Lately, I’ve been researching schools for our little one, and my head is spinning from all the options. I’m sure many of you here on the forum have faced the same dilemma, weighing public, semi-private (concertado), and fully private schools. To keep future options open, my family and I have decided to focus mainly on bilingual international schools. After some research, I’ve realized it’s a pretty complex topic, so I’m starting this thread about Spanish international schools to share what I’ve found. I welcome everyone to add their insights and corrections.
Major International School Curricula
The mainstream international schools in Spain generally follow the British, American, or IB systems. The differences between them are quite significant and directly impact a child’s future university pathway.
British Schools: The curriculum is primarily based on IGCSE and A-Levels. Many people are familiar with this system, as it’s the main pathway to universities in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries. The teaching style is quite rigorous with high academic standards. Personally, I feel this is the most direct route if your child is definitely heading to a UK university.
American Schools: The curriculum is based on SAT/AP courses, and students graduate with a US High School Diploma. If the goal is to apply to American universities, an American school is the obvious choice. The atmosphere is generally more relaxed and dynamic, encouraging students to develop their personality and creativity.
IB Curriculum: This system is highly regarded and is recognized by the vast majority of universities worldwide, often hailed as the ‘gold standard’ of pre-university education. The IB demands a lot from students in terms of all-around ability; besides academics, they also need to complete CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) activities, so the workload can be intense. However, the advantage is that graduates have a very wide range of university application options, making it a truly global passport.
Below, I’ve put together a simple table comparing some well-known international schools in major cities for your reference. This is just the tip of the iceberg; there are many great schools out there. The prices are also just a general range; you should always check the school’s official website for the latest tuition fees.
| City | School Name | Main Curriculum | Approx. Annual Tuition (€) |
|---|
| Madrid | British Council School | British | 7,000 - 14,000 |
| Madrid | International College of Spain | IB | 12,000 - 22,000 |
| Barcelona | The British School of Barcelona | British, IB | 10,000 - 17,000 |
| Barcelona | Benjamin Franklin International School | American, IB | 13,000 - 23,000 |
| Valencia | American School of Valencia | American, IB | 8,000 - 19,000 |
Choosing a school is a huge undertaking. Besides the curriculum and tuition, you have to consider factors like the school’s location, facilities, student-teacher ratio, and extracurricular activities—even the food in the cafeteria matters. Most importantly, you need to see if it’s the right fit for your child’s personality and future path. Some schools might have a great reputation but are too ‘hothouse’ or overly competitive, which isn’t suitable for every child. I highly recommend booking a campus tour if you can and taking your child along to get a real feel for the place. What are your thoughts on choosing a school? Do you have any recommendations? Feel free to join the discussion below!
