Cambridge English Qualifications asDrivers of Educational Excellence.

Cambridge English has been instrumental in shaping my 39-year career in the EFL field. Its qualifications in language proficiency and teaching methodology have been key to my professional development.

In 2009, the Board of Governors at Colégio Farroupilha, a prestigious school in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, recognized the growing need for high-quality English language instruction that met international standards. Both parents and students understood the importance of a superior language education and I was invited to discuss how the school could enhance English teaching and learning at the institution. Given the significant role Cambridge exams had played in my own career, I proposed the Cambridge English qualifications as a powerful tool for language development.

The project I presented offered integrating Cambridge English exam preparation into the school curriculum, with the following objectives:

• Engage the entire school community in the process.
• Align the curriculum with international standards.
• Support the professional development of teachers.
• Systematize teaching and learning by offering impartial, external assessment tools for students and teachers.
• Prepare students for their academic and professional futures, with internationally recognized certifications that do not expire, thereby providing motivation, a sense of progress and tangible results.
• Assure parents of the high-quality education provided by the institution.
• Enhance the school’s reputation for excellence, competence, integrity and prestige.
• Enrich the English curriculum, offering students a distinctive educational advantage.

As a result, Cambridge University exams were introduced as mandatory starting from 4th year of Primary School, at no additional cost to students. Preparation for these exams was incorporated into the school’s curriculum, adding an additional hour to the weekly English language schedule. The English curriculum was revised and aligned with the assessed content of the Cambridge exams.

Teachers participated in professional development workshops and were encouraged to take Cambridge proficiency and methodology exams to further enhance their skills. Additionally, a dedicated department, the Cambridge Exams Centre at Colégio Farroupilha, was established to manage the project.

The impact on student performance can clearly be seen. In 2010, the year the project was implemented, only 5 students reached Cambridge C1 Advanced level, and none were at the C2 Proficiency level. By 2024, we now have 228 students at the C1 Advanced level and 169 students at the C2 Proficiency level.
Looking beyond academic performance there has been a significant rise in international English engagement. Through extracurricular activities, global university events, international representation, and academic travel, our Cambridge project has empowered students to connect with the world.

Last year, members of the International Relations Model UN Club travelled to New York, Yale, and Harvard, participating in debates with peers from around the globe. Two Farroupilha students proudly represented Brazil at the World Innovative Science Project Olympiad in Indonesia.
The integration of Cambridge exam preparation into the curriculum led to the organic development of a BIODATA.