Colegio Gran Bretaña (CGB)

What the school is

History, language and school community

A Universidad Pedagógica Nacional study dates CGB’s founding to 1997 and describes a community that included children of diplomats and business leaders. In the 2025–26 handbook, incoming director Joe Jalil Hover set out a five-year vision covering differentiation, inclusion and safeguarding. Both documents describe history and intentions; the vision dates from the start of 2025–26.

The 2025–26 handbook identifies English as the main teaching language. Students take Spanish and Colombian Social Studies in classes adjusted to their language level. French is offered in Years 7–9, with extra Spanish instead for new students who do not speak Spanish. The handbook caps any single nationality at 50% of students in Years 1–13. Directory estimates of enrolment range from about 360 to 460, and report roughly 90 teachers, average classes of 20, libraries, dining halls and sports facilities.

The nationality cap applies school-wide, so the mix varies by classroom. Compare the actual year group, subject choices and support provision with those at Colegio Nueva Granada and Colegio Anglo Colombiano; overall enrolment is a separate measure from class size.

Academics in practice

Qualifications and English entry requirements

The academic route leads through IGCSE to the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12–13. Ask how the IB, US and Colombian diploma requirements overlap and which awards your child would be eligible to complete. The school highlights examination results and university acceptances; a useful comparison needs the examination year, cohort size and definition of each result.

The 2025–26 handbook specifies C2 English on the Common European Framework for Year 12 IB entry. It restricts Year 13 admission to IB transfers whose six subjects and units studied match the school’s programme. Families moving during the diploma years should send their child’s course records to admissions and ask how the current language and transfer requirements are assessed.

The handbook describes English-language support at extra cost and assessments for incoming students. For KS2 and secondary, its 2025–26 timetable runs from 8:10 am to 2:55 pm on Mondays and Fridays, and to 3:20 pm Tuesday to Thursday, with Tuesday recuperation sessions until 4:05 pm.

Admissions and cost

Fee quotations, billing and catering

CGB’s website gives no fee schedule. Directories list an undated annual figure around US$16,000, a monthly band above COP 4 million and transport of COP 845,000 a month; these figures have different or unclear dates and do not add up to a current budget. Request an itemised quotation covering enrolment, tuition, transport, catering and any support charges before applying.

The 2025–26 handbook issued tuition invoices on 10 August and then the first of each month from September through June, payable within ten calendar days. It limited the June invoice to families who started in September or later. It also described a 50% enrolment-fee refund if a student never started school. Ask for the separate terms for withdrawal after attendance begins.

The 2025–26 handbook required school catering, supplied by Aldmiark, and prohibited packed lunches and food deliveries. It described a nut-free campus. The admissions page lists a COP 300,000 application fee, Friday appointments, online assessment for overseas applicants, student and parent interviews, and iDAT and writing tests from Year 3. It describes a Wednesday committee meeting and possible entry three days after matriculation.

The family experience

Transport and daily routines

The campus lies beyond Calle 200 on the Autopista Norte corridor. Individual diplomatic-community reports describe long journeys from areas such as Rosales and Chicó, sometimes longer in heavy rain. Journey times vary by home and bus route. The 2025–26 handbook describes contracted buses with individual seat belts and OnTrack GPS monitoring.

The handbook describes a house system, UNCOLI sports, performing arts and co-curricular activities within the timetable. Ask how safeguarding concerns are handled in practice. Its 2025–26 Nursery option allowed mornings from 8:10 am to 12:15 pm, including lunch, while charging full fees and providing no midday bus.