Having recently moved to Spain, I’ve been grappling with the challenge of choosing a school for my child. I’ve looked at public, private, and semi-private (concertado) schools, and they all have their merits. A friend then mentioned international schools, particularly the world-renowned ‘Cambridge International’ curriculum. I did some in-depth research and found it to be an excellent option. I’d like to share my findings here and welcome any experienced parents in the community to join the discussion.
What is the Cambridge International Curriculum?
In simple terms, the Cambridge International Curriculum is a comprehensive educational system developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education, covering all stages from primary to secondary school. Its key feature is its globally recognized standard; the curriculum and exams are well-established and standardized. This means a child studying in Spain follows the same core curriculum as a child in the UK or Singapore. The A-Level certificate awarded upon graduation is a key that opens doors to most top universities worldwide, with particularly high recognition in the UK, Commonwealth countries, and the United States.
Curriculum Structure and Advantages
The system is typically divided into four distinct stages:
- Cambridge Primary: The primary stage, focusing on developing foundational skills in English, mathematics, and science.
- Cambridge Lower Secondary: The middle school stage, which serves as a bridge to prepare students for the IGCSE at a Cambridge International School.
- Cambridge Upper Secondary: This is the crucial IGCSE stage, where students select multiple subjects to study and take globally standardized exams. These results are very important.
- Cambridge Advanced: Finally, the A-Level stage. Students choose 3-4 subjects to study in depth based on their interests and future university majors. The difficulty and depth are significant, making it directly comparable to university foundation courses.
Its advantages are clear: it emphasizes the development of critical thinking and independent research skills rather than rote memorization. Moreover, subject selection is very flexible, allowing children to combine subjects based on their strengths and interests, which can make it easier to achieve good results.
Which Schools in Spain Offer the Cambridge Curriculum?
I did some research and found quite a few schools across Spain that are certified to offer the Cambridge International Curriculum. They are mainly concentrated in major cities and coastal areas like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga. Many of these are what we often refer to as ‘British international schools’. Here are a few examples from different regions for your reference:
| City/Region | School Name | Language of Instruction |
|---|
| Madrid | King’s College, The British School of Madrid | English |
| Barcelona | The British School of Barcelona | English |
| Valencia | Cambridge House Community College | English |
| Alicante | Laude The Lady Elizabeth School | English |
The biggest consideration when choosing this type of school is affordability the cost. Tuition fees are generally not low, ranging from a few thousand to over twenty thousand euros per year, plus additional costs like registration fees, lunches, and school transport. However, if your family’s budget allows and you plan for your child to attend university in countries like the UK or the US, this is a very clear and direct path. Are there any parents on this forum whose children are currently attending one of these schools? I’d love to hear about your real-life experiences!
