Markham College

Markham College is a bilingual international school in Lima, Peru. Founded by British immigrants, Markham promotes a mixture of British and Peruvian education. Markham is an independent, non-profit, co-educational, bilingual, secular, day school of approximately 2,000 students aged 3–18. The school has 3 different sections located in Miraflores and Santiago de Surco in Lima. In May 2024, Markham opened a new primary school campus in the Monterrico district of Santiago de Surco in Lima. Its students fulfil the Peruvian national curriculum as well as the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) programme from the University of Cambridge. Many students subsequently enroll in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. All students take English examinations including the Preliminary English Test while in Primary 5 and the First Certificate in English in Secondary 2. Students not pursuing the IB programme take the Certificate in Advanced English in Secondary 5. Markham has a strong social-service transversal to many of the out-of-class activities, in which help is promoted through collections, manual labour or other activities. From as early as Nursery, Markham students throughout the school help in both national and international service projects. Students are known as Markhamians, while alumni are identified as Old Markhamians. History The school was named after the British historian and explorer Sir Clements Robert Markham (1838–1916). The first student, Rafael Peschiera entered Markham College in March 1946. By 1978, it had grown to about 1,200 students and it was necessary to acquire a second site. The transfer of the Lower School to this site began in 1979. Students enter the school at the age of 3+ and transfer to the Upper School campus at the age of 11+. Currently, there are around 145 students in each year group. Competition for places is fierce and students will undergo testing and interview before gaining a place. After 46 years as a single sex boys school, in 1992, the school became co-educational with girls being admitted. The student roll in 2025 is just under 2,000 students and the ratio of boys is 63% and girls 37%. In 2004, the school became part of Round Square, an internationally recognised organisation 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. Today, just under 2000 pupils attend Markham College representing 13 different countries from around the world. 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 (three options), Drama, First Language English, 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, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Economics, English A and B, Film Studies, French B, Geography, Global Politics, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Psychology, Spanish A and B, Sports, Exercise and Health Science, Theatre Arts and Visual Arts are currently all being taught at Higher Level. In addition to those, Environmental Systems is also available at Standard Level. 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 or debating. The full list runs to over 150 options. Examination results All students are entered for University of Cambridge ESOL (PET) Preliminary English Test in their final year of Primary education and for the (FCE) First Certificate of English examination at the age of 14. Secondary 5 students who choose to follow the National Programme are entered for the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). Pass rates are close to 100%. In 2019, 148 S4 students sat 1497 IGCSE examinations, an average of over 10 per student. The average point score per student (MPS) was 6.07 and 10 students gained 10 or more A*-A grades. In 2019, the school entered 97 students for the IB Diploma with a choice of study from 41 different subjects and levels. This was both our largest-ever student entry and our largest-ever offering of courses. The average point score of 33.14 is above average for results obtained at the school since the Diploma was introduced and is nearly 5 points above the world average of 28.48. In 2024, Markham has an IB average of 32. All the examination results are transparent and can be found published on Markham's website. Notable alumni Markham College alumni are organised through the Old Markhamian Association (OMA), and include: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard - former President of Peru. Alex Fort Brescia - businessman and chairman of Grupo Brescia Richard Webb Duarte - former President of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru. José Luis Silva Martinot - former Minister of Foreign Commerce and Tourism. Miguel Castilla Rubio - former Minister of Economy & Finance and current Peru ambassador to the US. Nicolás Restrepo - Chef & Co-Founder of Yopo Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels - diplomat and ambassador of Peru to the Holy Seat. Jaime Bayly Letts - writer, journalist & television personality. Javier Bedoya Denegri - deputy mayor of the San Isidro district. Gonzalo Torres- notable actor, comedian, television personality and radio host. César Alfredo Miro Quesada Bahamonde - notable novelist and writer. Javier Heraud Pérez - notable poet and guerrilla leader. Luis Llosa - notable film director and producer. Josué Méndez - notable film director. Diego Bertie Brignardello - contemporary actor. Alonso Alegría Amézquita - notable playwright and theatre actor. Alfredo Tomassini - notable football player. Felipe Pomar Rospigliosi - First ISF-ISA World Surfing Champion. Richard Sinclair Jones Monteverde - notable sailing world champion Ramón Ferreyros Pomar - notable rally driver. James Berckemeyer Anderson - notable contemporary chef. Stefano Peschiera - bronze medal winner in sailing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. 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's novel A World for Julius, enrolls in Markham College after his mother decides to switch him to a British-style school. References External links Official website (in Spanish)