The British School of Gran Canaria has two campuses, one near Tafira just outside of Las Palmas and the other, in the south of the island, near Maspalomas and respectively known as the Tafira campus and the South School. The school’s facilities are modern and purpose built, all part of an on-going process of renovation and renewal.
Facilities
The School
Campuses
British School South
The South School, housing one of the school’s two Primary sectors (students aged 2-11), was constructed in 1997 and consists of ten large classrooms, alongside several smaller learning spaces. The infrastructure and layout supports the close and warm sense of family engendered by the school. The classrooms are spacious and well resourced, each equipped with an interactive whiteboard. There are two small library areas, one specifically for juniors, and the other for infants. The open entrance area is used for assemblies and other gatherings, and a large dining room and kitchen provides a lunch service prepared by the school’s catering team.
Large play and recreation spaces are situated in front and behind the school; the latter being used for sports and physical education lessons. There are two ‘child friendly’ rubberised play areas, one specifically assigned the youngest students in Nursery and Reception.
The South School is located 5 minutes from the main GC1 motorway that links the south and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is also 10 minutes for the main beach area.
British School Tafira
The Tafira site includes the school’s other Primary sector, alongside the Secondary sector (students aged 11-18). The Tafira campus is divided into three main areas – Infants, Juniors and Secondary, as well as common areas and the school’s Administration and Catering facilities.
The campus was renovated in 2015 to ensure the facilities support the school’s teaching and learning methodologies, as well as enhancing the strong sense of family and community.
The Infant classes of the Primary sector are situated on the ground floor, with easy access to the outdoor play and learning area and to a spacious breakout area that is often used for small group work. The outdoor area includes a ‘child friendly’ rubberised floor and a specific play area for the Nursery children.
The Junior classrooms are situated on the first floor and are light, spacious and well-resourced. The classrooms are interconnected to enable cross age group teaching and there are large learning spaces in front of each Junior classroom that provide an extended learning space.
Secondary has assigned classrooms for each subject area, including specialist and fully-equipped classrooms for Science, Art and Music: the art room has a pottery oven and graphics computers; the music room individual practice rooms and many musical instruments; the science department, specialist laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology. Although information technology is used and taught across the curriculum, there is an assigned Computer Suite for the Computer Science department.
As part of the school’s focus on a sense of community there are common areas used by all ages, helping to draw students and staff together. The Ágora is at the centre of the school, and is used by all age groups for drama and movement, exhibitions, workshops, displays, clubs, meetings and assemblies. In addition, the Tafira campus has a large sports hall, which includes a stage for theatrical productions, and a dining room that services all students and staff.
The outdoor play and sports facilities include a small synthetic 5-a-side football pitch, volleyball court and a hard surface play area for outdoor basketball and football. Local off-site facilities are used to support and enhance the sports provision.
The Tafira site is situated in picturesque countryside close to the Bandama volcanic crater and approximately 15 minutes from Las Palmas.