in February, aligned with Ecuador's academic calendar. Prospective families are encouraged to begin the admissions process well in advance of this date, as enrolment is limited by cohort size.