British School of Chicago opens in Edgewater
Inside / Chicago - October 2001
by Mary Corrado / Associate Editor
Parents seeking the best education for their children now have a new choice: The British School of Chicago. Located in Edgewater in the building formerly occupied by St. Gregory's Elementary School at 1643 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, the school currently serves children from age 3 through year six (what Americans call Grade five). It opened last month with 25 students. The British School plans to increase one grade each year until it goes through age 18, according to its head teacher, Michael Horton.
The mission of the school is to provide high quality education in a structured, positive and caring environment. Distinguishing it from other Chicago private schools is the fact that the challenging, broad curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England. It focuses on the whole development of the child, aiming to equip every pupil with essential skills for lifetime learning.
Children follow nationally agreed programs of study in mathematics, English, science, modern foreign languages, information and communication technology (ICT), art and design, music, history, geography design and technology (DT), physical education (PE) and personal, social and health education (PSHE).
Open houses will be offered at various times Friday November 9, 2001. Visitors can see the school children at work 9.30 a.m. to noon or 1.30 p.m. until 3.00 p.m. For those who cannot come during the school day, there is an additional open house 5 to 7 p.m. "Parents are welcome to set up an appointment to observe, to see the standard of work we produce, " Michael Horton said. The school telephone is (773) 506-2097.
Michael Horton had been a head teacher in the United Kingdom for 20 years when he was offered the position of head teacher for the British School of Chicago. He explained to Inside why he accepted. "I'd accomplished everything there. I had an excellent school, an excellent staff, very well thought of. This was a fresh challenge."
"It's not often you get the opportunity of opening your own school and seeing it develop, especially in another country. Chicago is a very attractive city. I'm suited for the position because the school follows the British curriculum. I get to select my own staff - and all are excellent. It's an exciting opportunity," he said.
The British School of Chicago is part of a company called British Schools of America, which operates similar schools in Washington, D.C., Boston and Houston. The school in Washington opened three years ago with less than 25 students and now has 270. The school in Houston opened one year ago with 75 students and has increased its enrollment to 220. Boston opened one year ago with 21 students and now has 140. "We've not done a great deal of marketing yet but much interest has been shown," said Michael Horton. "People are very enthusiastic and pleased." He projects an enrollment of about 40 students by February. Classes for three and four year olds have a maximum class size of 16, while classes for older children have a maximum size of 20.
To learn more, check the Web site www.britishschool.org, or call the school for an information packet. To park at the school, turn from Bryn Mawr Avenue into the tunnel next to the main entrance doors. The tunnel leads into a courtyard for parking.