Cognita, one of the world’s leading global schools groups, has today confirmed a strategic alliance with Redcol schools, the leading premium K12 schools group from Colombia, bringing the total number of schools in Cognita’s global community to over 100. The nine schools in Redcol’s group will join over 75,000 students in 15 countries around the world, with a clear focus on delivering outstanding holistic education.

Founded in 2012, Redcol has a similar approach to Cognita in recognising the individual qualities and values of each school and respecting their knowledge of how to best serve their local communities. We also share the same aim to provide a high quality education that delivers academic excellence and develops skills to create global and critically thinking citizens who will make a difference in our world.

Frank Maassen, Group CEO at Cognita, said: “We are honoured and proud to be partnering with such an outstanding group of schools. For many years, it has been our aim to enter the education market in Colombia. We are delighted to have found an excellent partner with the Redcol schools. We share so many values and objectives, so this will be an exciting joint journey, building on our mutual strengths!”

Josep Caubet, CEO Latin America at Cognita, said: “We feel really privileged to welcome Redcol to our worldwide Cognita family! It is an honour to be selected as the partner of choice for such reputable educational institutions and for placing their trust in Cognita to be the best strategic partner to continue their development. We are all eager to start to collaborate, to share best practices both ways to be faithful to the Redcol motto: ‘A better world through better schools!’”

“October 2012 marked Cognita’s first entry into Latin America when Escola Cidade Jardim/PlayPen in São Paulo, Brasil, joined our community. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Cognita LatAm today, we are the largest region within Cognita in terms of student numbers, with more than 40,000 students in 32 schools across four countries (Brasil, Chile, Mexico and Colombia). A huge thank you to the whole Cognita LatAm team, the real gem of our success, for such an impressive achievement!”

Talking about the announcement, Jairo Augusto Rey, CEO of Redcol, said: “We are about to start a new decade of Redcol with this outstanding partner that will benefit our parents, students and teachers. This is remarkable not only for Redcol, but for Colombia and his future generations. The best is about to happen for our schools.”

As part of our community, Redcol will have access to global exchange and learning opportunities with over 75,000 students and 15,000 staff in 15 countries. Colleagues will also benefit from tailored professional development programmes on teaching and learning, leadership, digital learning and wellbeing, including the UCL Team Fellowship Programme, the Feedback Project and the Be Well Learn Well series.