Markham College

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Markham College
Colegio Markham
File:Markham College.png
Studiis et rebus honestis (Latin: "For honourable studies and pursuits")
Address
Apartado 18-1048
Lima
Perú
Information
Type Private coeducational
Established 1946
Headmaster David Dowdles
Grades Pre-Kindergarten
Kindergarten
Primary 1-6,
Secondary 1-4,
Lower/Upper 6th
Enrollment 1,900 approx.
Colour(s) Brown and Gold
Mascot Lion
Yearbook The Markhamian
Affiliation Round Square, ADCA (Asociación de Colegios Privados de Asociaciones Culturales), LAHC (Latin American Heads Conference), G20 Schools Group
Alumni Association Old Markhamian Association
Primary language English
Website www.markham.edu.pe

Markham College is amongst the most prestigious schools in Lima, Peru. Founded by British expatriates (and often referred to as the "Eton of the Andes" for this reason), Markham promotes a mixture of British and Peruvian education. Markham is an independent, non profit-making, co-educational, bi-lingual, secular, day school of some 2,000 students aged 4–18. Its students fulfill the Peruvian national curriculum, as well as the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) program from the University of Cambridge. Many students subsequently enrol in the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma Programme. The school was named after Sir Clements R. Markham (1838–1916). Students are known as Markhamians, while alumni are identified as Old Markhamians.

The college is currently starting a multimillion dollar development programme which includes a new state of the art science block, modern sports facilities and an Arts complex for Music, Drama and the Visual Arts.

In 2004 the school became part of Round Square, an internationally recognized organization of schools which follows the IDEALS of Kurt Hahn, and Markhamian delegations have attended Round Square conferences both regionally and globally ever since. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group.

Markham has a very active Social Service policy both through Round-Square and the IB CAS element. Each year many hundreds of its students go to help in both national and international service projects.

History

The first students entered Markham College in March 1946. By 1978, it had grown to about 1200 students and it was necessary to acquire a second site. The transfer of the Lower School to this site began in 1979. There are around 155 students in each year group. Competition for places is severe and currently (2012) there are very few spaces in most year groups. Students enter the school at the age of 4+ and transfer to the Upper School at the age of 11+. All the school buildings are purpose-built and surrounded by playing fields and attractive gardens. The schools are equipped to first-world standards with a full range of general purpose classrooms, specialist teaching rooms and laboratories.

In 1992, the school became co-educational with girls being admitted in roughly equal numbers to boys. In recent years, it has accepted slightly more girls than boys.

The House System

In the second year of primary school (P2) students are nominally divided into four "houses" which compete in sports, academics and other activities. They are called Rowcroft, Guise, Miller and Cochrane, and named after Lord Cochrane, Vice Admiral Guise, General William Miller (all military figures) and Charles Thomas Rowcroft, the first British diplomat in Peru. Their colours are red, blue, green and yellow, respectively. Houses compete in a series of events, among them a swimming competition and an athletics event, to obtain the Founder's shield.

The House competition is mainly but not entirely focused on sports. The house competition has two major elements; the Swimming Gala, Markham on Stage, and Sports Day. While these are the three most important competitions, during the 2nd and 4th bimesters students compete in sports weekly. The Interhouse competitions include: football, basketball, rugby, hockey, volleyball, softball and minisports. Minisports consists of many small disciplines such as archery, shooting, climbing, surfing, table tennis, tennis, badminton, chess, croquet and others.

Languages

Classes are mostly taught in English, with a small number of courses taught in Spanish. The study of French is compulsory from P6 to S1, becoming optional from S2 onwards.

Subjects offered

At IGCSE level, for courses at secondary three and four, Markham offers classes in Additional Mathematics, Art & Design, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Co-ordinated (Double) Science, Design and Technology, Drama, English at both First and Second Language levels, Food and Nutrition, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Literature in both English and Spanish, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education and First and Foreign Language Spanish.

At IB Diploma level, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Economics, English A, French B, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Psychology (in Spanish), Spanish A and B, Theatre Arts and Visual Arts are currently all being taught at both Higher and Standard Level. Environmental Systems and Film Studies are available at Standard Level. Sports, Exercise and Health Science will become so in 2012. Further Mathematics will also be offered at Higher Level for suitable students in 2012.

The Pinchbeck Library.

Apart from the academic curriculum, the school offers a variety of extra-curricular activities. These include several art courses, drama, music, sports such as football, hockey, cricket and rugby, and many other activities such as Model United Nations (M.U.N.) or debate. The full list runs to over 150 options.

EXAMINATION RESULTS.

In 2011 Markham students sat an average of 10.2 courses at IGCSE and passed 9.95 of them with Grades A-C. 46% of the results were Grades A*-A. This despite the fact, that with the obvious exceptions of French and Spanish, all courses are taught in English and the overwhelming majority of Markham students have Spanish as their First Language.

In the last ten years, Markham has entered 587 students for the IB Bi-lingual Diploma and 580 have passed with an average score of 33.2. 58 of them have achieved scores of 40 points or more, and Markham has the South American record for highest IB results.

All students are entered for PET (Preliminary English Test) in their last year of Primary education and for FCE (First Certificate of English) at the age of 14. Pass rates are close to 100%.

See link for details;

http://www.markham.edu.pe/admissions.cfm?p=admissions_ib.html

Uniform

Tradition plays an important part in Markham College, and is represented by the uniforms that the students wear. In the summer months, a white polo shirt with beige shorts or skirts and sneakers is the norm. In winter, students adopt a more formal style of dress which consists of brown shoes, grey trousers or skirts, brown belts, white shirts or blouses, and a brown and gold jumper. There is also a separate P.E. uniform. UB students are required to wear a formal suit or a blazer in the winter. The use of a tie is not compulsory although it is required during formal activities and events.

Drama at Markham College

Markham College stages at least three plays throughout the school year, in Spanish, English and French. Recently, some of the most popular ones have been:El Cadaver del Señor Garcia The Mikado; The Gondoliers; Iolanthe; The Pirates of Penzance and Little Shop of Horrors in English; Don Juan Tenorio; Los Figurantes and La Tras-Escena in Spanish.

The Production of Grease The Musical is in the works.

Notable alumni

Markham College alumni are organized through the Old Markhamian Association (OMA), and include:

In popular culture

  • In a number of Jaime Bayly's novels, including Yo amo a mi mami and No se lo digas a nadie, the main characters (based on Bayly's experience in the school) attend Markham College.
  • Julius, the main character in Alfredo Bryce Echenique's novel A World for Julius, enrolls in Markham College after his mother decides to switch him to a British-style school.

External links

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