Our 65 Year Journey
Advancing a Legacy of Excellence
School History
23 September 1957, marks the day that the Colombo School for Overseas Children was founded. Meant for children aged between 5 and 12 years whose residence on the island was temporary, the School was to assist these students to make the transition to and from the education systems of their own countries. Located at Queen’s Street in Colombo Fort, the founders of this new school were from diplomatic missions and the business community, which still reflects the School population today.
As the School grew, the premises known as “Rippleworth” at Turret Road (Dharmapala Mawatha) in Colombo 03 was leased, splitting up the younger children and the older students into the two buildings. Soon, however, another change was needed, and in 1971 the School was moved to the wholly new location of 51 Muttiah Road in Colombo 02 (Rivington) until finally in 1983 the School was relocated to its present address: Pelawatte, Battaramulla. At the time, the new location was barren land, however the campus blossomed as both the school buildings and the surrounding wildlife grew in tandem into the wonderful place we occupy today. While the School has always offered After-school activities such as volleyball, football, and swimming, the site itself has evolved into a magnificent centre of activity, with a gymnasium, swimming pool, sports field, and performance arts facility sitting alongside state-of-the-art labs, and well-maintained libraries showcasing the School’s commitment to developing multi-faceted individuals keen on expanding their minds with a natural curiosity that beckons them to explore the world around them.
The School took its present name, The Overseas School of Colombo, in 1996 and to date, remains Sri Lanka’s oldest internationally accredited educational institution. Steeped in such rich history, we are proud of OSC’s role as a home for internationally mobile expatriate children as well as Sri Lankan students. As a culturally diverse community, we look back on our journey and the challenges we’ve overcome together and face the future with fearless courage, knowing that adhering to the tenet of “unity in diversity” is the only way we can keep on advancing a legacy of excellence.
Milestones
The Colombo School for Overseas Children was established at Queen’s Street in Colombo Fort by founders from diplomatic missions (British, Burmese, and the Dutch High Commissions) and the business community.
The School leased the “Rippleworth” premises at Turret Road (Dharmapala Mawatha) in Colombo 03, which came to be known as the Upper School.
The School in Fort had 100 children, while the Upper School at Rippleworth had about 72 children.
The School gained accreditation by the International Schools Association in Geneva, Switzerland.
The School relocated to 51, Muttiah Road in Colombo 02 (Rivington).
The School was renamed Overseas Children’s School (OCS).
The School relocated to its current address in Pelawatte, Battaramulla. Situated on six acres of pristine land in Sri Lanka’s administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the new campus was designed by the legendary Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. It stands as a next-to-nature facility, boasting all modern amenities.
The School obtained accreditation by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation as an IB World School, capable of offering the IB Diploma Programme.
The School received further accreditations from CIS (Council of International Schools) and MSA (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools).
The gymnasium was declared open.
The swimming pool was opened to staff and students.
The School took its present name – The Overseas School of Colombo.
A performance arts facility was built.
The School introduced its Week Without Walls (WWW) programme – now known as Experience Sri Lanka! Where for one whole week, the great outdoors is transformed into one big classroom.
A new sports facility was inaugurated.
OSC’s Mother Tongue programme was first introduced, offering Hindi lessons to our students. The programme has now grown into a full-fledged offering of eight different languages including French, Hindi, Korean, Chinese, Slovene, German, Spanish and Swedish.
Navigating the challenges of COVID-19, OSC pioneered a successful Distance Learning Plan, ensuring a seamless shift from physical to virtual classrooms. Embracing “Unity in Adversity” as our motto during this challenging period, we led the way in Sri Lanka’s virtual education landscape. Our swift and safe return to face-to-face learning showcased OSC’s resilience and commitment to excellence.
The School’s outdoor basketball court was re-laid with a state-of-the-art, FIBA-approved, professional playing surface.
The Secondary and Middle School laboratories received a modern facelift, featuring a new layout for improved teacher-student interaction, upgraded equipment including a cutting-edge fume cabinet, enhanced air circulation, energy-efficient air conditioning, and safety-focused additions like power and gas cut-outs. Another stride in providing top-notch, state-of-the-art facilities for a dynamic learning environment at OSC.
OSC made history as the first school in Sri Lanka to receive the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Recognised for our unwavering commitment to sustainability and meeting global standards, OSC stands as a trailblazer in eco-conscious education, earning well-deserved international acclaim.
OSC clinched a Silver Award at the 36th Annual ARC Awards in New York for its 2020/21 Annual Report, themed “Our A-Team Brings Its A-Game to School”. Competing in the “Non-Profit Organisation” category, this prestigious recognition, known as the “Oscars” of Annual Reports, marked OSC as the first-ever IB School globally to receive an ARC Award. The report set new standards in excellence, reaffirming OSC’s commitment to outstanding communication in the global educational arena.
OSC achieved a milestone by formalising its DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Justice and Belonging) policy, showcasing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our dual accreditation by CIS and MSA underscores our dedication to transparency and excellence, emphasising our commitment to global citizenship and intercultural learning through a strategic DEIJB agenda for justice, belonging, and anti-racism.
The completion of the New Front Entrance and Security Building Project marked a significant milestone. The Security Complex, with cutting-edge screening tools, ensures secure entry via a dedicated driveway. The Access Control System, commissioned across spaces, guarantees safety, and unique Turnstile Gates at main entrances permit authorised entry. The comprehensive Perimeter CCTV System covers the school perimeter for vigilant monitoring. These enhancements symbolise our ongoing commitment to safety and a welcoming school environment.