Hello everyone, my family just moved to Valencia not long ago, and our top priority has been finding a school for our child. Since they have been in the IB system, our goal is clear: to find a reliable IB international school here. We’ve visited several schools and spoken with some local friends, but the information felt quite scattered. So, I decided to organize my findings and share them with other families who might be in the same boat.
A Roundup of Mainstream IB International Schools in Valencia
We focused on some of the most well-known schools in the Valencia area, mainly the American School of Valencia, the British School of Valencia, and Caxton College. These are generally considered top-tier, each with its own unique characteristics.
American School of Valencia: It offers an authentic American education. The facilities are genuinely impressive, with a large campus that has a very ‘American’ feel. Most teachers are from North America, creating a purely English-speaking environment. They offer the full IBDP, and graduates primarily go on to prestigious universities in the US and around the world. However, the tuition is the highest, and I’ve heard that spots at the [American School of Valencia] are extremely limited, especially in the lower grades, where waiting lists are common.
British School of Valencia: A prime example of British education, it follows the British National Curriculum, leading into the IBDP. The school is located in the center of Valencia, which is very convenient, but the campus is relatively small and not as spacious as ASV’s. BSV is known for being academically rigorous and has stricter management. University placements are primarily focused on the UK and other European universities. We felt a strong academic atmosphere during our visit.
Caxton College: This school is a bit further from the city center, located in the town of Puzol, but it offers bus services. It also has a British educational background and offers the Spanish national curriculum alongside the IBDP. Caxton is very large, with a high number of students and a relatively higher percentage of Chinese students. The facilities are also excellent, especially the sports facilities. It seems to have struck a good balance between academics and extracurricular activities.
Personal Impressions and Some Tips
During our on-site visits, we noticed significant differences in atmosphere. ASV felt more liberal and open, while BSV was more traditional and disciplined. Caxton felt like a large, vibrant community with a wide range of activities. If your schedule allows, I highly recommend you book a school tour and bring your child along to experience it firsthand. Seeing which atmosphere they prefer is crucial, as a child’s intuition can sometimes be more accurate than our adult analysis. This process is key whether you are looking at day schools or exploring options like [Valencia’s international boarding schools].
Don’t just rely on the school’s official website; make use of the resources around you. For example, join local parent groups on Facebook or WhatsApp. The information there is very authentic, and you can get a lot of ‘insider information,’ such as which teachers are particularly good or if there have been any recent changes at the school. This firsthand information is more valuable than any official brochure. We found detailed information about school bus routes in one of these groups, which was a huge help.
I’ve made a simple table to summarize a few key points we were concerned about for these schools. The data, much like the details you might find about other institutions such as [SEK International School], is based on our current understanding and may contain discrepancies, so please use it as a reference only. Choosing a school is a big decision, and I hope everyone finds the best fit for their child!
| School Name | Main Curriculum | Campus Location | Personal Impression |
|---|
| American School of Valencia | American + IBDP | Suburbs | Top-tier facilities, liberal atmosphere, high tuition |
| British School of Valencia | British + IBDP | City Center | Academically rigorous, convenient location, small campus |
| Caxton College | British/Spanish + IBDP | Suburbs | Large scale, comprehensive facilities, rich in activities |
