International schools in Spain: Top 10 according to Forbes in 2021

Best International Schools in Spain

Friday February 4th, 2022

International schools in Spain are very popular both among native residents of the country and among foreigners who have moved here for permanent residence. This is a good alternative to Catholic and public schools in Spain: If family income allows, parents’ choice is almost always made in favor of private international schools. Firstly, studying at an international school in Spain means excellent language training, a high level of education and highly qualified teachers; secondly, it is an opportunity to obtain diplomas necessary for admission to foreign universities (A-level, Diploma Dual (Bachellerato + High School), IB, BAC, etc.); thirdly, for many visitors this is an opportunity to continue studying according to the program of their home country.

There are international schools in Spain in all regions, but most of them are on the coast and in Madrid, i.e. in those provinces with the highest percentage of foreigners. The leader in the number of international schools is Barcelona: more than 40 international educational centers are concentrated in the city and province. If we take the general figures, then Spain is in fifth place in the world ranking in terms of the number of international schools: there are more than 360 of them with a total number of students of about 133 thousand.

In Spain you can find international schools operating in different educational systems. The most popular are Spanish, British, French and American.

Let us immediately note that all international schools in Spain receive accreditation from the country’s Ministry of Education, as well as from the country whose program they use. This gives schools the right to issue official diplomas recognized in Spanish universities and other educational institutions in various countries. Often, international schools prepare their students in two programs at once, which allows them to receive two diplomas at once, for example, Título de Bachiller + High school diploma, if they successfully pass the exams.

The media annually publish rankings of the best international schools in Spain. Everything is assessed: the equipment of the educational center (equipment of classrooms, auxiliary aids and teaching materials, level of computerization, etc.), the level of professional training of teaching staff, staff turnover, teaching methods, curricula, the presence and variety of additional extracurricular activities and sporting events, the number of students in the class, the average graduation grade and, in general, the price/quality ratio.

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Best International Schools in Spain

In 2021, according to Forbes, the top five international schools in Spain included:

1st place: Colegio Internacional SEK

Forbes ranked two branches of this school in first place: Ciudalcampo (Madrid) and El Castillo (Madrid). The high level of education and many years of impeccable reputation at the national and international level have allowed this educational center to top the list of the best international schools in Spain. Preparation for the IB (International Baccalaureate) program is conducted here. The school is accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and is also a member of the international Round Square Association.

School students can participate in the DofE (The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award) youth awards program, founded in Great Britain in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Websites: https://ciudalcampo.sek.es/ and https://elcastillo.sek.es/
View: private school
Student age: from 4 months to 18 years
Main languages: English and Spanish

2nd place: British Council School

This is the first British college, founded back in 1940, to introduce education in two languages at once: all students aged 2 to 18 years study according to the program “80% of classes in English and 20% of classes in Spanish” The learning process is based on the English National Curriculum – the national curriculum introduced in all British public schools. Also, much attention is paid to sports, performing arts, rhetoric and literature.

Website: https://www.britishcouncilschool.es/
View: private school
Student age: from 2 to 18 years
Main languages: English and Spanish

3rd place: Colegio Internacional SEK Catalunya

The Catalan branch of the international educational group SEK was slightly behind its Madrid colleagues and took an honorable third place. Today it is the only training center in Catalonia that operates the IB program throughout the entire cycle, i.e. in elementary, middle and high schools. In 2021, all students passed the International Baccalaureate exams, with the highest score being 43 out of 45 possible points. 60% of the curriculum is devoted to English. The rest of the time is divided between Spanish and Catalan, with the addition of a choice of German or French in the upper grades.

The school has been operating since 1995 and actively supports student exchange programs with schools in Ireland and France that are part of the SEK group.

Website: https://catalunya.sek.es/
View: private school
Student age: from 4 months to 18 years
Main languages: English and Spanish

4th place: Liceo Europeo (Madrid)

One of the best colleges with its own philosophy and special approach to the educational process. The happiness of the child is put at the forefront, great attention is paid to such concepts as freedom, equality, human rights, pluralism of opinions and points of view.
The educational process is structured in such a way that the child constantly learns something new not only in the classroom, but also outside it. A student exchange program is actively supported, extracurricular music and language classes are conducted (English, Chinese, French and German), and much attention is paid to sports.

Website: https://liceo-europeo.es/
View: private school
Student age: from 1 year to 18 years
Main languages: English and Spanish

5th place: Colegio San Patricio Madrid

One of the oldest international schools in Madrid has been operating since 1958. Students are offered the choice of a Spanish or International Baccalaureate program.

School students can take part in the DofE youth awards program (The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award). In addition, the school actively supports and develops all kinds of additional educational, cultural, artistic and social programs. Classes in music, dance, art, science (Programa Investiga I+D+i) – each student can choose his own direction. Much attention is paid to gaining teamwork skills and developing analytical skills. The best students have the right to count on a scholarship.