Education for Life: The Story of El Alsson
At El Alsson, education has always been about more than grades. From the very beginning, our founders, Mrs. Soumaya Amr and Mr. Colin Rogers, believed that schools should prepare children not only for exams, but for life.
“Education is about preparing children for life.”
– Colin Rogers & Soumaya Amr
The Founders’ Vision
For decades, debates have circled around which educational system is “best.” Is it British, American, Canadian, French, or German? Is it better to take a one-year IGCSE or stretch it into two? Is the American system easier, or the German Abitur more serious?
Our founders believed that these questions, while interesting, missed the real point. A good school is not just about grades, rankings, or cramming for exams. A good school is about teaching the whole child – helping students grow into thoughtful, capable, and confident people.
El Alsson was built on this philosophy. Alongside strong academics, our founders believed in character, confidence, and compassion. They introduced extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, music, drama, trips, and leadership opportunities – all as essential parts of a real education. They believed schools should nurture honesty, morals, responsibility, and the ability to listen to others and lead with kindness.
This vision – that education must prepare children for life – has guided every step of El Alsson’s journey.
Our History
1982 – The Beginning
El Alsson School was established in 1982 as a private English school licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Education. From the very start, the goal was to create a school that combined academic rigor with a supportive, nurturing environment.
1992 – Opening the International Section
In response to parents’ requests, the school expanded to offer the British curriculum, then known as the English Academy International. Stu
dents could now choose between the Egyptian National programme and the International track leading to Cambridge IGCSE, AS, and A-Levels. Both sections shared the same facilities, reflecting El Alsson’s spirit of unity and inclusion.
2001 – Becoming El Alsson British International
The school evolved further by becoming an official centre for Edexcel GCSE, A
S, and A-Levels. This was a deliberate step away from cramming-based
systems and towards a richer, more beneficial approach to learning. The English Academy name was retired, and El Alsson proudly became El Alsson British International School.
2006 – Introducing the American Section
As parents grew increasingly frustrated with the Sanawi’ama system, El Alsson once again listened and responded. The school introduced the American Section, eventually closing the National Ministry track, and became El Alsson British & American International School.
2017 – A New Campus at NEWGIZA
A new chapter opened with the move to our state-of-the-art campus in NEWGIZA, spanning 14 feddans. The campus includes two schools – the British School and the American School – each with Primary/Elementary and Secondary/Senior divisions. Facilities expanded to include libraries, science and computer labs, performing arts spaces, music rooms, a theatre, a radio studio, and extensive sports facilities.
2023 – Expanding Horizons with IB
El Alsson American School was accredited to offer the IBDP programme, giving students yet another pathway to success and global readiness.
Today and Beyond
Today, El Alsson stands as a community where British and American curricula thrive side by side, enriched by Egyptian culture and values.
Arabic and Religion are taught to Egyptian students, while expatriate families benefit from Arabic as a Second Language programmes.
But beyond the academics and the facilities, what defines El Alsson is still the same guiding vision of its founders: preparing children not only for exams, but for life.
Mrs. Soumaya Amr, whose leadership and passion shaped this school from its earliest days, remains at the heart of everything we do. Her legacy is alive in every classroom, every student, and every achievement.
El Alsson is not just a school. It is a community built on vision, care, and the belief that education is about preparing children for life.
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