The architecture is stunning, the social life is a joy and - if you have brought the family - the choice of schools is much wider than in many larger cities.
- Education in Barcelona
- Choosing a school in Barcelona
- Special education needs in Barcelona
- Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Barcelona
- Best schools in Barcelona
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Education in Barcelona
There is a varied selection of international schools, the majority of which are grouped fairly close together on the north-western edge of the city. There is a small number situated in the towns of Gavà, Castelldefels and Sitges, 20km south-west of the city, in the Maresme, north-east of the city and in Sant Cugat del Vallès, north of the city. A couple of schools outside of the city offer boarding but this is by no means the norm.
Public schools and concertadas (state-subsidised private schools) receive different levels of government funding and are subject to certain curriculum requirements - most notably that the main language of instruction is Catalan. Spanish and English are taught as foreign languages. Public schools and concertadas are a less popular option for international families (unless Catalan or Spanish is already part of daily life) as there is no guarantee that the teachers will speak English.
A couple of concertadas and a dozen private schools are trilingual (Catalan, Spanish, English) and a number of them offer the IB diploma and/or the Batxibac (official French and Catalan university qualification).
Children in Catalonia are required to go to school between the ages of 6 to 16, however, from the year in which a child turns 3, every child in Catalonia is entitled to a school place. Interestingly, the majority of families choose to send their child to school from the age of 3 and most children will have completed infant education before starting primary school.
Choosing a school in Barcelona
Most international schools teach at least one of the following: a British curriculum, leading up to IGCSEs and A levels, an American curriculum leading to an American high school diploma or the IB diploma programme. Some British schools offer the choice of A levels or the IBDP and similarly, a few American-style schools offer the IB primary and middle years programmes as well as the diploma. Some international schools also offer the Bachillerato (pre-university education). All international schools have a good mix of foreign and Spanish families.
Two things to note about state schools: first, standards can vary dramatically and second, remember that Catalonia is an autonomous region with responsibility for its own education system and that here, all lessons are taught in Catalan. There are no public, concertada or private schools that use Spanish as the main language of instruction in Barcelona.
Smaller children tend to adapt and become integrated more easily, and attending a state school or concertada is a good solution (particularly at the infant or primary stage) if you intend to stay for a long time and/or want your child to speak fluent Catalan and Spanish. Families who arrive with secondary age children are more likely to enrol in an international school. It is definitely easier to move from state to international than vice-versa.
Recent years has seen a growth in some schools offering a more varied and alternative (for want of a better word) curriculum. St Peter’s School have put together a smart curriculum (within an IB framework. The British College of Gavà have recently introduced an IB career related programme with a Business Pathway and another with Sustainability with specialisation in the fields of fashion, tourism, hospitality, nature conservation, finance and digitalisation.
Special education needs in Barcelona
It is a government requirement that all public and concertada schools attempt to educate children with SEN within mainstream education where at all possible, if they have the necessary teachers and facilities. The government offers grants to schools that have specialist teachers available such as speech therapists. Children with SEN are usually integrated into mainstream classrooms.
Most international schools describe themselves as inclusive but the reality is each school will assess each SEN case on an individual basis.
Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Barcelona
Pre-school in Barcelona consists of two stages: nursery schools, known as guarderías cater for children from 3 months to 3 years and kindergarten or infant school (educació infantil) is for children from 3 to 6.
There are many different options for children in the first stage including 100 Escoles Bressols run by the Barcelona City Council. These are public nurseries but are not tuition free (parents are means tested) and there is no guaranteed place. As a result many families opt for nannies or private nurseries, however private nurseries may not take babies as young as 3 months old as they do in the public ones.
For the second stage, there are both public options run by local authorities and private preschools available. Sometimes public options are located at the same site as a primary school and for this reason alone many families choose to send their children to preschool for fear of missing out on a place at their preferred school if they wait until their child is older. Educació infantil in a public school is free.
A couple of international schools will take babies from under a year - Highlands School and SEK from 4 months and St Peter’s from 12 months. A few more offer pre-school from 2 years but the vast majority of international schools offer infant education from 3 years old.
Best schools in Barcelona
American School of Barcelona 
Adapted American curriculum/ American high school diploma/ AP/ IB diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 800 students
Founded in 1962 and located in Esplugues de Llobregat, a suburb of Barcelona. Spanish and US citizens make up just over 50 per cent of the students with the remainder from over 50 nationalities. Graduates over the last five years have moved on to leading global universities, including Ivies in the US, Oxbridge and Russell Group in the UK and highly regarded Spanish and European institutions. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).
Click here to read our full review of American School of Barcelona
Benjamin Franklin International School
Adapted American curriculum/ American high school diploma/ Spanish Bach/ IB diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 700 students
Leading American-style school, located in a historic building on Avinguda Pearson in Barcelona. Students roughly divided into one third US citizens, one third Spanish, one third international from over 50 countries. The American curriculum runs from nursery to the end of Grade 10 when the options of an American high school diploma, a Spanish Bachillerato or an International Baccalaureate diploma become available. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).
Click here to read our full review of Benjamin Franklin International School
British College of Gavà
EYFS/ National Curriculum for England/ I/GCSE/ IB Diploma/ IB career-related programme; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 550 students
An all-through school offering an English curriculum until 16 and then the IB diploma or career-related programme. Has a strong focus on creative arts and sustainability and an e-athletes programme is also available.
Click here to read our full review of the British College of Gava
British School of Barcelona (The)
National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A level/ IB diploma/ Spanish Bach; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 1,500 students across four campuses: BSB Castelldefels (ages 3-16), BSB Sitges (ages 2-11), BSB Nexus (ages16-18), BSB City (ages 3-18).
A bilingual school, originally established in 1958 as the Anglo-American School, becoming the British School of Barcelona in 1999. Bought by the Cognita Schools Group in 2007. Situated 20 miles outside Barcelona on three campuses, one in Sitges (ages 3 to 11) and two in Castelldefels; a nursery to year 11 school and a new pre-university campus for 16 to 18 year olds. A member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and accredited by the National Association of British Schools in Spain.
Click here to read our full review of British School of Barcelona
Please click on each of the individual schools to see further information: BSB Castelldefels, BSB Sitges, BSB Nexus, BSB City
Kensington School
National Curriculum for England/ I/GCSE/ A level; ages 3-19; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 260 students
An international non-selective school in Barcelona offering a British education from nursery to A levels. Consistently strong results across both GCSEs and A levels. Accredited by the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS).
Click here to read our full review of Kensington School
St Peter's School
Adapted curriculum/ IB diploma; ages 1-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 630 students
A multilingual school offering a school-developed curriculum up to year 10, including Cambridge Certificates in English. Students can then follow a three-year Pre-U programme, one year of preparation followed by two years of the International Baccalaureate diploma. The school also offers preparation courses for students wanting to continue their education in UK schools.
Click here to read our full review of St Peter's School
The Olive Tree School
National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE; ages 3-16; co-ed; day; independent: privately owned
Described by one parent as ‘a creative, inspiring, curiosity invoking little haven’ The Olive Tree School is a small welcoming school with a creative approach to learning.
Click here to read our full review of The Olive Tree School
The following schools have come to our attention but we do not yet have enough information to fully review them
Agora International School Barcelona
Spanish curriculum/ IB diploma/ Spanish Bach; ages 1-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 410 students
One of the Agora schools in Spain owned by the Globeducate group, located in a country setting 25 kms outside Barcelona. There is a dedicated Sports Centre, including AstroTurf football pitches and an indoor swimming pool and they are affiliated with the Barcelona music conservatory ‘Conservatory Liceu’. Founded in 2008, they offer the choice of the Spanish Bachillerato, the International Baccalaureate diploma and, more recently, a vocational training qualification in sport and leisure.
École Francaise Ferdinand de Lesseps
French curriculum; ages 3-11; co-ed; day; state; 580 students
Founded in 1859 and the oldest French school on the Iberian peninsula. Part of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and accredited by the French Ministry of Education. Students mainly come from French families living in Barcelona.
English Academy Santa Claus
Adapted Montessori; ages 3-12; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 150 students
A trilingual (English/ Spanish/ Catalan) nursery and primary school founded by an English woman, over 50 years ago. An eccentric name but a genuine attempt (its survival proving its success) to combine three separate languages and cultures.
International School of Catalunya (ISCAT)
EYFS/ National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A level; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; privately owned; 230 students
Founded in 2007 in La Garriga, an hour’s drive to the north of Barcelona. A boarding house opened in September 2019 as well as a new campus in the seaside town of Canet de Mar on the Costa Brava. Since 2012 they have offered a Forest School programme, a pioneering project in Spain. In a recent year, over 80 per cent of students scored A*-C at A Level, including the top mark scored for biology in Spain. Accredited by the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS).
Lycée Francais de Barcelona
French curriculum/ Brevet/ French Bac; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; state; 3,000 students
One of the oldest and largest Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), schools, founded in 1924. Accredited by the French Ministry of Education. The main campus is in Pedalbres, with a pre-school (maternelle) in Bonanova. A large proportion of the students come from French expat families working in Barcelona.
Oak House School
National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ Spanish Bach/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,000 students
Located in Sarría in the hills of Barcelona. Classes taught in English, Spanish and Catalan to mainly local students plus approximately 20 per cent from international families. After taking IGCSEs, pupils have the choice of the International Baccalaureate diploma (all classes taught in English) or the Bachillerato trilingual programme delivered in Spanish or Catalan. Accredited by the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS).
Princess Margaret School
PYP/ MYP; ages 3-16; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 300 students
A trilingual (English/ Spanish/ Catalan) school, recently authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate middle years programme as well as the primary years programme. Pupils taught decreasingly in English (from 85 per cent in pre-school to 25 per cent in secondary). Students largely local with a small percentage of expats.
SEK International School Catalunya
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; privately owned; 800 students
Opened in 1995 and one of the nine schools owned and run by SEK International Schools. The school is mainly Spanish at present (around 90 per cent Spanish pupils). However it is aiming to become more diverse and has recently opened an international boarding house. Over 60 per cent of the instruction is in English and they are planning that this will increase in the near future. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
St George’s British School of Barcelona
EYFS/ Adapted National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ A level; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 300 students
Located on the upper side of Barcelona. Students from over 40 nationalities study an adapted version of the English curriculum the school also teaches classes in Spanish and Catalan. A member of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS).
St Paul's School
Spanish curriculum/ Spanish Bach; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 600 students
Located in Avenida Pearson in wealthy Pedralbes, part of the popular Sarría neighbourhood of Barcelona. Spanish curriculum delivered in Spanish, Catalan and English (decreasing in percentage as students travel up the school) leading to a Spanish Bachillerato.
For more information on the schools above, please go to each school’s individual entry on The Good Schools Guide international section.