British schools in Madrid: curriculum, fees and how to choose

Last reviewed: November 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

For families comparing British schools in Madrid, the real choice is often less about whether to go British than about which version: a school that runs straight through to A Levels, one that switches to the IB Diploma at 16, or one that adds the Spanish Bachillerato. Fees, commutes and university plans then narrow the list.

This guide explains how the curriculum maps onto Spanish school years, what IGCSE and A Levels involve, who authorises and inspects these schools, how A Level students reach Spanish universities, what 2026-27 fees look like and how the main areas compare.

How do British school years compare with Spanish ones?

British schools in Spain group children by calendar year of birth, like Spanish schools, so the year names do not line up the way many parents expect. A child in Year 1 is five and sits alongside Spanish children in the third year of Infantil; Spanish 1.º de Primaria corresponds to Year 2.

Equivalences from the NABSS school equivalency table; the association notes they can vary slightly by region. Families moving from the UK, where the cut-off is 1 September, should check placement for children born between September and December, who usually move up a year.

For a fuller comparison of the two systems, see our guide to the Spanish school system vs UK ages, years and stages.

IGCSE, A Levels or the IB: what happens after Year 11?

Most British schools in Madrid enter pupils for IGCSEs at the end of Year 11, then offer a two-year sixth form. The route varies by school, so ask early:

• A Levels: usually three or four subjects studied in depth, examined by boards such as Pearson Edexcel or Cambridge International.
• IB Diploma: six subjects plus the core; some British schools offer it alongside A Levels, others make it the only sixth form route.
• Spanish Bachillerato: a few schools add it as a third pathway for students heading to Spanish degrees.

Pupils in British schools that admit Spanish children also take Spanish language and culture, as article 10 of Royal Decree 806/1993 requires, taught by teachers with Spanish qualifications (article 12).

Who authorises and inspects British schools in Madrid?

Two layers apply. In Spain, Royal Decree 806/1993 requires every foreign-system school to obtain authorisation and be entered in the public register of the education authority, which in Madrid is the regional government. The application must include a certificate from the country's diplomatic representation confirming that the teaching has full official validity there. The decree has been amended only once, by Royal Decree 131/2010, which changed articles 15 and 16. A school that teaches exclusively a foreign system cannot enrol Spanish nationals unless they also hold that country's nationality (article 18).

On the British side, NABSS explains that the British Council certifies schools only after a positive inspection by a recognised inspectorate, and repeats the process after each inspection. The labels parents meet are:

• NABSS: the National Association of British Schools in Spain. Members must be authorised to teach the British curriculum, follow the English National Curriculum as their main framework and pass inspection.
• BSO: British Schools Overseas, an inspection against standards set by the UK Department for Education, revised from 14 August 2023. Runnymede College, for example, publishes its BSO report.
• COBIS: the Council of British International Schools, a membership body with its own accreditation.

Can A Level students go to a Spanish university?

Yes, without sitting the PAU. Article 6 of Royal Decree 534/2024 exempts students from systems covered by EU membership or reciprocal agreements from the access exam and from homologating their qualification. Orden EFD/550/2025 lists the United Kingdom: students need at least five IGCSEs at A* to C (or 4 to 9), three A Levels at A* to E and at least 48 UCAS Tariff points in their best four AS or A Level grades.

UNED then issues an accreditation with an access mark from 5 to 10, converting 48 points to 5 and 224 points, the top of the range, to 10. Universities may also weigh specific subjects (article 23.3 of the decree), which is why many students add UNED's subject exams. Royal Decree 534/2024 has since been amended by Royal Decrees 482/2025 and 535/2026, neither of which changed these rules. Our guide to A Levels in Spain and university entry walks through the conversion table and deadlines.

Three British schools in Madrid to compare

Hastings School

Founded in 1971 and part of the Cognita group, Hastings teaches children from 2 to 18 across six campuses in Chamartín, Arturo Soria and Conde de Orgaz. Its sixth form offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma, and the 2026-27 schedule prices them differently: EUR 1,860 a month over ten months for A Levels and EUR 2,120 for the IB. Good to know: lunch and transport appear separately on the monthly invoice.

The English Montessori School

TEMS combines the British curriculum with the Montessori approach and runs three campuses in Moncloa-Aravaca, close to the A-6 and Pozuelo station. In the last two years students choose between the IB Diploma, A Levels and the Spanish Bachillerato. Its 2026-27 fees are monthly: EUR 833 in Year 1, EUR 1,152 in Years 7 to 9 and EUR 1,406 for A Levels or the IB, plus a monthly lunch fee of EUR 178, which is compulsory up to Year 11.

St. George School Madrid

In Hortaleza, St. George follows the British curriculum throughout, uses the International Primary Curriculum in primary and moves every student to the IB Diploma after IGCSEs. The school says it welcomes pupils of more than 40 nationalities from 20 months to 18 years. Annual tuition for 2026-27 is EUR 12,840 in Years 1 and 2 and EUR 19,440 in Years 12 and 13, plus a one-off EUR 1,870 for new pupils.

How much do British schools in Madrid cost in 2026-27?

At the three schools below, expect roughly EUR 11,300 to EUR 13,400 a year in Year 1 and EUR 18,600 to EUR 23,700 in the sixth form; TEMS, which publishes monthly fees, starts at EUR 833 a month in Year 1.

Annual tuition from each school's 2026-27 fee page: Hastings publishes ten monthly payments and Runnymede three termly ones. Runnymede, in La Moraleja, also lists A Level exam entries at EUR 570 each (2025-26 rate) and a two-way bus from La Moraleja at EUR 1,930 a year.

Where are the British schools in and around Madrid?

• La Moraleja and Alcobendas: villas and gardens north of the city along the A-1, with schools such as Runnymede College in La Moraleja.
• Chamartín, Arturo Soria and Hortaleza: city living, with Hastings and St. George nearby.
• Aravaca and Pozuelo: family housing along the A-6, with TEMS in Moncloa-Aravaca and commuter trains from Pozuelo.
• Majadahonda, Las Rozas and Boadilla: larger homes further west, with schools such as Alegra in Majadahonda. School buses matter here, so ask for routes and prices.

How to choose a British school in Madrid

1. Decide on the sixth form first: A Levels, IB or both, and whether a Spanish degree is likely.
2. Ask for the authorisation and the latest inspection report, and check NABSS or BSO status.
3. Confirm the year group using the calendar-year rule, especially for children born from September to December.
4. Add registration, lunch, buses and exam fees to tuition for a full annual cost.
5. Visit at the start and end of the school day to see the commute.

Compare schools across Madrid

To see British, IB and American options side by side, with fees and locations, browse our ranking of the best international schools in Madrid.

More guides to schools in Madrid

• International school fees in Madrid
• Bilingual schools in Madrid
• International school admissions in Madrid
• How to choose an international school in Madrid
• Best international schools in Madrid
• best international schools in Madrid

Frequently asked questions

How much does a British school in Madrid cost?

For 2026-27, Year 1 costs EUR 833 a month at The English Montessori School and EUR 11,300 a year at Hastings School, and the sixth form reaches EUR 23,700 a year at Runnymede College. New pupils also pay a one-off registration or enrolment fee, from EUR 600 at TEMS to EUR 3,500 at Runnymede, and lunch, buses and external exams are usually charged on top.

Which year group will my child join in a British school in Spain?

British schools in Spain group pupils by calendar year of birth. A child who turns six during the school year joins Year 2, which matches 1.º de Primaria, while Year 1 corresponds to the last year of Infantil. Children arriving from the UK who were born between September and December usually move up a year.

Are A Levels from a Madrid school valid for Spanish universities?

Yes. Orden EFD/550/2025 lets students with at least five IGCSEs at A* to C, three A Levels and 48 UCAS points enter a Spanish university without the PAU. UNED converts their best four AS or A Level grades into an access mark from 5 to 10, and universities can weigh specific subjects for competitive degrees.