29/12/12
Cognita expands global footprint with Brazil acquisition
Cognita Schools, the UK’s leading group of Independent Schools, has further expanded its global footprint with the acquisition of a well-established bilingual school in Brazil, taking the total number of Cognita schools to 55 across the UK, Europe, South East Asia and Latin America.
Situated in the West of São Paulo, Cidade Jardim School provides a fully bilingual, English-Portuguese education to over 500 pupils in school years ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade. With investment from Cognita, the school plans to expand its curriculum to meet the growing demand from parents for the provision of secondary education.
Recognised as one of the most popular independent schools in Sao Paulo, Cidade Jardim has a strong track record of delivering teaching excellence and Cognita plans to work with existing staff at the school to launch new projects that will further enrich the lives of the school community.
Speaking of the Group’s expansion into Brazil, Adriano Figueiredo, Managing Director for Latin America at Cognita Schools, said: “With a history spanning over 30 years, Cidade Jardim is a pioneer in bilingual teaching in Brazil and we are delighted to welcome the school into the Cognita family.
“Cognita is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to expand into new regions and we aim to do this by identifying and acquiring schools that demonstrate a shared commitment to Cognita’s values and philosophies. Cidade Jardim is a school in the Cognita mould and we are excited to be working with teaching staff to deliver their ambitious development strategy.”
Guida Machado, Escola Cidade Jardim’s previous owner and a current director at the school, claims the need for fresh investment was the primary motivation behind her decision to accept the invitation to join the Cognita Group.
She said: "It was clear to everyone involved with the school that we were in need of additional investment to enable us to grow and meet the demands of local parents. The additional funding and support that comes from being part of the Cognita Group will enable the school to realise its potential and deliver teaching excellence to an even greater number of pupils, without having to compromise on our philosophy. We are excited for the future.”
As part of Cognita, the community of Escola Cidade Jardim will enjoy a number of benefits including the opportunity to participate in exchanges with other schools across the Group. The school will also be eligible for significant investment in its future development and Cognita has already consulted with parents at the school to identify areas for development.
Headed by leading educationalist, Sir Chris Woodhead, Cognita is the UK’s largest group of independent schools and is run by education experts with specialist expertise in all areas of independent education. With 55 schools world-wide, Cognita is dedicated to the continuous improvement of its schools; raising standards through rigorous quality assurance and school inspection programmes, enhancing provision through curriculum development and improving the learning environment through investment in schools’ facilities and infrastructure.
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