In Colombia, convinced of the transformative power of education, the Gimnasio Colombo Británico (GCB) has been establishing itself as an inspiring institution in terms of educational excellence, pioneering the adoption of quality standards that, while remaining mindful of the local context, transcend national borders to provide a responsible education that shapes competent citizens anywhere in the world.
Since the education of its first students, GCB has embraced an approach that recognises the quality of guidelines, fundamental learning rights, and the standards of the National Ministry of Education as the foundation for an education relevant to the local context. At the same time, it has enriched its academic programmes and pedagogical practices with initiatives that meet international standards — such as the Cambridge Assessment International Education from the University of Cambridge, the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation, and the Character Counts! values education programme from Drake University. From the very first cohorts assessed by these programmes, GCB has achieved outstanding results, surpassing global averages.
In a context where education is key to both individual and social progress, and to the broad transformation of national reality, GCB takes on its leadership role in Colombia with responsibility, while also positioning itself as a benchmark in Latin America and globally, through its continuous pursuit of excellence. In Colombia, it ranks among the country’s five top schools, recognised for its educational quality, certified by international institutions. Globally, the school has been awarded six stars by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), and in 2022 received the EFQM Global Award for having demonstrated “an indisputable track record of success in translating strategy into action and continuously improving results” (EFQM, n.d.).
Since its foundation, GCB has implemented first-class educational standards and curricular programmes. Recognised for its pioneering pedagogical practices and exceptional academic programmes, it has gained renown over the years for its emphasis on the holistic development of its students, who establish its position as an educational leader. This article celebrates thirty years of GCB’s dedication and commitment to quality education in Colombia and Latin America, highlighting its most recent educational initiative: the innovative Isaac Newton Cultural Centre, through which it reaffirms its commitment to excellence.
Thirty years represent a journey of learning, perseverance, and growth. On this anniversary, GCB celebrates not merely its years, but its achievements. Throughout 2024, the educational community is preparing to commemorate three decades of quality education, marked by the formation of generations of students equipped to face the challenges of the contemporary world. At the heart of this celebration is the Isaac Newton Cultural Centre, an architectural reality that embodies a milestone in this new phase of the educational project. Beyond being a building —which, in itself, is a work of art by the renowned architect Daniel Bonilla— this centre is a tangible symbol of GCB’s ongoing commitment to educational innovation: providing an education that is appropriate, engaging, relevant, and nurturing.
Designed and managed to foster exploration and learning beyond conventional classrooms and isolated disciplines, the Cultural Centre embodies the school leadership’s forward-thinking and transformative vision. Through the facilitation offered by this new space, GCB’s holistic approach is increasingly enhanced, thanks to the Centre’s various initiatives, which, in addition to hosting academic activities, promote ongoing events that stimulate creativity and critical thinking.
Workshops in arts and crafts, artistic and personal project exhibitions, interdisciplinary projects, concerts, entertainment shows, film series, lectures, and performing and dance arts have been among the activities on the Centre’s cultural agenda, all led by recognised experts in each field. This provides students with the opportunity for a differentiated education, grounded in a solid pedagogical tradition, yet independent of conventional, uninspired schooling. In doing so, the aim is to prepare students to exercise global citizenship and to lead significant personal, corporate, and governmental projects, while enjoying themselves and learning in a school whose academic rigour is balanced with a multiplicity of perspectives that enrich the learning experience.
GCB’s commitment to quality education is intentionally aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number four: “Ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (UN, n.d.). In this regard, the Isaac Newton Cultural Centre acts as a catalyst for change, whose agenda, in addition to supporting national standards and international academic and values-based programmes, cultivates essential soft skills for a fulfilling, happy, and successful life—skills that, in the medium term, are expected to begin impacting and transforming surrounding communities.
The positive impact of GCB’s educational initiatives already extends beyond its classrooms through community projects, collaborations with local institutions, partnerships with cultural and academic organisations, and outreach programmes, all of which enrich students’ educational experience and contribute to the development of the communities surrounding the school. However, the Cultural Centre represents an opportunity to accelerate this impact and these transformations, taking the school beyond the classroom and allowing students to explore, investigate, and engage with the real world in its everyday functioning—often a reality disconnected from the protected and sterile environment of private education in Colombia.
This holistic approach is also the result of a clear awareness of social responsibility and of the importance of educating citizens committed to the positive transformation of their environment. Beyond its innovative, intercultural, multidisciplinary spirit and plurality of perspectives, the Isaac Newton Cultural Centre aims to stand out as a replicable model, whose design and approach inspire other educational institutions in Colombia and Latin America to rethink their potential for impact and to make a valuable and participatory contribution to the region’s educational landscape.
GCB, aware that access to quality education is a human right, actively participated in supporting three district schools that received IB authorisation this year. The school opened its doors to welcome teachers, coordinators, and principals from these institutions to share its experience with the programme and advise them on the best ways to implement it. The Cultural Centre also regularly hosts academic and recreational events with Bogotá IB schools and other school networks. The most ambitious goal in terms of community impact is for the Centre’s three libraries to become the first open-access libraries in a private school in Colombia.
Although we are celebrating the consolidation of an educational project forged over thirty years, it is imperative to consider the state of public and private education in the region, particularly in the Caribbean. Persistent challenges and emerging opportunities remain, requiring ongoing collaboration between leading educational institutions, governments, and civil society to meet standards, develop actual capabilities rather than merely potential competencies, and ensure equitable access to quality education for all in a world that is changing daily, where the risks of clinging to decontextualised and outdated educational systems and pedagogical models are increasingly high.
Looking to the future, GCB reaffirms its commitment to educational excellence to sustain the achievements attained, while exploring new ways of teaching and adapting to the changing needs of students in a global environment. The celebration of GCB’s thirty-year anniversary is not only a milestone for the institution but also a testament to what can be achieved through unwavering dedication to quality education. We urge other institutions to accept the invitation to collaborate and prioritise education as a catalyst for a country’s sustainable development, enabling it to recognise itself as a key actor in the construction of a better world.
Specifically…
El Centro Cultural Isaac Newton es un espacio vibrante y versátil, que enriquece la experiencia educativa de los y las estudiantes del GCB. Está pensado y gestionado desde un enfoque multidisciplinario, que se traduce en una agenda que integra arte, ciencia, ciencias sociales y humanidades para todas las etapas educativas. Este innovador centro ofrece, permanentemente, una agenda cultural dinámica, diseñada para aprovechar cada espacio de sus instalaciones para el crecimiento de la comunidad educativa. Las tres bibliotecas del Centro Cultural son pilares fundamentales para el desarrollo intelectual, y ofrecen acceso a invaluables recursos físicos y digitales, que respaldan los programas internacionales que imparte el GCB.
In its commitment to the holistic development of students, the Centre also features a maker space, equipped with cutting-edge technology to encourage innovation and creativity; an exhibition gallery showcasing artistic talent; an agora serving as a welcoming space for presentations, lectures, theatre, dance, and other activities that promote oral, audiovisual, and visual arts; a cinematheque hosting film forums and themed series from preschool through to secondary school, offering an immersive experience with surround sound; collaborative workspaces for project design and research; and individual study modules that are spacious and comfortable. In line with this initiative, all spaces are equipped with the latest technology, enabling quick and convenient high-definition audio and video playback and efficient access to educational resources.
— Alejandro Ovalles Bonilla
Graduate in Education from the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (DR), with a Master’s in Latin American Literature from the Instituto Caro y Cuervo. Expert in inclusive digital literacy, digital citizenship, and accessible content creation. Author of the books El sueño de Alicia (Común Presencia), Abrapalabra 9º (Educar), Innovación lectora K11 (Pearson), Lenguaje 10º (Anglo Digital), Expedición lenguaje 5º, and Encuentro lector for grades 3, 4, 10, and 11 (Encuentro).
