Colombo International School
Colombo International School is an independent, co-educational day-school situated in the leafy suburbs of Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. The School provides a high-quality English-medium education for pupils aged 3 to 19 years in its Infant, Junior and Secondary Sections. There are over 1300 students, from thirty different countries attending the School. Nearly all the buildings are purpose-built and include science laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, an auditorium, swimming pool and art facilities.
History
Established in 1982 by Principal Elizabeth Moir, CIS is an English medium school offering a British inspired curriculum for Sri Lankan and foreign students encompassing an academic, sporting and social education in a multi-cultural environment.
In 1993, the new Chairman, Armyne Wirasinha initiated an ambitious development and expansion programme. This highly successful development initiative saw the building of fully equipped science laboratories, a two storey student library, classroom buildings to house junior and infant school students, a large auditorium complex and 2 swimming pools in its present site on at Gregory’s Road.In 1998 CIS Kandy was opened on its current site at Mawilmada.
In 1993, the new Chairman, Armyne Wirasinha initiated an ambitious development and expansion programme. This highly successful development initiative saw the building of fully equipped science laboratories, a two storey student library, classroom buildings to house junior and infant school students, a large auditorium complex and 2 swimming pools in its present site on at Gregory’s Road.In 1998 CIS Kandy was opened on its current site at Mawilmada.
Curriculum
CIS is an English-medium School which follows a very rigorous curriculum, including academic subjects in the Arts and Sciences, though the majority of students in the upper sections of the school follow courses dominated by the Sciences. It successfully prepares its students for the Edexcel General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary (O, Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A2) Level examinations in a broad range of subjects.
These British examinations are the usual qualifications required for entry into British Universities. It also gives its students who wish to study in the USA a firm foundation in SAT and TOEFL examinations. In July 2001 there was a pass rate of nearly 93% at the London A-Level examinations, with 73% a, b and c grades.
Entry into the Sixth Form is dependent on success at the GCE O’Level examinations.
A wide range of subjects is available for GCE Advanced Subsidiary or Advanced Level exams. These include Economics, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, Further Mathematics and AS General Studies. Students are also prepared for the American SAT I, SAT II and TOEFL examinations.
The school has expanded over the last 24 years to reach the present enrolment of 1300 students from 30 countries. There are now about 120 students in each year group attending the school.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities range from sports, such as swimming, basketball, cricket, soccer, rugby, badminton, athletics, and a number of indoor games – like chess and scrabble, to societies such as classical music, drama, art, environmental, dancing, debating, public speaking, and social services.
Philosophy
The aim of the school is to develop in pupils, the highest standard in all aspects of life – intellectual, cultural, athletic and behavioural. It enables pupils to acquire self-reliance and it stresses the values of both co-operation and competition as well as service and responsibility to others. It strives to develop a respect for individuality and for different cultures.
Reputation
Nearly all the students go to Universities overseas, and there are past students at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the Imperial College, the London School of Economics, the University of Aberdeen, Harvard University, Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Cornell University, Stanford University and other notable universities in the USA.
CIS school-leavers successfully enter leading universities worldwide. Statistics on University entrance by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) indicate that the school compares favourably with other leading international schools elsewhere in the world. The school is an Associate Member of the ECIS.
CIS school-leavers successfully enter leading universities worldwide. Statistics on University entrance by the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) indicate that the school compares favourably with other leading international schools elsewhere in the world. The school is an Associate Member of the ECIS.
