Working At

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Working At

• The British School, Quito

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Quality in Education
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From the Director
A Day at School
5 Things to Know
Living and Working
The Students
Activities and Events
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presentation as you wish
END
A Parents View
Tour the School
From the Board
Teachers Views
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From the Director

• The British School, Quito (BSQ) aims to
• promote academic excellence
• foster a positive environment for teaching and
  learning
• develop inquiring, thinking and principled
  individuals of integrity with the skills to
  
  
  become effective citizens in
  a rapidly changing world
• help all students develop their individual
  strengths and reach their potential
• advance international understanding and respect
  for different cultures
• maintain a staff of qualified, motivated, caring
  professionals.
• We are looking for people with the energy and
  enthusiasm to help the BSQ meet these aims.
  Interested candidates should
• have a passion for teaching and learning
• be flexible, enthusiastic and committed
  professionals
• be willing to contribute fully to all aspects of
  school life
• Thank you for your interest in working at the
  BSQ. I hope you find the information in this
  slide show helpful and informative. Please do
  not hesitate to contact me should you have
  further questions.
• Daryl Barker (director_at_bsq.edu.ec)

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A Day at School
Staff are expected to be at school by 800am
although many start work earlier than this. We
work through until 330pm, although again, many
teachers stay beyond this time. Extra-curricular
actives run from 315 415 Monday to Thursday
and teachers are encouraged to contribute to the
programme by offering activities throughout the
year.
The Primary Day
The Secondary Day
Lunch Time
Students arriving at school keen to learn.
The School Year
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5 Things to Know

• The BSQ is a small but hard-working school, in
  which staff contribute fully to all aspects of
  school life
• For a number of students, English is not their
  mother tongue although many have a very good
  level of competence in English
• The remuneration package is more than enough to
  provide for a good standard of living here in
  Ecuador
• The school is stunningly located in a green and
  peaceful valley just outside of the capital city
  Quito
• Ecuador is a great country for those with the
  determination and sense of adventure to enjoy it
  fully however, it is not without its
  frustrations

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The Students
The students at the BSQ are mostly from
Ecuadorian families (approximately 65), with the
remainder made up of South American and
international expatriates. On the whole, the
students are well-mannered, polite and keen to
learn. Many of the students have English as a
second language. As the school expands and
grows, an increasing number of students have been
at the school for many years and therefore
developed excellent English skills. Students and
staff have very strong working relationships
which makes for a happy and relaxed school
environment.
I have been here at the British School since it
started 10 years ago and I have no desire to
leave. That says it all
Manuel, Year 10
I have lots of friends and I am very happy here
and I learn lots of new things Nathan Year 2
It is an advanced school where we are expected
to achieve high standards Priscilla Year 6
The best thing about the BSQ is the teachers,
students and staff have a great working
relationship Tammy, Year 13
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Tour the School
This year the BSQ has celebrated its 10th
anniversary. During this time it has grown and
expanded steadily. We now have approximately 240
students, 2/3 in Primary and 1/3 in Secondary.
Hence, class size is relatively small. The
school is stunningly located at the foot of Mount
Ilaló in the valley of Tumbaco. The school
grounds are tranquil and beautiful. The
facilities are good, with Primary and Secondary
libraries, a swimming pool, tennis court and
football pitch, and dedicated ICT and science
laboratories. However, this is an area for
future development. We are for example currently
looking to purchase new land near the school to
provide the space for planned expansion.
The Swimming Pool
The Stunning Grounds and Location
The Football Pitch
The ICT Laboratory
The Secondary Library
The Staff Balcony
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From the Board
The Board of Governors is made up of a range of
members from the British Embassy, parent body and
the community. The Director is an ex-officio
member and there is a teacher representative
elected each year. The Board is stable and very
supportive, with members who have a strong vision
for the success and growth of BSQ.
Our school, and I say this with pride, has been
growing each day and has gradually become one of
the best education centres in Quito and Ecuador.
What was a dream 10 years ago has become reality.
However, new dreams are always emerging and I
welcome your interest in becoming part of the
British School Quito dream Guido Cordero,
Chairperson I came to Ecuador in 1978 planning
to stay for three months to work in environmental
conservation and am still here 28 years later. My
daughter has been at BSQ since it opened in 1995
and I have been a Board member for the last five
years.  Perhaps these facts say all that is
necessary that Ecuador is a captivating country
in which to live and work and BSQ offers a
wonderful environment for students, staff and
parents Sylvia Harcourt
The Board of Governors
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Two Teachers Views
Ive been teaching at the BSQ for 8 years 6
years fulltime and 2 years part time. The
original school was in a large, old family house.
Indeed we were a large family. I stay
because Teaching BSQ students is an engaging,
enjoyable process. The daily buenos dias from
the students is a delight. Overall, students are
energetic, well traveled, multilingual and
responsive individuals. The teaching environment
with low class numbers is such that I find myself
laughing with students in the process of teaching
and learning. The present campus, a former sports
club, is a very idyllic setting, NOT within the
metropolis of Quito, but in the warmth and
clearer skies of the valley. Club Med? I cant
remember what a real winter is like! Ecuador is
fascinating Ive enjoyed witnessing the 2
volcanic eruptions (ash-filled mushroom clouds)
and even the civil unrest that periodically
closed school in the early days showed
Democracy in action. The food is spectacular and
I find myself craving prawn Cerviche whenever far
from Ecuador. The fruits are surprising,
avocadoes aplenty and guinea pig makes an
appetizing alternative. Weekend travel is a very
viable option with historic haciendas, volcanoes,
thermal baths and cloud forests within short
driving distance. And, the Galapagos Islands
have to be one of the most special places on the
planet. The people are warm and approachable.
Latin cultures inspire an interchange of ideas
and thoughts. Being an artist has enabled me to
interact with the local artistic
community. Rebecca The Old Timer
I am living out here with my husband and we both
really love it. Meeting people is relatively
easy, there are a few British pubs in town and in
the area the school is in, a new Indian
restaurant and sort of ex-pat pub have just
opened. The area has loads of good pubs and
restaurants in it and the staff often frequent
them at weekends. (Of course there are lots of
opportunities to meet locals in the area as
well!) The best thing about living here is the
people. They are incredibly friendly and far more
laid back than Venezuela, where we spent two
years. When we first arrived we stayed with an
Ecuadorian family briefly before moving to a
fantastic house in which we now live. The family
were amazingly friendly and we meet up with them
from time to time now. I also really like the
school itself and the area it is situated in. As
far as negatives about Quito are concerned, I
think it's a far nicer place, certainly than
Caracas but I suppose it has the same types of
problems as some other South American cities - as
in the traffic in central Quito is totally
bonkers. However, I feel safe when walking
around both the city and around my home. Irene
The New Teacher
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Parents
The parents are key to the success of the BSQ if
nothing else, they pay the fees. However, on the
whole, parents are involved and supportive. The
importance of effective communication between
school and parents is growing in peoples
consciousness. The PTA is also developing into
a really positive group who contribute to school
life, particularly school events such as the 10TH
Anniversary celebrations and the recent Bonfire
Night.
Bonfire Night celebrations organized with the
help of the PTA
Fine education, appropriate facilities, and a
professional and caring staff.  That is what we
were looking for when we were assigned to Quito
in 2003.  At the British School, Quito, we found
all this and more Michael Wilson, parent and
PTA member.
Games and activities run by the PTA as part of
the 10th Anniversary celebrations
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Activities and Events
BSQ believes strongly in education being more
than just classroom teaching and learning. A
significant emphasis is based on the benefits of
the broader learning possible through
participation in extra-curricular activities and
special events. Staff, students and parents
contribute to a wide range of great projects
including extra-curricular activities such as
cooking and sports (football being the
favourite), primary and secondary music and
theatre productions, the International Youth
Award program, community service and school
trips. In addition, a number of special events
occur throughout the year regulars such as
Family Fun Day, Bonfire Night and Earth Day are
just three examples. Please follow the link below
to enjoy the photos.
Activities and Events Photo Gallery
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Living and Working in Ecuador
Ecuador is a fabulous country in which to live
and work. The school is located in the valley of
Tumbaco known as the Valley - about 20 minutes
from the capital Quito. The valley enjoys a warm
and pleasant spring like climate most of the
year. Teachers usually live near the school in
either Cumbaya or Tumbaco. Here you can find a
pleasant house or apartment within the
accommodation allowance. Shopping is usually done
in Supermaxi, and a weekly shop is about 8000
(which includes a bottle or two of excellent
Chilean wine), depending on your tastes and
desires. There are also shops which import more
specialised items (usually from the US), these
are more costly. You cant get Branston Pickle or
good Dairy Milk chocolate but the range of
products is reasonable There are a number of good
restaurants in the Valley including
international, Italian, Mexican and Indian
cuisine. With a little bit of hunting you can
also find a bar or two as well, although most
people wanting to hit the town usually head up
into Quito. A good meal and a few drinks will set
you back between 10 and 15 depending on where
and how many. Public transport is plentiful and
cheap. Most teachers however, tend to buy a car
during their time here. It certainly opens up
the full potential of Ecuador.
Find Out More
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The Primary Day
In the Primary school, we follow the English
National Curriculum. The day is organised to
incorporate both the Numeracy and Literacy hours
for Years 1-6 during the morning sessions.
Timetables are flexible enough to allow teachers
to cover the other subjects of the English
National Curriculum. We follow QCA schemes of
work for other subjects with certain
modifications to reflect our South American
location. Children from Year Reception Y6
receive a daily Spanish class (approx. 40 min)
taught by qualified local staff. Swimming and
P.E. are taught by specialist subject teachers
for Years Nursery Y6. Our younger children
follow the Foundation Stage and concentrate upon
creative play with gradual inclusion of
pre-reading and pre-writing skills as they
approach the age of 5 years. All Primary classes
have a full-time bilingual teaching assistant.
Primary students learning and playing
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The Secondary Day
The secondary day comprises 8 x 40 minute
lessons 6 lessons before lunch (with a break)
and 2 after. In addition, Years 12 and 13 have an
additional ½ lesson before lunch to meet the time
requirements of the IB. The timetable is made up
of a combination of single, double and triple
lessons. Teachers typically teach approximately
34 out of 42 lessons per week. In Years 7 to 9
the English National Curriculum is followed by
all students. At Key Stage 4 the school is
currently phasing in its exciting new Pre-Diploma
programme to replace the existing IGCSE courses,
the aim being to better prepare students for the
demanding programmes in Years 12 and 13. The
curriculum is focused on Languages (English and
Spanish), Maths, Science, Arts and Humanities. In
Years 12 and 13, the students work towards the
Ecuadorian and International Baccalaureate
Diplomas (based on the requirements and
curriculum of the IB Diploma) which, in addition
to the curriculum subjects, includes Theory of
Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity, Action
and Service requirements. In addition, all
secondary students study Sociales (Ecuadorian
Geography and History) and PE.
Some of the Many Faces of Secondary
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Lunch Time
With Lauralee, every lunchtime is a special
occasion at the BSQ. It is not uncommon to have
a choice of a Brazilian prawn dish, beef in red
wine sauce, and a vegetarian pasta bake all
accompanied by vegetables, potatoes, rice and a
great desert. Put simply, the lunches are
terrific
Today's Menu Pizza Pepperoni, Bacon and
Mushroom and Vegetarian. Chicken in mushroom
sauce. Beef stir fry. Shrimp with garlic and
parsley. Salad. Vegetables, corn, courgettes and
carrots. Chocolate Brownie.
Almost all the students and staff eat the school
lunch, and who can blame them.
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The School Year 2006 2007

• 16th August new overseas teachers arrive in
  Ecuador
• 17th August new teachers for orientation in
  school
• 24th August all staff back at for professional
  development days
• 24th and 25th August staff training retreat to
  Papallacta
• 31st August students return to school for start
  of term
• 28th October to 5th November half term holiday
• 16th December to 7th January 3 week Christmas
  break
• 17th to 20th February mid-term break
• 1st to 15th April 2 week Easter holiday
• 25th to 27th May mid-term break
• 29th June last day of school break up for
  summer holiday

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Activities and Events Photo Gallery
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More on Ecuador
Ecuador is a varied and wonderfully interesting
country with something for everyone. Learning
Spanish or salsa, eating out and socialising,
hiking, biking, mountaineering, rafting,
horse-riding, jungle adventures, art and culture,
rugby, football, or simply lazing on the beach,
Quito and Ecuador have it all. Explore the
links to find out more, and check out the photos
of BSQ staff enjoying life in the Ecuador Photo
Gallery, click on the button below.
http//www.ecuadorexplorer.com/
http//www.ecuador.com/ http//www.lonelyplanet.c
om/worldguide/destinations/south-america/ecuador-a
nd-the-galapagos-islands/ http//www.cia.gov/cia/
publications/factbook/geos/ec.html
Ecuador Photo Gallery
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Ecuador Photo Gallery