By Assan Bah
The Proprietor and Headmaster of the new British International School – Gambia (BISG), William Arthur, has assured students and parents of ensuring the highest standards in all aspects of the school.
He made the remarks at the launching of the new school held at the school ground in Kotu on April 28, 2022.
The event was witnessed by the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, David Belgrove, the Chairperson of Board of Governors, Ms. Korea Ankers, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), the Director of Planning at MoBSE and the members of the community.
Mr. Arthur said the school will open its doors for students in September to complement the efforts of government and private educational institutions in The Gambia to provide exceptional quality education to families.
“BISG will provide a holistic education that balances academic achievement with the development of character, resilience, and leadership. A nurturing environment and encouragement will underpin all of our endeavours and help shape distinctive characteristics of our learners,” Arthur said.
Arthur announced that the British school is officially a COBIS Candidate School, which he said will bring global network of schools together, consisting 246 schools, 172 supporting associates and 17,000 students in 76 countries.
“COBIS is the largest premier global association for British schools overseas committed to school improvement, safeguarding, and supporting their members and the wider sector,” he stated.
He further said teachers in the BISG will benefit from several professional development opportunities on offer to continuously improve their professional standards to support the learning and development of the young men and women.
Speaking on behalf of the British Government, David Belgrove said the school will strengthen the relationship between The Gambia and UK, saying students who studied at the BISG will have the opportunity to further their education in the United Kingdom.
“The British curriculum is rigorous and it will adequately prepare students for university education,” he added.
Ms. Koren Ankers, the Vice Consul who doubles as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors, said they will ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction of the school.
She said they will also monitor to ensure the agreed school polices are being put into practice.
“We will hold the senior leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and the students, confirming that their performance management of the staff is effective,” she added.
